3 days in Washington DC with Kids

Washington DC is one of our favorite cities to explore. So many beautiful monuments & memorials, gorgeous views along the tidal basin, family-friendly museums, great food, and so much history. There is so much to do in Washington DC with kids.

DC is great for a long weekend or a short family vacation. You truly can see so much in just a few days, and if you live on the East coast, it’s easy to come back for another visit and you’ll still have plenty left to do.

One of our closest friends moved to DC after college, so we spent many weekends in the district in our 20’s. We loved every bit of it – minus the parking. While both things are still true today, I’ve learned there are some key differences when you’re exploring Washington, DC with kids!

Tips for Visiting Washington, DC with Kids

Planning

Ask their interests & let them help plan! There is so much to see & do in this city, it will definitely take multiple trips to see it all. Ask your kids their preferences or choose specific museums and sites based on their current interests and favorites. All the walking will seem worth it if they’re excited about each stop!
Plan your days according to the weather. DC has so much to offer both inside and outside. While you’ll still be walking outside between museums, obviously it’s much easier to enjoy museums on a rainy / nasty / cold / super hot day and give the better weather day to the monuments, memorials & parks.
Leave time in the schedule to play. One of my favorite parts of DC is all the green space and all the water. There are so many spots to stop and play. Throw a football, kick a soccer ball, sit and snack or read – you definitely want to leave space for this!

What to bring or wear

Carry plenty of snacks & water. Lots of steps = lots of snacks. Plus there are food and ice cream trucks all along the Mall and I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be able to hand out delicious treats that won’t bankrupt me but will keep us all walking.
If they have them, have them bring their own cameras. My kids love capturing their own memories – especially in a place with as much to see as DC. Pretty sure they took more photos than I did this trip – and that’s hard to beat!
Pack a picnic lunch. Food near the National Mall is either not great, super expensive, or adds in some serious walking time (or all 3). The best thing we have done in this city is to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it on the Mall or in a park instead of attemping to buy a $10 uncrustable (no joke – saw it listed on a food truck). On a rainy day we even ate our picnic in our van in the parking garage. Not ideal, but the food was great, clean up was easy, we got to rest our legs a bit and then were ready for a wonderful afternoon (and a stop for ice cream later!).
Wear comfy shoes. I feel like I’ve already said it a ton but you will be doing so. much. walking. Everyone needs to be comfortable (and blister free)!
Bring sunscreen and/or a hat. See above but with all the outside time, you will likely need some sunscreen and/or a hat for the day.

Don’t Forget!

Don’t miss the National Parks Jr Ranger program. We’re planning to do a whole post on these, because they truly never disappoint. The National Parks Service has done such a great job engaging kids in history, helping them document what they learn, and rewarding them with becoming Junior Rangers! We picked up our National Mall & Memorial Parks Jr Ranger packets & badges at the Dwight D Eisenhower Memorial.
Have fun & soak up our nation’s Capital! If all else fails, throw out the plan and just enjoy your day. Take as much or as little time as you need or want at each site. Sitting on a bench along the Tidal Basin doesn’t just have to be a necessary pit stop – it can be one of the best parts of your day. Take your time & enjoy it.

Where to stay with kids in DC

Honestly, this is the first (& one of the biggest) planning piece of any city-based travel with kids, in my opinion. Over the years I’ve stayed in many different parts of DC, and there are truly pros and cons to all of them. Most recently with our kids we stayed both within “walking distance” on Capitol Hill (kids ages 4-9) and in an Airbnb in NW DC (kids ages 6-11).

Staying in a hotel near the National Mall means being within walking distance of monuments, museums, and plenty of food options. The downside, in my opinion, is that you still likely need to use public transportation at some point because it’s just a LOT of walking, it doesn’t make sense to move your car in and out when you’re likely already paying for hotel parking, and the food options nearby are often more expensive or more of a walk than everyone can handle in that moment.

When we recently stayed 4 miles outside of the city, we easily booked a parking spot for the day (around $16-25) based on where we were planning to explore, still got in a ton of walking and had the car as our base, and then could enjoy dinner in another neighborhood or head to our cozy home away from home.

Our pick

After both recent experiences, my vote is clearly going to an Airbnb a little out of the city – think North or Northwest DC – near the Zoo and National Cathedral or above. Public transportation is always an option, but we found it easiest to park (more details below) and walk around from our parking spot for the day. You definitely pay to park in most of DC, but accommodations are a little cheaper out of the Mall area, so it’s pretty much a wash, if not still a win $$ wise.

Now it’s time for the fun part – what to do with your DC days! Remember, these days do not have to go in order, in fact, it’s much better to plan around weather and available entry times (if applicable for your family).

3 days in Washington DC with kids

There are so many things to do in Washington DC – it’s truly hard to narrow down a 3 day itinerary. This specific plan is such a good “first trip” to experience the history, monuments, and most-well known pieces of DC. It’s also great for all ages, so let’s go!

Day 1 – Monuments & Memorials

The Tidal Basin

If you’re staying a bit outside the city, drive in and park off of Ohio Drive. There are several other parking lots, as well as street parking, but this area is a perfect place to start your walk around the Tidal Basin monuments and memorials.

We started with the Jefferson Memorial, which happens to be one of my most favorites. From here you can see the Washington, MLK memorial, and other famous spots.

From the Jefferson, walk to the FDR Memorial. Another favorite of mine, this one has waterfalls, many places to stop and sit, multiple bathrooms, and a gift shop. If you’re coming from the Jefferson, you can actually walk into the FDR Memorial from the back / end. Feel free to walk around and start from the front, or do this one on the way back to your car, but honestly going backwards through time doesn’t bother me on this one.

FDR leads you straight to the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial, which you’ve likely already seen from across the Tidal Basin at the Jefferson. This one is super impressive up close, and I love reading all of MLK’s quotes throughout the Memorial.

Next is the Korean War Memorial and then the Lincoln Memorial. MLK’s “I have a dream” speech was given from the steps of the Lincoln, which is such an incredible spot to stop and take in the view & the history that happened there.

After the Lincoln, continue on to the Vietnam War Memorial, then walk along the reflecting pool to the World War II Memorial.

From WWII (and from the Lincoln and Jefferson and pretty much any spot along the tidal basin) you have a great view of the Washington Monument, but you can also continue walking up to the monument if you’d like.

At WWII you will have walked right over 2 miles from the parking lot. If you head back to the parking lot from here, your walk will be around 3.5 miles total. If you add the Washington Monument on, it’s best to just finish the loop, which will bring you in at just under 4 miles round trip. All just things to consider when traveling with kids 😉

Theodore Roosevelt Island

Load up for a 9 minute drive into Virginia to park (for free for 2 hours!) in Rosslyn near Theodore Roosevelt Island. There is a parking lot specifically for the island and we had no trouble finding a spot!

Walk across the pedestrian bridge, enjoy views of the Potomac, watch airplanes fly overhead, and soak in the quiet nature after a morning in the city.

There are a couple different hikes around the island, but my crew was tired and hungry, so we took the super quick & easy walk straight to the memorial. At the memorial there are many benches, bridges, and a giant statue of Teddy himself. We set up on some benches in the shade and started to fix lunch while our kids got sudden bursts of energy back (!) now that they could explore fountains and under bridges on an island 😉

Other Attractions

Depending on your kid’s ages, nap needs, and desire to walk more, there are several options for the rest of your afternoon. From Teddy Roosevelt Island it’s an easy drive to Arlington National Cemetery (7 minutes) or the Pentagon Memorial (11 minutes). Both are beautiful & fascinating in their own way.

You could also park and walk around Georgetown and grab a treat at Georgetown Cupcake or Ice Cream Jubilee (don’t miss the cookies & cookie dough flavor!).

If you’re ready to head north of the city, it’s an easy drive to the National Cathedral (free to walk around, $15 to do a self-guided tour inside), or the National Zoo (free, but must reserve an entry pass).

CC Favorite – if you find yourself near the National Cathedral or Zoo, we loved Duke’s Counter for dinner! The Proper Burger is seriously worth all the awards that it’s won. Outdoor seating was perfection, and the kids loved their kid’s meals and Shirley Temples!

We love to end these nights with showers, pjs, and a movie night in as we rest our little legs for more walking tomorrow! Bonus points for the Airbnb hosts who provide popcorn!

Day 2 – Museums & the Mall

Remember, these days don’t have to go in order! Also, even though you’re walking in between museums, I would 100% choose for the museum day to be on the worse weather day if possible.

There are so many incredible (& free!) Smithsonian museums to see along the National Mall. Three DC museums require timed entry tickets, which are free, but require advance planning. African American History & Culture, Air & Space, and the National Zoo all require these timed passes. All other Smithsonian museums do not use passes and are open for general admission.

Planning your museum day

To best plan your day, start by choosing 2-3 museums that are must-sees for your family. Pick a couple extra “maybes” in case you move quicker than expected or bail on a super-crowded museum.

If any of these are timed entry museums, obviously you’ll have to plan around those specific time slots. Otherwise I’d plan the order based on location, and also plan parking accordingly, too. I find it best to do the furthest walk first, while those little legs are still fresh and excited! That way when you exit your last museum, your car is closer than it was at the beginning. It’s a welcome relief for all.

Make sure to leave some time for snack breaks and a picnic lunch on the Mall!

Kid-approved Smithsonian Museums

National Archives – Our kids were determined to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution thanks to watching National Treasure before this trip. The National Archives makes this easy by directing you to the Charters of Freedom in the Rotunda. We spent about 30 minutes in the museum total, but the kids LOVED it! Highly recommend & it’s totally mind blowing to see these actual documents in person.

Natural History Museum – Everyone’s favorite “Night at the Museum” museum. Our kids have been multiple times and love this one, though it’s usually super crowded. Easy to jump in to see a few favorite exhibits and then jump back out if it’s too crazy. Favorite exhibits include: Ocean Hall; Geology, Gems & Minerals; Bone Hall; and Lights Out. You also have to stop by the African Elephant for a photo op, obviously.

American Indian Museum – This one is SO well done. Beautiful architecture and plants outside, plus so many interesting exhibits inside. We started at the top and worked our way down and the kids were fascinated the whole time. They especially loved the Traditions, Toys & Games and the Americans exhibition.

African American History & Culture Museum – Maybe my current favorite museum. Also incredibly well done – full of history, truth & emotion. Start by taking the elevator down to the bottom of the History Galleries. You’ll begin with the transatlantic slave trade and wind your way up through history to end in 2008 with Barak Obama’s Presidential election. It’s incredibly moving, thought provoking, and necessary for us to all see & remember. There are so many great exhibits upstairs, too, but this one has stuck with me.

American History Museum – This one shows it’s age a bit, but the exhibits are still super cool. The Presidents, First Ladies, and Entertainment Nation were our favorite parts. Plus there are literally millions of historical objects to be seen – including the Star-Spangled Banner.

Air & Space Museum – Always a favorite, but honestly the one near Dulles airport (see day 3) is my pick if you’re only going to one of these!

Day 3 – National Cathedral & Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Today we’re headed West toward Dulles International Airport to see the incredible Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (or the “Dulles air & space” as we call it). Depending on where you’re staying, stop for a local breakfast or coffee, and tell your kids to enjoy the drive instead of walking for a bit 😉

We actually did this on our last morning in DC and then headed south back to NC after the museum. So many options depending on your specific itinerary, but do not miss this museum! We all LOVED it!

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center has plenty of easy parking ($15 per vehicle), is super clean, and so fun & engaging to walk around. It even has a Shake Shack inside (or a Chick Fil A 4 minutes away) if you need a lunch stop afterward.

Seeing the Space Shuttle Discovery in person is absolutely incredible and awe-inspiring. There are so many other air & space crafts to be seen – it’s truly hard to name them all.

Quick Tip – If you’re going back into the city and haven’t stopped by the National Cathedral yet, you could easily add that, the zoo, or Rock Creek Park if you need an afternoon activity!

Other Washington, DC kid favorites

As I mentioned above, there are truly so many things to do in Washington, DC with kids. Depending on the time of year you’re visiting and the ages of your kids, a few other options to consider include: