Washington, DC Five Day Itinerary

Washington, DC is high on most Americans’ must-visit list – as it should be! The capital of our country is a place all Americans should see at least once. It can be overwhelming planning a DC vacation, however, so I’ve put together a five-day itinerary to help.

Be sure to start your planning by checking out my Washington guide which has tons of tips on hotels, restaurants, and historical sites. The itinerary below is best for history-loving kids ages 10 and up, but I make suggestions for those with younger kids in tow. I also have put in a few options for activities outside of historical sites or museums. 

Just remember in your planning that DC is HOT during the summer and traffic is a nightmare year round. I’ve tried to take into account both of these in the itinerary. Make use of the Metro, connector bus, and trolley when possible to make your trip easier and always have water with you!

---

Five Days in DC

Day 1: Museums and Monuments

Start your trip on the National Mall by visiting the Smithsonian Museums (read my overview of all of the museums here). The Smithsonians are free and contain some of the most important artifacts from American history. They are one of the main reasons people come to DC, and as such, they will be very crowded. If you get too tired at any point on the route below, be sure to take advantage of the DC Circulator bus (it’s only $1!).

Here’s the route I recommend:

Start your day at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History (check out my review and tour route here). This museum tends to be the most crowded so get here first thing in the morning to avoid the long lines. 

Spend 1 hour here before walking next door to the Smithsonian Museum of American History (check out my comprehensive review). It’s my favorite museum and a must-see for history lovers! Spend 2 hours here.

Walk next door to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (read my extensive review and tour plan here). NOTE: This is one of two Smithsonian museums to require timed entry tickets. Purchase these free tickets well in advance and plan for a 1 pm entry. Eat lunch at the museum’s excellent Sweet Home Cafe and then go downstairs to the history galleries. Plan to spend 1-2 hours here.

End the afternoon at the National Archives (read my review here). NOTE: Be sure to get timed entry passes in advance to ensure your entry. If you’re following my itinerary, choose a 3:30/4 pm entrance.

The monuments and memorials all along the National Mall are free and open 24/7 (see my review) so hit these after touring. The best way to see them is by taking a trolley tour, especially the after-dark Monuments by Moonlight trolley tour (note that is is long – 3 hours!). 

Have dinner before or after the monuments tour at one of DC’s most memorable restaurants, Old Ebbitt Grill, or the popular Hamilton restaurant.

Itinerary with younger kids:

Start your day the same way at the Museum of Natural History and head to the American History Museum next. Have lunch at the food court in the Reagan building (don’t miss seeing a part of the Berlin Wall) and visit the National Children’s Museum before going back to the hotel for naps. If your kids can stay awake, take them on the Monuments by Moonlight tour. 

Day 2: The Seat of Government

Washington has many government buildings where history is still being made. Start your second day in DC by touring the US Capitol (read my review) where groundbreaking debates and historical events have taken place. NOTE: Advance timed entry tickets are needed (there are usually some walk-up tickets available, but it’s not guaranteed). This tour will take you to the hallowed halls of the Capitol but does not include Senate or House gallery passes (you must request these from your senator or representative). Plan on spending 1.5-2 hours here. Eat lunch in the visitor center cafe (be sure to get one of the Capitol-themed desserts!

Walk across the street (or through the underground tunnel connected to the Capitol Visitor Center) to the Library of Congress. NOTE: You must have timed entry tickets in advance to enter. This is an amazing place, especially for book lovers! It’s worth entering just to see the main reading room. Plan to spend 30 minutes here.

Walk down the Hill to the National Museum of the American Indian (see my review and tour plan here). If you didn’t have lunch at the Capitol, the cafe here is a good option (it’s currently closed for renovations so double check before your visit). Plan to spend 30 minutes here.

End the day at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (read my review here). NOTE: You must have timed entry tickets to enter (if you’re following my itinerary, plan on a 2:30/3 pm entry). It’s one of my favorite museums! It’s currently undergoing renovations, and its new exhibits are so well-done and family-friendly.

Before or after your tour of the museum, be sure to check out one of the newest memorials across the street – the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial (see my review here). 

Itinerary with younger kids:

Visit the Capitol and Air and Space Museum (skipping the Library of Congress and American Indian museums). Walk to the carousel on the National Mall (just past the Air and Space Museum) and end the day at the International Spy Museum (older kids will love too!).  

Day 3: Time with the Presidents

You saw the seat of government yesterday, so today it’s all about the seat of power – the presidency! You can only get tour tickets of the actual White House through your congressman or senator so check early! If you can’t get tickets, don’t stress, you can still see many important presidential sites. Check out my review of the White House and the White House Visitor Center for details. 

Don’t miss the new White House experience, The People’s House, at the intersection of 17th and Pennsylvania. It’s a must-see (see my review here!)! I recommend starting here and then walking past the White House to the visitor center.

After your visit to the White House and/or the visitor center, walk across the street to the WWI Memorial.

Then head to Ford’s Theatre (see my review) where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. NOTE: Buy your tickets in advance to ensure entry. Be sure to get the ticket that includes time in the theatre and the Petersen house where Lincoln died. 

Lunch options abound in this area of town, so grab lunch before or after your tour of the theatre. Some favorites include Hard Rock Cafe and the Shake Shack on the way to our next stop.

After Ford’s Theatre and lunch, walk to the National Portrait Gallery where you can see portraits of famous Americans including presidents (and a few first ladies!). It’s one of my favorite art museums! Read my review here.

To end the day, history buffs should take a cab to President Lincoln’s Cottage (review) to see where he wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s off the beaten path, but it’s well worth the effort! NOTE: The site closes at 4:30 and is a 20-25 minute cab ride from the National Portrait Gallery. Plan accordingly.

Evening options include taking in a Wizards or Capitals game at the nearby Capital One Arena. Or go back to Ford’s Theatre to see a play performed in the very theatre where Lincoln was shot! Some great dinner options are Clyde’s of Gallery Place, The Smith, and Succotash.

Itinerary with younger kids:

Take in the White House (or The People’s House) and Ford’s Theatre, skipping the National Portrait Gallery and President Lincoln’s Cottage. After your theatre tour, take a cab or metro to the National Zoo and spend the rest of the day here. It’s a great zoo! I highly recommend dinner at the nearby Cactus Cantina.

Day 4: Fallen Heroes

DC is home to many emotional historic sites and memorials that honor our fallen heroes. 

Start your day at Arlington National Cemetery where you can pay your respects to soldiers, presidents (Taft and Kennedy), and those buried as unknown soldiers. Plan to spend 1-2 hours here.

Take the Metro one stop or Uber to the Pentagon to tour the National 9/11 Memorial. The memorial is located on the site of where the plane hit the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

Uber or drive to The Wharf for lunch on the water. This is a great place to shop and refresh before the afternoon museums.

Take an Uber to the US Holocaust Memorial (see my review here). This is a powerful museum, and while it covers a difficult subject it’s important for both kids and adults, especially in today’s world. I’ve visited several times and get emotional on every visit. 

After the museum, take time to walk around the memorials nearby (WWII, Korean, and Vietnam memorials) to reflect on how their sacrifice paid for our freedom. It’s truly inspiring and makes me grateful for my country. 

For dinner, take an Uber to Georgetown where you can shop and eat. Try my favorites Clydes of Georgetown or Sequoia. After dinner, ask your driver to take you by the US Marine Corps War Memorial on your way back to the hotel. The statue known as “Iwo Jima” is breathtaking, especially at night.

Itinerary with younger kids:

This itinerary can be done with younger kids – even the US Holocaust Museum which has a special area just for those under 10. I’d recommend skipping the main galleries with small children and spending more time at the memorials along the National Mall. Another add on for younger kids is the next-door Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Day 5: Crossing the Potomac

Washington is surrounded by historical towns, and one of my favorites is Alexandria, Virginia. Just across the Potomac River, this town is full of historic treasures and was the home to our nation’s first president, George Washington.

Start your day at George Washington’s magnificent riverfront home, Mount Vernon (only accessible via car/Uber). Read my comprehensive review here. 

Have lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn restaurant or head to Old Town Alexandria to eat along the waterfront (we like Vola’s Dockside). Spend the afternoon wandering around Old Town Alexandria (be sure to pop into Old Town Books!). History lovers will want to see George Washington’s church (Historic Christ Church Episcopal) and the Lee-Fendall House.

Another option if you eat at Mount Vernon and have a car is visiting the National Museum of the US Army (see my review). It’s an amazing museum!  

For dinner, head across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to National Harbor if you have a car. There are many great restaurants there including one of our favorites, Succotash. Plus there is a ferris wheel and lots to do at night!

If you don’t have a car, take the metro back to DC and have dinner around the National Cathedral. It’s so pretty at night! Some of our favorites include Cactus Cantina and 2 Amys pizzeria.

Itinerary with younger kids:

This day is great for younger kids as well. There are many hands-on activities at Mount Vernon for little ones. They will love the ferris wheel at National Harbor.

---

This itinerary is jam-packed but will give you a full look at all our nation’s capital has to offer history buffs! If you have even more time, check out my Washington guide for other historical sites to see. 

---

Books to Read

All links are Amazon affiliate links. Check out my shop on Bookshop.org to support independent bookstores and creators.

• Guidebooks:
  • Family Guide Washington, DC (DK Eyewitness Travel Guide)
  • Frommer’s Washington, D.C. 2024
  • A History Lover’s Guide to Washington, D.C.: Designed for Democracy
  • 111 Places in Washington, DC That You Must Not Miss 
  • National Geographic Walking Washington, D.C.
  • Historic Washington, DC: A Tour of the District’s Top 50 National Landmarks
• Adult/Young Adult:
  • Nonfiction
    • Washington: A History of Our National City
    • George Washington’s Washington: Visions for the National Capital in the Early American Republic
    • A Guide to Civil War Washington, D.C.: The Capital of the Union 
    • Team of Rivals
    • Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Keckly: The Remarkable Story of the Friendship Between a First Lady and a Former Slave
  • Fiction
    • Patriot Hearts: A Novel of the Founding Mothers
    • Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker
    • American Princess: A Novel of First Daughter Alice Roosevelt 
    • American Daughters
    • The President’s Wife
    • The First Ladies
    • Becoming Madam Secretary (and visit the Labor Department museum about Frances Perkins!)
    • The Traitor Beside Her: A WWII Mystery
    • The House of Eve
    • A Shadow in Moscow
    • And They Called It Camelot: A Novel of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis
    • The List
    • American Royals series (alternate history)
• Middle Grade:
  • Mission Washington, D.C.: A Scavenger Hunt Adventure
  • Dolley Madison and the War of 1812: America’s First Lady 
  • Abe Lincoln at Last! (Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #19)
  • White House Clubhouse
  • Framed!
  • The Worst Class Trip Ever
  • The Mystery in Washington D.C. (The Boxcar Children)
  • Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures #9: The US Capital Commotion
  • The Capital Mysteries
  • Washington, DC, History for Kids: The Making of a Capital City, with 21 Activities
• Picture Books:
  • Kids’ Travel Guide – Washington, DC: The fun way to discover Washington, DC
  • Journey Around Washington D.C. from A to Z
  • Awesome Adventures at the Smithsonian: The Official Kids Guide to the Smithsonian Institution
  • This is Washington, D.C.: A Children’s Classic
  • My Little Golden Book about Washington, DC
  • Good Night Washington, DC