Washington DC and Arlington Three-Night Family Itinerary

Arrival from New York City

Your bus should reach Washington, DC around 5:30 PM. Allow 45–75 minutes for luggage, finding your bearings, and getting to your Arlington lodging. If the bus stops at Union Station, the simplest family option is usually a rideshare directly to Arlington; Metro is cheaper, but five people with luggage may find the transfer and station walks less convenient. If you arrive at another downtown stop, use the nearest Metro station or rideshare, then check in and leave only what you need for the evening. Since you are traveling on September 28, sunset will be around 6:50 PM, so keep the first walk flexible.

Evening Along the Potomac and National Mall

If you are settled in time, begin at Theodore Roosevelt Island. Drive or rideshare to the island parking area, or take Metro to Rosslyn and walk across the footbridge; the island’s wooded and wetland trails are free and generally accessible until dusk. A 45-minute loop is enough for an atmospheric introduction, but skip it if arrival delays make the light too low. Continue to Georgetown Waterfront Park for broad Potomac views and a pleasant stroll along the river; from Rosslyn, a rideshare is easiest, while walking from the island takes roughly 25–30 minutes. Then take a rideshare or walk east along the waterfront toward the Lincoln Memorial, allowing about 15–25 minutes by car depending on traffic. The memorial grounds are open 24 hours and are especially striking after dark, with the Reflecting Pool stretching toward the Capitol.

From the Lincoln Memorial, walk east along the Reflecting Pool to the World War II Memorial, roughly 20 minutes at an easy pace; its fountains and columns are illuminated in the evening, though the site can be breezy. Eat your packed dinner at a suitable outdoor spot near the National Mall—the memorial grounds have limited seating, so bring a small blanket and avoid blocking walkways. Afterward, return to Arlington by rideshare for the least complicated trip, or walk to Foggy Bottom-GWU or Rosslyn Metro stations depending on your exact location; allow 20–40 minutes overall. Check Metro’s closing time that night, and keep the group together around the darker stretches of the Mall.

Morning on Capitol Hill

Leave Arlington around 8:00–8:30 AM on the Orange, Blue, or Silver Line, allowing 25–40 minutes to reach Capitol Hill. Use a contactless card or SmarTrip; fares are typically about $2–$4 each way. Build in time for security at the United States Capitol—sharp objects, large bags, and outside food may be restricted—then allow roughly two hours for your reserved tour. From there, it is a short walk to the Supreme Court of the United States for your booked visit, or to admire the Beaux-Arts exterior; plan 45–60 minutes. Security procedures and public access can change, so keep your reservation details handy and avoid carrying more than necessary.

Continue to the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, where the Great Hall is the highlight and the overlook offers a glimpse into the Main Reading Room. Entry is generally free but requires timed-entry passes, so check availability before the day; allow about an hour. A 10-minute walk east along Pennsylvania Avenue brings you to Eastern Market, a good place to wander through the historic market hall and nearby Capitol Hill streets for about 45 minutes. Market hours vary by day, with the busiest outdoor activity on weekends, so on Tuesday treat it primarily as a neighborhood and historic-market stop rather than expecting every vendor to be operating.

Afternoon and return to Arlington

Walk or take the Metro from Capitol Hill toward the National Mall for the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden—an easy outdoor art stop with paths, lawns, and seasonal plantings. Admission is free, and 45 minutes is enough without turning the day into an indoor museum visit. Then walk west into Penn Quarter for your packed-meal break. Pershing Park, Freedom Plaza, or nearby National Mall lawns are practical places to sit, though benches and shade can be limited; allow 45 minutes and carry water. From Penn Quarter, use Archives–Navy Memorial, Gallery Place, or Metro Center, depending on your Arlington line, and expect roughly 25–40 minutes back to your lodging. Check WMATA service alerts before leaving, particularly after the evening rush.

Morning: Arlington National Cemetery and Rosslyn

Take the Blue Line from Capitol Hill toward Arlington, getting off at Arlington Cemetery; allow roughly 25–40 minutes, with fares usually around $2–$4 per person. Start at Arlington National Cemetery for about 2½ hours, visiting the gravesites, Memorial Amphitheater, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The changing-of-the-guard ceremony is typically held hourly in warmer months, but schedules can change, so check the cemetery’s official calendar that morning. Wear comfortable shoes—this is a hilly, open-air visit—and bring water and your packed food. From the cemetery, it is about a 20-minute walk or a short rideshare to the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Rosslyn, where 45 minutes is enough for the Iwo Jima sculpture and its excellent view toward the Washington skyline. Both sites are free; cemetery grounds generally open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Afternoon: Pentagon City and the National Mall

From Rosslyn, take the Blue Line one stop to Pentagon City, then walk approximately 10–15 minutes to the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial. Allow 45 minutes to read the memorial markers and take in the quiet landscaped setting; it is outdoors and free, but access can be affected by security conditions. Continue by Metro or rideshare to the Washington Monument—a rideshare is often the fastest option for five people, while Metro plus walking takes roughly 30–40 minutes. Reserve about an hour for photographs or the interior tour; timed tickets are required to go inside, and security can add 20–30 minutes. The grounds are free, while monument tickets are generally about $1 per person. Since you are carrying food, use a nearby Mall lawn for a relaxed break rather than searching for a restaurant.

Evening: Tidal Basin loop

Walk or take a short rideshare from the monument to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, allowing 45 minutes for the memorial and waterfront views. Then follow the paved path around the Tidal Basin to the Jefferson Memorial, another roughly 15–20 minutes on foot, and spend about 45 minutes there. This is the best part of the day for slower wandering: the monuments are especially atmospheric as daylight fades, and the reflecting water gives you some of the city’s finest evening views. The memorial grounds are free and generally accessible around the clock, but bring a light layer and use phone flashlights if you remain after dark. From the Mall, a rideshare back to Arlington is simplest for five people; otherwise, walk to Smithsonian or L’Enfant Plaza Metro station and take a Blue, Orange, or Silver Line train toward Arlington, allowing 25–40 minutes.

Early Morning: National Air and Space Museum

Start with the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall, ideally arriving when it opens. Since your bus is around 11:00 AM, keep this to a focused 1½-hour visit rather than trying to see everything. Check the museum’s official website shortly before your trip for opening hours and whether timed-entry passes are required; admission is free, though timed reservations may be used. Go directly to the exhibits your family most wants to see, and remember that security screening can add time.

Mid-Morning: United States Botanic Garden

From the museum, take a rideshare or walk east along the Mall toward the United States Botanic Garden—walking takes roughly 20–25 minutes, while a short car ride is quicker with luggage concerns. Spend 45–60 minutes in the Conservatory and nearby outdoor gardens; it is a pleasant, compact stop and generally free. Check the day’s hours before leaving, as the Conservatory commonly opens at 10:00 AM. Keep an eye on the clock and avoid lingering too long, since you still need to retrieve belongings and reach your bus.

Late Morning: Union Station and Departure

Take a rideshare from the garden to Union Station, allowing about 10–15 minutes depending on traffic, or use the nearby Capitol South area for Metro if you are traveling light. Collect your belongings, use the bathrooms, and allow time to locate the correct carrier and boarding area. Aim to be at Union Station by 10:15–10:30 AM—at least 30 minutes before the 11:00 AM departure—and verify the exact gate, terminal area, and luggage rules with your bus company in advance. Keep tickets and identification easily accessible; bus boarding locations can change, and luggage loading may begin before the scheduled departure. From Union Station, your bus should reach New York City later that day, with the exact arrival time depending on traffic and the carrier’s route.