National Mall
National Mall
4.5
00:00 - 23:59
Monday
00:00 - 23:59
Tuesday
00:00 - 23:59
Wednesday
00:00 - 23:59
Thursday
00:00 - 23:59
Friday
00:00 - 23:59
Saturday
00:00 - 23:59
Sunday
00:00 - 23:59
About
Open area of gardens, fountains, trees and monuments stretching nearly two miles between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Upper Northwest
How to get there
  • L'Enfant Plaza • 5 min walk
  • Archives • 7 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • mwhamburger
    Seattle, Washington803 contributions
    you can do a lot of walking here and see a lot
    You can see the Capitol building in the background at one end, the Washington Monument at the other, the African-American Museum, etc. etc. Lots of benches from which to enjoy the scenery. virtually no restaurants close by unless you eat inside a museum cafe.
    Visited November 2022
    Written 5 December 2022
  • Leonhkny
    Hong Kong, China14,203 contributions
    Why you are in DC
    The National Mall is America in miniature, at least in the official version. It contains important memorials, comprehensive museums and of course, key offices of the US government. Whether be newcomers or longtime natives, a visit to the Mall brings new observations.
    Visited December 2022
    Written 16 December 2022
  • tosl
    Jersey City, New Jersey780 contributions
    One of the great urban walks
    Whenever I visit DC, I always take time to walk the mall for a while. Now my teenage daughters are continuing the tradition. We have visited in different seasons and it is always a joy (though in summer go early to beat the heat and try for a dry day). My personal favorite is the Jefferson and the FDR Memorials but all of them are a pleasure. Parking, surprisingly, has not been an issue but be prepared to walk to enjoy the experience.
    Visited December 2022
    Written 1 January 2023
  • SDCooks
    Spearfish, South Dakota827 contributions
    A gathering place
    So different when you see it in person. All the pictures and news shots don't prepare for the size and the majesty of the National Mall. From the Capital building to the Lincoln Memorial, it's home to much history of the United States. There memorials and museums. Food trucks and activists. You can walk, bike, run along it. It's huge and now I can imagine hundreds of thousands of people gathering there. It's quite a place!
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled with friends
    Written 1 January 2023
  • notenuftravel2017
    Port Huron, Michigan87 contributions
    Great Educational Fun
    Saw many sites from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial. Saw many beautiful and historical sites in between. Everyone should visit Washington DC at least once but given all there is to see you will want to return.
    Visited December 2022
    Written 15 January 2023
  • Jeroen Lezer
    Jakarta, Indonesia288 contributions
    The pool of Forrest Gump and the national Mall
    After seeing the national Mall I witnessed the pool which appears in the movie Forrest Gump when Forrest returns from Nam he suddenly see his ex girlfriend n step into the pool surrounded by hundreds op people n shout Jenny, Jenny. N finally can look into her eyes again n see the sunshine through her blonde beautiful hair. I have been there it was amazing.
    Visited January 2023
    Written 8 February 2023
  • 831patriciar
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin196 contributions
    weekend getaway
    we came in for the the peak weekend of the cherry blossoms. what a great call. we walked around and seen everything at the mall. seen the monuments, statues, wall. memorials. we had never been there and was awesome. we walked around and see. found free public parking. took our time walking around. after we went to Arlington cemetry. this was also awesome. took the trolley to get the ride thru the cemetery and history of it and who is there. this is a must see trip to do. there are other ways to get around and see the sights as well. you can spent as much time as you want or little. totally go at your own pace.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 27 March 2023
  • April
    30 contributions
    Beautiful and Historic
    We visited the area to see the monuments and peak season of the Cherry Blossoms. It was beautiful! Parking can be hectic but there is a red shuttle bus that you can take for $1 per ride between monuments and major areas. Area was very safe and clean. This was definitely the highlight of our trip and we also visited NYC and Philadelphia during the same time. I definitely recommend using public transit and staying a little outside the downtown area.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 30 March 2023
  • Passport53
    Oxford, Alabama160 contributions
    A bit disappointing
    I had a vision of what I expected the National Mall to be and the reality didn't live up to it. It's a large area, thats mostly fenced off. Also, the fence is terrible shape and just looks bad. The walkway is gravel and is in very bad need of a fresh layer. Grass was also in bad shape given that it's fenced off and no one is walking on it. I just expected it to be in much better shape.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 11 April 2023
  • Evil_E207
    412 contributions
    Perfectly Laid Out
    With the museums lining the National Mall, it makes a very pleasant experience going from one to the other. This was my kids first trip since they were young back in 2011 - the memories it brought back to them made it all worth it. Great area!
    Visited March 2023
    Written 13 April 2023
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4.5
8,404 reviews
Excellent
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Very good
1,719
Average
431
Poor
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Terrible
36

Melly
Jakarta, Indonesia177 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Must visit attraction when you in Washington DC. You can walk from the National Monument, WW II Monument and Lincoln Memorial. Take your time enjoying the Garden especially on Fall session.
Written 23 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ted Onig
2 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Went there for a rally- was very nice to walk around, and was very pleasant-Right by the wahington Monument
Written 17 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Conny Wylie
Ottawa, Canada740 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
Like a human magnet, the National Mall, which is bookended at one extremity by the US Capital Building and at the other end by the Lincoln Memorial, attracts people in volumes, yearly. It's an awe inspiring atmosphere of Monuments and Memorials. I was quite humbled by the solemnity of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and inspired by the kinetics of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Many Memorials and Monuments dot the grassy expanse of the National Mall.........each one I visited evoked a unique emotion in me..............a place of solemnity and feelings.
Written 11 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LisaMNUSA
Saint Paul, MN941 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
I think this area is a must see if you are in D.C. We walked from Washington monument to Lincoln Memorial along the reflection pool in the late afternoon. We then visited Vietnam war memorial and Korean War memorial. We wanted to stay there until the light is on, but we were too tired after all the walking, and it was cold, so we didn't get to see it in the dark.
Written 27 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paweł Bor
New York City, NY1,610 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Exceptional place. It's clean, well-kept, and very monumental. It's a must-see when you're voting in Washington, DC. I strongly recommend this place.
Written 20 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tiffanyjim
Marion, IA1,122 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Wall and Washington Monument all in this area. When we visited last week it was busier than our previous visit. A lot of people peddling souvenirs etc. no issue parking and area is walkable. We came so our nieces could see these iconic sites in DC.
Written 17 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dianehG5851AG
Clay, NY1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Family
We did a self-guided walking tour of the monuments and a view of the Whi te House. Saved money by not taking a paid tour and were able to fit the experience into our own time frame. We learned a lot from these impressive monuments and the history behind them.
Written 1 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Christophe B
Quebec City, Canada551 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
For the sheer significance of this place, you should take a min or two to come see it. You get a beautiful view on the obelisk as well.
Written 30 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gina M
4 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
The National Mall is so powerful. To stand in the center of such amazing symbols of democracy is powerful to say the least and definitely something you should do at least once in your life. Eat an ice cream from a food truck while you are there!
Written 12 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MrMrsHappyR
Liverpool, UK1,158 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Truly spectacular and iconic area spanning a couple of miles of amazing memorials and museums and structures. If you've got the time split the walking into a few days and do various chunks on each day. Lots and lots of walking involved so bring good shoes
Written 10 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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NATIONAL MALL: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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