72 Hours in Washington, D.C. with Kids

Washington, D.C., is a place where history, art, culture, monuments, awe-inducing museums (with free admission), the U.S. White House, darn good food and giant pandas all come together. Did I mention giant pandas? Yes, they’re back as of January 2025!

When you picture the city, what do you see? For most, it’s the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Reflecting Pool, the Capitol Building and the White House. For others, it’s the Smithsonian museums full of historic planes, the Hope Diamond, a fantastic array of fossils and renowned art.

With so many highlights in this city full of national treasure (no pun intended, but do check out that movie before you go), which ones should you prioritize? That will likely depend on three things: how much time you have, your specific interests as a family and the amount of walking your party can and will handle before significant meltdowns commence. With such an incredible number of things to see and do, here is what we suggest for three days in Washington, D.C., with kids.

A Great 72-Hour Itinerary for Washington, D.C., with Kids

Day 1: (A Few) Monuments, the White House, the National Archives and Your Pick of Smithsonian Museums

Any good trip to Washington, D.C., starts at the National Mall, a centrally located swath of land encompassing monuments, memorials, museums, the U.S. Capitol Building and so much more. The Mall is known as “America’s Front Yard” and contains the best of what our nation’s capital has to offer. We recommend starting out at the Lincoln Memorial. Not only is the larger-than-life statue of Abraham Lincoln impressive, but there is just nothing like standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and looking head-on at the Reflecting Pool and the Washington Monument.

Next, head down the Lincoln Memorial steps and walk to the left of the Reflecting Pool to view the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Prepare for this to feel emotionally overwhelming, as the nearly 500-foot-long black granite wall names every single American — 58,318 in all — who died in combat or is listed as missing in action as a result of the Vietnam War.

As you continue to walk along the Reflecting Pool and toward the Washington Monument, you’ll pass the World War II Memorial. One of the more recently constructed monuments in Washington, D.C., it’s a beautiful structure with fountains and a column for every U.S. state and territory whose citizens fought in WWII. It’s always fun for kids to locate their home state!

Next up is the iconic Washington Monument, a marble obelisk more than 500 feet high. If you want to take the elevator to the top for a very cool view of the city, plan ahead. You can reserve tickets online in advance of your trip (which we highly recommend). Walk-up same-day tickets are also offered starting at 8:45 am daily. The line for same-day tickets starts to form as early as 6 am and slots run out quickly, so plan accordingly.

The White House is directly adjacent to the Washington Monument. If you want to request a White House Tour (which you should because, well, it’s the White House), plan in advance. You can request a tour through the White House online ticketing system seven to 30 days before your intended tour date, or via your member of Congress 21 to 90 days before your intended tour date. Tours run from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday and are self-guided. Most folks finish in 30 to 45 minutes. During the tour, you will visit parts of the East Wing (sorry, no Oval Office), which includes the White House Library, the State Dining Room, the China Room, various receiving rooms and the White House Kennedy Garden. Secret Service Officers are stationed in each room and are available to answer questions about the history and architecture.

TIPS: For the White House tour, carry nothing — literally, nothing — with you except for your ID and proof of your tour reservation, or you won’t be granted admission. And when you exit the tour, ask a Secret Service member stationed on the White House steps to take a picture of your party in front of the building.

After the White House, pop over to the National Archives to view the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. There may be a line for entry, but it moves quickly. There’s also a great museum shop on the lower level that kids love.

Any good day in Washington, D.C., includes a Smithsonian museum (or two). This is where it gets tricky as there are so many unique and wonderful museums, all free of charge. There is no way to squeeze them all in on one trip, so we recommend choosing just a few. While every family’s interests are different, our favorite Smithsonian museums for families are the National Museum of Natural History (insects, gems and giant squids … oh my!) and the National Museum of American History (think trains, automobiles and gunboats). If you have aviation buffs in your family, the National Air and Space Museum is a must.

The National Museum of the American Indian is another great museum for kids. It includes an interactive Imagination Center for younger visitors and houses one of the world’s largest collections of Native American artifacts. It also has the best food of all the Smithsonians, hands down.

TIP: While it’s a little farther afoot, one of our other family favorites is the National Postal Museum. Ever wanted to put your face on a stamp? You can here!

Consult this handy map for an overview of where the Smithsonians are located and what is available. All Smithsonian cafeterias (except for the National Museum of the American Indian) are crowded and mediocre, so plan on bringing snacks with you and eat lunch before or after you visit.

Day 2: Smithsonian National Zoo, the National Building Museum or the U.S. Botanic Garden, and the Capitol and Supreme Court Grounds

Start your morning by hopping on the metro to the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan station to visit Smithsonian’s National Zoo. This one is sure to be a real crowd-pleaser for the whole family. The zoo is beautifully laid out and landscaped across 163 acres, and is home to more than 2,000 animals. It is divided into trails representing animal groups on different continents — the Asia Trail, the America Trail, Amazonia and so on.

Be sure not to miss the giant panda exhibit, which is set to reopen in January 2025. Although admission to the zoo is free, you will need to reserve passes in advance.

When departing the zoo, explore the Woodley Park area for a bite to eat. After that, head back into the heart of the city and check out either the National Building Museum (great for young kids with hands-on exhibits and activities about building and architecture) or the U.S. Botanic Garden, a living plant museum next to the Capitol Building.

TIP: During the holiday season, the U.S. Botanic Garden puts on a fantastic display of trains running through and around the flora and fauna. It is a really special time to visit the garden, but expect lines.

If your legs haven’t completely given out yet, your crew can stroll around the beautiful Capitol grounds and even mosey past the U.S. Supreme Court, located behind the Capitol Building. The Capitol grounds are also a great place for a picnic.

Day 3: (A Few More) Monuments, the International Spy Museum and a Washington Nationals or Wizards Game

On your last day, head back to the National Mall. Start at one of the city’s newer monuments, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, which is situated along the Tidal Basin.

Just past the MLK Memorial is one of the lesser-known monuments, the FDR Memorial. This is our family’s absolute favorite. Why? The beautiful use of water throughout is unique and speaks to FDR’s legacy as a former president who loved swimming and sailing, served as Assistant Secretary of the United States Navy and established the Warm Springs Institute in Georgia to help rehabilitate others combating polio, like himself.

Continue along the Tidal Basin and you’ll arrive at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, which features a 19-foot-tall statue of Jefferson holding the Declaration of Independence.

TIP: If you visit Washington, D.C., in March or April, you might be lucky enough to see the cherry blossom trees in bloom around the Tidal Basin. They are absolutely gorgeous! Expect the Tidal Basin area to be very busy this time of year.

The Jefferson Memorial is just a hop, skip and a jump away from the wonderfully interactive International Spy Museum. Each visitor receives a cover identity and is sent on an undercover mission — what’s not to love about that? The museum aims to educate visitors on the history, tradecraft and role of espionage. Additionally, it holds the largest collection of international espionage artifacts on public display. A few things to be aware of before visiting the Spy Museum: buy your timed-entry tickets in advance, expect tickets to be pricey and plan to spend a couple of hours at the museum (it’s extensive).

To cap off your day, we recommend getting tickets to a Washington Nationals baseball game (only clear bags are allowed in the stadium) or Washington Wizards basketball game.

With More Time

Should you find yourself with free time, we have ways to fill it. Here are some additional ideas and insider tips for making the most of Washington, D.C., with kids.

• When you’re out and about, we recommend checking out the following neighborhoods that help define the city: Georgetown for shopping, eating (Founding Farmers Fishers and Bakers is a family favorite) and fountain splashing on a hot day; Eastern Market on Capitol Hill for eating, strolling with kids, admiring historic row houses and checking out playgrounds; and the Union Market District to sample some very good food.
• If you happen to visit during the holiday season, check out ice skating at the National Sculpture Garden. It’s open late November through early March, weather permitting.
• Have a family member who loves musical theater or dance? Consider seeing a show at the Kennedy Center.
• Something to look out for: the new National Geographic Museum opens in D.C. in 2026. This museum has been one of our favorites in the area and we can’t wait until it reopens in a bigger, more expanded form!
• If you are flying in and out of Washington Dulles Airport, we highly recommend spending an hour or two at the National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. This is the companion Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to the one located downtown. It’s home to the Space Shuttle Discovery, the Enola Gay, the Concorde, the Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird and so many other cool aviation-related displays.
• Be prepared to walk! There is a lot of open space and a lot to see. The city is stroller-friendly (kids’ scooters work well, too).
• Parking is tricky, so when possible we recommend using the Metro, which is easy to navigate. It runs more frequently during the week than on the weekends; plan accordingly.
• Our favorite milkshake? The Black and White milkshake from Good Stuff Eatery (multiple locations). You’re welcome.
• Best place for a quick coffee, bagels and breakfast sandwiches: Call Your Mother Deli.

Relevant Links:

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Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.