must-visit in WashingtonSquare & Landmark

Washington Monument

📍 2 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20024 (center of the National Mall)

1 photos

4.6/ 5.0

★★★★★

Quick Facts

Location: USA, Washington
Category: Square & Landmark
Duration: 1-1.5 hours including security and elevator queues
Opening Hours: Daily 9:00-17:00 (last timed entry 16:00, entry closes 16:30); closed one day each month for maintenance, plus July 4 and December 25
Ticket Price: Adult: Free · Summit entry is free; Recreation.gov charges a non-refundable $1 service fee per advance ticket; same-day walk-up tickets are free from the Lodge at 8:45
Address: 2 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20024 (center of the National Mall)
Coordinates: 38.8895, -77.0352

Introduction

The Washington Monument stands at the center of the National Mall, a white marble obelisk honoring George Washington, the first US president. At 169 m (554 ft 7 in, remeasured by the National Geodetic Survey in 2014) it was the tallest building in the world when completed and remains the world's tallest free-standing stone structure and obelisk. Construction began on July 4, 1848 and stopped in 1854 for lack of funds and the Civil War; when work resumed in 1877 the original Baltimore quarry no longer had stone, so material from Massachusetts was used, leaving a visible brown band about a third of the way up. The 897 interior steps have been closed to the public since 1976, so visitors take a roughly 70-second elevator to the observation level at 152 m (500 ft), where windows on all four sides open onto views reaching some 25 miles: the Capitol, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and the Washington National Cathedral.

✨ Highlights

The 500-foot observation level

A roughly 70-second elevator reaches the observation level at 500 ft, with windows on all four sides and, on clear days, landmarks about 25 miles away.

The two-tone shaft

The colour change about a third of the way up marks the switch to Massachusetts stone after work resumed in 1877.

193 commemorative stones

193 stones donated by states, cities, foreign governments and civic groups line the interior walls; the elevator dims and brightens its windows on the way down so you can see them.

Fifty state flags

Fifty American flags encircle the base, one per state, and make the most symbolic view in the capital.

The 897 steps (closed)

The interior staircase has been closed to the public since 1976; rare ranger-led stair tours run occasionally and require a coveted advance booking.

The axis of the Mall

The Capitol lies east, the Lincoln Memorial west and the White House north, so the monument is the natural centre for walking the Mall's memorials and Smithsonian museums.

🛈 Practical Info

→Closures：One maintenance day each month, plus July 4 and December 25

→Time needed：1-1.5 hours including security and queues

→Opening Hours：Daily 9:00-17:00 (last timed entry 16:00, entry closes 16:30); closed one day each month for maintenance, plus July 4 and December 25

→Transportation：About a 10-minute walk from Smithsonian Metro (Blue/Orange lines); enter at 15th St and Madison Dr; no on-site parking

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult	Free

Summit entry is free; Recreation.gov charges a non-refundable $1 service fee per advance ticket; same-day walk-up tickets are free from the Lodge at 8:45

💡 Tips

• Only about a hundred summit tickets are released daily and popular dates vanish quickly; be ready at 10:00 ET exactly 30 days ahead, with the 15:00 ET release the day before as a second chance.

• For a free ticket, queue at the Lodge from 8:45 for a walk-up slot - lines form early in busy seasons and you may be given a later time.

• Arrive at least 15 minutes before your slot; screening is airport-style with no lockers, so travel light.

• Do not regret the closed staircase: on the way down the elevator dims and brightens to reveal the commemorative stones more clearly than stairs would.

• There is almost no shade around the base and the paving throws heat back in summer, so bring water and a hat; summit access closes in thunderstorms or high winds.

• Without a summit ticket you can still enter the ground-floor lobby with the George Washington statue and the 490-foot exhibit level with a timed ticket; allow 60-90 minutes for the round trip.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Washington Monument?

Daily 9:00-17:00 (last timed entry 16:00, entry closes 16:30); closed one day each month for maintenance, plus July 4 and December 25

How much is the admission for Washington Monument?

Adult: Free; Summit entry is free; Recreation.gov charges a non-refundable $1 service fee per advance ticket; same-day walk-up tickets are free from the Lodge at 8:45

Any practical tips for visiting Washington Monument?

Only about a hundred summit tickets are released daily and popular dates vanish quickly; be ready at 10:00 ET exactly 30 days ahead, with the 15:00 ET release the day before as a second chance. For a free ticket, queue at the Lodge from 8:45 for a walk-up slot - lines form early in busy seasons and you may be given a later time.

How long should I spend at Washington Monument?

A typical visit takes 1-1.5 hours including security and elevator queues.

Hours and closures follow the National Park Service (nps.gov) and Recreation.gov; the monument closes one day a month for maintenance, plus July 4 and December 25.