Washington DC Monuments Guided Day Trip from New York

Arlington National Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial

Arlington National Cemetery was established in 1864 on the hills across the Potomac from the capital, and it is now the resting place of more than 400,000 service members and their families. On this Washington DC day trip your guide walks you to the graves of the Kennedy brothers and the eternal flame, and explains the history and traditions of the cemetery.

Nearby is the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, a bronze sculpture based on the famous 1945 photograph of Marines raising a flag. It was dedicated in 1954, and the stop here is a good chance for photos with the city skyline in the distance.

The National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial and the war memorials

The National Mall is the long green heart of Washington, lined with monuments and museums. The Lincoln Memorial, dedicated in 1922, faces the Reflecting Pool and looks down the Mall to the Washington Monument, a 555-foot obelisk completed in 1884 that is the tallest structure in the city.

Along the way you walk past the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, dedicated in 1982 with its black granite wall of names, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial, dedicated in 1995. The World War II Memorial stands at the eastern end of the Reflecting Pool. Your guide shares the stories behind each one, and there is time for photos at every stop.

The White House and the Capitol

The tour also visits the two buildings most people come to Washington to see. The White House has been the residence of every US president since 1800, and you can walk beside its grounds and take photographs of its front. Entry inside requires advance arrangements through official channels, so this visit is from outside.

The Capitol, where Congress meets, stands at the eastern end of the Mall beneath its cast-iron dome. Your guide points out the government buildings along Pennsylvania Avenue, the National Archives and other landmarks, and you get out of the vehicle at the Capitol for photos and a short walk.

Your day: the journey, free time and the return

The bus leaves Manhattan early, passes through New Jersey and Delaware and stops for a break and breakfast before arriving in Washington. The journey each way is about four hours, and the guide uses the time to give background on the city. Many people ask how long a Washington DC day trip from New York takes: allow 15 hours in total, including the stops.

In the afternoon you have about 90 minutes of free time on the National Mall to visit a museum, have lunch or take photos. Many Smithsonian museums are free to enter, though some ask for timed passes, so check before you go. The return journey ends with a night view of the Manhattan skyline from New Jersey.