Photo: Greyfiveys, CC BY-SA 4.0
Advance tickets open 30 days ahead at 10 AM, a second batch the day before, and same-day tickets from 8:45 AM. The rules, from the National Park Service.
Last checked 10 Oct 2026. Sources: National Park Service (nps.gov), U.S. Capitol Visitor Center (visitthecapitol.gov), U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (ushmm.org), Smithsonian NMAAHC (nmaahc.si.edu), Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (airandspace.si.edu), George Washington's Mount Vernon (mountvernon.org), National Gallery of Art (nga.gov).
- Act on thisWashington Monument
Tickets are released 30 days ahead at 10:00 AM
Advance tickets are released 30 days before the tour date, at 10:00 AM.
What to do: Be logged into Recreation.gov before 10 AM on the release day.
- Act on thisWashington Monument
Demand far exceeds availability spring through fall
NPS warns demand far exceeds availability in spring, summer and fall.
What to do: Treat the ticket release as a hard deadline, not a reminder.
- Worth knowingWashington Monument
A second batch is released the day before
Additional tickets are released one day before the tour date.
What to do: Check Recreation.gov again the day before if the 30-day batch is gone.
- Worth knowingWashington Monument
Same-day tickets are first-come, first-served from 8:45 AM
Free same-day tickets are limited and distributed first-come, first-served; the window opens at 8:45 AM.
What to do: Arrive before opening if you are relying on walk-up inventory.
- Worth knowingU.S. Capitol
Tours run on timed passes; walk-ups by 2:30 PM
Capitol tours are booked as a day and time on the Capitol Visitor Center's timed-entry system. Same-day passes may be available, but reservations are recommended, and visitors without one are asked to arrive as early as possible and no later than 2:30 p.m. Tours are free.
What to do: Book a tour time online; without one, get to the Visitor Center early.
- Worth knowingU.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
Free timed tickets for the Permanent Exhibition
Free timed-entry tickets are required for the Permanent Exhibition. Tickets reserved online in advance carry a $1 transaction fee; a limited number of same-day tickets go online each day at 7 a.m. ET.
What to do: Reserve before the trip, or be online at 7 a.m. ET on the day.
- Worth knowingNational Museum of African American History and Culture
Passes are released 30 days ahead, same-day ones at 8:15 a.m.
Free timed-entry passes are required for every visitor, whatever their age. Advance passes are released 30 days ahead on a rolling basis, and same-day passes go online by 8:15 a.m. ET. Up to nine passes per person.
What to do: Book on the day your date opens, 30 days out.
- Worth knowingNational Air and Space Museum
Free timed-entry passes are required for everyone
The museum on the National Mall requires free timed-entry passes for all visitors, whatever their age. It is open 10 am to 5:30 pm and closed on 25 December.
What to do: Reserve a pass for your time before you go.
- Worth knowingMount Vernon
The mansion is by guided tour only, and gate slots can be hours away
Entry to George Washington's mansion is by guided tour only. Tour times can be reserved online for $2 or free at the gate, but gate reservations are first come, first served and on busy days may be several hours after you arrive.
What to do: Reserve a mansion tour time online with your grounds ticket.
- Good to knowWashington Monument
Entry is free, but an advance reservation costs $1
The monument is free to enter; advance reservations carry a non-refundable $1 service charge.
What to do: Budget $1 per advance reservation.
- Good to knowWashington Monument
Children aged 2 and over need their own ticket
Every visitor age 2 and older needs a ticket.
What to do: Count children age 2+ when booking.
- Good to knowNational Gallery of Art
Closed on 25 December and 1 January
The National Gallery of Art is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and is free, but closes on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
What to do: Do not plan it for 25 December or 1 January.
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