Washington DC on a Budget
Things to do | Travel | Washington DC | United States
The Capital Columns at the US National Arboretum
There are so many FREE things to do in Washington DC, that you could easily plan your itinerary around only free attractions and still not get to everything! Below you’ll find an thorough list of the nation’s capitals monuments, memorials, museums, and parks that are all free of charge. Many are conveniently located on the National Mall, making it easy to hit up multiple attractions in one day. A map of all the FREE things to do in Washington DC listed in this post is available at the end, so keep scrolling!
Monuments & Memorials
Washington Monument
Although the Washington Monument is currently closed until Spring 2019 due to elevator renovations, you can still get a close up view and is a great monument for photo ops!
Address: 2 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20024
Hours: Open 24 Hours (outside)
>> Related: How to Spend One Day in Washington DC <<
*check out this post for a detailed one day itinerary in Washington DC*
WWII Memorial
Address: 1964 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20227
Hours: Open 24 Hours
Vietnam War Memorial
Address: 5 Henry Bacon Dr NW, Washington, DC 20245
Hours: Open 24 Hours
Korean War Memorial
Address: 900 Ohio Dr SW, Washington, DC 20024
Hours: Open 24 Hours
Lincoln Memorial
Address: 2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, DC 20037
Hours: Open 24 Hours
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial
Address: 1964 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
Hours: Open 24 Hours
Franklin D Roosevelt Memorial
Address: 1850 West Basin Dr SW, Washington, DC 20242
Hours: Open 24 Hours
Jefferson Memorial
Address: 701 E Basin Dr SW, Washington, DC 20242
Hours: Open 24 Hours
Museums & Galleries
American Art Museum
Address: F St NW & 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
Hours: Open Daily 11:30AM – 7PM
Freer and Sackler Gallery of Art
Address: 1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 5:30PM
Hirshhorn Museum
Address: Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 5:30PM
>> Related: Ai Weiwei: Trace <<
*currently on view at the Hirshhorn Museum until January 1st, 2018*
National Air and Space Museum
Address: 600 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 5:30PM
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Address: 1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560
Hours: Timed entry via tickets available in advance or same day
National Museum of African Art
Address: 950 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 5:30PM
National Museum of American History
Address: Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 5:30PM
National Museum of the American Indian
Address: 4th St SW & Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 5:30PM
National Museum of Natural History
Address: 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 5:30PM
National Gallery of Art
Address: 6th & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565
Hours: Open Daily, Monday thru Saturday 10AM – 5PM, Sunday 11AM – 6PM
National Portrait Gallery
Address: 8th St NW & F St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Hours: Open Daily 11:30AM – 7PM
National Postal Museum
Address: 2 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 5:30PM
Renwick Gallery
Address: 1661 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 5:30PM
US Holocaust Memorial Museum
Address: 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl SW, Washington, DC 20024
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 5:15PM
Street Art
POW! WOW! DC Murals
Address: Multiple Locations
Hours: Open 24 Hours
>> Related: POW! WOW! DC Mural Map <<
*check out this post to see where all the murals are located*
Attractions
Arlington National Cemetery
Address: Arlington, VA 22211
Hours: Open Daily 8AM – 7PM
Library of Congress
Address: 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540
Hours: M/W/Th 8:30AM – 9:30PM, Tu/F/Sa 9:30AM – 4PM, Sunday CLOSED
Smithsonian Castle
Address: 1000 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20560
Hours: Open Daily 8:30AM – 5:30PM
US Capitol
Address: East Capitol St NE & First St SE, Washington, DC 20004
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 8:30AM – 4:30PM, Sunday CLOSED
The White House
Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500
Hours: N/A
Gardens + Parks
Constitution Gardens
Address: Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20024
Hours: Open 24 Hours
Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden
Address: Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 5:30PM
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
Address: 1550 Anacostia Ave NE, Washington, DC 20019
Hours: Open Daily 8:30AM – 5PM
National Zoological Park
Address: 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Hours: Open Daily 8AM – 5PM (7PM on Monday and Sunday)
Smithsonian Gardens
Address: 14th Street & Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20001
Hours: Open 24 Hours
US Botanic Garden
Address: 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20001
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 5PM
US National Arboretum
Address: 3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
Hours: Open Daily 8AM – 4:30PM
Yards Park
Address: 355 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003
Hours: Open Daily 7AM – 10PM
Views
Georgetown Waterfront
Address: Water St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Hours: Open 24 Hours
Do you need a place to stay in Washington DC?
Which of these FREE attractions in Washington DC would you check out?
Comment below!
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DC is an amazing city. There are so many great adventures to be had there and it seems like there is always something going on. And with this list, you’re sure to find something! Great post!
I love Washington DC! Always something to do in DC. Great post about this amazing city!
This is a great list! My son went to college at Georgetown so we got to spend a lot of time exploring DC. It’s such an interesting city!
This is awesome! I went to DC once for 5 days and couldn’t believe how many attractions/monuments were free to explore! I’m definitely bringing my kids here in a few years so they can take advantage of the amazing art and history!
Great post – so complete! A guide to save for DC. Thanks!
Great post! Great pictures! I thought I was a pretty DC regular, growing up going there often, but there were a few places on here that I had never been! Thanks for sharing!
Whoa this is a nice and elaborative post. I didn’t know that Washington has so much of free things to do. Great pictures and text
This list is truly amazing. I had no idea the full extent of everything there was to see in Washington DC, never mind the fact that these are all free. How wonderful is that! I am really looking forward to visiting when I’m next in the area.
This is an excellent post, and very helpful to all travellers regardless of whether they’re budget, luxury etc. I was in DC many years ago, but really enjoyed all the memorials and gardens. I didn’t get to visit any of the musuems, I never realised they’re free. On my return visit, I’ll know now to stop by!
Washington looks amazing! Soo much history packed into here! I will defo need to take an adventure here!
Glad you included Postal Museum. It’s my favorite, followed by Newseum.
Washington DC is so filled with museums and memorials! I am so glad you also included some other places for travelers who don’t care that much about American history and art. I would definitely want to chill in Kenilworth garden and the zoological park.
Never knew there were so many interesting things to do in Washington and especially not for free. The photo of the statues in the grass gave me goosebumps. The Constitution Gardens seem to be quite interesting for a stroll.
Who doesn’t like freebies. I think discovering and sharing all the free attractions any city has is always great. Even though Washington is such a world city, I was unaware that they had so many memorials and gardens too, some how I thought it was be all about important buildings and not too much else. And what a great lost of Museums to add to everything else. Thanks for this and although I might not be travelling anytime soon, this is something I can always share with friends and family that do travel that side.
I saved this for my future trip. Thank you for sharing this, good guide for tight bidget traveler like me 😀
Free is a good price. Though it does come at a cost of many MANY people doing the same thing. But then again, some of the attractions are well worth it, at least once in a lifetime.
Wow, you have a lot of good suggestions here! I love the Korean War Memorial, I would definitely be down to check that out.
Everybody loves free activities 😉 Thanks for sharing the long and divers list! Saved for future reference…
Very nice things to do in Washington and that too free. Recent 1 week before I was in Washington and really I had a nice time. I missed American art museum. Constitution garden is nice place for a walk.
Great list! Washington DC has so much to do.
That’s a very exhaustive list! I’m surprised that the botanical garden is free, it’s rarely the case. Good for them!
Washington is a great place for history lovers. I really love the monuments there. I didn’t know there are so many free things to do. Bookmarking this for my next visit.
There are so many great things to do for free in Washington! Washington has never been high-up on my bucket list but I think we would actually really enjoy all the history.
Where is the very top pic from?
I was wondering the same thing. When I touched the pic is said that it was at the arboretum