Washington DC on a Budget

Things to do | Travel | Washington DC | United States


The Capital Columns at the US National Arboretum

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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25 Comments

  1. 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!

  2. 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!

  3. 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!

  4. 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

  5. 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.

  6. 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!

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

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