Washington DC —
monuments, history & Arlington
Washington was our first full sightseeing day after leaving New York. From the Capitol and Lincoln Memorial to the White House and Arlington National Cemetery, this was one of the most history-packed stops of our entire road trip.
Take a virtual drive through the capital
Washington is one of those cities where it helps to understand the layout before you arrive. With our friends at Drive From Home, you can explore the capital virtually or jump straight behind the wheel for a virtual drive.
A full day surrounded by American history
After travelling down from New York via Philadelphia, we had a full day to explore Washington DC. The itinerary packed in some of the city's biggest landmarks: the Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, Lincoln Memorial and the White House.
It was a very different kind of day from the music cities and southern landscapes that came later. Washington was about monuments, institutions and the enormous amount of history concentrated into one place.
That visit is the part that stayed with us most strongly. Rather than trying to make this page a generic guide to everything Washington has to offer, we're keeping it focused on the Washington we actually experienced.
One of the headline landmarks of our sightseeing day and an essential part of Washington's monumental core.
Part of the political and institutional side of Washington that made this stop feel completely different to the rest of our route.
Another major Washington landmark included in our day.
One of the iconic monuments we saw during our full day in the capital.
We saw the White House as part of our sightseeing route before continuing through the city.
The most emotional stop of the day and one of the places that made the biggest impression on us during the entire trip.
The stop that stayed with us
Of everything we saw around Washington, Arlington National Cemetery was the place we described afterwards as one of the most moving locations of the whole road trip.
That's why it deserves its own section here rather than being buried in a checklist of Washington landmarks. Some travel experiences are memorable because they're fun; others stay with you because they make you stop and think. Arlington was firmly the latter for us.
Our Washington DC photos
Washington gave us some of the most recognisable sights of the entire road trip — here are a few moments from our day in the capital.
Our own photos from Washington DC.
Philadelphia → Washington → Virginia
Washington was the final big-city stop before the road trip changed character. From here we travelled into Virginia, visiting Williamsburg and Roanoke before heading for the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains.
Don't underestimate the distances
Washington's headline sights can look close together on a map, but a day around the National Mall can involve a lot of walking. With only one full sightseeing day, having a rough route helped us concentrate on the places we most wanted to see.
Find tours and experiences
Washington has an enormous amount to see. A guided city, monument or Arlington tour can be useful if you're trying to fit a lot into a short stay. Compare current options for your dates below.
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Absolutely essential here
For a long sightseeing day
You'll take plenty of photos
Much of the day is outdoors