A Day Trip Guide to Washington, D.C.

It’s only been a couple of weeks since school got out. But you might be looking at your kids on their phones and tablets and thinking, “Oh no…should they be doing something? Learning? Getting out of the house? Are they not being enriched enough??” Don’t panic, we’ve got a plan. If you want to spend a day in a beautiful, historic capital (you know…besides Annapolis), Washington, D.C. is the perfect place. 

Tips & Tricks

• Do some research before your trip to see any traffic and transit changes. The Great American State Fair, America 250, and the World Cup will all lead to road closures and delays.
• Prepare to go through security. There are bag checks and item restrictions at museums. And for events on the Mall, you may need clear bags.
• Everything is farther away than you think. Wear good shoes, bring water, and take bathroom breaks whenever you see a public restroom.

How to Get There

Look, I know. This is the hardest part. Once you’re in D.C., things are peachy. But getting there is…woof. Let’s look at all the options for getting there and back, so you can figure out your plans in between.

Driving

Going to D.C. by car is simple. Just get on 50 and go west. Boom. Done. Parking options are…a little more complicated, but you can plan ahead. 

• Street Parking
  • Accessible parking is available on the Mall. Out-of-state stickers and placards are recognized. Look for meters with red tops. 
  • Metered parking costs $2.30 per hour, which you can pay with coins, credit card, or on ParkMobile.
• Garages
  • Colonial Parking, LAZ Parking, Parking Management Inc. (PMI), and One Parking are all companies that own garages around town.
  • Expect to pay $20-$40 for daily parking.
  • Not all garages are open on weekends. 
• Reservation Apps
  • SpotHero and ParkWhiz both offer parking options from individuals renting out spaces and businesses that manage garages.

Public Transit

Driving might be too tricky during events and holidays. Public transit is highly encouraged, especially during these busy summer days. 

• MARC
  • MARC trains go to Union Station in Washington, which is about a 15-minute walk to the National Mall. The walking route is shaded some of the way.
  • Tickets cost $6 or $7 one-way, depending on your station of origin.
  • You can purchase tickets using CharmPass, at a machine, from a conductor (only one-way tickets in cash only), or from a ticket agent at Odenton Station. 
  • The closest stations to Annapolis are Odenton, Bowie State University, Seabrook, and New Carrollton. They are all on the Penn Line, and you can see the timetable here.
• Metro
  • Use this website to see the Metro lines and plan your trip.
  • You can use your credit or debit card directly on the faregate. No separate card required.
  • Or you can get a SmarTrip card. You won’t be able to double-tap for each person, so everyone will need their own to move through the faregates faster. You can add them to your smartphone using their app or your mobile wallet. 
  • You will also need to tap a card at the faregates to leave the stations. You might play a bit of “musical faregates” with travelers coming the other way. 
  • The Metro stops closest to Annapolis are New Carrollton, which is on the Orange and Silver lines, and Downtown Largo, which is on the Blue and Silver lines.
    • New Carrollton is a mess, guys. There’s construction that’s eaten up the parking lots, and the kiss-and-ride is more of a tuck-and-roll. I recommend Largo instead. 
    • From either station, you can take any train line. Blue, Silver, and Orange all go to stops near the Mall.
• Bus
  • The bus costs $6 (Zone 3 is on this side of the bay) one-way. Use CharmPass to purchase tickets or bring exact change on the bus.
  • The public bus routes from the Annapolis area are 220, 230, 240, 250, and 260. There are Park & Rides located in Severna Park, Harry S. Truman Parkway, and Davidsonville. There is also a stop at Rowe Blvd./Taylor Ave. and along West Street downtown.
  • Going from Anne Arundel to D.C., the departure times are limited to early morning between 5 and 7:45 AM, depending on the bus line. 
  • From D.C. to Anne Arundel, buses leave between noon and 1. Then they don’t leave again until after 3 PM until 6:30 PM.
  • FlixBus is a privately owned company you can use to get to D.C. But it leaves Annapolis only at 1:40 PM and 5 PM.

Getting Around

You made it! You’re in D.C. You’ve stepped off of the train at Union Station or one of the Metro stops. Or you just finished parking (and taking a picture to remember where you parked). What’s the best way to get around, especially in muggy mid-Atlantic heat?

• Tour Bus: A hop-on, hop-off trolley tour is a great way to get around the National Mall. Companies such as Old Town Trolley Tours and Big Bus Tours will let you hop off to visit a museum, then hop on the next trolley to continue the tour.
  • For parents: Old Town Trolley allows collapsible strollers on board, but they must stay with you. Big Bus Tours also allows strollers as long as they are stowed on the lower deck. (Source: I asked the chat bots on their websites.)
• Scooter Rental: E-Mile offers scooters for children under 16, with helmets included, for $20 per hour. You can park your scooter and return to it later. They also operate on holidays.
• Metro and Bus: They can get you within a mile of some of the major sites on the Mall.
• Walk: If you’ve got kids small enough to be in strollers, and a good pair of walking shoes, you should be able to manage.

What to Do

Everyone in the family is going to want to do something different. One kid wants to see dinosaurs, the other wants to see rocket ships, and Mom wants a few minutes in The National Gallery of Art for some peace and quiet. Don’t try to fit too many activities into your day. Here are some suggestions, costs (if any), and what they offer for families:

Museums

• National Air and Space Museum: The most popular museum in D.C. (according to the docent as we were going inside). It’s free, but you need to register tickets online. There are hands-on activities for kids and huge, impressive displays.
• National Museum of African American History and Culture: The Explore More! area on the upper level of the museum has interactive exhibits that kids will enjoy. Tickets are free but they require reservations.
• National Museum of Natural History: See displays of fossils and animals, both extinct and modern. Admission is free and tickets are not required.
• United States Botanic Garden: Get your hands dirty in their Children’s Garden and cool off with the misters. No tickets required.

Playtime

• National Children’s Museum: This is a good trip for the afternoon so the kids can have some fun. There’s a giant climbing structure and slide that they may want to do over and over. Hands-on puzzles, games, and activities are also all around. Tickets are about $19 per person ages 1 and up.
• National Building Museum: The firm Snarkitecture will open an immersive exhibit called The PLAYGROUND on July 3. That sounds like it’s worth a visit. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for kids 3-17, but those prices are likely to go up after July 3.
• National Museum of American History: Wegman’s Wonderplace and Draper Spark!Lab are areas where children can play and learn. 
• National Geographic Museum of Exploration: Newly opened on June 26, it will have immersive experiences including Geoverse and Learning Launchpad. Tickets are $30 for adults, $23 for kids 5-17, and free for children 4 and under.

Monuments and Centers of Government

• See the Washington Monument: You may not be able to get inside. Tickets are hard to come by online (they get scooped up by tour companies), but you can set up an alert for the dates you want to go. Also, you can get in line at the monument first thing in the morning. But you can always walk around the outside.
• Visit the West Side Memorials: The Lincoln Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial are all near the Tidal Basin. This is where a hop-on, hop-off tour bus would come in handy.
• Tours of Our Government Buildings: The Capitol, the Library of Congress, the White House, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and the FBI Headquarters all offer tours. You need to reach out to your congressperson for tickets, which are free. 

Outside of the Mall

For another day, here are some other iconic D.C. experiences: 

• The National Zoo and Rock Creek Park
• The Navy Yard and a Nationals Game 
• The National Arboretum
• Arlington National Cemetery
• National Harbor
• Mount Vernon

Where to Eat

I’m sure you’re not expecting to hobnob with the political elite, so I won’t recommend those restaurants. Instead, I offer a variety of price ranges and cuisines close to the National Mall or along your journey.

• Union Station: Fuel up before you start your day. Bullfrog Bagels has good food and coffee. There’s no seating inside, but you can find somewhere to sit in the station. You can always go to Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, or another fast food restaurant. Check their hours in case they open later (or not at all) on weekends when you plan to arrive.
• Food Trucks: Some trucks are better than others, but you should still keep your expectations low. I suggest eating at a restaurant, and maybe grabbing an ice cream from a truck if the kids (and you) do well all day. You can find trucks near the major museums and monuments. But check out ABC 7’s article about how to spot an unlicensed truck.
• Museum Restaurants: The National Gallery of Art’s cafés have a calm vibe. The National Museum of the American Indian has an incredible restaurant, as does the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The more popular museums are going to have longer lines and fewer empty tables. 
• Indoor Food Courts: If you’re going on a weekday, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center food court has plenty of seats. It’s near the National Children’s Museum, so it’s not a bad idea to get some energy before playtime. You need to go through security to get inside, and it’s not open on weekends. There’s also the L’Enfant Plaza food court near the Metro stop (L’Enfant Plaza and L’Enfant are two different Metro stops, I just need to make sure you know that) and the Spy Museum, on the south side of the Mall. 
• Sit-Down Restaurants: If you have a bigger group, make a reservation at Old Ebbitt Grill, The Hamilton, or Carmine’s. There’s also Hard Rock Café, Elephant & Castle, and Lincoln’s Waffle Shop.
• Fast and Fast-Casual: If you don’t want to overthink it, and you just want your kids to eat something so they stop complaining (it’s me, I’m kids), there are the usual suspects nearby. Corner Bakery, McDonald’s (one on the south side of the Mall and one on the north side), or Potbelly will do the trick for picky eaters. 

Events

This is a busy summer for our nation’s capital. D.C. is going all-out for America’s Super Sweet 250th. And the World Cup may not have games in Washington, but there are watch parties right on the Mall. Here are some of the top events:

• Salute to America 250: It seems only fitting to celebrate the Fourth of July on the National Mall. This event will have speeches, performances, flyovers, and fireworks. Follow the guide here to make sure you don’t bring any prohibited items. The event is free, but register for tickets here.
• The Great American State Fair: This fair will feature a different theme each day through July 10. You can ride a ferris wheel, eat food from every corner of America, and listen to live music.
• FIFA World Cup Fan Zone: See all the USA games (and select others) with hundreds of fellow fans between June 11 and July 18. 
• The Great American Farmers Market: August 3 to 8, celebrate American agriculture right on the Mall. 
• Grand Prix of Washington DC: See INDYCAR racing August 22 to 23, exact location TBD.
• National Book Festival: This annual event is a great way to get your literature fix while also celebrating the stories of America 250. On August 22, join the largest library in the world, the Library of Congress, to see your favorite authors and find your next favorite read.

We’re lucky to live so close to our nation’s capital. But like all “locals” (I know that word is doing a lot of heavy lifting here), we might be guilty of not doing the touristy things. Take a day—or two, or three—to take the family to one of the many fun activities in DC. There are activities for everyone, along with celebrations for America’s big birthday bash. Plan your day, hop on the train, and have fun in D.C.