10 Practical Tips for Visiting Washington DC with Kids

As we wrap up our posts about the District of Columbia, I thought I’d end by sharing tips for visiting Washington DC with kids. I visited DC numerous times before we took a family trip there- and let me tell you, visiting with the kids is a totally different ball game. Like with any trip, Visiting Washington DC with kids takes a bit of planning and foresight.

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Tips for Visiting Washington DC with kids

1. Don't try to cram too much into your itinerary.

When I mapped out our itinerary, I planned for us to visit 3 places a day. That may not seem like a lot, but when you consider how long it takes to visit an attraction, transit in between, potty breaks, meals, etc., 3 places a day works out quite well.

When booking timed-entry tickets, I would book them for 10 o’clock and 4 o’clock,. This worked out perfectly for us! It gave us plenty of time at our first location and to check out another attraction before our 4:00 stop.

Check out our itinerary!

2. Try to stick to your normal schedule.

When we travel, we try to keep our schedules as close to our home schedule as possible. We’ve found that this helps cut down on meltdowns.

If your little one still naps, you may need to keep that in mind when you’re planning out your days in DC.

3. Make time for FUN!

As it turns out, many kids find museums to be…well…boring. Be sure to leave time for a little fun in your itinerary! Some National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum have done a great job or adding interactive displays in their exhibits.

After spending the morning learning about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and touring Ford’s Theater and the Petersen house, we let the kids decompress by running around and participating in STEAM activities at the National Children’s Museum. Y’all! THIS PLACE IS EVERYTHING! Trust me, add it to your itinerary now, your kids will thank you.

4. Take breaks.

Trust me, even if you use the Metro, you’ll be doing a TON of walking in DC. We walked between 7 and 8 miles every single day. Be sure to rest those little feet.

Enjoy an ice cream cone on the lawn at the National Mall, find a park bench, or find a spot to take a break inside of the museums.

5. Plan for the weather.

Straight up, the weather in DC during the summer months is miserable- and this is coming from a Florida girl. If you’re going during the summer, be sure to pack plenty of water and stay hydrated.

My favorite time to visit the capital is during the fall once the weather and crowds have died down.

If you’re going in the fall, winter, or even spring, consider dressing your kids in layers so they can peel off a layer as the days warms up. During our fall trip, our kids wore pants, a long sleeve shirt, and then a button down shirt on top. Towards the end of the day, we’d remove the top layer and tie it around their waist or toss it in our backpack.

6. Make sure your hotel is in an ideal location.

In the past, I’ve always stayed in Arlington or Alexandria when I’ve visited DC. When visiting Washington DC with kids, you’ll most likely want to book a room in DC so you can scoot back to the hotel quickly, if needed.

We found a hotel, Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall, that was in an ideal location. It was located less than 1/2 a mile away from the National Mall, and 1/2 a mile from the District Wharf, where there are plenty of food options.

Also, make sure your hotel includes breakfast. Trust me, the last thing you’ll want to do is drag hungry kids around first thing in the morning searching for breakfast.

7. All of the Smithsonian Museums are FREE

The Smithsonian museums are some of the best attractions in DC. The National Museum of American History features many pieces from pop culture that will probably spark your kids interest.

Our kids favorite museum was the National Air and Space Museum. There are lots of interactive elements (AND SPACE SHIPS!) that will keep your kids entertained.

Consider planning your museum visits for the afternoon, when the weather gets warmer, or in the event of rain.

8. Decide if You'll Be Bringing a Stroller

Despite the fact that everything we did in DC was all within the National Mall area, we did a TON of walking. As I mentioned before, we walked 25 miles during our 3 days in DC….and that is with us riding the Metro, a lot! You may want to bring along a stroller.

Our youngest were 4 when we went to DC and they were freaking champs when it came to walking. They didn’t complain once. In retrospect, with all of the running around they did in places like the National Children’s Museum, they probably did more than 25 miles on our trip.

9. Tour the White House

I’ve read other blogs that suggest you skip the White House tour, but they’re nuts- take the tour! It will be a memorable experience and will give them a little street cred.

Taking a White House tour requires a little advance planning. Be sure to check out our guide on Visiting the White House.

Although strollers are not allowed in the White House, you can baby wear (use a baby carrier worn on the body). Purses and bags are not allowed inside the White House, either, but there are lockers nearby (more info in the above mentioned post) where you can stash your belongings.

If you decide to skip the White House tour, considering going to the White House Visitor Center. The exhibits give you an insight on the daily lives of the President and their family.

10. See the Monuments at Night

Believe me, there’s nothing quite like seeing the monuments all lit up at night. If your kiddos aren’t too tired, take an evening stroll. If they are feeling a little drowsy, you can always find a spot on the lawn at the National Mall to take in the sights.

The Lincoln Memorial is jaw dropping at night, as is the Jefferson Memorial, and the Washington Monument. There are plenty of options available including tours via boat, trolley, and bicycle (for older kids).

Our Kids Must-Haves for DC

Our kids each have their own little camera to take with us on trips. The love bringing them along on our trips to capture their memories. Our kids have this one, which has a video mode that our kids love to play with.

One thing we always do is check out library books about the destinations we’re visiting. This gives our kids the opportunity to have some background knowledge about the things they are seeing. Amazon has this cute little Kids’ Travel Guide that is full of coloring pages, fun facts, and special activities.

Not that you ever need an excuse to be fancy AF, but DC makes for a pretty good reason. How cute would pictures at the Lincoln Memorial, Ford’s Theater, and White House be your kiddo in a top hat?

Ready to start planning?

Honestly, there’s nothing like a trip to Washington, DC. It is the perfect destination for families. If a museum or monument isn’t holding your kids attention, there’s always another one you can check out- and it’ll most likely be free!

If you’d like a little guidance for your itinerary, see our 4 Day Itinerary. It was designed with young kids in mind and hits a lot of the most popular sights in Washington, DC such as:

The White House
National Museum of American History
National Air & Space Museum
Ford’s Theater
Lincoln Memorial
Washington Monument
National Children’s Museum

and so much more!

Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure

For future reference, be sure to save our post: 10 Practice Tips for Visiting Washington DC with Kids. Pin one of the images below to Pinterest. Go ahead and follow 5Suitcases on Pinterest while you’re at it!

Be sure to check out our family-friendly 4 Day Washington DC Itinerary and our Ultimate Guide to the National Mall and Beyond to help you plan your trip. We’ll also show you how to score a tour of the White House and share Tips on Riding the DC Metro.