Visiting the White House- How to Get a White House Tour and What to Expect
Visiting the White House is the opportunity of a lifetime. The White House tour is one of my most memorable experiences from all of my trips to Washington, DC. It requires a bit of planning to schedule a tour of the White House. Trust me when I say that it is well worth the effort!
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How to Schedule a Tour of the White House
The National Park Service no longer schedules tours of the White House. Instead, in order to secure a public tour, you must reach out to a Member of Congress (find your representative here). Requests must be made at least 21 days in advance, and up to three months out. We suggest submitting your request as early as possible since a limited number of spaces are available.
Tours are typically available from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM Tuesdays through Saturdays excluding federal holidays. The tours are free of charge.
At this time, embassies are not scheduling tours for international visitors.
After contacting your Congressperson, you’ll receive an email letting you know whether or not there are any White House tours available during your visit to Washington, DC. You will receive an email 2-3 weeks before your requested dates indicating whether or not the date is available.
If there are time slots available during your visit, you are assigned a specific day and time for your White House tour. Weirdly, when we requested our tour we received an email telling us there were no tours available. A couple of days later, I received a second email confirming our visit. At this time, I submitted our social security numbers and full names to the White House.
Once we received clearance, we received a “Boarding Pass” that we had to present to the Secret Service Agents, along with our IDs.
Required Documentation
In order to gain access to the White House, you’ll need to bring a copy of the letter of approval (a digital copy is okay) and a government-issued photo ID. Acceptable forms of identification include driver’s license, passport, military ID.
Items Prohibited on the White House Tour
- Aerosol sprays
- Ammunition
- Bags of any kind (including backpacks, purses, diaper bags, fanny packs, etc).
- Cameras with detachable lenses
- Weapons of any kid
- Fireworks
- Flags
- E-cigarettes, lighters, matches, tobacco products, drugs
- Foods and drinks
- Liquids of any kind
- Monopods & Tripods
- Signs
- Strollers
- Tablets
- Toy weapons
- Video Cameras
- Pointed objects
- Any item determined to be a potential safety hazard
There are no storage facilities available during the White House tour. There are also no restrooms available for public use. We suggest using the restroom at the White House Visitor Center prior to your tour.
So... what can you bring...?
Honestly, you should plan on bringing as little as possible. We brought our boarding pass, IDs, a credit card, a camera, a metro card, and an inhaler.
Visitors will have to pass through strict security prior to entering the White House. You’ll need to present your boarding pass, and ID cards (twice).
- Baby carriers worn on the body
- Baby wipes
- Breast pumps
- Cell phones
- Compact cameras with lenses less than 3 inches
- Diapers
- Umbrellas without metal tips
- Wallets
- Necessary medications
Remember, there is no storage available at the White House for guests. If your hotel is nearby, we suggest leaving your belongings in your room. If your hotel is far away, you can get a locker at Union Station. The lockers are located near Gate A and are available from 6 am until 10 pm. You’ll need a photo ID to get a locker. The cost is $3-6 per hour depending on the size of your bag.
Arriving for the White House Tour
Parking around the White House is limited, so we strongly suggest using public transportation. The White House is easily accessible via the metro.
The closest metro stations are Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange lines), Metro Center (Blue/Orange/Silver/Red lines), and McPherson Square (Blue/Orange/Silver lines).
If arriving via rideshare, use the White House Visitor Center as the drop-off address. The White House Visitor Center is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
The White House Tour entrance is located in Sherman Park at 15th Street NW and Alexander Hamilton Place NW. We suggest stopping by the White House Visitor Center prior to your tour to use the restroom since there are no restrooms available for public use at the White House.
Know Before You Go
- Tours are self-guided and last about 45 minutes.
- Dress for the weather– you’ll need to wait outside until your tour beings.
- Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time. Late arrivals may be turned away.
- A National Park Ranger will help ensure you’re lined up with the proper group and will have Junior Ranger booklets available.
- All guests must be previous registered via the RSVP link provided by the White House (via email).
- No flash photography or videography is permitted (there will be Secret Service agents in every room)
- Although the tour is self-guided, the Secret Service Agents can be a wealth of knowledge about the items found in each room.
What Rooms Will I See on the White House Tour?
Prior to our trip I did a lot of research on what rooms we’d be able to see during our White House Tour. Every website I checked listed the Blue Room, Red Room, Green Room, the State Dining Room and a view of the White House Rose Garden.
Much to my surprise, we actually got to see additional rooms! One our tour, we toured both the State Floor and the Ground Floor. We saw the movie theater, library, the East Room, Vermeil Room, China Room, State Dining Room, Green Room, Blue Room, and Red Room.
The White House tour was interesting. Walking into the White House, I expected it to be just as opulent as the Biltmore House and palaces such as the Tower of London and Versailles in Europe. I was rather surprised to find that the rooms were much less stately. The vibe felt a little more like going to visit your grandparents house, rather than the head of a country’s home.
That being said, it was really cool being able to marvel at the historical artifacts that decorate the White House. We got to see Shikler’s portrait of JFK along with other portraits of past presidents, first ladies, and influential Americans like Benjamin Franklin. It was very cool walking through the halls of the White House and retracing the footsteps of our nation’s leaders.
Secret Service agents are posted in each of the rooms. Although the tour is self-guided, the Secret Service agents are a wealth of knowledge and will happily tell you about the history of the rooms and even give you the background information the art (and even artists!) and decor in each room. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions- these ladies and gents are much more approachable than the guards at Buckingham Palace.
Having the privilege of taking a tour of the White House is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is definitely something every American should do at least once in their lifetime!
What is There to do Nearby?
- The White House Visitor Center
- Ford’s Theatre
- National Children’s Museum
- National Archives Museum
- National Portrait Gallery
- National Museum of African American History
- Museum of Natural History
- National Museum of American History
- National Air and Space Museum
- National Gallery of Art
- National Museum of the American Indian
- Library of Congress
- US Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Washington Monument
- World War II Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
FAQ About the White House Tour
Can you visit the White House as a toursit?
Yes! You do not need an invitation for the White House tour. You do, however, need to request a tour via a Member of Congress.
Who is allowed to take a White House tour?
All U.S. citizens 18 years and older are able to request a tour of the White House. Visitors 18 and older need to present a valid, government-issued ID. At the time of publication, only American citizens are able to visit the White House.
Are kids allowed in the White House?
Yes! This is a great place for kids to experience. When we visited our twins were 4 and our daughter was 8. This is a great way for kids to develop background knowledge for things they’ll learn in school!
Fun Fact: While we were in the White House, we had to remind one of the boys not to touch anything. In response, he made a face at Ashley behind her back. One of the Secret Service Agents laughed and said, “Man, you should have seen the face he gave you.”
Is there a dress code for the White House?
There is no set dress code for the White House. Since we were visiting multiple places on the day of our tour of the White House, we wore jeans.
Visitors should plan on waiting in a line outside of the White House, prior to their tour, and should plan to dress for the weather outside.
How long does the White House Tour take?
Since the White House tour is unguided, you can take as much time as you need to see everything. Most people spend about 30 – 45 minutes.
Can you take photos in the White House?
Photography is permitted so long as it does not interfere with other guests tour experience. Phones and cameras with lenses no longer than 3 inches are allowed inside the White House.
Can I meet the President on the White House tour?
No, tours are limited to the East Wing. The West Wing, and the Oval Office, are reserved for VIPs or guests of the President.
Save Our Info on Scoring a White House Tour
For future reference, be sure to save our post on getting a tour of the White House! Pin one of the images below to Pinterest. Go ahead and follow 5 Suitcases on Pinterest while you’re at it!
If you’re planning a trip to Washington, DC, check out our 4 day itinerary and our list of 15 Must See Places in Washington, DC.
3 Comments
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Casey
Hello, thank you for the post about how to visit the White House! I was happy to find something beyond just the official government website. When you requested a tour via email, did you have to do anything besides ask? Do they pick and chose based on why a person is visiting? Just wanting to know how much information to put into my email request! Thanks!
Elle MacRae
Hey, Casey! In my initial email, I just sent the dates that we would be in DC and listed the names of each person in my group. Most states will send out a form for you to fill out with any specific information needed.
Dear _____,
My name is _____________. My family will be visiting Washington, DC between _______ and _______. We are interested in touring the White House and hope you could help us facilitate this. The following people will be traveling with me: ________________. Please let me know what further details you need in order to set up a tour during our visit.
Respectfully,