# DCMonumentsNightTour.com - Washington, DC monuments at night and the night tours compared

> Independent guide to seeing the monuments and memorials of Washington, DC after dark: what is open at night, the best
> memorials to see, walking routes, safety, and the night tours by trolley, bus, van, bike, e-cart, vintage car and on foot.
> Not affiliated with the National Park Service, any tour operator or GetYourGuide.

Site: https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com
Language: en. Currency: USD. Country: United States (Washington, DC).

## Verified facts

- The memorials of National Mall and Memorial Parks are open 24 hours a day; rangers are on duty from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (National Park Service).
- There is no fee to visit the sites of National Mall and Memorial Parks; timed tickets are needed only for the Washington Monument and Ford's Theatre (National Park Service).
- The Washington Monument is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Independence Day, Christmas Day and one maintenance day a month; tickets are free at the Washington Monument Lodge from 8:45 a.m. or $1 each online at Recreation.gov, released at 10 a.m. up to 30 days ahead (National Park Service).
- The elevator to the Washington Monument's 500-foot observation level takes about 70 seconds; the monument is 555 feet 5 1/8 inches tall (National Park Service, Recreation.gov).
- The Metro stations at the west end of the Mall are all at least a mile from the Lincoln Memorial (National Park Service).
- U.S. Park Police on the National Mall: 202-610-7500, or 911 in an emergency (National Park Service).

## Tours listed on this site

Booking links are GetYourGuide affiliate links (partner_id 7GG5I5H). The site earns a
commission at no extra cost to the reader and says so at https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/affiliate-disclosure/.
Prices are 'from' prices in USD at the last build and move.

- Monuments by Moonlight Night Trolley Tour (Union Station or the Washington Welcome Center) - from $59.95 per person, 2.5 hours, on foot: Two 30-minute stops (MLK and FDR; Lincoln, Vietnam and Korean War) plus a WWII Memorial stop; rated 4.6 from 1,622 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/tours/monuments-by-moonlight-trolley-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/washington-dc-l62/monuments-by-moonlight-washington-dc-nightime-trolley-tour-t15348/
- National Mall Monuments Sunset Walking Tour (Albert Einstein Memorial, Constitution Ave) - from $39 per person, 2 hours, on foot: The whole tour, walking from dusk into the lit-up evening; rated 4.8 from 84 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/tours/national-mall-sunset-walking-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/washington-dc-l62/dc-monuments-memorials-national-mall-sunset-walking-tour-t929167/
- Small-Group 3-Hour Night Tour by Van (1000 H St NW, near Union Station) - from $99 per person, 3 hours, on foot: Out at most sites: Lincoln, Jefferson, WWII, Vietnam and Korean War; rated 4.7 from 146 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/tours/small-group-night-tour-van/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/washington-dc-l62/washington-dc-small-group-3-hour-night-tour-t214173/
- National Mall Night Bus Tour (U.S. Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW) - from $64 per person, 3 hours, on foot: Hop off at several memorials for a closer look; rated 4.6 from 315 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/tours/national-mall-night-bus-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/washington-dc-l62/dc-at-dusk-night-tour-t44718/
- Monuments at Night Bike Tour (701 D St NW, Penn Quarter) - from $65 per person, 3 hours, on foot: About 4 easy miles by bike, a few minutes on foot at each memorial; rated 4.5 from 273 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/tours/monuments-at-night-bike-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/washington-dc-l62/washington-dc-monuments-by-night-bike-tour-t9995/
- Day or Night Monuments Tour by E-Cart (500 5th St NW, Penn Quarter) - from $44 per person, 2 hours, on foot: Photo stops at the memorials, little walking; rated 4.8 from 226 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/tours/day-night-monuments-e-cart-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/washington-dc-l62/washington-dc-monuments-at-night-photography-tour-t1212064/
- Day & Night Tour in a Vintage Car (515 15th St NW, by the White House) - from $69 per person, 2 hours, on foot: Get out at the key memorials for photos; rated 4.7 from 532 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/tours/vintage-car-night-tour/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/washington-dc-l62/washington-dc-day-night-electric-cart-vintage-car-tour-t658165/
- Night Tour: 10+ Monuments by Coach (790 or 800 Pennsylvania Ave NW, by option) - from $68 per person, 3 hours, on foot: Timed stops from the Capitol to Lincoln, about 1 hour 40 minutes on foot; rated 4.6 from 324 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/tours/night-tour-10-monuments/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/washington-dc-l62/washington-dc-under-the-stars-t42689/
- Sunset Cruise on the Potomac (Washington Harbour, Georgetown) - from $35 per person, 45 minutes, on foot: On the water: the memorials from the river at sunset; rated 4.1 from 158 GetYourGuide reviews. Page: https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/tours/potomac-sunset-cruise/ Booking: https://www.getyourguide.com/washington-dc-l62/washington-dc-sunset-cruise-on-the-potomac-river-t1344064/

## Guide pages

- https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/guides/are-dc-monuments-open-at-night/ - Are DC's monuments open at night? Yes, 24 hours and free. Rangers, Washington Monument hours, tickets and what closes.
- https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/guides/best-monuments-to-see-at-night-dc/ - The best DC monuments to see at night: what each looks like lit up, where to stand, the order to see them in and a quick table.
- https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/guides/monuments-by-moonlight-tour-worth-it/ - Is the Monuments by Moonlight trolley worth it? Length, stops, time on foot, the Iwo Jima note and how it compares in 2026.
- https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/guides/walking-dc-monuments-at-night/ - A self-guided night walk of DC's memorials: the route, distances and times, Metro, restrooms, shoes and when a tour is easier.
- https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/guides/is-the-national-mall-safe-at-night/ - Visiting the Mall after dark: the park service's own safety tips, who to call, lighting, crossings, downtown and where to stay.
- https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/guides/things-to-do-in-dc-at-night/ - What to do in DC after dark: museums open late, free museums, the Wharf, Georgetown, a sunset cruise, the White House and events.

## Blog posts (dated)

- 2026-11-05: https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/blog/dc-monuments-at-night-winter-2026/ - Dark by 5 p.m. from November to February: sunset times, the Christmas Tree dates, what to wear and the night tours for winter.
- 2026-11-05: https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/blog/cherry-blossoms-at-night-2027/ - The 2027 National Cherry Blossom Festival runs 20 March to 11 April. Peak bloom, the Tidal Basin after dark and night tours.
- 2026-11-05: https://dcmonumentsnighttour.com/blog/washington-monument-tickets-2026/ - Free tickets, a $1 online fee, the 10 a.m. release 30 days ahead, walk-ups from 8:45 a.m. and the late 2026 closure dates.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- The memorials on the National Mall do not close at night; they are open 24 hours (National Park Service).
- Visitors cannot climb the Washington Monument's stairs to the top; they ride the elevator up (National Park Service).
- The memorials are free; a 'ticket' is needed only for the Washington Monument's interior and Ford's Theatre.

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage or the relevant guide or tour page. Prices, schedules and rules change; verify close to your travel date.