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Washington Monument Lodge

Visiting the Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is open daily except July 4 and December 25.

Summer Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (May 31 - September 6, 2010), with the last tour beginning before 9:45 p.m.

Rest of Year: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., with the last tour beginning before 4:45 p.m.

Washington Monument admission is free, but does require a ticket.

The Washington Monument Lodge, located along 15^th Street, opens at 8:30 a.m. for distribution of free, same day, timed tickets on a first come first serve basis. One person may pick up as many as six tickets as well as select their preferred ticket time from what remains available for that operating day. All individuals (including children) must have a ticket.

During peak season, tickets run out quickly and the line for tickets can form at 7:00 a.m. or earlier; please plan accordingly.

If you wish to reserve tickets, you may do so by visiting the National Park Service ticket website at http://www.recreation.gov, or by calling 1.877.444.6777 for individual tickets or 1.877.559.6777 for group reservations. There is a $1.50 service charge per ticket. These tickets may be picked up at the “will call” window of the Washington Monument Lodge on the day of your tour.

Please be aware that during peak season of April-September, tickets frequently are reserved months in advance.

Please note the following regulations with regard to visiting the Washington Monument:

No storage facility available

No Animals (except certified guide dogs)

No Suitcases or Large Backpacks

No Guns or Knives

No Strollers

No Food or Drink

No Mace or Aerosol Cans

Please notify a park ranger if you have a medical condition and/or device (e.g. pregnancy, pacemaker, insulin pump, et cetera) that requires special attention at the security screening facility.

Transportation

Parking throughout the District of Columbia is restricted generally (see individual area signs for site specific closures/restrictions) from 12:00 A.M. to 6:00 A.M. to facilitate cleaning and maintenance.

Washington, D.C. is a very busy metropolitan area. Parking is at a premium throughout the entire city. It is highly recommended that you make use of the efficient public transit system (Metro rail and Metro bus) as well as Tourmobile, the official interpretive visitor transportation service for the National Mall and Memorial Parks. Information and schedules for Metro can be found at www.wmata.com. Information and schedules for Tourmobile may be found at www.tourmobile.com. Private paid parking garages and lots can be found downtown north of the National Mall. Free on street parking is generally restricted to two hours (ticketing/towing enforced). Limited free day long parking is available along Ohio Drive, SW which is along the Potomac River south of the Lincoln Memorial or in Lots A, B & C south of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.