Part of the original design for the federal city, this massive park stretches from the US Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and around the Tidal Basin to the Jefferson Memorial. It has played host to many momentous, world-changing events throughout history including the 1963 March on Washington, the Million Man March and several presidential inaugurations. Today, the National Mall serves as a place for reflection, a memorial to American heroes, a symbol of freedom and a forum for the exercise of democracy. The Smithsonian museums, the Vietnam Memorial, the Reflecting Pool and the iconic Washington Monument are some of the most well-known of the National Mall's many iconic sites. Certainly, any visit to Washington DC should start with a tour of the United States National Mall, aptly named America's front yard.
Website: nps.gov
Phone: (202) 426-6841
Cross Streets: Near the intersection of 15th St NW and 15th St SW/Jefferson Dr SW
Open now
- Thu Open 24 Hours
2 15th St NW Washington, DC 20024 ·145.50 mi
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Amenities
- Accessible
- Family friendly
Reviews
tripadvisor
Great place for an early morning walk, so much to see along the way. The Lincoln Memorial at one end and the US Capitol at the other. In between there's Washington Monument, the Vietnam Memorial and the WW2 Memorial just to name a few. The grounds are always well maintained and safe. The morning is also the best way to avoid the crowds. Highly recommend.
MoreThis place is Huge, it’s great to walk through. Wear comfortable shoes bring a picnic bag. Surrounded by activities and food trucks.
MoreThe National Mall in Washington, D.C. is absolutely worth seeing, but our visit was definitely affected by the timing. A large portion of the Mall was shut down for the weekend because of the Grand Prix, and unfortunately we couldn’t get tickets. Because of the closures, we also didn’t get to spend as much time exploring the museums as we had planned.We did get to see the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument, and took a walking tour through several of the famous memorials. Walking from one memorial to another and seeing these incredible landmarks up close was definitely a highlight.One of the most interesting things we discovered was near the Lincoln Memorial — two digital American flag displays rotate through names and information, and you can scan a QR code to search for family members or friends who served in the military. I thought that was a really meaningful and unique feature. Unfortunately, the Reflecting Pool was completely drained and under construction during our visit, with construction vehicles occupying the area. I was really looking forward to seeing the iconic reflection of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, so that was a bit disappointing.We also didn’t make it to the White House, which was another thing we had hoped to see.Even with the closures, construction and limited time, the National Mall was one of those places where you can feel the history around you. There is so much to see that I’d recommend allowing at least a full day — preferably more — if you want to properly explore the monuments, memorials and museums. Tip: Check the event calendar, construction updates and museum schedules before your visit. Major events can dramatically change access to the Mall.
MoreIf I wanted to just a military encampment, I’d have visited a military base.Ridiculous national guard soldiers guarding benches and hedges where there was zero crime whilst being bussed out at 5:30 each evening to let the DC police deal with real crime.How to put tourists off visiting your country!
MoreUsually visiting the National Mall is awesome, but this past week, half of the mall is blocked off for construction. They are cleaning up after 3 different functions. We had to walk farther than normal to see a slimmer of the White House. The reflecting pool in front of Lincoln’s Memorial was covered. I would wait awhile before visiting here.
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