Arlington National Cemetery Tour - A Day Trip from DC
If you’re heading to Washington DC, a visit to the historic Arlington National Cemetery is a must. Established during the Civil War, Arlington is not only the final resting place for two U.S. presidents but also for more than 400,000 active-duty service members, veterans and their families. With our Arlington National Cemetery Tour – A Day Trip from DC, you’ll visit all of the cemetery’s most well-known gravesites and memorials that are scattered throughout its 639 acres.
Located just across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, Arlington Cemetery is considered our nation’s most hallowed ground and is overseen by the Department of the Army’s Office of Army Cemeteries (OAC). On your private guided walking tour, you’ll learn about its history, plans for future expansion and hear little-known stories and facts as you stroll through the impressive grounds. You’ll also get up close to the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy, the infamous Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Iwo Jima Memorial and much more. Do you know someone who was buried at Arlington and/or have a particular gravesite you would like to visit? Not a problem as your DC custom tour is fully customizable!
Offered Year Round
Duration: 4-Hours
Start Time: Flexible (ANC is Open Daily from 8am to 5pm)
Meeting Location: Flexible
Activity Level: Easy
Arlington National Cemetery DC
Private Tour Itinerary
- Your four-hour Arlington Cemetery experience begins when you’re picked up in your luxury vehicle at your hotel or pre-determined location within the DC Metro area.
- From there it’s just a short ride through our nation’s capital and across the Arlington Memorial Bridge to the cemetery entrance.
- Upon arrival your licensed tour guide will escort you through check-in at the cemetery’s welcome center. Once checked in you can opt to explore the exhibitions housed in the welcome center that tell the story of Arlington National Cemetery prior to starting the tour – or you may choose to do so after the tour is completed.
- Your private tour will include the most sought-after sites in the cemetery. First, you’ll visit the most visited spot at ANC – the gravesite of JFK, which is home to the Eternal Flame as well as the graves of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and two of their children who tragically died as infants.
- Here you’ll also get a glimpse of Arlington House – as it sits on the hilltop just beyond the JFK gravesite – which was actually the nation’s first memorial to George Washington.
- Also on the agenda are stops at some of the most popular memorials on the grounds including the Space Shuttle Challenger and the Space Shuttle Columbia Memorials, both of whose crews perished in separate shuttle disasters.
- No trip to Arlington National Cemetery is complete without a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which is situated next to the Memorial Amphitheater. Here you’ll get to be a spectator at the Changing of the Guard, an elaborate ceremony that is sure to bring on goosebumps or possibly even a tear to your eye.
- Among the other gravesites you’ll stop by are those of President William Howard Taft – the only U.S. president besides JFK that is buried at Arlington, Robert Todd Lincoln – the first son of President Lincoln and the only to live to adulthood and Alexander Haig – Chief of Staff under President Nixon who is oft described as the “acting president” during Watergate’s final months.
- Along the way you may also have a chance to see the Air Force Memorial, the US Marine Corps War Memorial – which is better known as the Iwo Jima Memorial as well as many other memorials.
- After your historical (and often emotional) journey through our nation’s history via Arlington National Cemetery you’ll emerge to find your luxury vehicle waiting to take you back to your hotel or other drop-off location in the DC Metro area.
- The order in which attractions are visited is subject to change and at the guide’s discretion. All stops, timing and inclusions of the tour are dependent on traffic and weather conditions.
- Ride in comfort in our luxury vehicles with professional drivers and bottled water
- Experience the city and receive local tips from your savvy local guide
- Door-to-door service and flexible timing (additional charge for outside of the Metropolitan DC area)
- Driver gratuity included
- 24-hour support phone number
*Gratuity for the tour guide is not included.
The starting time and date of the tour are customizable to fit your schedule. Arlington Cemetery is open daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
- We recommend a start time of 8:00am or 9:00am to beat the crowds at major sites.
- This tour is offered all year round, 7 days a week.
- Restrictions may apply depending on the date and time of the tour.
The starting location of the tour is customizable to fit your schedule. The tour can start at your hotel doorstep, at a restaurant where you just finished breakfast or custom location of your liking.
- Pick-up or drop-off locations outside of the DC Metropolitan area may accrue additional time & cost.
Starting from: $1,569 per experience
