Washington Monument Tour
Walk Up Tickets (Same Day Only)
The Washington Monument Lodge, located along 15th Street between Madison and Jefferson drives, opens at 8:45 a.m. for distribution of free, same day, timed tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis. One person may obtain up to six tickets as well as request their preferred ticket time. All visitors (including children ages 2+) must have a ticket to enter the Washington Monument. During peak season, tickets run out quickly. Be advised that many visitors form a line to wait long before the ticket window opens.
Online Advance Tickets
30 Day Advance Reservations - Order tickets online up to a month in advance of your visit. Inventory for the next available day (30 days out) becomes available at 10 a.m. each morning (e.g. - on May 7 at 10 a.m., tickets will become available for visits on June 6).
24-Hour Advance Reservations - Didn't get tickets in advance or planning a last minute visit? A limited number of additional tickets are made available at 10 a.m. each day for the next day's visits (e.g. - on May 7 at 10 a.m., tickets will become available for visits on May 8).
Both 30 Day Advance and 24 Hour Advance reservations may be made at recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. Though there is no admission fee for the Washington Monument, there is a $1.00 service charge per ticket to cover reservation service; these fees are NON-REFUNDABLE. Ticket availability is limited and all tickets for a given day are often reserved the day they become available.
Group Tickets (Online Only)
Groups may reserve up to 55 tickets up to 30 days in advance at recreation.gov ONLY. No walk ups are available for group tours. There is a $1.00 service charge per ticket to cover the reservation service.
Please plan ahead: All visitors MUST print their tickets in advance or have their tickets available to view on a mobile device. Please review printing directions in the Need to Know section.
Ticket holders awaiting entry gather on the plaza benches near the monument entrance. Ticket holders should prepare for potential exposure to the sun, wind, rain, and extreme temperatures. There are no restrooms, drinking water, food, or other amenities within the monument. The Washington Monument Lodge located on 15th Street has restrooms available to the public.
Access to the monument is secured by the United States Park Police. Visitor screening is to prevent prohibited items and other threats from entering the monument. This screening program is similar to what is done at airports and other federal buildings. No storage is available for prohibited items.
Upon entering the monument visitors ascend via elevator to the 500-foot level to behold sweeping views of the city. At the 500' Observation Level, visitors will be able to enjoy the views and speak with a Ranger. Visitors will descend one floor to the 490' Exhibit level to learn more about the Monument and prepare for the return trip. A 70 second elevator decent will conclude the trip. To learn more about Washington the man, the engineering marvel of the monument, and the design of the city named in his honor, Rangers will be available at each level to provide insight into the stories of this legacy.
Select a date to see a list of times
Need to Know
- Operating Hours
The Washington Monument is open 9 am to 5 pm daily (last available tour ticket at 4 pm) except for December 25, July 4, and part of July 3.
Visitors must be on-site by their ticketed tour time.
- Restricted Items
The National Park Service prohibits the following inside the Washington Monument:
(No on site storage available for prohibited items)
- Smoking;
- Food and drink (except a small quantity of sealed food items);
- Strollers;
- Bags larger than 18 x 16 x 8 inches;
- Animals (except service animals);
- Glass or ceramics;
- Weapons (including anything with blade or point including pocket-knives, scissors, nail-clippers, tweezers, etc);
- Ammunition;
- Mace or aerosols (Sunscreen, Deodorant, Bug Repellant, etc);
- Lighters;
- Vaporizers/E-Cigarettes;
- Explosives or highly flammable substances; and
- Additional items as listed in the Washington Monument web site: https://www.nps.gov/wamo/planyourvisit/restricted-items.htm
- Medical Conditions
Please let the security staff inside the screening facility know if you have any medical conditions ( e.g. pacemakers) that require special attention at the security screening facility.
- Advance Reservations
Advanced reservations are required. Tickets listed as “Not Yet Released” will become available one-day before the tour date at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. Until further notice, walk up tickets and group reservations will not be available.
All Recreation.gov orders are final. All fees are non-refundable. Advance reservation holders can print tickets via their Recreation.gov account.
- Unexpected Closures
The National Park Service may close the monument due to inclement weather, safety concerns, or other unforeseen events. All fees are nonrefundable. To re-schedule, you must make a new reservation (which includes a new reservation fee).
- Printing Tickets in Advance
All visitors MUST print their tickets in advance or have their tickets available to view on a mobile device. You may print tickets from your confirmation email or by visiting “My Reservations” on Recreation.gov. Please ensure you have these tickets prior to arriving at the Washington Monument.
