Arlington National Cemetery: A Complete Visitor's Guide

Arlington National Cemetery sits just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, in Virginia, and it rewards a little planning. The short version: arrive in the morning, take the Blue Line Metro straight to the Arlington Cemetery stop, and head first to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to catch the Changing of the Guard (every hour, and every half hour in summer). From there, work your way to President John F. Kennedy's gravesite and the Eternal Flame. The grounds are vast and hilly, so wear comfortable shoes, set aside two to three hours, and treat the whole place as the active military cemetery and memorial it is. This guide covers how to get there, what to see, and how to make the most of a visit that many travelers call the most moving few hours of their DC trip.

How to get to Arlington National Cemetery

Getting here is genuinely easy, which surprises a lot of first-time visitors. Arlington has its own Metro station, Arlington Cemetery on the Blue Line, and the stop leaves you a short walk from the Welcome Center. If you are coming from the National Mall, the Smithsonian station is the closest stop on that end, and the Blue Line connects the two with no transfer, so the cemetery folds neatly into a Mall-focused day.

Driving is possible too, with paid parking at the Welcome Center, but Metro spares you the traffic and the bridge crossings. However you arrive, everyone enters through the Welcome Center, where you pass through security and can pick up a map, so plan to start there rather than wandering in from the road. If you would rather skip the logistics entirely, a guided tour that includes round-trip transport from downtown DC removes the guesswork.

The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

For most visitors, the Changing of the Guard is the centerpiece. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded continuously, every hour of every day and in every kind of weather, and the formal ceremony to relieve the sentinel is precise, silent, and unforgettable. It takes place every hour on the hour, and every half hour during the summer months, so check the time when you arrive and pace your visit to land there a few minutes early.

Arrive ahead of the hour to find a spot, and honor the posted requests for silence and respect, this is a solemn occasion, not a performance. The Tomb sits beside the Memorial Amphitheater, an uphill walk from the entrance, so factor in the climb. Standing there as the guards execute each measured step is the kind of moment that stays with people long after they leave Washington.

Key sites you should not miss

Beyond the Tomb, a handful of sites anchor most visits. At the Kennedy gravesites, President John F. Kennedy rests beneath the Eternal Flame alongside Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and the spot draws a steady, quiet stream of visitors while offering one of the best views back across the river toward the city. Just up the hill, Arlington House, the former home connected to Robert E. Lee, crowns the ridge and frames that same panorama.

The cemetery is also the resting place of hundreds of thousands of service members and their families, set across rolling acres of white headstones, a sight that lands harder in person than any photograph prepares you for. Other notable stops include the USS Maine Mast Memorial and memorials honoring specific conflicts and units. Because the grounds are so large, picking three or four priorities in advance beats trying to see everything, and a knowledgeable guide can connect the sites into a story rather than a checklist.

Touring Arlington with a guide

Arlington is walkable, but it is big and hilly, and the history behind each section is easy to miss on your own. A guided visit solves both problems. The Arlington Cemetery Guided Tour with Changing of the Guard runs about two hours and starts from $69.99, pairing an expert guide with the day's signature ceremony so you reach the essential sites without the navigation or the uphill guesswork. It is an efficient way to cover the Tomb, the Kennedy gravesites, and the surrounding memorials with context that turns names on stone into stories.

Going with a guide also takes the pressure off timing the Changing of the Guard, since the tour is built around it, and off mapping the sprawling grounds in the moment. If you are short on time in DC, this is one of the highest-value couple of hours you can book. You can compare it against other DC experiences on our tours page, or reach us through the contact page if you are coordinating a larger group.

How Arlington fits into a DC itinerary

Most travelers pair Arlington with the National Mall, and the two complement each other naturally. The Mall runs roughly two miles from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian museums along it are free, and the memorials stay open 24 hours and are beautifully lit after dark. A common rhythm is Arlington in the morning, when the light is good and the crowds are thinner, followed by an afternoon and evening on the Mall.

If you want to keep exploring on foot, a DC memorials walking tour links the Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean War, and World War II memorials in one loop, while the night memorials walking tour shows them glowing against the dark for a completely different mood. For a view over it all, the Washington Monument stands 555 feet tall and is reached by a timed ticketed elevator, so reserve Washington Monument tickets in advance, because same-day passes go quickly. You can sketch the whole day on our trip planner.

Practical tips before you go

A few details make the visit smoother. Wear comfortable, supportive shoes, the terrain is hilly and you will cover real distance. Bring water in warmer months and dress for the weather, since the most memorable moments happen outdoors. Photography is allowed in most areas, but keep it respectful, especially at the Tomb and at gravesites where families may be present.

Remember that Arlington is an active cemetery and a place of mourning, so quiet voices and unhurried movement are the norm. Give yourself at least two hours, more if you want to linger, and aim for a morning start to beat both the heat and the afternoon crowds. If cherry blossom season brings you to DC, the Tidal Basin blooms typically peak from late March to early April, so an Arlington morning pairs well with blossoms in the afternoon. Plan a little, slow down once you are there, and Arlington will reward you with a visit you remember for the right reasons.