Changing of the Guard at Arlington: Times and What to Expect

The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery happens every hour, on the hour for most of the year, and every half hour during the summer months. The ceremony runs in all weather, day and night, and has done so without interruption for decades. If you want to see it, plan to arrive at the Memorial Amphitheater plaza about 10 to 15 minutes before the top of the hour so you can find a spot along the marble steps before the crowd settles in.

That single fact answers the question most visitors are searching, but the ceremony rewards a little context. This guide covers the schedule, how to reach Arlington from downtown DC, what the ritual actually involves, the etiquette expected of you while you watch, and how to fold it into a fuller day of seeing Washington's memorials.

When the Changing of the Guard happens

The guard at the Tomb is changed every hour during the cooler half of the year and every half hour in summer, around the clock. Because the exact summer start date shifts slightly from year to year, the simplest rule is this: arrive roughly between April and September and you can expect a ceremony on the hour and the half hour; the rest of the year, plan around the top of each hour.

The cemetery itself opens in the morning and closes in the early evening, with extended hours in spring and summer. The Tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, but public ceremonies only happen while the grounds are open to visitors, so aim for a daytime hour. The very first and very last ceremonies of the day tend to draw the smallest crowds, which matters if you want an unobstructed view.

What actually happens at the Tomb

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honors American service members who died without their remains being identified. It is watched over without pause by the Tomb Guard, soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment known as 'The Old Guard.' During the changing, a relief commander walks onto the plaza, inspects the relieving sentinel's rifle and uniform with painstaking precision, and then the outgoing and incoming guards exchange the post in a slow, deliberate sequence of measured steps, heel clicks, and shouldered rifle.

Watch closely and you will see the sentinel pace exactly 21 steps, pause, and turn — a cadence meant to echo the 21-gun salute, the highest military honor. The whole ceremony takes only a few minutes, but the discipline and the silence make it one of the most moving things you can witness in Washington. Many visitors call it the single most memorable stop of their trip.

How to get to Arlington from downtown DC

Arlington National Cemetery sits just across the Potomac River in Virginia, an easy trip from the National Mall. The cemetery has its own Metro station — Arlington Cemetery on the Blue Line — which drops you right at the Welcome Center entrance, no transfers or long walks required. From the Smithsonian station on the Mall, it is only a few stops away.

If you would rather skip the Metro, Arlington is a short drive or rideshare from the Lincoln Memorial, which sits at the western end of the Mall almost directly across Memorial Bridge. Keep in mind that the Tomb is uphill from the Welcome Center — about a 15-minute walk through the grounds — so wear comfortable shoes and build in time to reach the Amphitheater before your chosen ceremony.

What to expect as a visitor (and the etiquette)

Arlington is an active military cemetery and a place of mourning, not a museum, so the atmosphere is solemn and the rules are taken seriously. During the ceremony you will be asked to stand and remain silent — no talking, no eating, and absolutely no walking around while the guard is being changed. Photography is allowed, but do it quietly and never use flash near the sentinels.

A few practical tips: the plaza steps offer the best sightlines, so claim a spot early. The ceremony goes on rain, shine, or snow, so dress for the weather and bring water in summer, when shade is limited. The grounds are vast and the hills are real, which is why many travelers combine the Tomb with a guided ride rather than trying to find every site on foot. If you are visiting other sacred and memorial sites in the city, our night memorials walking tour carries the same quiet, reflective tone after dark.

See it with a guide who knows the grounds

Arlington holds hundreds of thousands of graves spread across rolling, wooded acres, and the most meaningful stories — where President Kennedy's eternal flame burns, the history behind the Tomb itself, the generals, astronauts, and ordinary soldiers resting side by side — are easy to miss on your own. A guide turns a scattered walk into a coherent, emotional story and times your route so you reach the Tomb exactly as the ceremony begins.

The Arlington Cemetery Guided Tour with Changing of the Guard is built around that timing. Over about two hours, from $69.99, your guide walks you through the cemetery's key memorials and gets you to the Amphitheater in time to watch the guard change, so you never have to gamble on the schedule or hike the hills hoping you read the clock right. It is the easiest way to make sure the centerpiece of your visit actually lines up.

Make a full day of it in Washington

Because Arlington is so close to the Mall, the Changing of the Guard pairs naturally with the rest of monumental Washington. Cross back over the Potomac and you are minutes from the Lincoln Memorial, the reflecting pool, and the long green sweep of the National Mall, which runs about two miles from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol. The memorials are open 24 hours and beautifully lit at night, and the Smithsonian museums lining the Mall are all free.

If you want to thread Arlington together with the marble icons across the river, a guided DC memorials walking tour covers the Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean War, and World War II memorials at a walkable pace. To stand atop the 555-foot Washington Monument, you will need a timed elevator ticket, which you can lock in ahead of time with Washington Monument tickets. Browse everything we offer on our tours page, or tell us your dates and we will help you build the day.

However you plan it, the Changing of the Guard belongs near the top of your list. It costs nothing to watch, runs like clockwork every hour, and delivers a few minutes of precision and reverence that most travelers remember long after the rest of the trip blurs together.