JFK Gravesite and the Eternal Flame at Arlington

President John F. Kennedy is buried on a gentle hillside in Arlington National Cemetery, just below the Custis-Lee Mansion (Arlington House), and his grave is marked by the Eternal Flame — a small, continuously burning flame set at the head of the gravesite. It is one of the most visited spots in the entire cemetery, and on a clear day the view from the terrace looks straight across the Potomac River to the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the U.S. Capitol beyond. Few places in Washington line up history and skyline so neatly. This guide covers exactly where to find the grave, the story behind the flame, how to get there, and the smartest way to fit it into a Washington DC trip.

Where the JFK gravesite is

The Kennedy gravesite sits on the eastern slope of the cemetery, a short but uphill walk from the Welcome Center near the main entrance. President Kennedy rests beside First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and two of their children who died in infancy; his brothers, Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward (Ted) Kennedy, are buried nearby in their own simpler plots. The president's grave is set on a low granite terrace paved with irregular stones and inscribed with quotations from his 1961 inaugural address. Take a minute to read the inscriptions — the words carry more weight standing over the flame than they do on a page. Because the site is built into the hillside, the approach is a series of paths and steps, so comfortable shoes help, and the gentle climb is part of why many visitors appreciate having a guide set the pace and fill in the history for them.

The story of the Eternal Flame

The Eternal Flame was lit by Jacqueline Kennedy at the president's funeral in November 1963, and it has burned ever since. The idea was hers — a permanent flame as a national symbol of remembrance — and it makes the Kennedy plot unlike any other in the cemetery. The current granite terrace and walkway were finished a few years after the funeral, giving the flame the dignified, open setting it has today. The flame is fed by a gas line and built to reignite itself automatically if wind or rain ever snuffs it out, which is why you'll see it flickering steadily in almost any weather. Standing at the terrace is a genuinely moving moment: a quiet flame, the inscribed words of the inaugural address at your feet, and the monumental core of the capital laid out across the river. It is the kind of place where people instinctively lower their voices.

How to get to Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery is across the Potomac River in Virginia, just over the Memorial Bridge from the Lincoln Memorial. The easiest way to arrive is by Metro: the cemetery has its own stop, Arlington Cemetery on the Blue Line, which drops you right at the Welcome Center. If you're staying near the National Mall, the Smithsonian station is the closest stop to the memorials, and the ride over is short. From the Welcome Center it's a steady uphill walk of roughly ten to fifteen minutes to the Kennedy gravesite, with signs pointing the way. Driving is possible, but parking is limited and paid, so transit is usually the better call. Remember that Arlington is an active military cemetery with funerals taking place daily — visitors are asked to stay on the paths, keep noise down, and dress respectfully.

See the Changing of the Guard while you're there

The other unmissable sight at Arlington is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its Changing of the Guard, a precise, silent ritual performed by sentinels of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard. The ceremony happens every hour, and every half hour during the summer months, rain or shine — the Tomb is watched around the clock, every day of the year. It's a manageable walk from the Kennedy gravesite, so most visitors pair the two, and timing your route to catch a changing of the guard takes a little planning. That's one reason a guided visit pays off. The Arlington Cemetery Guided Tour with Changing of the Guard runs about 2 hours from $69.99 and is built to hit both the JFK gravesite and a guard change, with the history filled in along the way so you're not just reading plaques. If you'd rather map the day yourself, our trip planner can help you sequence it.

Best time to visit and what to expect

Arlington rewards an early start. Mornings are quieter, cooler, and better for photographs of the flame and the skyline view. Spring is especially popular — cherry blossoms typically peak from late March to early April around the Tidal Basin, and many travelers pair a cemetery morning with blossom-season strolling on the Mall. Allow more time than you think: the grounds are large and hilly, and between the Kennedy gravesite, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and Arlington House there is a lot of walking. Stop at the Welcome Center first to get oriented and use the restrooms, bring water in summer, and dress for the weather, since the ceremonies run rain or shine. Above all, remember this is a place of mourning — photography is fine, but keep it respectful, especially if you encounter a funeral procession.

Pairing Arlington with the National Mall

Because Arlington sits directly across the river from the monumental core, it slots naturally into a DC itinerary alongside the memorials. The National Mall runs about 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 at night. A common rhythm is Arlington in the morning, then the Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean War memorials in the afternoon — easy to do on foot with the DC memorials walking tour. If you want to climb the 555-foot Washington Monument, reserve a timed elevator slot in advance with Washington Monument tickets, and consider seeing the floodlit memorials after dark on a night memorials walking tour. Together, Arlington and the Mall tell two halves of the same American story — one of sacrifice and remembrance, the other of the ideals those sacrifices were made to defend.