It can be hard to plan a DC itinerary, there’s so much to do, and because the time to cover the museums will vary depending on your family. Another factor to consider is the time of year which will add the issues of the length of time to go through security lines and navigating crowds.
Some museums, such as the African American History and Culture Museum, may require timed entry passes. Please check their websites before visiting.
We visited the week of Thanksgiving and found the crowds to be minimal. None of the museums we visited required timed entry passes.
Here I list our planned itinerary. Be sure to click on each day to see how we actually did and what we changed around due to weather and visit length.
With three teens and an adult college student, our family of six was able to cover a lot of ground each day. We walked 18+ miles over 3 days!
Washington, DC Day 1 Places to See:
When visiting DC, if the weather doesn’t cooperate for walking outside to view the memorials, swap the day with a museum day.
- White House
- Washington Monument
- World War II Memorial
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Lincoln Memorial
- Korean War Memorial
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
- Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
- Thomas Jefferson Memorial
- Lunch at the US Holocaust Museum Cafe – vegetarian cafe fare.
- US Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, DC Day 2 Places to See:
Honestly, you could spend the whole day at the Air and Space Museum; there’s a lot to cover! We only spent half a day because we had Capitol tour tickets.
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
- Ulysses S. Grant Memorial
- US Capitol Tour
- Library of Congress
Washington, DC Day 3 Places to Visit:
- National Archives
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Suggestions for additional days:
- African American History and Culture Museum
- National Museum of the American Indian
- National Gallery of Art
- Tour DC on a Trolley Tour:
Read more about Washington, DC:
- Washington DC Tips to Save Your Big Family Money and Time
- Great Hotel for Big Families in Washington, DC – Residence Inn Arlington Ballston
- Tips for Where to Eat Lunch on the National Mall
- Big Family Washington DC Trip – Day Three Itinerary with Kids
- Big Family Washington DC Trip – Day Two Itinerary with Kids
- Big Family Washington DC Trip – Day One Itinerary with Kids
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