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Washington Monument
National Mall and Memorial Parks
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 (16 years +) 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 Note: The call center only has access to the same ticket inventory as available on this page. The call center does not have access to any additional tickets. If a tour time is shown as sold out, there are no more advance reservation tickets for that day.
The Washington Monument dominates the DC skyline as a tribute to George Washington's military leadership, statesmanship, and wisdom. Constructed from marble, granite and gneiss, the monument is the world's tallest free-standing stone structure, towering 555 feet, 5-1/8 inches (169 meters) above the nation’s capital.
Plans for a national monument began as early as 1783 when the Congress passed a resolution to erect an equestrian statue to honor George Washington. Construction of a privately financed memorial was started in 1848 by the Washington National Monument Society, but faced challenges due to political turmoil and a lack of funds. The US Army Corps of Engineers completed the monument's construction in 1884, and it was opened to the public in 1888.
Visitors enter the monument and then ascend via elevator to the 500-foot level to behold sweeping views of the city. 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.
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 (16 years +) 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 Note: The call center only has access to the same ticket inventory as available on this page. The call center does not have access to any additional tickets. If a tour time is shown as sold out, there are no more advance reservation tickets for that day.
The Washington Monument dominates the DC skyline as a tribute to George Washington's military leadership, statesmanship, and wisdom. Constructed from marble, granite and gneiss, the monument is the world's tallest free-standing stone structure, towering 555 feet, 5-1/8 inches (169 meters) above the nation’s capital.
Plans for a national monument began as early as 1783 when the Congress passed a resolution to erect an equestrian statue to honor George Washington. Construction of a privately financed memorial was started in 1848 by the Washington National Monument Society, but faced challenges due to political turmoil and a lack of funds. The US Army Corps of Engineers completed the monument's construction in 1884, and it was opened to the public in 1888.
Visitors enter the monument and then ascend via elevator to the 500-foot level to behold sweeping views of the city. 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.
Need to Know
- Tickets
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 (16 years +) 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.
- Arrival Time
Visitors must arrive by the time on their ticket. If late, National Mall and Memorial Parks staff has discretion to limit/deny monument entry.
- Restricted Items
The National Park Service prohibits the following inside the Washington Monument:
(Storage is not available for any 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 any object with a 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 website
- 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. Additionally the Monument will close 1 day per month for routine maintenance and staff training.
Visitors must be on-site by their ticketed tour time.
- 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).
- Waiting Area
Ticket holders awaiting entry gather at the plaza bench lines 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.
- Accessibility
The Washington Monument is universally accessible.
- Tickets Required
Every visitor over the age of two must have an individual ticket.
Each Recreation.gov user account may purchase up to six tickets per day.
Booking Windows
- 10 AM ET 30 days in advance
- 10 AM ET 1 day in advance
Changes and Cancellations
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 (16 years +) 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.
No modifications allowed. Tickets may be cancelled until 2:00PM the day prior to the tour, but no refund will be offered. In the case that the Monument must close, tickets will not be exchanged or refunded.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
900 OHIO DRIVE, SW Washington DC 20024
Phone Number
(202) 426-6841
