Are you planning a trip to Washington DC this summer but have no idea where to start? I’m here to help you out, and the best part is, as the Queen of Frugality, they will all be free! They are in order of my personal preference, which might be a little different than what you’d expect.
No. 10 Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park is a 1,754 acre park in the heart of DC. It was authorized in 1890 by the National Park Service to provide an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. There are 32 hiking trails in the park. They also offer ranger programs and volunteer opportunities.
I included this park because I don’t think a ton of people outside of DC know that it exists! If you are someone that wants to get into hiking or walking but you don’t want anything too difficult I recommend Rock Creek Park. You can also bike on all the paved roads and trails.
No. 9 The White House & Museum
Did you know the White House is a National Park? Well it is, but the house itself is extremely inaccessible, for obvious reasons. The only way to tour the White House is put in a request through your local Congressman or Embassy. I’m not sure how easily they are approved.
However, there is a Visitor Center across the street from the White House that is extremely informative. It’s a decent-sized museum, I’d allow 2 hours for standing in the security line, reading the information, and getting a picture from outside the fence (picture above).
Please know that the crowds outside of the White House can get fairly large, and there are always a few weird ones out protesting. Always be aware of your surroundings!
No. 8 Smithsonian National Zoo
The Smithsonian National Zoo has completely free entry! The only thing you will need to pay for is parking or a metro pass, depending how you want to get there. You are allowed to bring food into the park, so do that if you want to save money there as well.
While entry is free, there is a timed-ticket entry system, and only 6 tickets per reservation. So be sure to reserve your tickets ahead of time, and have two reservations if you have more than 6 people.
No. 7 The National Arboretum
The National Arboretum is truly an amazing place and you can spend hours there. Access to everything is free and no tickets are needed. It is 446 acres big and 9.5 miles of roadways that you can drive, bicycle, or walk. Bring food for lunch because none is sold on site.
There are many different gardens and collections on the grounds, both inside and outside. Some of the areas include the Asian, Azalea, and Dogwood collections, Fern Valley, the Bonsai and Penjing Museum, and the Capitol Columns.
No. 6 Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
The Air and Space Museum is amazing. There are space shuttles you can walk through and tons of airplanes from all different time periods and wars. Pictured above is the Wright Brothers exhibit, which I loved because that National Memorial was my first ever National Park stamp!
Unfortunately, the museum is currently closed due to undergoing a massive renovation that isn’t supposed to be completed until Fall 2022.
No. 5 Kenilworth Gardens
Kenilworth Gardens is one of the most underrated place in DC. Actually, I don’t even think people knows it exists. It’s famous for all their lotus and water lily gardens. Don’t miss out on the Lotus and Water Lily Festival that takes place every year in mid-July.
It’s nice to walk around here and spend some time in the peace and quiet, especially in DC. They offer ranger programs and partner with the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens for other special events throughout the year.
Kenilworth Gardens is easy to pair with the National Arboretum since they are only a few miles apart.
No. 4 Arlington National Cemetery
The Arlington National Cemetery is AWESOME. You can metro or drive there. The parking garage is fairly large so parking shouldn’t be an issue at any point of the day. You can pay to do the hop-on-hop-off trolley tour, or just walk everywhere. Make sure to catch a Changing of the Guard ceremony and President Kennedy’s grave site – along with the eternal flame. I also really enjoyed the Memorial Amphitheater. Lastly, don’t forget to check out Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial, which is inside the cemetery and run by the National Park Service.
No. 3 Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Make sure to pay a visit to this museum. You can easily spend 3-4 hours here, it’s huge and the displays are amazing. The gems and minerals exhibit is one of my favorites (and I don’t even like rocks!). Some of the other exhibits are the Human Origins, the Butterfly Museum, Bone Hall, and an Ancient Egyptian exhibit.
No. 2 Ford’s Theatre
The best part of Ford’s Theatre for me was seeing a musical. However, that is not free. If you are there while they are doing a production and you can financially swing it – please do! Regardless, there is a museum across the street that is awesome. If you really take your time reading everything you could be there for a few hours.
No. 1 The National Mall
I put the National Mall as number one because it is my favorite place to walk around in DC. Many of the museums are on either side of the mall, with the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument on either end. It’s easy to get to from the Metro and the Tidal Basin is also right there. It’s so beautiful! If you take time to visit all the monuments that are part of the National Mall & Memorial Parks, that’s almost a half of a day of free entertainment.
Last Updated: May 27, 2022
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