Washington DC itinerary help

Question

I am planning our first Washington DC trip. I am pretty clueless about proximity of locations/time to travel between locations. We will have 5 full days. Anyone want to group these activities together by day for me to give me an idea of what's realistically doable? Can I even do all this in 5 days or is it too much?

White House Tour

Supreme Court

Capitol Tour

Museum of The Bible

National Mall

Arlington National Cemetary

National Zoo

National Monuments (moonlight tour??)

Mount Vernon

National Museum of American History

National Museum of African American History

Ford Theater Show

Anything extra you would add?

Answer

Planning a first-time Washington DC trip with 5 full days is definitely doable, but careful grouping of attractions is key to avoid feeling rushed. Washington DC is relatively compact, but walking distances between sites, security lines, and timed entry tickets can add up. Here’s a suggested day-by-day itinerary based on proximity and activity type:

Day 1 – National Mall & Core Monuments:

Start at the White House (booked tour, plan 1-1.5 hours including security check).
Walk along the National Mall to see the Washington Monument and World War II Memorial.
Visit the Lincoln Memorial and Korean/Vietnam Veterans Memorials.
Optional: Moonlight monuments tour in the evening for a magical view of the illuminated memorials.

Day 2 – Capitol Hill & Museums:

Take the Capitol Tour in the morning (arrive 30–45 minutes early).
Visit the Supreme Court nearby (self-guided or brief orientation).
Stop at the Library of Congress if time allows.
In the afternoon, visit the Museum of the Bible and/or National Museum of American History.

Day 3 – Cultural & Historical Focus:

Spend the morning at the National Museum of African American History (timed entry, allow 2–3 hours).
Lunch on the Mall area.
Optional visit to the National Archives if interested in historical documents.
Evening: attend a Ford’s Theater Show (check showtime).

Day 4 – Arlington & Mount Vernon:

Morning at Arlington National Cemetery (tomb of the unknown soldier, Kennedy gravesite, changing of the guard).
Afternoon trip to Mount Vernon (George Washington’s estate, 30–45 min drive from DC).

Day 5 – National Zoo & Flex Day:

Morning at National Zoo (great for families and animal lovers, free admission).
Afternoon for any attractions missed earlier or revisit favorites.
Optional: explore Georgetown for shopping, dining, or a casual stroll along the waterfront.

Tips & Considerations:

Start early each day to maximize timed entry attractions.
Book tickets for popular sites in advance (Capitol, White House, Smithsonian museums with timed entries).
Allow extra time for walking or security lines, especially at government buildings.
Consider using Metro for longer distances (Capitol Hill to National Zoo or Arlington) to save energy.

This itinerary covers your requested attractions without feeling overwhelmingly rushed, and allows flexibility for extra stops or a slower pace on certain days.

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