One and half days itinerary

Question

Hi, we will be staying in Capitol Hill area for two nights - does this itinerary look reasonable?

Nov 26- arrive late afternoon (hopefully by 4 pm) and visit National Mall. Read that it's nice at night. Go to top of Washington Monument. We will have a puppy in tow...

Nov 27 - Capitol Building- timed entry tickets for 9:50 am

Library of Congress- timed entry tickets for 11:30 am

SCOTUS- visit before it closes at 3 pm

Smithsonian Air and Space Museum- timed entry tickets for 4 pm (closes 5 pm)

Nov. 28- 10 am-Arlington National Cemetery, maybe Washington Cathedral.

Noon- two hour drive for Thanksgiving with family in Pa.

Thank you for any ideas!

Answer

Your one-and-a-half-day itinerary looks quite reasonable, especially given your location on Capitol Hill and having a puppy with you. There are a few practical considerations and tweaks you might want to make for comfort, pace, and logistics. Here’s a detailed opinion along with some suggestions.

Overall Assessment

Staying on Capitol Hill is a great advantage: you’re centrally located, very walkable to the National Mall, the Capitol, and many of the major sites. Your schedule is ambitious, but not over-packed, and leaves you room to experience key sites without feeling completely rushed.

Day-by-Day Thoughts & Suggestions

Nov 26 — Arrival & Evening on the Mall:
- Arriving around 4 pm and heading to the National Mall is a lovely plan. The Mall is open 24 hours for pedestrians.
- Seeing the monuments lit up at night is very special — many people recommend walking around in the evening when things are quieter and beautifully illuminated.
- Caution: You planned to go to the top of the Washington Monument that evening, but that may not work: the Monument closes at 5 pm. Tickets are required, and the last elevator trip is around 4 pm. So, unless you already have an early afternoon ticket, you probably can’t do that in the evening.
- If your “visit to the Monument” is very important, consider booking it for the next morning instead. Or, plan to do a walk-around the base at night instead — very atmospheric and quite safe in groups.
Nov 27 — Capitol Hill & Museums:
- Your 9:50 am Capitol Building; 11:30 am Library of Congress; then SCOTUS is a very logical flow. All are close together, and doing them early will help avoid afternoon crowds.
- Note: The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) typically closes in the afternoon; you’ll want to verify current hours & visitor access. (You correctly noted the 3 pm closure.)
- Then heading to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum at 4 pm is fine, but since it closes at 5 pm, you’ll only have an hour. Depending on how much you want to see, that may feel rushed. If possible, you could swap in a different museum or monument that’s more compact, or consider moving your Air & Space ticket earlier if the system allows.
- Also, consider whether your puppy can comfortably wait in a secure place (hotel) for that hour, since pets likely won’t be allowed inside most of these buildings. (Many Smithsonian buildings don’t permit animals, except service animals.)
Nov 28 — Arlington & Washington Cathedral:
- Starting at 10 am for Arlington National Cemetery is a good choice. The cemetery is open from 8 am to 5 pm.
- If you want a guided tour, the interpretive buses depart from the Welcome Center; last tour departs around 4:00 pm. Also, note that walking across the cemetery can be uphill in places and involves a lot of ground — moderate exertion.
- Real ID / identification: If you plan to drive in, there is a security checkpoint. If you’re coming by metro or ride-hailing, this is less of a concern.
- After Arlington, visiting the Washington National Cathedral is a lovely idea. Just make sure the cathedral’s tour times align with your schedule — many visitor tours run in the late morning or early afternoon. (Standard tour hours vary.)
- Given you have to leave by noon for your 2-hour drive to PA, you may need to pick one of the two (Arlington or Cathedral) if you want a more relaxed morning. Trying to do both deeply plus travel may feel rushed.

Additional Tips & Considerations

Puppy Logistics: Make a plan for when your puppy can rest vs when you’ll be walking. Leash laws apply in DC, so keeping the dog on a leash is important.
Safety at Night: The Mall at night is popular for walking, and while generally safe, it’s best to stick to well-lit areas and busier paths.
Transportation: Walking is probably your best bet for most of these sites. Parking in DC is notoriously hard; using Metro, taxis, or ride-shares will likely save time and stress. Many locals and visitors recommend walking + using the Metro.
Time Buffers: Build in little buffer times, especially between your scheduled entries (e.g., the U.S. Capitol to the Library of Congress). Also, leave some “wiggle room” for breaks, rest for your puppy, and possibly getting slightly delayed.
Weather & Comfort: Depending on late November weather, evenings can be chilly. Bring layers, comfortable shoes, and perhaps a small blanket or wrap if you plan to be out at night with your dog.

Alternative or Bonus Ideas (if Time Permits):

If your Air & Space museum visit is too short, you might substitute another nearby museum (e.g., National Museum of American History) that’s more manageable in a short window.
On the evening of Nov 26, consider a twilight trolley or bike tour of the monuments — this is dog-friendly for walking along, and gives you a guided but relaxed introduction to the Mall.
If you skip the Cathedral on Nov 28, you could instead use that morning to revisit any Mall memorials you didn’t get on Nov 26, or do a leisurely breakfast and neighborhood walk around Capitol Hill.

Conclusion

Your itinerary is thoughtful and well-paced for 1.5 days in DC, balancing major landmarks, timed entries, and some quieter moments. With a few tweaks — especially around the Monument timing, the Air & Space Museum visit, and how you handle Nov 28 — you can make it smoother and more enjoyable. Having a puppy adds a layer of planning, but it's very doable. Overall, you're set up for a rich, manageable, and memorable trip.

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