Know Before You Go: Visiting Washington DC During Election Season
Washington DC hums with excitement during the presidential election season—reaching its peak every four years beginning around October and culminating with Inauguration Day on January 20. With patience and advance planning, here’s how to make the most of a visit to the US capital during this momentous time.
Delve Into Presidential History with Themed Tours
Election season is a perfect opportunity to brush up on your knowledge of the US government. Explore the legacy behind monuments such as the US Capitol Building, White House, and Lincoln Memorial on a guided bus, trolley, or Segway tour that makes it easy to cover all the big sights in one day. Look for special election- or inauguration-themed tours that showcase the parade route down Pennsylvania Avenue and offer insight into election events.
Enjoy the Calm Before the Crowds
In the days leading up to Election Day in early November, candidates and their crews are generally out on the campaign trail or voting in their home districts, leaving the capital a fairly peaceful place to watch the results roll in. All the top DC attractions remain open throughout the month of November and much of December, so you can still pack in plenty of sightseeing amidst the anticipation.
Plan Ahead for Inauguration Day
If you want to witness the pomp and parades of Inauguration Day, book far in advance, as accommodations fill up quickly. While tickets to the swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the US Capitol building are free, they are difficult to secure and only available via local representatives and senators. If you can’t get your hands on tickets, the National Mall is a popular place to join in the action from afar. The ceremony itself is followed by a parade along Constitution Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue, and 17th Street. Plan to arrive early; many viewers are on hand to stake out a spot as soon as public entrances open at 6:30am.
Keep an Eye on Closures
Inauguration Day is a federal holiday for employees in the DC area, so expect many businesses to be closed. Because of parade street closures and congestion, many guided tours may not operate on this day. Also, keep in mind that security will be amped up in and around DC, and the Archives/Navy Memorial Metro station will be closed, so be sure to pack patience and leave yourself plenty of time to get around.
18 Tours and Activities | All Washington DC Tours
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DC At Dusk Guided Night Tour
2002
Ride a luxury mini-coach past major landmarks on this night bus tour of Washington DC. Gaze at floodlit memorials and monuments, such as the magnificent Lincoln Memorial and the glow of the Jefferson Memorial reflected in the Tidal Basin. After this sightseeing tour, you’ll understand why the nation’s capital is considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities at night.
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From
$58.00
From
$58.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Best of DC Tour - With Access to US Capitol & National Archives Buildings
1050
Beat the long entrance lines and experience some of the most popular attractions in Washington, DC like an insider on this full-day sightseeing tour. Enjoy priority entry into the United States Capitol, the home of Congress. Then visit the National Archives Building, where the original Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution are on display. In between, see the city’s most famous landmarks and monuments, like the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and more.
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From
$125.00
From
$125.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour
602
Experience the sights and sounds of Washington, DC in one day on this guided walking and riding sightseeing tour around the nation’s capital. Visit the city’s historic, iconic landmarks and monuments, like the White House, the United States Capitol, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. See and learn about the memorials of famous American leaders who helped shape the United States, like Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Martin Luther King, Jr., to name a few. Includes a seasonal Potomac River cruise.
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From
$74.00
From
$74.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Big Bus Washington DC Open Top Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
1705
Discover the most popular sights in Washington, DC on this relaxing hop-on hop-off bus tour. Drive past many of the top attractions in the nation’s capital — including the White House, the Washington Monument, the National Mall, historic Georgetown, and Arlington National Cemetery, and choose where you want to get off and explore in more detail. Select a 1- or 2-day pass, then hop on at any of the stops on two different routes and get to know the city with an audio commentary. The 2-day Deluxe option includes a Night Tour.
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From
$44.10
From
$44.10
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
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Capitol Hill and DC Monuments Tour by Electric Cart
732
Explore the famous monuments and war memorials of Washington, DC on this small-group sightseeing tour. Hop aboard a special eCruiser vehicle and enjoy an educational and entertaining narrated history of our nation’s capital. Get a glimpse of the White House and travel around and through Capitol Hill, the Smithsonian museum complex, plus a plethora of famous memorials and monuments — like the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument — and many other hotspots. This is a great way to see many of DC’s most famous landmarks.
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$62.00
From
$62.00
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
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Arlington National Cemetery Guided Walking Tour
163
See the moving Changing of the Guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns on a guided walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery. Be perfectly placed for good views of the moving ceremony, then continue to some of the cemetery's most important gravesites and memorials, including places dedicated to John F. Kennedy, the USS Maine, Second World War soldier Audie Murphy, and more, learning the fascinating history of the cemetery as you walk.
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From
$35.96
From
$35.96
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Washington DC Capital Sites Bike Tour
121
Washington DC is full of historical sites and while it’s easy to explore on foot or by bus, this 2-wheel tour option gives travelers access to some of the city’s most popular landmarks. Check out the Lincoln Memorial, White House, Supreme Court and the Capitol on this Capital Sites Bike Tour. Your friendly guide shares plenty of history, facts, and city knowledge on this easy bike ride through the nation’s capital.
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From
$46.00
From
$46.00
Presidential Inauguration Preview Tour in Washington DC
8
Walk in the footsteps of many US presidents on this tour of Washington DC. During this 3-hour experience, visit the essential locations in the inauguration process, including the parade route down Pennsylvania Avenue and the US Capitol building, where the new president takes the oath of office. At the White House, see where the president and presidential spouse host the Inaugural Ball, then continue to the Jefferson Memorial and listen to your guide tell historical anecdotes about inaugurations past. Visit the National Building Museum and the National Air and Space Museum to expand your understanding of the inaugural process.
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From
$50.35
From
$50.35
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Washington Monument Reserved Admission with DC Landmarks and Memorials Tour
226
Get to know some of the most popular landmarks in Washington, DC on this guided sightseeing tour onboard an air-conditioned coach. See iconic landmarks the White House, the United States Capitol, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and more. Then, take a self-guided tour inside the Washington Monument where you can enjoy panoramic views from the 500-foot-high (152-meter) observation deck.
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From
$79.00
From
$79.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Washington DC Super Saver: Hop-on Hop-off Trolley + Monuments by Moonlight Tour
79
Explore the best of Washington, DC on this narrated, hop-on hop-off trolley tour. Visit more than 100 points of interest among DC’s top attractions—like the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, to name just a few. Depending upon your interest, select a silver, gold, or platinum pass, then board at any of the stops and get to know the nation’s capital in customized fashion, with live onboard commentary from a professional tour conductor. A guided moonlight trolley tour to the same landmark locations, illuminated for the evening, is also included.
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From
$94.00
From
$94.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Washington DC City Day Tour with Stops at 10 Top Attractions
173
Experience the history and culture of the nation’s capital on this comprehensive, half-day, small-group tour. Travel in a comfortable vehicle complete with phone chargers, umbrellas, and a flat-screen TV, and see Washington DC’s monuments, museums, and memorials with a guide. See the US Capitol building, the White House, the Mall and more. Avoid the hassles of driving, or navigating public transportation and leave the logistics to your guide.
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From
$61.65
From
$61.65
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Washington DC National Mall Night Tour - Stops at 10 Iconic Attractions!
273
Washington DC’s monuments and landmarks light up after dark, perfect for dramatic views and memorable photos of the capital city. Explore the sights from the National Mall to the White House and key memorials as your guide provides informative narration about each site. Hop off at select sights to get an up-close look with your small-group and guide. This tour includes transport between locations.
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$61.65
From
$61.65
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Capitol Hill Guided Small-Group Walking Tour
63
Go to the heart of America's Legislative and Judicial branches of government on a small-group tour of Capitol Hill that explores the U.S. Capitol, the Library of Congress, and the Supreme Court. This tour goes inside each destination for a guided tour, and highlights include reserved-entry at the U.S. Capitol and entry to the Supreme Court, with a guide to help bring Capitol Hill's fascinating politics and history to life.
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From
$50.35
From
$50.35
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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War Memorials and Arlington National Cemetery Tour
159
Visit Arlington National Cemetery and explore some of the most famous memorials around Washington, DC on this sightseeing tour. At Arlington National, witness the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns, then stop at famous landmark locations like the Marine Corps War Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and more. Additionally, see the Lincoln Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and many more—even the White House, the United States Capitol and the National Mall.
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From
$71.74
From
$71.74
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Water Taxi from Wharf or National Harbor
66
See the famous monuments of Washington, DC from an entirely new perspective on this narrated sightseeing cruise. Hop aboard a riverboat and enjoy the breathtaking view of our nation’s capital on an afternoon or evening excursion. Travel along the Potomac River to see the plethora of famous monuments and landmarks, with stunning reflective views of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Washington Monument, Arlington Memorial Bridge, and more. This is a truly unique look at the iconic monuments of Washington, DC.
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From
$21.00
From
$21.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Washington DC Moonlit Tour of the National Mall with Pick-Up
46
See Washington, DC’s best sites light up after dark on a 3-hour, nighttime tour of the National Mall and monuments. Listen to an entertaining narrated history of the capital city, then stop to explore the most important destinations, from moving tributes to America's 20th-century wars to inspiring presidential landmarks. Take in the White House and the U.S. Capitol building at their most picturesque and get the perfect orientation and overview of Washington, DC.
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From
$56.00
From
$56.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
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3-Hour Washington DC "Morning Monuments" Guided Sightseeing Walking & Bus Tour
14
See Washington, DC’s iconic monuments in a single morning on a 3-hour, guided tour with an experienced guide. Choose a tour that combines walking and travel by air-conditioned coach so you can cover lots of ground with time to see the DC sights up close. Hear insider stories about DC’s politicians and historic figures as you explore their moving war memorials, Presidential sites and government buildings, and get the perfect introduction to America’s capital city.
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From
$64.00
From
$64.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
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Half-Day Grand Tour of Washington DC
106
Get a panoramic look at Washington DC on this sightseeing tour that provides a comprehensive introduction to the United States capital and its historical and cultural landmarks. Listen to live narration as you see dozens of attractions, such as Lincoln Memorial, the exterior of the White House, Washington Monument and the National Mall, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Smithsonian buildings.
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From
$53.42
From
$53.42
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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