National park · United States
Arlington National Cemetery
Entry is free; go at 8:00 opening, walk the loop to Arlington House and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before 10:00, and skip the paid tram unless mobility or heat makes the hills a problem.Entry is free; go at 8:00 AM opening, walk the loop to Arlington House and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before 10:00 AM, and skip the paid tram unless mobility or heat makes the hills a problem.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
3 km²1 sq mi
approximate
Established
1864
Best months
Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 3 km²1 sq mi
- About 639 acres (2.5 km²) of rolling ground; the figure is stable but check current acreage after boundary transfers.
- Established
- 1864
- Best months
- Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Arlington, Virginia
Arlington National Cemetery is a working military cemetery on the Virginia side of the Potomac, directly across from Washington, DC and next to the Pentagon. It is not a park in the hiking sense: the 'trails' are paved avenues and stepped paths between graves, memorials and the former Lee plantation on the ridge. Entry is free, the grounds open at 8:00, and the main reason to arrive early is crowd control at the Changing of the Guard and at Arlington House. Most visitors cover the core loop in two to three hours on foot; the paid hop-on tram suits anyone short on time or unable to manage the hills.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national siteNational military cemetery administered by the US Army, not the National Park Service; Arlington House is a separate NPS site within the grounds.
Size and age
3 km²1 sq mi · national park since 1864
About 639 acres (2.5 km²) of rolling ground; the figure is stable but check current acreage after boundary transfers.
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Arlington, Virginia.
Why go
- Free entry, open daily, and reachable on the Metro Blue Line from downtown DC in about 15 minutes.
- The Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier runs year-round and costs nothing.
- Arlington House on the ridge gives the best free view back across the Potomac to the Lincoln Memorial.
- The Kennedy gravesite with the Eternal Flame sits a short walk from the welcome center.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanCold, quiet; bare trees open up the views
- FebCold and quiet; shortest queues
- MarCherry blossom crowds build late in the month
- AprPeak blossom season; the cemetery itself stays calmer than the Tidal Basin
- MayMild; Memorial Day weekend is the busiest of the year
- JunHot and humid; start at opening
- JulHottest month; heat and afternoon storms
- AugHot and humid; go early, carry water
- SepHeat eases late in the month
- OctCool, clear, good light on the ridge
- NovQuiet weekdays; Veterans Day is busy
- DecCold and quiet; wreath ceremonies around the holidays
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer at dawn in the outer sectionsAll year · Occasional; the grounds are a managed landscape, not a nature reserve. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Spring blossom and flowering treesMar–Apr | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Autumn colour on the ridgeOct–Nov | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Washington, DC (downtown)
Metro Blue Line to Arlington Cemetery station, then a short walk to the welcome center.
15–25 min
Open the page →
From Arlington, Virginia
Metro Blue Line or a short rideshare from Rosslyn or Clarendon.
10–20 min
Open the page →
From Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Metro Blue Line one or two stops, or a 10-minute taxi.
10–15 min
From Pentagon
Walk or one Metro stop; the Pentagon Memorial is a separate stop next door.
10 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome center and Memorial Drive | Entrance, information desk, restrooms, water, the Women in Military Service for America Memorial. | Open with the grounds; free. |
| Kennedy gravesite and the ridge | John F. Kennedy's grave with the Eternal Flame, Robert F. Kennedy's grave, and the path up to Arlington House. | Open; steep stepped paths. |
| Tomb of the Unknown Soldier | The memorial amphitheater and the guarded tomb, with the Changing of the Guard. | Open; silence and standing required during the ceremony. |
| Sections and columbaria | The active burial sections, including the Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia memorials. | Open, but keep to the roads during services. |
Sketch map
- 1Arlington Cemetery Metro station · Ranger station≈38.885, -77.063Map ↗
- 2Welcome center · Headquarters≈38.883, -77.066Map ↗
- 3John F. Kennedy gravesite · Viewpoint≈38.881, -77.071Map ↗
- 4Arlington House · Summit≈38.881, -77.073Map ↗
- 5Tomb of the Unknown Soldier · Viewpoint≈38.876, -77.072Map ↗
- 6Women in Military Service for America Memorial · Gate≈38.881, -77.067Map ↗
- 7Marine Corps War Memorial · Viewpoint≈38.890, -77.070Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cemetery entry | Free | person | Free; no ticket needed to walk in. |
| Parking at the welcome center garage | US$0–20 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; hourly rate, capped daily (check current rate). |
| Hop-on tram tour | US$15–20 | adult | 2026 estimate for the private operator's narrated loop; child and senior rates lower (check). |
| Arlington House guided tour | Free | person | Free; NPS-run, first come. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Cemetery entry no permit
Arlington House tour no permit
Commercial photography or filming permit or guide
Park rules
- Conduct
- This is an active cemetery with funerals most weekdays; keep quiet, stay off the grass, and give way to funeral processions and caissons.
- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- Silence and standing during the ceremony; stay behind the railing at all times. Guards will stop anyone who approaches or makes noise.
- Food and alcohol
- Not allowed anywhere on the grounds; bottled water is sold at the welcome center.
- Drones
- Not permitted without prior permission from cemetery authorities (check).check
- Photography
- Personal photos are fine at memorials; do not photograph mourners, funerals or graveside services.
- Pets and bikes
- Pets and bicycles are not allowed inside the cemetery; service animals excepted.
Where to stay
Near the park
Arlington and Crystal City hotels
Chain hotels and suites on the Metro Blue Line, 10–20 minutes from the gate.
Near the park
Rosslyn and Clarendon
More restaurants and bars, one or two Metro stops north.
Near the park
Downtown Washington, DC
Widest choice of lodging; 15–25 minutes by Metro.
Safety
Heat and hills in summer medium
Crowds at the Changing of the Guard low
Security around the Pentagon medium
Accessibility
- The welcome center, restrooms and tram are step-free; the tram removes most of the walking.
- Arlington House and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sit on hills reached by stepped paths; a shuttle or tram stop serves the amphitheater area.
- Wheelchairs are available to borrow at the welcome center (check availability).
Visiting lightly
- Take the Metro rather than driving; the Blue Line station is at the gate and parking is limited.
- Carry out everything you bring in; there are few bins on the grounds.
- Visit on a weekday outside Memorial Day and Veterans Day so services and staff are not stretched.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Arlington National Cemetery?
Nothing. Entry is free and there is no ticket gate. You pay only for optional extras: the private hop-on tram tour (roughly US$15–20 per adult, 2026 estimate) and parking at the welcome center garage (check the current hourly rate).
What are the best hikes in Arlington National Cemetery?
There are no backcountry trails. The standard walk is the 4–5 km core loop: welcome center, Kennedy gravesite, up the steps to Arlington House, then across to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and back. It takes 2–3 hours with hills and steps. The tram covers the same ground in about an hour if you would rather not walk it.
When is the best time to visit Arlington National Cemetery?
Weekday mornings in October and November, or March before the blossom crowds. Arrive at the 8:00 opening: the Changing of the Guard plaza and Arlington House are quietest in the first two hours. Avoid Memorial Day weekend and Veterans Day if you want space, and start early in July and August when heat and humidity peak.
How do I get to Arlington National Cemetery?
Take the Metro Blue Line to Arlington Cemetery station; the walk to the welcome center is a few minutes. From downtown DC it is about 15–25 minutes, and from Reagan National Airport one or two stops. Driving is possible but parking is limited and fills on event days.
How long should I spend at Arlington National Cemetery?
Two to three hours on foot covers the core loop and one Changing of the Guard ceremony. Add an hour if you want the Arlington House tour and the quieter sections. Half a day is enough to see everything without rushing.
Can I take photos at Arlington National Cemetery?
Yes at memorials and viewpoints, including Arlington House and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from behind the railing. Do not photograph mourners, funerals or graveside services, and never photograph the Pentagon building or its grounds.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Sources
- officialArlington National Cemetery — official site
- officialArlington National Cemetery — Welcome Center
- officialArlington National Cemetery — Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- officialNational Park Service — Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
- officialNational Park Service — Women in Military Service for America Memorial
- secondaryWikivoyage: Arlington National Cemetery, revision 5242407 (CC BY-SA 4.0)