Episode #29: Washington, DC With Kids: 2-Day Itinerary, Tips & Must-See Landmarks
Washington, DC With Kids: Our 2-Day Itinerary, Tips & What to Do
If you’re planning a trip to Washington, DC with kids, you might be wondering:
👉 Where should we go?
👉 How much can we realistically do in a couple days?
👉 And how do we keep it fun for kids while still seeing all the history?
We recently spent 2 full days in Washington, DC as part of our spring break road trip (go listen to Episode 28 for the full overview of our 9-state adventure), and it ended up being one of the most meaningful stops of our trip.
From touring the U.S. Capitol to seeing the Declaration of Independence, visiting museums, and going to the top of the Washington Monument, we packed in a lot—but it was absolutely worth it.
In this post, I’m sharing our exact 2-day itinerary, what worked, and tips to help you plan your own DC trip with kids.
Where to Park in Washington, DC (Important!)
Let’s start with something that can make or break your day:
👉 Parking in DC is tricky.
Street parking is:
limited
often timed
hard to find
✔ What We Did:
We parked at Union Station Parking Garage
👉 From there, most major attractions are about a 10–20 minute walk
This made everything so much easier.
Day 1 in Washington, DC With Kids
🇺🇸 U.S. Capitol Tour
We started our day with a U.S. Capitol tour at 12:40 PM.
How to Get Tickets:
👉 Email your U.S. representative a couple months in advance
(This is how I secured ours!)
What to Expect:
Short intro video about the Capitol
Guided tour through key rooms
View of the Capitol dome from inside
Statues representing each state
This was such a cool experience for the kids—especially seeing where real government decisions are made.
🍴 Lunch at the Capitol
After the tour, we ate at the Capitol cafeteria.
👉 Yes, it’s a bit pricey—but worth it because:
Food options nearby are limited
It’s warm and indoors
You can sit and take a break
✈️ Air & Space Museum
Next, we headed to the Air & Space Museum.
✔ Tip:
Book timed entry tickets in advance (we had 3 PM)
Even with tickets, there was a line—so don’t skip this step.
What Kids Will Love:
Learning about the Wright Brothers
Seeing real aircraft
Walking through a commercial airplane
This ended up being one of our kids’ favorite museums.
🌿 National Mall (Let Kids Run!)
After the museum, we spent time on the National Mall.
And honestly?
👉 This was one of the BEST parts of the day for the kids.
They:
ran races
did cartwheels
just played freely
Don’t underestimate how important this is.
🏛 Washington Monument + White House (Exterior)
We walked by:
Washington Monument
White House
There was construction near the White House, so we couldn’t get super close—but still worth seeing.
🛌 End of Day 1
After a full day of walking and exploring, we headed back to the hotel and had a relaxing night.
Day 2 in Washington, DC With Kids
🏠 White House Visitor Center
Since we couldn’t get tickets to tour the actual White House, we went to the White House Visitor Center.
And honestly—it’s a great alternative.
What You’ll See:
Models of the White House
Room layouts
Historical info
Interactive exhibits
The kids even got to write notes to the President (which was a highlight!).
📜 National Archives
Next stop: National Archives
This was one of the most powerful moments of the trip.
We saw:
The Declaration of Independence
The Constitution
👉 Yes, there’s a line—but it’s absolutely worth it.
Bonus: Kids Area
There’s also a kid-friendly interactive area, which was great for letting them play and reset.
🦖 Natural History Museum
We then visited the Natural History Museum (no timed tickets needed).
Highlights:
Dinosaurs
Animal exhibits
2,200-year-old mummies
(Fair warning: not all kids love the mummies 😅)
🌭 Lunch on the National Mall
We grabbed a simple lunch:
Hot dogs
Hamburgers
And ate outside on the National Mall.
Nothing fancy—but it worked!
🗼 Washington Monument (Go to the Top!)
We had 4:00 PM tickets to go up the Washington Monument.
✔ Tip:
Arrive about 30 minutes early
They take small groups (about 20 people), so earlier arrival = faster entry.
What It’s Like:
At the top, you get:
360° views of DC
The best view of the White House
This was 100% worth doing.
🪑 Lincoln Memorial
Our final stop was the Lincoln Memorial.
We walked along the Reflecting Pool and made our way up.
Even though the kids were tired at this point, this stop was so worth it.
It’s one of those places that just feels powerful.
🛌 End of Day 2
We grabbed an Uber back to the hotel, picked up dinner, and ended the day on a relaxed note.
Tips for Visiting Washington, DC With Kids
Here are my biggest takeaways:
✔ Book Timed Tickets in Advance
Especially for:
Capitol tour
Air & Space Museum
Washington Monument
✔ Park at Union Station
Skip the stress of street parking.
✔ Expect LOTS of Walking
Wear good shoes
Bring a stroller if needed
✔ Build in Breaks
Let kids run and reset (National Mall is perfect for this)
✔ Mix Learning + Fun
Balance museums with downtime
Final Thoughts: Is DC Worth Visiting With Kids?
Absolutely.
Washington, DC is one of the best places to travel with kids because it combines:
✔ History
✔ Education
✔ Interactive experiences
✔ Iconic landmarks
It may not be the most relaxing trip—but it’s incredibly meaningful.
🎧 Listen to the Full Podcast Episode
Want to hear the full stories and behind-the-scenes of our trip?
👉 [Insert Podcast Episode Link]
🎙 Related Episodes
Be sure to check out:
👉 Episode 28: Full Spring Break Road Trip Overview
👉 Upcoming: Historic Triangle (Jamestown & Williamsburg)
👉 Upcoming: Myrtle Beach With Kids
👉 Upcoming: Road Trip Tips for Families
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