Washington D.C. After Hours
Most of the museums in D.C. close around 5:30pm, so are you wondering what you can do after they close? There is much more to see in D.C.! If you are on a time crunch and only have a day or two in D.C. I suggest going to the museums during the day and spend time looking at the monuments after hours since they are open all night! Here is a list of things to do in D.C. at night, no matter what the time is!
Take a walk Along the National Mall
Hours: Open 24 hours Cost: Free
The National Mall is open 24 hours a day! You can walk along the mall for a great view of the Capital Building and the Washington Monument. One of my favorite things to do is to sit and enjoy the sunset on the National Mall. The sun sets behind the Washington Monument and the capital building looks so beautiful when the building starts to light up during sunset.
See the Lincoln Memorial
Hours: Open 24 hours Cost: Free
Honestly the Lincoln Memorial is my favorite, he is one of my favorite presidents and his memorial so grand! I like visiting this memorial even more at night because the lighting of the memorial is so pretty and its typically less crowded than during the day. You definitely wont have to share the memorial with all the school groups that are usually there during the day! The memorial is open 24 hours a day so you can go at any time of the night. The later at night/earlier in the morning, the less people will be there! There is a always a guard manning the memorial, and because it’s not as packed you are able to ask them questions (if they are willing to respond). I asked the guard a few questions and she was very knowledgeable and friendly. She even told us that they have people who try to climb up onto Lincoln on almost a daily basis (don’t try that, you will be arrested)! The Lincoln Memorial is also a great place to sit and rest on the steps when it’s not crowded.
Pay your respects at the World War II Memorial
Hours: Open 24 hours Cost: Free
Just a short walk from the Lincoln Memorial is the World War II Memorial. This memorial is dedicated to those who served during World War II and consists of 56 pillars surrounding a fountain. The pillars include a tribute to the 48 states of America in 1945 as well as the District of Columbia (D.C.), the Alaska Territory, Territory of Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Somoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On the west side of the plaza is the Freedom Wall that has 4,048 gold stars which each represent 100 Americans who died in the war. This is a great place to go at night, pay your respects and reflect. I enjoy going at night because since there are less people, and it is more quiet. You can listen to the soothing sound of the fountain and reflect.
Take a trip around the Tidal Basin
Hours: Open 24 hours Cost: Free
The Tidal Basin Loop Trail includes the Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, FDR Memorial, George Mason Memorial, John Paul Jones Memorial, the Floral Library, Japanese Pagoda, Japanese Lantern and the site of the First Cherry Tree Painting. The loop is 2.1 miles long and is open 24 hours a day. This is a great site seeing walk even at night, or if you’re tired of walking from visiting museums all day (like I was), you can rent a motorized scooter (they are everywhere, brands include: Bird, Bolt, Jump, Lime, Lyft, Razor, Skip, Spin and Revel) or use the Capital Bikeshare to ride around the Tidal Basin and see the sites!
See the outside of the White House
Hours: Open 24 hours Cost: Free
You can see the outside of the White House at any time in the night. I think it’s always cool to see the White House during the day sometime and then at night with all of the lights. Again, it will be less crowded at night (but photos are a little harder to get unless you have a nice camera, my photo was taken with my iPhone). Take a stroll through Lafayette Square Park to see the front of the White House, or through the Ellipse to see the back side of the White House and to see the National Christmas Tree (if you’re there during the holidays).
I hope this helps you to make the most out of any short trip to D.C!
