Washington Monument

About

The Washington Monument rises from a grassy hill at the center of the National Mall, between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. It honors George Washington, and the plans to build it took more than half a century to realize. Today a ride to the top is one of the most popular things to do in Washington.

A 70-second elevator ride carries groups of about 14 to 18 people to the observation level, 500 feet up, while a short video plays about the monument's history. Up top, eight windows (two on each side) look out over the city, and each window has a photo above it showing what you are looking at. One floor down, the exhibit level has tactile displays on the monument's original design, its building materials and stone fragments. On the ride back down, the lights turn off twice so you can see features on the inside walls.

Every visitor age 2 and up needs a ticket. Advance tickets are released online at recreation.gov at 10 a.m. each day, up to 30 days ahead, with a $1 reservation fee per ticket. Free same-day tickets are handed out at the Washington Monument Lodge on 15th Street starting at 8:45 a.m., first come, first served, and they usually run out. One person 16 or older can get up to six.

The monument is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It closes on Independence Day, Christmas Day and one day each month for maintenance, so check the schedule before you go. The lodge on the east side has a small bookstore and restrooms. The World War II Memorial and the Reflecting Pool are just to the west.

Accessibility

The Washington Monument is wheelchair accessible. An elevator reaches the observation level, and the National Park Service publishes exact door and passage widths, which helps if you use a larger chair.

The closest parking is first-come parallel parking on Constitution and Independence avenues, and accessible spaces are on Independence Avenue west of 15th Street. The Paddle Boat parking lot on Maine Avenue has nine accessible spaces, but you will cross two streets to reach the monument. The World War II Memorial has five more. From street parking the path is smooth and paved, with a slight climb toward the monument. Retractable bollards on some paths leave gaps of about 38 inches.

The entrance door is about 46 inches wide, and rangers hold it open. Inside, a slight ramp leads to security, then a 34-inch door (with a push button) and a 35-inch tight turn to the elevator. The elevator door is about 48 inches wide. The observation level walkway is narrow and gets crowded. The exhibit level is reached by one flight of stairs, and rangers will take anyone who cannot use the stairs down by elevator instead. Some spaces there are only about 33 inches wide. A ranger can provide a periscope for visitors who cannot see out the windows.

Restrooms are outside the lodge on 15th Street, each with one larger stall for wheelchairs, but the entrances are about 3 feet wide with a 33-inch turn. The lodge has an accessible water fountain.

Tactile maps at each window and tactile exhibits help visitors who are blind or have low vision, and braille brochures are free at information kiosks. Films at the monument have closed captions, and ASL interpretation is free with three weeks' notice. The monument can feel crowded and some areas echo. Service animals are welcome but must stay under control in tight spaces.

Checked by Accessible America, September 2026. Report a change

More accessible places in Washington, DC

• Smithsonian's National Zoo (Washington)
• National Air and Space Museum (Washington)
• National Museum of African American History and Culture (Washington)
• National Museum of Natural History (Washington)
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (Washington)
• Lincoln Memorial (Washington)

Photo credits

• The white marble Washington Monument rises above a ring of flags on a grassy hill.: Greyfiveys, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
• Aerial view of the Washington Monument and its circle of paths, with the White House beyond.: U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Andy Dunaway, Public domain (source)
• The Washington Monument at sunrise, seen past the Reflecting Pool from the Lincoln Memorial.: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)