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Arlington Tours

Plan Your Visit

ABOUT THE TOUR

Arlington National Cemetery is an enduring tribute to those who’ve dedicated their lives to defending the ideals of our nation. A visit here will leave an indelible impression on your spirit.

Tours depart from Welcome Center: 8:30am – 4:00pm. Open 363 days a year.

Closed on Wreaths Across America: Wreaths In Day (December 14, 2024) and Wreaths Out Day (January 11, 2025).

Special Operating hours:

Memorial Day and Veterans Day: Tours begin at 2:00pm.

Check tour updates for the latest info.

CEMETERY INFORMATION

Arlington National Cemetery is open 365 days a year.

HOURS:

8.00 am - 5.00 pm

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

October 1 - March 31

The guard is changed every hour on the hour.

April 1 - September 30

The guard is changed every half hour.

VISITORS WITH DISABILITIES

Handicap accessible vehicles and assisted listening devices are available upon request. Those with a valid disability placard or a proof of disability documentation will be able to ride the interpretive bus service at no cost with one companion. Sign language interpretation of tours is also available upon request provided that one week notice is given. We recommend tour visitors in wheelchairs to be accompanied by someone to assist them.

At Historic Tours of America, we pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service to all people, including individuals with disabilities. In order to provide the proper accommodations, all we ask is that we are given due notice in order to select the proper services. Our selection process involves the use of the ADA information line to vet and secure local interpreter services. As a Title III entity, our number one goal is to provide an effective accommodation that will ensure you have a memorable time with us.

Tickets

We’ve got several options to choose from to help you maximize your time in DC

Arlington National Cemetery Tours - General Admission

From
$19.50
picture of arlington national cemetery vehicle driving past arlington house and tombstones in foreground
  • Tours depart every 30 minutes
  • 6 stops on weekdays and 9 stops on weekends
  • Relax on our comfortable tour vehicles
  • Learn about the cemetery's history and heroes from knowledgeable guides
  • Be transported to notable graves and memorials
  • Hop on and off at a variety of key points of interest
  • 100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Washington DC Trolley Tour & Arlington Cemetery Tour Package

From
$69.70
Washington DC trolley tour and Arlington National Cemetery Tours
  • Old Town Trolley Tours:
  • Hop On & Off at 15 Old Town Trolley Stops
  • Fully Narrated Tour of Washington DC
  • FREE Self-Guided Walking Tours
  • Includes separate ticket to Arlington National Cemetery Tour:
  • Make your way to Arlington Cemetery to begin your second tour
  • 6 stops on weekdays and 9 stops on weekends

Monuments by Moonlight & Arlington National Cemetery Tour Package

From
$94.70
Monuments by Moonlight Tour in Washington DC and Arlington National Cemetery Tours
  • Monuments by Moonlight Night Tour:
  • See the city’s most popular monuments in a different light
  • Stops at Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial, FDR, Lincoln, Vietnam Veterans, Korean War and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorials
  • Arlington National Cemetery Tour:
  • Tours depart every 30 minutes
  • 6 stops on weekdays and 9 stops on weekends
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Explore the Rich History
From the Comfort of our tour vehicles
LEARN MORE ABOUT ARLINGTON
Hop On Hop Off Tours

A vacation to Washington D.C. would not be complete without visiting Arlington National Cemetery. Spread across 639 acres of rolling hills and beautiful gardens, this historic landmark is about 4 times the size of the National Mall and offers an exclusive tour service for guests looking to see the entire property in a manageable amount of time. Daily tours begin at the Welcome Center. A 45-minute loop gives visitors the chance to hop on and off at a variety of key points of interest. Don’t miss your opportunity to experience one of the most informative and awe-inspiring tours in Washington D.C.

Arlington Cemetery Tours vehicle driving past amphitheater
Experienced Tour Guides

During the last 30 years, Historic Tours of America has educated hundreds of cast members and tour guides about the history of Washington D.C. It is truly an honor to be the official tour operator of Arlington National Cemetery and you won’t find a more dedicated staff of tour guides in the Nation’s Capital. Before, during, and after your tour, we’ll be available to answer questions and share some of the most interesting details of this national landmark.

Changing Of The Guard

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24/7/365 by volunteer Sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment headquartered at Fort Myer, VA.  Everyday at the top of the hour, a special ceremony is conducted to honor all American service members who are “Known But to God.” During the summer months, the ceremony is conducted on the half hour. This is one of seven stops on the guided tour and is definitely a must see for anyone visiting Washington D.C.

Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery
Monuments & Memorials

Touring historic landmarks is at the top of everyone’s list of things to do in Washington D.C. while on vacation. The National Mall has an amazing array of monuments to visit; but it’s definitely not the only place to experience the history of our country. Home to 30 different memorials and monuments, Arlington National Cemetery is an enduring tribute to the men and women who have served in the armed forces.

US Coast Guard Memorial shaped like a pyramid with an eagle on the front

Frequently Asked Questions

Arlington National Cemetery is located at the end of Memorial Avenue, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It can be easily accessed from several major roadways in the D.C. area: Interstate 95, the Capital Beltway (I-495), the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (I-295).

Tickets are available in a variety of ways. Buy online at arlingtontours.com, visit an Old Town Trolley DC ticketing location or visit the Arlington National Cemetery Welcome Center at the front gate.

Yes! The Arlington National Cemetery tour is open on all holidays and holiday weekends, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. The cemetery is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm, 364 days a year. The cemetery closes 1 day per year around December 16th for Wreaths Across America.

The guided tram tours depart every 30 minutes. The tours run throughout the day, with the first tour departing at 9:00am and the last tour departing at 4:00pm.

During the week, the tour stops at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the President John F. Kennedy Gravesite, Arlington House, and the Pershing Gravesite. On the weekends, the tour adds three additional stops: Sections 55 & 59, the Columbarium and Niche Wall, and the Pentagon Group Burial Marker/911 Memorial. You’ll have the opportunity to disembark and explore at your own pace. Hop on the next trolley and continue to be transported to notable graves and memorials.

On the tour, you will visit the graves of President John F. Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and his brothers Robert and Edward Kennedy. You will also visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which honors those who have died in service to their country. Additionally, you will be able to pay your respects to the graves of General John J. Pershing, General George C. Marshall, and General Omar Bradley. Finally, you will be able to visit the graves of the astronauts who died in the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters.

The most famous person buried in Arlington National Cemetery is undoubtedly John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. JFK was assassinated in Dallas, Texas in 1963 and was laid to rest in the cemetery in a state funeral. His grave is marked by an eternal flame, which has become a symbol of his legacy and a reminder of his life and service to the nation.

The cemetery is also the final resting place of many other notable figures, including General John J. Pershing, the first American to be promoted to the rank of General of the Armies, and General Omar Bradley, the last surviving five-star general of World War II. Other famous people buried in the cemetery include Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, astronaut and Senator John Glenn, and civil rights leader Medgar Evers.

The oldest grave at Arlington National Cemetery is that of William Henry Christman, a private in the Union Army during the Civil War. Born in 1843, Christman was only 19 years old when he enlisted in the 67th Pennsylvania Infantry in April of 1861. He served with distinction until his death on May 11, 1864, from wounds he received in the Battle of the Wilderness. Christman was buried in the cemetery on May 15, 1864, making him the first soldier to be interred at Arlington .His grave is located in Section 27, near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery takes place every hour on the hour from October 1st to March 31st, and every half hour from April 1st to September 30th. The ceremony begins with the guard marching from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to the Tomb of the Unknowns, where they will stand watch for the next hour.

The ceremony itself is a brief but powerful display of respect and reverence, lasting about 30 minutes. The ceremony begins with the Old Guard marching from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to the Memorial Amphitheater. The Old Guard is accompanied by a band playing a slow, somber tune. Once the Old Guard arrives at the amphitheater, they are joined by the New Guard, who march in from the opposite direction. The two guards then stand at attention and salute the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Yes, each weekday there are between 27 to 30 services, and Saturdays have four to five services. Arlington National Cemetery serves as a distinguished cemetery, deeply committed to honoring our nation’s heroes. In consideration of those being laid to rest and their loved ones, Arlington National Cemetery Tours Inc. tries to avoid scheduling tours during funerals. Please understand that funerals, events, ceremonies, and groups may occasionally cause delays or disruptions during your narrated tram tour.