Washington D.C. (including Baltimore) - What tourist things need tickets (in advance)?

Going to be in Washington DC at the end of October and will be visiting the usual things such as The White House, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Smithsonians etc but which of these require ticketing in advance?
I've booked a couple of tickets already for the Washington Monument (one for 9am and the other for 4-4:30pm as it might be darker then? And it closes for the night then)) but without going through each place individually, I'm not sure if you can just wander up to things or what.

I assume White House visits are a no-no now?

How to Get Tickets to Tour the White House (http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours-and-events)

The Smithsonian museums, National Zoo and most Washington monuments (including Jefferson and Lincoln) don't require tickets. Just show up during visiting hours (Smithsonian is closed Christmas) and visit. Some special Smithsonian exhibits may require tickets, however. Non-Smithsonian museums may charge an entrance fee but seldom pre-booking. Just walk-in and pay. The Holocaust Museum and occasional visiting exhibits at the National Gallery of Art are exceptions.

October is a wonderful time to visit DC. Good choice!

IIRC - Spy Museum has time "slots" for entry (e.g. every half-hour, maybe every hour) and on occasion, as I've seen certain entry time slots sold out. Can't say if that was during the summer or the holidays. A quick check of the web site / ticket buying options seems to imply that this is still the case.

That said, I don't think you need to buy them tomorrow for October. Is there anything "big" going on in October that would bring an influx of tourists in? I live here so I don't notice (so to speak). Maybe a week or two in advance would be more than enough. But, the whole slew of time slots sold out for all the days you're here, highly doubtful.

There's the Marine Corps Marathon on the 30th Oct and it's school holiday time in the UK.
There's one slot for the monument that has no availability at present with others having 70-100 on average for the day.
Do prefer to turn up rather than a specific time as I can't always say for certain how long I will be somewhere or take to get there.

There's the Marine Corps Marathon on the 30th Oct and it's school holiday time in the UK.
There's one slot for the monument that has no availability at present with others having 70-100 on average for the day.
Do prefer to turn up rather than a specific time as I can't always say for certain how long I will be somewhere or take to get there.

Good call on the Monument - that will be the hardest thing to do, because you have to queue up in the morning to get the ticket and leave your whole day open to come back at the scheduled time for the actual Monument visit. So, given that you've done that, you should be good.

Also, if you are into food at all, you'll definitely want to scope out some restaurants and get reservations as early as possible (Komi, Citronelle, etc) since those will definitely go fast if the Marathon weekend is when you'll be here!

The rest of the free museums shouldn't be too busy, even the Newseum and Spy Museum probably won't be that bad.

Naturally, I'd tell you to watch part of the Marine Corps marathon if you are around on the 30th - I think it would be a great thing for a spectator to see...especially near the starting area (anywhere in North Arlington, Georgetown/West Mall) where the groups of runners are thicker and less spread out. I'll be running with my wife (third USMC marathon), and the fan support and crowds are always a pleaser (compared to the National Marathon, also here in town, for instance).

-jeremy

Naturally, I'd tell you to watch part of the Marine Corps marathon if you are around on the 30th - I think it would be a great thing for a spectator to see...especially near the starting area (anywhere in North Arlington, Georgetown/West Mall) where the groups of runners are thicker and less spread out. I'll be running with my wife (third USMC marathon), and the fan support and crowds are always a pleaser (compared to the National Marathon, also here in town, for instance).


Actually running the marathon so should get a fairly good view of it ;)

Actually running the marathon so should get a fairly good view of it ;)

Cheers, my wife and I will be there as well! ^

Good luck, and hopefully the weather shapes up this year...last year was great.

Let me know if you have any questions about logistics (if you haven't run it before) - we live walking distance to the starting line...so have had quite a bit of experience running around the areas near the starting/finishing line.

Any goal in mind for the race or just to run and finish it?

-jeremy

You may already be too late for the White House tour which does require reservations. The request must be submitted via your Congressional representative.

There is no charge for the White House tour.

There are some specialized tours that require pre-arrangement: Eisenhower Old Executive Office Building and State Department Diplomatic Rooms come to mind offhand. There used to be a tour of the Pentagon--don't know if that's still offered.

If you fancy touring the Capitol from inside - you can book free tickets online or through your rep./senator. www.congress.gov

You may already be too late for the White House tour which does require reservations. The request must be submitted via your Congressional representative.

Not too late; I wrote my congressman in early July and just received notification that I have 2 tix for a mid-August tour. This is, however, the 3rd time I requested a White House Tour and only the first time I've actually gotten tix. I did have to give full names, SS#s, DOBs for those touring when I applied.

Same congressman also got me Capitol tour tix last January. Use your congressman's website.

Have fun. I was there 2 weeks ago when it was 100 degrees so touring in October sounds perfect!

There are some specialized tours that require pre-arrangement: Eisenhower Old Executive Office Building and State Department Diplomatic Rooms come to mind offhand. There used to be a tour of the Pentagon--don't know if that's still offered.

I used to work for the State Department so have seen the reception rooms. Not worth much time out of a busy schedule, IMHO, unless you just want to see in person someplace you may have seen on the news. The National Museum of Medicine was lways one of my favorite, somewhat offbeat, museums (e.g., had the bullet that killed Lincoln). It was on the gorunds of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center but is being moved to Silver Spring. I don't know when it reopens. I have not been to the new Newseum.

Good luck on the marathon. I've seen it a few times as a spectator, and once accompanied a friend going it for the first time at age 50+ for the last few miles (she was following a run-and-walk system so I could keep up). Around Mile 19 you may see a group of strange folks offering small cups of beer. That's the Hash House Harriers, one of hundreds of such groups worldwide. If you recognize them, know that the cups aren't water. Water is offered at many other locations. I'm sure you know that Metro and roads are really crowded after the run's closing ceremonies.

I lived in the area for 9 years. I agree October is a good time to go. According to one Web site I found (www.sunrisesunset.com), sunset should occur just after 6 p.m.

Around Mile 19 you may see a group of strange folks offering small cups of beer. That's the Hash House Harriers, one of hundreds of such groups worldwide.

I'm guessing (by the fact that you are doing one here in Washington, not living here) that you've run a marathon before, and therefore know that you'll see a bunch of people throughout the course offering beer - some up in Foxhall Village (Northwest of Georgetown), after the 'big' hill up to the resevoir, and a few more folks in Crystal City are guarantees - i've seen them everytime I've run the MCM.

-jeremy

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The Washington Monument only requires tickets to ride up to the top.

In terms of White House tours, you may still be able to get tickets. Contact your Member or Congress if you are here for a few days there is a chance you could get lucky. If you book a congressional tour through your members office sometimes you can meet him or her.

Without having a DoD contact, you won't be able to tour the Pentagon.

I think there is also a Kennedy Center tour.

The resturant reservations is also a good idea. Be sure to read up on the various politices. For example, Komi takes requires reservations starting one month in advance.

You may also want to look for event tickets NSO usuallys has tix a day or two before, but depending on who the guest is it may sell out.