7 days in Washington DC & Arlington Itinerary

The capital of the United States, the District of Columbia contains the lion's share of the country's most treasured monuments, memorials, and public museums.

Get a sense of the local culture at National Air and Space Museum and Audubon Naturalist Society Woodend Sanctuary. Get some historical perspective at Capitol Hill and Fell's Point. Change things up with these side-trips from Washington DC: Baltimore (Horseshoe Casino & Sagamore Spirit Distillery). There's still lots to do: admire the masterpieces at National Gallery of Art, examine the collection at The National Archives Museum, explore the activities along Tidal Basin, and get engrossed in the history at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

To find other places to visit, photos, traveler tips, and other tourist information, read our Washington DC road trip planner.

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from your home destination to Washington DC. In May, daytime highs in Washington DC are 76°F, while nighttime lows are 58°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 30th (Sat) to allow enough time to drive to Arlington.

Located just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., the county of Arlington blends big city and sprawling suburban environments.

Visit The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Arlington National Cemetery for their historical value. Do some cultural sightseeing at Gari Melchers Home and Studio and Old House Vineyards. Take a break from Arlington with a short trip to Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville, about 1h 30 min away. And it doesn't end there: grab your bike and head to Mount Vernon Trail, wander the streets of Old Town, and look for all kinds of wild species at Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

To find where to stay, ratings, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read our Arlington online trip itinerary planner.

Arlington is just a short distance from Washington DC. May in Arlington sees daily highs of 76°F and lows of 58°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Tue) so you can go by car back home.