Washington, DC ended up being one of our favorite family trips because it had such a good mix of history, iconic sights, walkable attractions, and kid-friendly experiences. From seeing the monuments lit up on our first night to touring the Capitol, biking around the memorials, exploring Smithsonian museums, and adding in a Baltimore stop, this trip gave us a little bit of everything.
What also surprised us was how manageable it felt as a family trip. So many of the major museums and attractions are either free or low-cost, which helps balance out hotel and parking costs. The city also felt easy to navigate once we got comfortable mixing walking, Metro rides, and the occasional Uber.
Meaningful Road Trip Stop: Flight 93 National Memorial
On our way east, we made a stop at the Flight 93 National Memorial before heading on to Baltimore and then Washington, DC. This was one of the most meaningful stops of the trip and definitely not just a quick roadside attraction kind of place. It is quiet, reflective, and worth planning as its own stop rather than trying to squeeze it into your DC days.
If you’re considering adding it to a similar route, it makes much more sense as a stop on the drive in or out, not as a day trip from Baltimore or DC.
🏨 WHERE WE STAYED
📍 Washington, DC
We stayed at
👉 Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Georgetown
For a family trip, this checked a lot of boxes:
✔ Suite-style rooms (separate space = sanity saver)
✔ Indoor pool + hot tub (perfect end-of-day reset)
✔ Free made-to-order breakfast (huge time + money win)
✔ Walkable to the Metro (we used it daily and loved it)
⚠️ Parking is paid (pretty standard for DC)
This ended up being a great home base for exploring Washington, DC with kids.
📍 Baltimore (Bonus Stop)
We stayed at
👉 Hyatt Place Baltimore Inner Harbor
✔ Walkable to the Inner Harbor + aquarium
✔ Easy location for a quick overnight
✔ Comfortable, simple, and family-friendly
Baltimore was a really easy and fun add-on to our DC trip and gave us a nice change of pace from the museums and monuments.
🏨 More Washington, DC Hotel Options for Families
If our hotel is booked or you want to explore different areas, here are a few great options depending on what matters most to your family—location, Metro access, or extra space and included breakfast.
🏛️ Stay Near the National Mall
Staying near the National Mall puts you within walking distance of many of the most iconic sights like the Washington Monument, Smithsonian museums, and memorials. This is a great option if you want to minimize transportation and maximize sightseeing time.
🚇 Hotels Near Metro Access
One of the best things we did was stay near a Metro stop. It made getting around the city so much easier, especially after long days of walking. If you’re traveling with kids, this can make a big difference in how manageable your trip feels.
🛏️ Family Suites + Breakfast Included
For families, having extra space and breakfast included can make a big difference. Suite-style hotels give everyone room to spread out, and starting the day with breakfast already handled makes mornings so much easier.
🚇 GETTING AROUND WASHINGTON, DC WITH KIDS
One of the things that surprised us most about Washington, DC was how easy it was to get around.
We also loved that our hotel was within walking distance of the Metro, which made getting around the city much easier for our family.
💡 What worked well for us:
- Walking the National Mall
- Using the Metro for longer distances
- Mixing in Uber when needed
🌙 Day 1: Arrive in DC + See the Monuments at Night
We arrived in Washington, DC at night, and one of the best decisions we made was heading straight out to see the monuments lit up. Seeing the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument glowing after dark made such a strong first impression and felt like the perfect start to the trip.
🐰 Day 2: Easter Sunday + Ford’s Theatre + Pool Time
The next day was Easter Sunday, and we had such a fun surprise when the Easter Bunny showed up during our meal. Later, we toured Ford’s Theatre, which was one of the most meaningful and interesting stops on the trip. After that, heading back to the hotel for pool time ended up being the perfect reset for everyone.
Ford’s Theatre recommends advance tickets, and a limited number of same-day historic site tickets are also sometimes available.
🏛️ Day 3: Capitol Tour + National Archives
This was one of our big history days. We toured the U.S. Capitol and visited the National Archives, and both were absolutely worth doing. Seeing those spaces in person makes everything feel so much more real for kids and adults.
Capitol tours are free, guided, and reservations are recommended. The National Archives is also free, and while tickets are not required, they are encouraged to improve the visit experience.
🦖 Day 4: Natural History Museum + National Zoo
The Smithsonian museums are one of the best parts of visiting Washington, DC with kids, and the Natural History Museum was an easy favorite. We also spent time at the National Zoo, which made for a nice balance after some of the more history-heavy parts of the trip.
The Natural History Museum is free and does not require tickets. The Zoo is also free, but entry passes are required.
✈️ Day 5: Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum
Instead of visiting the downtown Air and Space Museum, we went to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, and honestly, it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made. It had so much more space, so much more to see, and felt much less crowded. It ended up being one of our favorite stops of the whole trip.
The Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles displays thousands of aviation and space artifacts, is free to enter, and is open daily.
🚲 Day 6: Bike Tour + Cherry Blossoms + Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
One of the coolest ways we explored Washington, DC was by doing a bike tour around the monuments. It was such a great way to cover more ground and keep everyone engaged. We also got to see some of the cherry blossoms blooming, which made the city feel even more special.
This ended up being one of our favorite days because it felt active, flexible, and a little more relaxed.
Another stop that really stayed with us was the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We happened to visit on a rainy day, and somehow that made the experience feel even more fitting and memorable. Arlington is large and hilly, so it helps to plan for more walking than you might expect. The Tomb’s changing of the guard ceremony takes place every hour from October through March and every half hour from April through September.
🏛️ White House Tour: Plan This Early
Touring the White House was one of the most unique parts of our trip, but it definitely takes advance planning. This is not something you can just book like a regular attraction. White House tour requests must go through your U.S. Representative or Senator, and the official request window is typically 21 to 90 days before your requested tour dates. Approval is not guaranteed.
🍴 Where We Ate in Washington, DC
We found a mix of casual and sit-down spots worked best for our family in DC, especially with long days of walking and sightseeing.
- Pizzeria Paradiso Dupont
- Ted’s Bulletin for the homemade pop tarts
- Union Market
- Matchbox for mini burgers, pizza, beer, and wine
- Old Ebbitt Grill
- Carmine’s Italian
- Café Berlin
- Etto
- Food Truck lunch near the National Mall
☔ What We Were Glad We Packed
It rained for a good part of our trip, so having a few weather-ready items made a big difference. If you’re heading to DC in spring or anytime the forecast looks iffy, these are worth tossing in your suitcase.
These were items we ended up needing during our trip and were really glad we had.
Having these on hand made a big difference on rainy sightseeing days.
⚾ Bonus Stop: Baltimore With Kids
Before DC, we also spent time in Baltimore, which made a really fun add-on to the trip. We caught an Orioles game, visited the Star-Spangled Banner House, and went to the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, where we found a Groupon discount.
If you’re traveling with kids and want more options in Baltimore, some other places worth looking into include Port Discovery, the Maryland Science Center, the Baltimore Museum of Industry, Urban Pirates, Shenanigans Toy Shop, and Bengies Drive-In.
🚇 Getting Around Washington, DC With Kids
One of the things that surprised us most about Washington, DC was how easy it was to get around. We used the Metro multiple times during our trip and felt completely safe the entire time. It was efficient, easy to figure out, and gave us a break from all the walking.
Having a hotel within walking distance of a Metro stop made a huge difference for us. We still did a lot on foot, especially around the National Mall, but mixing walking, Metro rides, and the occasional Uber was definitely the best strategy.
💛 Final Thoughts on Washington, DC With Kids
Washington, DC ended up being such a memorable family trip for us because it had a little bit of everything: history, iconic landmarks, museums, meaningful moments, and just enough fun mixed in to keep it exciting for kids. We loved the mix of walking, sightseeing, and slower-paced moments like pool time, food stops, and the bike tour.
If you’re planning a family trip to DC, I hope this itinerary helps make it feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more doable.
It’s one of those trips that’s not just fun in the moment—but meaningful long after you leave.
Collect Moments 