Arlington National Cemetery Visit During A Layover In DC

Why You Should Go To Arlington National Cemetery With The Family

The 624 acres that comprise Arlington National Cemetery are a beautiful place to walk around, a fitting honor to the 400,000 veterans and their families that are buried there.

You might think that the number of graves would be disturbing to the kids but while they notice that this is the “biggest number of dead people they have ever seen” (direct quote from my nephew), the peaceful nature of the grounds make it not so scary.

The interesting monuments plus the famous people buried here (presidents, generals, explorers, astronauts, etc) give kids something to direct their attention to as well as an opportunity to learn a little American history.

Watching one of the approximately 30 funerals each weekday and 7 on Saturday also gives them a chance to learn about the deep traditions of our military and the respect those soldiers have earned.

How We Traveled To Arlington On Our Last Trip

We checked in at 915am for a 1pm flight out of Reagan National Airport. After checking-in, my twin 10 year old nephews and I headed over to Arlington via the Metro, which has a stop at Reagan.

We were able to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Kennedy’s grave, and the exhibits at the Welcome Center before we needed to head back to the airport.

Our visit to Arlington took just over 2 hours there and back and we were back at the airport, through security, and heading to our gate at 12pm.

Getting To Arlington National Cemetery From Reagan National Airport

The Metro Is Our Usual Method

From Reagan National Airport, hop on the metro that stops right by the terminal. There is a skybridge connecting the station to the airport terminal and it is well marked.

*IMPORTANT NOTE* From Reagan Airport, you want the Blue Line heading to Largo Town Center. Do not get on the Yellow Line as it veers off to go towards the National Mall before Arlington.

The metro ride between Reagan and Arlington takes 8 minutes, with stops in Crystal City, Pentagon City, and the Pentagon before reaching Arlington. See the map on the WMATA website.

The Arlington Metro Station is small, with only one exit. When you come up above ground, you are on the main entrance road to Arlington, called Memorial Avenue.

The entrance to the cemetery is in one direction and you can see Lincoln Memorial way in the distance if you look the opposite way on Memorial Avenue. Head away from Lincoln Memorial.

Walk 5 minutes (0.2 miles) towards the cemetery and the entrance is on your left at the Arlington Welcome Center. This is the only open gate for pedestrians coming from the direction of the Metro.

You will need to pass through security with a metal detector and bag search.

Buying Tickets For The Metro- aka SmarTrip Cards

You must purchase a SmarTrip card to use the metro system as the WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) does not sell single journey tickets. The plastic, chip- enabled SmarTrip cards cost $2 and can be reloaded multiple times.

Purchase SmarTrip cards from the automatic vending machines in the station and load them with the appropriate fare.

Fares are based on distance and each machine has a handy chart above the computer screen which lists the various destinations and how much they cost. Use these to figure out how much to load to your card.

Everyone must have their own SmarTrip card as you are not allowed to pass them back and the next person taps again. It is very annoying if you are only riding the Metro a couple of times and don’t want to invest in a $2 card but that’s the way it is.

You can digitally buy a SmarTrip card and add it to your wallet in Apple Pay or Google Wallet. You still would need to pre-load the digital card with money though. Get the details on the WMATA website under “Mobile Pay.”

The only benefit to digitally paying is it allows you to skip the vending machine in the station but it could be a pain with kids all needing to use a different phone to tap.

Cost For A Ride On Metro To Arlington

It costs $2.25 each way to go from the airport to the metro station at Arlington Cemetery, plus the $2 cost of the SmarTrip card if you do not already have one.

You can pay for your purchase with a major credit card, debit card, or cash up to $20 bills.

You can purchase multiple SmarTrip cards in one transaction as the machine will ask you how many you want to buy.

If you are really lost trying to figure out how to work the card machines, look around for an attendant or a Transit cop. The Reagan Airport station is used to visitors unfamiliar with the system and usually has a few station attendants around ready to answer questions.

The attendants helped me out on my last trip as I wasn’t sure what kind of card a 10 year old would need. The attendant basically punched all the numbers into the machine for me and I had my 3 SmarTrip cards loaded with their correct amounts in about 2 minutes.

Two children under 5 can ride for free with a paying adult but all other kids need a regular SmarTrip card and must pay the regular fare price (so no discount for my two 10 year old companions).

Seniors over 65 are able to purchase senior cards that can be loaded with half- price fares but you must purchase them at special commuter stores in the DC area so not really an option for this scenario.

Other Ways To Get From Reagan Airport To Arligton National Cemetery

Taking Uber/ Lyft/ Taxi to Arlington

You can always do a car share or taxi to the cemetery as well although it is generally more expensive (probably around $20-$30 each way) because of the associated fees for airport access. It is a quick trip though, usually only 5 min or so, even with DC’s famed traffic.

We usually take the Metro when we visit because of price and convenience but if I had someone with mobility issues in the group, we might do an Uber because it is a little bit of a walk from the Metro Station to the entrance to the cemetery; around 0.2 miles.

Map below courtesy of Arlington National Cemetery.

First Stop: Arlington National Cemetery Welcome Center

The Welcome Center is the closest entrance gate to the Arlington Metro Station (0.2 miles away). You will have to go thru security gates to enter the cemetery and it involves passing thru metal detectors and bag checks.

There can be a line so be prepared to wait 10-15 minutes to get in. Once inside, the grounds are so vast, it will not feel crowded.

All people 18 and over will need ID to enter which was fine for us since we were coming from the airport. 16 and 17 year olds either need an adult with ID or their own.

You can take a purse or backpack into the cemetery, you just have to open it up so that security can check inside. They do not have a specific “no luggage” policy on the website but from looking at the security, my guess is that a large duffel bag would the most they would allow.

I doubt they would be okay with large rolling suitcases and supersized, travel-Europe-for-the-summer backpacks. We have had no problems taking school-sized backpacks and a large tote.

You are not allowed to bring in food (or alcoholic beverages) to Arlington, it’s not really a picnic kind of place. Water and soft drinks are okay.

The Welcome Center has a few exhibits that tell the history of the cemetery, from its time as a plantation owned by George Washington Parke Custis (grandson of Martha Washington) to its first use a cemetery by the Union Army and onto its present day form.

Take advantage of the nice bathrooms at the Welcome Center since facilities are few and far between on the grounds. And I strongly urge you to refill your bottles here as water fountains are not as common as you might wish on hot summer days.

* Pro Tip- Pick up a map/ brochure at the Welcome Center. The cemetery is large and has lots of meandering paths so it is easy to get turned around. Each section is marked with numbers on the map that are easy to match up with the numbered signs that you will see as you walk.

What To See At Arlington National Cemetery

If you have 1-2 hours to visit Arlington, try these top 3 sites:

• The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• Kennedy Family Graves

If You Have 3-4 Hours:

• Add in a walk over to the US Marine Corps Memorial (commonly known as Iwo Jima) just outside of Arlington’s walls.
• Take a themed tour focusing on graves from specific wars or all the US Presidents.
• Find an ancestor’s grave

From the Welcome Center to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to the Kennedy Gravesite and back to the Welcome Center is about a 1.5 mile walk.

If you are trying to see the Kennedy graves, plus the Tomb, as well as watch the changing of the guard at the tomb, this will easily take you an hour or more to do.

If you want to walk over to Iwo Jima, it is less than a mile from the Kennedy gravesite and you exit Arlington through the Ord & Weitzel gate to get there.

I will cover a little bit more about each of these sites below.

The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier

If you are on a short layover or trying to squeeze in a visit before a flight, then head straight to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the Welcome Center. It is about a 15 minute walk at a decently fast pace (more like 20-30 minutes if you have small kids that are less speedy and apt to stop and look at squirrels). It is also a little uphill.

One of the most poignant sites in Arlington, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has a large sarcophagus containing the remains of an unknown soldier from WWI and smaller crypts in front of the sarcophagus that contain remains from WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

*The remains from the Vietnam War were exhumed in 1998 and identified through DNA analysis. The soldier was then returned to his family and it was decided to leave the crypt empty with an inscription honoring all missing serviceman from 1958- 1975.

Do take a few minutes to walk through the small museum in the building opposite the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The exhibits tell the history of the Tomb since its inception in 1921.

The kids will like the photographs of the Tomb during thunderstorms and blizzards and how the soldiers are always there watching over it, even during these inclement conditions.

Also, look for the interesting and detailed exhibit on the complicated uniform of the soldiers on guard and the meaning behind each component.

Adjacent to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the Memorial Amphitheater, a large open amphitheater surrounded by a colonnade of white marble pillars. The amphitheater holds 3 major services each year- Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Easter. It is a beautiful spot to sit down for a minute and rest.

The Changing Of The Guard Of The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier

Every hour on the hour (and every half hour from April 1- September 30), the Tomb Guard changes personnel in an intricately choreographed ritual that takes about 10 minutes.

This is a very popular event and makes an impression on kids and grownups alike with its solemnity, perfect execution, and clear emphasis on honoring all of the unknown soldiers represented by the crypts here.

Members of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment, the oldest active duty infantry unit in the US Army, volunteer for the Tomb Guard and it is an honour to be chosen. Volunteers have to pass a rigorous test of knowledge about Arlington National Cemetery as well as perform the complicated guard change. Plus, they have a very detailed uniform preparation to follow.

As soon as one guard change is over, people start grabbing good spots for the next one. The best place to be is on the right side of the steps (as you are looking at the big sarcophagus) and as close to the railing as you can get.

This is where most of the inspection happens but really any spot near the railing is fine. We were on the left side last time I was there and we could still see everything.

* Pro Tip- There are lots of signs around Arlington asking for quiet and emphasizing respect so do your part. Videos and photographs are allowed but please be unobtrusive. Remember that selfies and videos are not the important thing here- honoring the people who served is.

For more information about the Tomb and the Honor Guard, check out Arlington’s official website and on the Society of the Honor Guard FAQ page. Both pages make for interesting reading and will add a lot to your visit.

John F. Kennedy Gravesite

President Taft and President Kennedy are the only two presidents buried in Arlington National Cemetery but Kennedy’s grave is considerably larger and well worth a stop, especially as it is nearish to the Welcome Center, just a 10 minute stroll away.

The Eternal Flame holds vigil over the plaque marking Kennedy’s actual grave as well as that of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and two of their children, Patrick Kennedy (who died shortly after being born in August 1963, 2 months before Kennedy’s assassination), and an unnamed daughter.

The kids particularly liked reading Kennedy’s most famous quotes that are inscribed in the plaza adjacent to the gravesite. The Washington Monument can be seen in the background, making a lovely backdrop to his words.

Next to JFK, you will find his brother Robert Kennedy’s gravesite and memorial plaza, which is also worth a walk through. His grave is marked by a simple white cross and plaque. The adjacent plaza contains some of his most famous quotes, similar to his brother’s memorial.

US Marine Corps War Memorial/ Iwo Jima

After doing the things mentioned above (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Changing of the Guard, and the Kennedy Family Graves), my next favorite thing in Arlington isn’t technically in Arlington– the Iwo Jima Memorial.

Just outside the Ord- Weitzel Gate of Arlington National Cemetery is the US Marine Corps War Memorial that is more commonly called the Iwo Jima Memorial. It is about 0.8 miles from JFK’s grave.

The memorial commemorates all US Marine Corps members who have died in service since 1775. The statue itself is a recreation of a famous photograph taken on Feb 23, 1945 when Marine Corps members raised a small flag on top of a mountain on the island of Iwo Jima after days of very heavy fighting.

For more information about the memorial and the capture of Iwo Jima, read the NPS page about it.

Do A Themed Tour Of Arlington

If you have kids into certain parts of American history – ie Revolutionary War (there are 11 graves of Revolutionary War veterans) or space (John Glenn is buried here), you can visit those graves.

The website has these themes and others under its Notable Graves tab that you can click on to see who is buried where in the cemetery. It is really pretty helpful.

Find An Ancestor Or More Recent Family Member’s Grave

If you want to find a family member’s grave, then use the app ANC Explorer to locate it. It is a free download from the Apple or Google store.

The Details You Need To Know For Visiting Arlington National Cemetery

Hours

The cemetery is open everyday, including holidays, from 8am-5pm from October thru March and from 8am-7pm from April thru September.

Entrance fee

There is no admission price for Arlington.

Tours Of Arlington National Cemetery

There is a hop on/ hop off shuttle tour of Arlington National Cemetery.

The tour has 4 stops during the week (7 on weekends) on a continuous loop around the cemetery. Tickets are $17.95 adults, $9.95 kids, $13.95 seniors over 65. Military in uniform are free and veterans are reduced price.

The shuttle is useful if you want to see as much of the cemetery as you can in a short time, otherwise I would just walk. The shuttles are run by Arlington Tours and you can buy tickets on their website or at the Welcome Center.

*The shuttle changes their stops and schedule based on construction or events in the cemetery. Be sure to check their schedule to see what stops they have before buying your ticket.

General Tips For Visiting Arlington National Cemetery With Kids

Early is better in the summer as it gets hot.

Bring a water bottle and refill it at the water fountains scattered around the grounds. Also bring granola bars or other snacks with you as there is not a cafe or anything on site and nothing nearby.

You aren’t supposed to eat in Arlington so I wouldn’t bring anything that you can’t eat on the fly.

Be respectful. No running, games of tag, picnics, playing music, or shouting. Photographs and videos of funerals (of which there are multiple per day in the cemetery) are not permitted.

The cemetery does not have stroller or wheelchair rentals but you can bring your own. Most of the paths are paved so it is relatively easy to push a stroller around (except for the hills).