Washington, D.C.Itinerary
I haven’t planned a trip in a hot minute but had so much fun planning this long weekend trip to DC! I start by estimating how many days to spend in the city and what I want to do. I then breakdown the things to do by each day. I will then find restaurants or other things in the area of those certain days that might be optional activities or eating.
Travel Day:
Drove to DC (about 7.5 - 8 hours with stops)
Once we arrived, we checked into the hotel, relaxed and then got ready for our dinner reservation at Ivy City Smokehouse
Day 1: Museum day!
Do your research on what museums you want to see. Some require time entry or at least a pass to download for entry. We did the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum (timed entry for opening time at 10:30am), then headed to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum (ate lunch and explored) then we had about 2 hours left before the museums closed so we optionally had Smithsonian American History Museum on the list to see as well so we powered through that one. The Smithsonian museums are open from 10:30am - 5pm.
After the museum closed, we had about an hour until our dinner reservation at Founding Farmers in Foggy Bottom (about a 1 mile walk from the museums)
Day 2: Zoo & DuPont Circle Day!
I loooveed our zoo day 💕 (You do need to get free passes online prior to the trip and if parking there, it is a $30 parking pass) The zoo opens at 9am so we planned to get there at open and spend the morning/early afternoon there. We ate lunch and left around 1pm-ish.
From the zoo, we headed down to the DuPont Circle area (about 7 min drive). We drove and since it was a Sunday we found free street parking (whoohoo!). We didn’t have too much planned until 5pm when we had a reservation at Swingers for some crazy golf (10/10 recommend). We hung around the circle, went to Kramers Bookstore and hit the tail end of a flea market before our Swingers reservation.
After that we walked to MXDC for some AMAZING Mexican (about 1 mile walk from where we parked the car in DuPont Cir)
Day 3: Tidal Basin
We wanted to walk the Tidal Basin, visit the memorials and Lincoln Monument. It’s around 2 miles around the Tidal Basin (this is also where the cherry blossoms are but they were already bloomed by the time we went).
We did have a reservation to go to the Holocaust Museum after the Tidal Basin. The museum took us around 2ish hours to go through fully.
After the museum we really didn’t have anything planned. We decided to walk to the waterfront area (I think called the Wharf area?) we had a late lunch so we weren’t very hungry but instead ate some Ben and Jerry’s and headed back to the car
Travel home 🏠 💗
We lucked out with beautiful weather (sunny and 80°) in mid April and loved our trip so much. We walked over 20k steps a day which felt amazing.
Parking: for both Day 1 & Day 3 we parked at the Ronald Reagan building which was a central location for us to park. The weekend daily rate was $19 and week day was $26. Also, our hotel charged $20/day to park our car which was a bummer but our hotel was a little outside of the city so it was cheaper and included breakfast so that was not a cost for us so that was okay with us.
Also this was 3 days in the city and 4** nights
Where’s your next trip to??
#travel #travelitinerary #washingtondc #DC #springreset #weekendactivities #travelwithme2024 #healthylifestyle #TravelGuide #traveltips
Wow, planning a trip to D.C. is truly an adventure, and I hope my itinerary gave you a great starting point! After sharing my whirlwind 3 days, I realized there are so many little details and extra tips that can really make your trip even smoother, especially when navigating between some of the city's amazing but spread-out attractions. One question that often comes up is about getting around, especially between specific spots like Ivy City Smokehouse and the Lincoln Memorial. Even though they were on different days for my trip, understanding D.C.'s transportation can save you so much time. From Ivy City Smokehouse, which is a bit northeast, to the iconic Lincoln Memorial, you're looking at about a 15-25 minute drive depending on traffic, or a decent Metro/bus ride with transfers. The Metro is fantastic for getting to most major sites, but do factor in walking to and from stations. For instance, to reach the Lincoln Memorial area from downtown, you'd typically take the Blue, Orange, or Silver lines to Foggy Bottom-GWU or Federal Triangle and then enjoy a scenic walk through the National Mall. Don't underestimate walking – we clocked over 20k steps daily, and it’s truly the best way to soak in the atmosphere and stumble upon hidden gems! Speaking of walking, our museum day was a highlight! The Smithsonian museums are free, which is incredible, but they are also vast. My advice for places like the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum or the Smithsonian Natural History Museum (where you can see that amazing elephant statue!), is to pick a few must-sees rather than trying to see everything. Timed entry was crucial for us, especially for popular ones, so always check their websites in advance. Download their apps beforehand; they often have maps and exhibit guides that are super helpful. And remember those comfy shoes – museum floors are no joke! The National Mall, with its towering Washington Monument and the majestic Abraham Lincoln statue inside the Lincoln Memorial, is truly the heart of D.C. Walking around the Tidal Basin is a must, even if you miss the cherry blossoms. It's beautiful anytime, especially with views of the Jefferson Memorial. If you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the White House, you can usually get a good view from Lafayette Square. Remember to check various entrance points and security considerations for different monuments, as access can change. Parking, as I mentioned, can be pricey, so if your hotel offers a reasonable rate, it might be worth it, or consider relying on rideshares and Metro. Apps like Google Maps or Citymapper are invaluable for real-time public transport info. And don't forget to factor in security checks at museums and government buildings; they can add extra time. I also loved the vibrant food scene – from fancy dinners to casual bites. Exploring areas like DuPont Circle for unique shops and cafes, or even just grabbing some Ben & Jerry's like we did by the Wharf, adds character to your trip. Whether you're playing mini-golf at Swingers or just people-watching, D.C. has a pace for everyone. Enjoy your planning!
DC trip goals! That itinerary is well-planned. Might steal some ideas😄