3-Day Washington, D.C. Itinerary: A Day-by-Day Template
Three days for a capital where nearly every major museum is free: a monumental core, the Smithsonian museums along it, and the neighbourhoods that are not on the postcards.
Washington, D.C. · 3 days United States
Best time: Late March to April for the cherry blossom, and September to October for clear mild days.
The National MallDay 1
📍9:00 AM
Lincoln Memorial
The marble memorial at the west end of the Mall, with the reflecting pool running toward the Washington Monument.
🚶 ~5 min · 🚗 ~1 min · 0.2 mi
📍11:30 AM
Vietnam and Korean War memorials
The black granite wall of names, and the field of stainless-steel figures nearby.
🚶 ~18 min · 🚗 ~2 min · 0.7 mi
📍2:30 PM
Washington Monument and the Mall
The obelisk at the centre, with the Smithsonian museums lining the green either side.
Smithsonian museumsDay 2
🖼️9:30 AM
National Air and Space Museum
The Wright Flyer, Apollo 11’s command module and the Spirit of St Louis in one hall.
🚶 ~19 min · 🚗 ~2 min · 0.7 mi
🖼️1:00 PM
National Museum of African American History and Culture
A bronze-latticed building whose history galleries begin underground and climb chronologically.
🚶 ~18 min · 🚗 ~2 min · 0.7 mi
🖼️4:30 PM
National Gallery of Art
A West Building of European painting and an I. M. Pei East Building of modern work, linked by an underground concourse.
Capitol Hill and GeorgetownDay 3
🖼️9:30 AM
United States Capitol
Tours of the rotunda and old chamber run from the underground visitor centre and are free with a booking.
🚶 ~7 min · 🚗 ~1 min · 0.3 mi
📍12:30 PM
Library of Congress
The 1897 Jefferson Building, the most ornate interior in the city, and free to walk.
🚗 ~11 min · 3.3 mi
📍4:00 PM
Georgetown and the C&O Canal
Federal-era streets above the Potomac, with the old canal towpath running behind the main street.
✈ Live flight status🚶 Travel time between stops🌤 Weather each day📎 Passes & receipts🔗 Share with your group
This is how Petrel lays out a trip. Upload your own confirmations and it builds this for your dates: flights and hotels included, with live flight status and the travel time between stops.
The route, mapped
Every stop below, numbered in the order you would do them.
Make this Washington, D.C. plan yours
Forward your real booking confirmations to Petrel and it builds this exact day-by-day view for you: flights, hotels, reservations, live flight status, and the travel time between stops. Under a minute.
Best time to goLate March to April for the cherry blossom, and September to October for clear mild days. Summer is hot and very humid.
Getting aroundThe Metro is clean and reaches the sights; the National Mall itself is much longer than it looks on a map, so plan to walk several miles.
Local tip: Nearly all Smithsonian museums are free with no ticket. A few of the most popular need a timed entry pass booked ahead, which is the only thing worth planning around.
The same day-by-day plan as text. Times are starting points, not homework.
Day 1: The National Mall
9:00 AM
Lincoln Memorial
The marble memorial at the west end of the Mall, with the reflecting pool running toward the Washington Monument.
11:30 AM
Vietnam and Korean War memorials
The black granite wall of names, and the field of stainless-steel figures nearby.
2:30 PM
Washington Monument and the Mall
The obelisk at the centre, with the Smithsonian museums lining the green either side.
Day 2: Smithsonian museums
9:30 AM
National Air and Space Museum
The Wright Flyer, Apollo 11’s command module and the Spirit of St Louis in one hall.
1:00 PM
National Museum of African American History and Culture
A bronze-latticed building whose history galleries begin underground and climb chronologically.
4:30 PM
National Gallery of Art
A West Building of European painting and an I. M. Pei East Building of modern work, linked by an underground concourse.
Day 3: Capitol Hill and Georgetown
9:30 AM
United States Capitol
Tours of the rotunda and old chamber run from the underground visitor centre and are free with a booking.
12:30 PM
Library of Congress
The 1897 Jefferson Building, the most ornate interior in the city, and free to walk.
4:00 PM
Georgetown and the C&O Canal
Federal-era streets above the Potomac, with the old canal towpath running behind the main street.
Make this Washington, D.C. plan yours
Forward your real booking confirmations to Petrel and it builds this exact day-by-day view for you: flights, hotels, reservations, live flight status, and the travel time between stops. Under a minute.
