Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2
Monuments and Memorials
From the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, the west side of the National Mall is a walk
through history. Visit these honored sites and discover a few surprises along the way.
Distance: 2.6-mile loop
Approximate hiking time: 3 hours, including time viewing the memorials
Difficulty: Easy
Trail surface: Smooth clay path
Best seasons: Year-round
Other trail users: Runners, sightseers
Canine compatibility: Leashed dogs permitted
Fees and permits: None
Schedule: The National Mall is always open. Monuments and memorials are lit up at
night until midnight; visitor centers are open during business hours.
Maps: National Park Service mall map at www.nps.gov/nama. Maps can also be picked
up at kiosks by the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
Trail contact: National Mall and Memorial Parks, 900 Ohio Dr. SW, Washington, D.C.
20024; (202) 426-6841; www.nps.gov/nama
Finding the trailhead:
By car: Take I-66 east or US 50 east and cross the Roosevelt
Bridge. Stay straight and continue on Constitution Avenue. Follow this to 15th Street
and turn right. Get in the left lane and turn left at Jefferson Drive SW. Park anywhere
along the street. (Note: There are meters and a time limit is enforced. Parking is not al-
lowed during rush hours—between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 6:30
p.m.) Start the hike near the Metro stop indicated by a brown pole. Via Metro: Take the
Blue or Orange line to the Smithsonian stop. Exit toward the National Mall and start the
hike at the top of the escalator by the brown Metro pole. GPS: N38 53.318' / W77
01.701'
