Pay your respects at Arlington National Cemetery
All Things To Do
Key Info
Price & Hours
Details
Introduction to Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery, located in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., stretches over an area of about 1 square mile. It serves as the final resting place for more than 400,000 service members, veterans, and their families. Key attractions within the cemetery include the Memorial Amphitheater, the John F. Kennedy Gravesite, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Additionally, discovering the grave of a notable veteran, family member, or friend is a powerful and moving experience for many visitors. The cemetery provides a downloadable app to help pinpoint specific grave locations.
Touring the Cemetery
The hop-on, hop-off trolley tour offered by Arlington National Cemetery Tours is an excellent way to explore the cemetery, though it might be considered somewhat pricey. The tours cost $19.50 for adults, $10.75 for children ages 4 to 12, and $15 for seniors aged 65 and older. Discounted prices are available for service members, veterans, and their families.
Visitor Etiquette and Experience
Prepare for a humbling experience during your visit, as Arlington National Cemetery is an active burial site. Visitors should be respectful and maintain a low voice, as they may encounter people attending funeral services. These services typically occur from 9 a.m. to 2 or 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Getting There and Navigating
The cemetery is accessible via its own Metro stop on the Blue line, Arlington Cemetery Station. Additionally, the cemetery offers automated parking across from Memorial Avenue, costing $3 per hour. Maps of the cemetery, as well as information on notable graves and The Changing of the Guard, can be found on the Arlington National Cemetery website.
Hours of Operation
Arlington National Cemetery is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Narrated tram tours operate every 20 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. The cemetery also offers walking tours dedicated to individual branches of the military.
