# Washington, DC with a day in Alexandria

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/north-america/single-base-plus-day-trip/washington-dc-with-a-day-in-alexandria-z0352/>)

Add a nearby city or landscape while keeping one overnight base

- Region: North America
- Trip format: Single base + day trip
- Nights: 5
- Interests: Politics, Science, History, Arts & Theatre

## Route and nights

- Washington, DC · 5 night(s)

Tradeoff: A day trip avoids repacking. Check the last return option and whether the travel time is worth the outing.

Compare: Local transit, rail, ferry or road for the outing as applicable

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · Washington, DC

- 15:00 to 15:45 · Check in or drop your bags · citizenM Washington DC Capitol. If your arrival is late, keep just the hotel and dinner.
- 16:10 to 17:00 · Walk the southwest edge of the National Mall · National Mall, Washington, DC. Use the walk to find the Mall entrances you will use the next day.
- 17:20 to 18:10 · Walk along the Washington Channel · The Wharf, Washington, DC. Pick a short stretch between the piers.
- 18:15 to 19:30 · Dinner at The Wharf · The Wharf, Washington, DC
Overnight: [citizenM Washington DC Capitol](<https://www.hotels.com/ho1464385760/citizenm-washington-dc-capitol-washington-united-states-of-america/>) · Washington, DC

### Day 2 · Washington, DC

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza · L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
- 09:00 to 09:30 · Get to the Capitol Visitor Center and clear security · U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, DC. Bring only what the Capitol allows and leave time for screening before the tour.
- 09:30 to 10:45 · Take a Capitol Visitor Center tour · U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, DC. Reserve the Capitol tour ahead. This schedule is arranged for Saturday. Tour time may vary with the available reservation. For a guided alternative, compare the Viator tour. Check its start time, included interiors, and duration before replacing the morning plan.
- 11:05 to 12:10 · Explore the Library of Congress Jefferson Building · Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, DC. Check timed-entry requirements separately from the Capitol tour. Leave time to see the Great Hall.
- 12:30 to 13:30 · Lunch along Pennsylvania Avenue SE · Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
- 13:45 to 14:20 · See the Supreme Court exterior and Capitol grounds · Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, DC. The exterior stop works on the weekend. Save any interior visit for a date with public access.
- 14:45 to 16:20 · Visit the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory · United States Botanic Garden Conservatory, Washington, DC. Keep this unticketed stop flexible if the Capitol or Library reservation shifts.
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner on Barracks Row · Barracks Row, Washington, DC. Choose a spot near Eastern Market and use Metro if you want to avoid walking back.
Overnight: [citizenM Washington DC Capitol](<https://www.hotels.com/ho1464385760/citizenm-washington-dc-capitol-washington-united-states-of-america/>) · Washington, DC

### Day 3 · Washington, DC

- 08:45 to 09:30 · Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza · L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
- 09:40 to 10:00 · Reach the Air and Space Museum entrance · Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC. Reserve for the National Mall building in Washington, DC.
- 10:00 to 12:20 · Visit the National Air and Space Museum · Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC. Check the current timed-entry policy and use your reserved slot. Pick a short list of open galleries.
- 12:35 to 13:35 · Lunch around the National Mall · National Mall, Washington, DC
- 13:50 to 16:15 · Visit the National Museum of Natural History · Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC. Choose a priority such as the fossil hall or the ocean galleries. Allow for a security line and skip a second hall if the first takes longer.
- 17:45 to 19:15 · Dinner near Penn Quarter · Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
Overnight: [citizenM Washington DC Capitol](<https://www.hotels.com/ho1464385760/citizenm-washington-dc-capitol-washington-united-states-of-america/>) · Washington, DC

### Day 4 · Alexandria

- 08:30 to 09:15 · Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza · L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
- 09:30 to 10:30 · Take Metro to King St-Old Town and continue toward the waterfront · King St-Old Town Metro Station, Alexandria, Virginia. Check WMATA's route and service on your date. Walk down King Street or take the local trolley if operating.
- 10:30 to 11:30 · Walk the lower blocks of King Street · King Street, Alexandria, Virginia. Keep time for the side streets around Market Square before heading to the river.
- 11:40 to 12:30 · Explore the Torpedo Factory Art Center · Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, Virginia. Check opening hours and individual artist studio availability.
- 12:45 to 14:00 · Lunch in Old Town · Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
- 14:10 to 15:50 · Walk the Potomac waterfront · Waterfront Park, Alexandria, Virginia. Start around Waterfront Park and use a short out-and-back route.
- 16:00 to 17:30 · Return to Washington by Metro · L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC. Allow extra time for the walk or trolley back to the Metro station.
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner near the hotel · The Wharf, Washington, DC
Overnight: [citizenM Washington DC Capitol](<https://www.hotels.com/ho1464385760/citizenm-washington-dc-capitol-washington-united-states-of-america/>) · Washington, DC

### Day 5 · Washington, DC

- 08:45 to 09:30 · Breakfast near the Archives · Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
- 10:00 to 11:55 · See the National Gallery's West Building · National Gallery of Art West Building, Washington, DC. Choose one painting collection and leave time to get between floors.
- 12:00 to 13:00 · Lunch near Pennsylvania Avenue NW · Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
- 13:15 to 14:15 · Visit the National Gallery Sculpture Garden · National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC. Check any weather or event changes. Use the indoor East Building as a backup.
- 14:35 to 16:30 · See modern and contemporary art in the East Building · National Gallery of Art East Building, Washington, DC
- 17:45 to 19:15 · Dinner in Penn Quarter · Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
Overnight: [citizenM Washington DC Capitol](<https://www.hotels.com/ho1464385760/citizenm-washington-dc-capitol-washington-united-states-of-america/>) · Washington, DC

### Day 6 · Washington, DC

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza · L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
- 09:00 to 09:30 · Check out and leave bags if needed · citizenM Washington DC Capitol. Confirm checkout and luggage storage with the hotel.
- 09:45 to 10:50 · Take an optional final waterfront walk · The Wharf, Washington, DC. Skip this if you need an earlier departure.
- 11:05 to 11:25 · Collect your bags · citizenM Washington DC Capitol