New York City

Washington DC Day Trip from New York City

New York City, USA

From $179.00

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

  • 11 to 13 hours
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

On this New York to Washington DC tour, check out the nation’s capital in a day with all logistics, transport, and entrance fees included. Traveling by comfortable minivan or bus with a guide for commentary—another advantage over an independent trip—you'll view landmarks including the White House and Washington Monument. Plus, visit Arlington Cemetery and the National Smithsonian Air and Space Museum or National Museum of Natural History.
  • Experience the signature sights of Washington DC
  • See and learn about the US capital’s landmarks
  • See the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Capitol, and more
  • Visit Arlington Cemetery and a Smithsonian museum

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

See nearly all of DC's key attractions and spend time at the Air and Space Museum—a rare combo.

What's Included

  • Professional tour guide
  • Transportation by 15-passenger van or a full-sized bus
  • Free Wi-Fi on bus only
  • Restroom on board
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Entrance to Arlington National cemetery (U.S. ID or Passport required) & Air and Space Museum
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 330 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

    6:30 AM Departure In front of Port Authority side entrance Bus Terminal Building on 42nd Street (between 8th & 9th Avenue)

Start time

06:30 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

This day trip to Washington DC from New York begins with a drive south to the US capital.

When you arrive, start your DC sightseeing tour at Arlington Cemetery where you're free to visit JFK's gravesite. Then, take a drive through the city center to admire landmarks such as the domed Capitol building and White House before visiting the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum or the National Museum of Natural History. Finally, enjoy photo ops at some of DC’s most famous attractions near the National Mall—the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Korean War Veterans Memorial. Finally, begin the trip back to NYC, where your tour ends.

Please Note: This tour is scheduled to stop in front of the White House and the Capitol building for commentary and photo ops. However, please be aware that occasionally this is not possible due to security issues in Washington. If this occurs during your tour, the itinerary will be adjusted accordingly.

Empire Vacations Day Tours - New York

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Arlington National Cemetery

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

U.S. Capitol

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

White House

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

National Air and Space Museum

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Lincoln Memorial

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Korean War Veterans Memorial

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Wheelchair accessible; please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
  • Depending on the rules on the day, sometimes a stop can be made for photographs from outside the fence
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Time at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is approximately 1.5-hours
  • For tours with fewer guests, vans may be substituted - wifi and restrooms on full size buses only.
  • Infant seats available
  • Tours can be bilingual/multilingual as they are offered in many different languages
  • Children under the age of 2 are free, please advise at time of booking if infant is traveling
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Due to security, there is no entry to the White House
  • Due to security a passport or U.S. ID will be required to enter Arlington Cemetery
  • Air and space Museum is currently under renovations - entrance is not guaranteed
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 54 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Filter by:

Q:Is hotel pickup included for the Washington DC Day Trip?

A:Hotel pickup is not available for this tour. You will have to make your own way to the meeting location listed in the 'Departure & Return" section above.

Feb 2022

Q:Is parking available at the pickup point for the Washington DC Day Trip?

A:There is a parking lot available near the departure point (parking rates apply), however, it is highly recommended to utilize public transportation or a ride-share service.

Feb 2022

Q:What type of vehicle is used for the Washington DC Day Trip?

A:Depending on the group size, you will travel in either a comfortable air-conditioned bus or van.

Feb 2022

Q:Is Wifi available during the tour?

A:Wifi services are available on full-size coaches only. Mobile wifi is not designed to support streaming services.

Feb 2022

Q:Can I bring an infant with me on the Washington DC Day Trip?

A:Children under 2 years old travel free as lap children with a paid adult who will be responsible for the behavior and wellbeing of any passengers on their reservation

Feb 2022

Q:Do I have to advise that I will be bringing an infant ahead of time?

A:Yes - Please specify that you will be bringing an infant (along with infant age) in the "Special Requirements" box at checkout.

Feb 2022

Q:Can I bring a stroller for my child?

A:Yes - Please notate that you will be bringing a stroller with approximate folded dimensions in the "Special Requirements" box at checkout if you plan to bring one.

Feb 2022

Q:Are car seats available for use during the Washington DC Day Trip?

A:Yes - If you require a car seat, please notate the request in the "Special Requirements" box at checkout. The local operator provides car seats but requires at least 24 hours notice.

Feb 2022

Q:Is the Washington DC Day Trip available in languages other than English?

A:All tours are operated in English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese and Chinese; the requested language must be specified at the time of booking.

Feb 2022

Q:Is smoking allowed on the Washington DC Day Trip??

A:Smoking is not permitted on the motorcoach. Stops are provided en route for smoke and bathroom breaks.

Feb 2022

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Reviews

4.0
1,954 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 1,954 reviews
Wish that our guide had a microphone..we can hardly get what she's saying
Rosemin_E, Apr 2024
Arlington cemetery was reflective of our heroes valor and sacrifices!!! The trip was long and 15 minute breaks was too short for seniors to move faster..
Good Tour
Prashant_D, Apr 2024
One day tour is great too see important attractions in Washington. Covered all important places but if want to spend more time at each then you require to take two or three days tour
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear that the one-day tour met your expectations for covering important attractions in Washington. We appreciate your insights and look forward to accommodating you on future trips.
Amazing trip
Maryna_S, Apr 2024
We had a wonderful 1 day trip with guide Andrea. Bus was in time, good driver. We are going to book another trip to Boston. I suggest to book your trips here!!!
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad to hear that you had a wonderful day with Andrea and appreciated the punctuality and skill of your driver. It's great to know you're planning another trip with us to Boston. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you again soon!
Washington DC 1 day Tour from NYC
Pitchairaja_R, Apr 2024
Very good guide and your team And they cover all locations Without doubt one of the favourite city in Washington DC from NYC by Empire vacations ( Bus no 120 on 6 th April 2024) Upon arrival we were warmly welcomed by Guide (Forgot name), our names were mentioned on the board and we felt welcomed and with such a friendly atmosphere we had a fantastic start! The guide and tour was extremely good, very flexible (appreciate this!) and for that she deserves a special thanks. We had two great days .
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review! We're thrilled you enjoyed the warm welcome and the thorough, flexible tour from NYC to Washington DC. Glad it stands out as a favorite. We look forward to your next trip with us!
An unforgettable day trip to Washington DC
William_C, Apr 2024
We were assigned into a SUV as the bus was full. Moses was our driver cum guide and he was very friendly and knowledgeable about the history of the US. Very memorable tour albeit a bit hectic ( 14.5 hours ) . Worth the effort though . Highly recommended if one doesn’t have the time to stay in Washington DC
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear that despite the change to an SUV, Moses made your tour memorable with his friendliness and knowledge. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to hosting you again!
Washington DC tour
Biancamaria_N, Apr 2024
It was really an amazing tour. Our tour guide Okai has done a great job Everything was good arrangend and Washington and all the spots we gave visited were very, very beautiful. We truly reccomend this tour from NYC.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that Okai did a great job and that you found everything well-arranged and the spots visited to be very beautiful. Your recommendation is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to welcoming you and others on future tours!
Great experience, thoroughly enjoyed it
Caroline_M, Mar 2024
Our tour guide was called Carlo, he was Italian but spoke many languages. The coach was on time and made for a comfortable ride, the only gripe we had was that it didn't have a toilet but with stops at a service station to and from Washington DC it wasn't a major problem. We were initially disappointed to hear the tickets hadn't arrived for the Air and Space museum but that was soon forgotten when we were told we could enter the National Archives museum instead. My boyfriend is a huge fan of the National Treasure movies so he was over the moon to see this piece of history for himself. I'm a big fan of Forrest Gump so to see the Obelisk and the Lincoln memorial was incredible. To visit the Arlington cemetery was very humbling, we had no idea the Kennedy family were buried there, it was great to see all of these places first hand, incredible. The weather was wonderful, we couldn't have wished for a better day. I'd recommend this tour to anyone who wants to give their feet a rest and venture out of NYC for a day.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're glad Carlo's expertise and the comfortable, timely coach added to your enjoyment. It's wonderful to hear how the visit to the National Archives and iconic sites like the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetery enriched your trip, making it unforgettable. The perfect weather was a bonus! We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you on another adventure outside NYC soon.
Fun and very interseting
Samantha_W, Mar 2024
Okai was great as we passed places he told us information and was very informative only downside was bus broke down and we had to wait 3 hours for another bus instead of waiting to see if it charged so we missed Arlington cemetery which was the sole purpose of my visit so disappointed
Response from Host, Apr 2024
"Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're pleased to hear that Okai's informative guidance enhanced your journey, offering insights as you passed various places. However, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the bus breakdown. We understand your disappointment and appreciate your understanding and hope to have the opportunity to make it up to you in the future.
Nice trip
Richard_O, Mar 2024
Seeing so many interesting places. We will not drive in the city, but enjoyed the bus. The guide was very good knowledgeable and give us a lot of history.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear you enjoyed seeing so many interesting places from the comfort of the bus, avoiding the hassle of city driving. It's great that you found the guide knowledgeable and appreciated the rich history shared. We aim to make each tour both enlightening and enjoyable, and it sounds like we succeeded with your experience. Looking forward to having you join us again!
No Wi-Fi
Devendra_M, Mar 2024
Though promised there was no Wi-Fi. The seats were not comfortable. The guide was good. Driving was pleasant and safe.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're glad to hear that you found the guide informative and the driving pleasant and safe. We appreciate your input and hope to offer you a more comfortable experience in the future.
Lincoln memorial -...
Thiri_M, Mar 2024
Lincoln memorial - Interesting to visit around that area together with my nieces, who are students. Vietnam war. Remember movie-like Forest gump.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for sharing your experience at the Lincoln Memorial and surrounding areas, including the Vietnam War Memorial. It's wonderful to hear that you had an interesting visit with your nieces, especially as students, and that it evoked memories of iconic scenes from movies like Forrest Gump. These moments of connection between history, education, and popular culture are truly special. Looking forward to offering you more enriching experiences in the future!
Lovely to see but frustratingly rushed
Gerard_B, Mar 2024
Washington itself was really a beautiful city and all the sites were really really incredible. However, 40 minutes to see four memorials at the Lincoln Memorial was a frustrating amount of time as it was extremely rushed. I understand that it's a 15 hour round-trip but it was a bit jarring to only get 10 minutes for the Lincoln statue and about 10 minutes outside the White House. When you included the tips and everything it was nearly $200 experience so just seemed a little expensive for 10 minutes really outside something you really did want to spend longer there with. The directions to the bus on the website where truly appalling, the grey line bus hasn't existed for four years and they still haven't changed it, and the actual bus driver that was driving our bus to Washington gave us the wrong directions when we were standing outside at the bus yet he was driving us to Washington, couldn't make that up. The tour guides were nice but seemed exhausted, shattered, tired and a little uninterested. So the day was good of finally realising a personal goal, of coming from Ireland to see such important monuments and places that we see on the news all the time, but the day trip was long a bit tiring and very short for the actual things you want to see. So I'm only giving it three stars but honestly it was lovely to see the White house and the Lincoln Memorial. The bus was nice, and I'm glad it had free Internet for such a long journey, but they could've asked us did we want the air-conditioning on, I know this is hard to please everyone, but I actually found it quite stuffy and hot on the bus. On the plus side there was plenty of bathroom stops which was great. But if you're a little slow or like me have had a stroke and find it difficult to walk perhaps this is maybe not a tour for you. As I couldn't keep up and missed out on the Korean War Memorial, so as a suggestion I would recommend highlighting that this guided tour will only be a brief look at the different monuments, and also that it will require a moderate level of fitness. On a positive note, it was great to see the Pentagon from a distance when we weren't expecting it in the intinery. So I guess overall it was good but we could have had 5 or 10 more minutes at the Lincoln Memorial would have made a huge difference to the overall experience.
Amazing Washington trip with Carlos guide !
Mathuvanthe_M, Mar 2024
Amazing experience. Wonder tour guide Carlos. Learnt so much about the new place. Sufficient time given in all stops. It was a 12-13 hour trip. Very much worth the money spent.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear your experience was amazing and that Carlos, your tour guide, made it even more enriching with his knowledge. We strive to provide valuable and memorable experiences, and it sounds like we succeeded with your journey. Looking forward to welcoming you on another tour soon!
Washington DC adventure
Stephen_C, Mar 2024
This was an amazing and inspiring day trip to Washington DC.We left in the morning from New York and had a full schedule of activities.We had an incredible tour guide in Carlo who was full of great histories and facts about Washington DC.We saw the Lincoln memorial,the White House and Congress as well as free admission to the Air and Space Museum.This was from start to finish, the best tour I have ever experienced.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for sharing your amazing experience! We're thrilled to hear that your day trip to Washington DC from New York was inspiring and filled with memorable activities. It's great to know Carlo, your tour guide, enhanced your visit with his knowledge of DC's history and facts. We're honored to have provided the best tour you've ever experienced and look forward to creating more unforgettable memories with you!
History Learning
Komet_K, Mar 2024
Able to get more history knowledge from the trip. Do understand the long road drive but it was worthy to see.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear that you found the trip educational and felt the drive was worth the rich history experienced. We aim to make every journey both informative and enjoyable. Looking forward to your next adventure with us!
Give more time at the aerospace museum
Nihar_S, Mar 2024
The aerospace museum.needed a little more time at the aerospace museum not enough time to see through all the exhibits.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for the 5 star review Nihar!
LOST A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY BOOKING THIS TOUR. WASTE OF MONEY.
RAJINI_K, Mar 2024
We had a very terrible trip. All because of the really horrible tour guide. She was so rude to me from the beginning. Spoke to me in humiliating terms. I’m a senior consultant doctor. I think she started off because of where I came from. I could make out. Her information was all wrong. Went fast leaving behind people who couldn’t walk fast enough, started explaining before the whole group reached. So much so we missed all that was said. SHE JUST DID NOT CARE FOR ANYONE.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We are sorry to hear that you experienced this kind of issue on our tour. Please, understand that if passengers are not following the group and not working with our time schedule it is extremely challenging to deliver information to you. Explanations are done on the site and that is why it is very important to follow instructions. I do hope will have another chance to see you on our buses.
Fantastic guided tour to Washington DC
Julian_L, Feb 2024
The tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable about the history of the different monuments in Washington DC. He was also entertaining and humorous.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear our tour guide's knowledge of Washington DC's monuments and humor enhanced your experience. Looking forward to your next visit with us!
Excellent tour of Washington
Declan_H, Feb 2024
Excellent trip. Well organised with good breaks. Very comfortable coach. The tour guide, Ryan, was great - very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. Would highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Thank you for your excellent review and recommendation! We're thrilled to hear the trip was well-organized and that Ryan's knowledge stood out. Your satisfaction and recommendation are greatly appreciated. We look forward to welcoming you on another tour soon!
The only thing bad was the space on the small bus
julie_h, Feb 2024
Guide was fantastic explained a lot 👍the small bus was not good no space at all . We managed to see a lot Thank you
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Thank you for the review Julie! We are very happy you enjoyed your tour to Washington DC and managed to see a lot of attractions. Have a good day!
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