National Mall: Free Entry & Visiting Tips
2 - 4 h (or more)
National Park / Public Green Space
Formally established as parkland in the 1790s L'Enfant Plan; developed through the 20th century
National Mall, Washington, DC, USA
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Practical Visitor Info & Tips
$0.00
N/A
Open 24 hours a day.
None. Open 24 hours a day. (Two specific sites within the wider National Mall and Memorial Parks unit — the Washington Monument and Ford's Theatre — do require their own separate timed-entry tickets; the Mall grounds themselves do not.)
The open public parkland and grounds connecting the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, administered by the National Park Service.
| Option | Price | Booking | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General access to the grounds | Free | None — open 24 hours a day |
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Ticket Options
$0.00
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See pass compatibility below ↓Overview & History
The nearly 2-mile stretch of open lawn and gardens between the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, administered by the National Park Service as National Mall and Memorial Parks. It's free, open to the public 24 hours a day, and forms the green backbone connecting most of D.C.'s free Smithsonian museums and monuments.
What to See: Top Highlights
Open Lawn & Gardens
Nearly 2 miles of open public parkland stretching from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial.
Surrounding Monuments & Memorials
Most of the hundreds of monuments and memorials within National Mall and Memorial Parks — including the Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial — charge no entry fee either.
Museum Row
Flanked by the free Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of American History and National Gallery of Art.
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Do You Need a Pass Here?
Compare Washington D.C. PassesNo — the National Mall itself is confirmed free, open parkland at all times, with or without any pass. The Go City Washington DC Explorer Pass is neither needed nor applicable for the grounds themselves.
No pass required for entry
Free, 24-hour open access to the Mall's grounds.
Data Provenance
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Is a Washington DC pass needed here?
Are any sites within the National Mall ticketed?
Nearby & Related Attractions
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