Washington D.C: How To Skip the Crowds

Washington D.C is a must-visit. Of course, it’s the capital of the US, but DC has so much more to offer than just politics. It’s rich in history and has incredible museums and iconic landmarks.

Touring the national monuments in Washington D.C. is so popular that it has become an integral part of American life. Schools organize field trips to the National Mall, families spend vacation time there and national holidays are celebrated onsite – and let’s not forget the international visitors that venture here.

Seeing the sights in the nation's capital is as American as apple pie and the 4th of July, so take a look at some of our top things to do in Washington D.C. and how you can beat the crowds.

Must-see monuments in DC

With their marble statues and inscriptions chiseled in stone, the monuments are thrilling, awe-inspiring and deeply meaningful, but the Washington heat at the height of the tourist season can make the reality grueling. Not to mention, the floor space in those marble temples gets stuffy and crowded when you're sharing the experience with thousands of others.

Lincoln Memorial

The famous Lincoln Memorial alone, with its huge Greek columns and giant-sized figure of Abraham Lincoln gazing over DC, draws eight million visitors a year. It’s a humbling site, and the perfect place to kick off your tour of the capital.

The White House

Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, you’ll find the most famous house in the US (and the world). The White House welcomes visitors to its gates and, during certain times, through the famous doors with a range of tours taking place. Millions visit the home of the president every year, thousands every day so be sure to time your visit right to beat the crowds if you’re not booked onto a tour.

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

The Smithsonian is a collection of 19 museums and welcomes over eight million visitors every year. It’s one of the most popular museums in the world, and it should come as no surprise. The National Air and Space Museum holds over 60,000 artifacts including the 1903 Wright Flyer and the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia.

That’s just a sample of some of the incredible attractions and must-see sites awaiting you here in Washington DC. Here are some tips on how to avoid a few million of those tourists on your next visit.

Skip the Traffic: Visit late

One way to beat the crowds, the gridlocked traffic and the hammering summer sun is to do your touring at night. Most of the monuments stay open 24 hours a day and have park rangers onsite to answer questions and lead tours until 11pm. Capitol police are present around the clock.

Washington is a different city after dark. Locked down by security measures during the day, the city's streets overflow with out-of-towners and federal staffers, and the only vehicles moving at a decent pace are those in official motorcades, such as those for the president or visiting heads of state.

An evening visit offers not only relative coolness during the summer months, but also relief from crushing levels of traffic. After dark, the city becomes almost car friendly, and you can usually make the monument rounds in your car with ease, complete with plenty of open short-term parking spots.

The DC Sites Become Magical at Night

As a reward for your patience, the sites become almost magical in the evening, taking on a mysterious aura and a sense of theatrical drama that daytime tours can't match. It's also a benefit for those with children who can stay up past their normal bedtimes, as fewer people means less crowding, less noise and better accessibility to get up close to any of the sites you need to battle through the crowds to get a glimpse at.

But there's no need to worry about being alone out there. "You'll find fewer people after dark, but you'll be far from the only person," says National Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst.

3 Hours, 3 Miles: A Lifetime of Memories DC Walking Tour

One popular walking tour takes a leisurely three hours and covers about three miles with access to eight monuments. To follow the same path, start at the Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin, the picturesque, 106-acre reservoir connected to the Potomac River and the site of the city's famous cherry trees. You can usually find a parking spot at the end of nearby Ohio Drive. Follow the water line toward the Lincoln Memorial, pausing at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial along the way.

Stop to admire the Jefferson site behind you, lit up and reflected in the pool, before proceeding to the Lincoln site. Read Lincoln's inspired lines, and admire the striking image of a giant Abe, meditating in a throne-like chair. "For me, the Lincoln Memorial all lit up is the prettiest sight on the Mall," Litterst says. Proceed eastward to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Washington Monument, the iconic obelisk in the center of the whole area.

Washington D.C.’s Magnet for Visitors from Around the World

The Washington site is the one monument that closes in the evening. Even when the monument is closed, however, the open space around it between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial is a magnet for visitors from all over the world to congregate.

Finally, double back to the World War II Memorial and the imposing Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, which depicts the civil rights hero emerging from a block of marble, at the northwest corner of the Tidal Basin. Head back to your hotel with a one-of-a-kind American experience under your belt, all after the sun has set.

Quick tips to beat the crowds

Crowds will gather at popular sites morning, noon and night. Here are some quick tips to help you make the most of your time at attractions.

• Book tickets where possible. Timed entry means you’ll definitely see the site you want to see.
• Don’t rush. If you plan plenty of time at each stop, you can wait for the crowds to part.
• Travel out of season. This is not always possible but be aware that Washington D.C. will be busy at certain times, such as 4^th July.

No matter where you find yourself in bustling Washington D.C., you won't have time to be bored. Share your larger-than-life photos of these pieces of American history on Instagram.