Thing to Do

Blue Line - DC Metro

Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial , Ford's Theatre , Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial , George Washington Memorial Parkway, LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac , Lincoln Memorial , National Mall and Memorial Parks , The White House and President's Park , Thomas Jefferson Memorial , Washington Monument more »

Blue Line DC Metro

Details
Duration
1-2 Days
Activity
Self-Guided Tours - Walking

Pets are excluded from most memorials and NPS and public buildings. Pets are welcome on the National Mall but must be kept on leashes, no more than 6 feet in length at all times. For parks outside of the mall, please visit indiviudal park websites to see if pets are allowed.  Pets may not be unattended or tied to an object. Visitors with pets must pick up all pet waste and dispose of it in a trash receptacle.

Service animals are allowed at all National Park Service sites. 

The National Mall and Memorial Parks are all free and open to the public. There is no fee to visit Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial. For information about metro fares visit Metro's Fares page. 

The Blue Line runs from the Franconia Springfield stop in Fairfax County, Virginia into the heart of DC, and out to Largo Town Center in Prince George's County, Maryland. The Metro Accessible NPS sites can be accessed at the following locations: 

Arlington Cemetery
Arlington House National Historic Site: From Arlington Cemetery, walk up Memorial Ave to visit. 

Rosslyn
Theodore Roosevelt Island: From Rosslyn Station, head north on N Moore St toward 19th St N. Turn right to stay on N Moore St, then turn right onto US-29 N. Turn left onto N Lynn St, then turn right onto Custis Trail. Continue onto Mount Vernon Trail.

Foggy Bottom-GWU
Lincoln Memorial: Head straight down 23rd St NW to visit.

Metro Center Station
Ford's Theater National Historic Site: The closest Metro stop is Metro Center Station which is a 5-10 minute walk from Ford's Theatre. The Red, Orange, Silver and Blue lines all connect here. From Metro Center Station, head South on 11th St toward F ST N. Turn left onto F St NW. Turn right onto 10th St NW and the theatre will be on the left.

White House Visitor Center: The closest Metrorail stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (blue, orange, and silver lines) and Metro Center (red, blue, orange, and silver lines). From Metro Center, head south on 13th St NW toward F St NW. Turn right onto Pennsylvania Ave NW and the Visitor Center will be on the left.

Federal Triangle
Ford's Theater National Historic Site: Head east toward 12th St NW. Turn Left onto 12th St NW, then turn right onto E St NW. Turn left onto 10th St NW and the theatre will be on the right.

National Mall: Head east toward 12th St NW, then turn right. The National Mall is straight ahead starting at Constitution Ave.

White House Visitor Center: Head towards Pennsylvania Ave NW, turn left towards 15th. The Visitor Center will be on the left. 

Smithsonian
Thomas Jefferson Memorial: Head west on Independence Ave SW toward 14th St SW. Turn left and then take a slight right on Maine Ave SW. Turn left and then turn right at Ohio Drive. 

Washington Monument: Head south toward Jefferson Dr SW. Turn right and the monument will be straight ahead. 

National Mall and Memorial Parks: Smithsonian Metro Station is within the National Mall. 

To see a map of the Metro System, visit Metro's website. 

Reservations
No
Season
Year Round

Four specific hours, visit park websites. 

Accessibility Information

Service Animals

Service animals are allowed in national parks. For a definition of a service animal, please see the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) definition.

Facilities

For information about individual park facilities, please visit park websites. Accessibility information is located under the Plan Your Visit tab.

Programs

Assistive listening devices, or large print brochures may be available by request or with advance notice. For information about individual park programs, please visit park websites. Accessibility information is located under the Plan Your Visit tab.

Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial , Ford's Theatre , Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial , George Washington Memorial Parkway, LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac , Lincoln Memorial , National Mall and Memorial Parks , The White House and President's Park , Thomas Jefferson Memorial , Washington Monument more »

Tags

View of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and National Mall.
View of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and National Mall.

NPS

From the National Mall and Memorial Parks to the Mount Vernon Trail, travel the Blue Line to see what the southern portion of Washington, DC has to offer. Each of the parks listed here are 1 mile or less from each metro stop (about a 20 minute walk) or a 10 minute bus ride away.

Blue Line Stops

Arlington Cemetery
From Arlington Cemetery, walk up Memorial Ave to visit Arlington House National Historic Site.

Rosslyn
Discover Theodore Roosevelt Island, around the corner from Rosslyn Station.

Foggy Bottom-GWU
Head straight down 23rd St NW to visit the Lincoln Memorial.

Metro Center Station
Jump off at Metro Center Station to visit Ford's Theater National Historic Site, walk on the National Mall, or explore the White House Visitor Center.

Federal Triangle
Take the train to Federal Triangle to catch a program at Ford's Theater National Historic Site, walk on the National Mall, or explore the White House Visitor Center.

Smithsonian
Visit the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, have a picnic on the lawn by the Washington Monument, or explore other monuments and memorials that the National Mall and Memorial Parks have to offer.

Metro Information

To see a map of the Metro System, visit Metro's website. Metro's Trip Planner provides instant itineraries and detailed information you need to get around the city.

Explore

  • The White House
    White House Visitor Center

    Adjacent to the White House, explore the White House Visitor Center, where exhibits and artifacts tell the story of the house as a home.

  • A ranger answers a visitor's question.
    Theodore Roosevelt Island

    Embrace the outdoors as Theodore Roosevelt would and learn about his legacy of conservation at Theodore Roosevelt Island.

  • Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
    Arlington House

    Take a tour or walk the grounds of Arlington House to learn how it has served as a family home, a military headquarters & national cemetery.

  • Ford's Theatre

    Explore the exhibits to learn what happened the night of April 14, 1865, when President Abraham Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theatre.

  • Aerial view of the Lincoln Memorial.
    Lincoln Memorial

    Stand on the steps that have been a stage for inspiration, hope and many significant moments in American history.

  • Jefferson Memorial

    Take in the Tidal Basin and learn how history was rewritten at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

  • View of the Washington Monument across the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
    Washington Monument (Closed)

    The Washington Monument is currently closed, but visitors can still enjoy views of the monument from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

  • Daffodils bloom off the LBJ Grove near Memorial Bridge.
    The Mount Vernon Trail

    A run, walk, or cycle alongside the Potomac River offers uninterrupted views of Washington, DC's skyline.

  • Aerial view of the National Mall.
    National Mall and Memorial Parks

    Attend a ranger program, paddle in the Tidal Basin, or dive into history at memorials and monuments on the National Mall.

Metro Accessible DC

  • Aerial view of Arlington House, Lady Bird Johnson Park and Arlington Memorial Bridge going into DC.
    Blue Line

    From the National Mall to the Mount Vernon Trail, travel the Blue Line to see what the southern portion of Washington DC has to offer.

  • Speaker at 4th of July Event at Frederick Douglass Home.
    Green Line

    History, culture and nature come together to provide a variety of parks for visitors utilizing the Green Line.

  • Lotus at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens.
    Orange Line

    Discover lotus and lily flowers at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, or explore the many memorials just a short walk from the Orange Line.

  • A Ranger answers a visitor question at Theodore Roosevelt Island.
    Silver Line

    Step off the Silver Line to take a walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island, or sight see from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

  • A ranger leads a tour of the house where President Lincoln died.
    Red Line

    Embrace the outdoors, explore interactive exhibits and stand where history happened by taking the Red Line to visit some of DC's parks.

  • African American Civil War Memorial sculpture.
    Yellow Line

    Explore Washington, DC from top to bottom on the Yellow Line.

Blue Line DC Metro

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Last updated: January 8, 2025