Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Tickets 2026: How to Book

Booking choice: The small-group night tour, from $89 per person. Check dates Compare the options below

The Lincoln Memorial now has a lower level. The Undercroft opened on 25 June 2026 after construction that began in March 2023.

It uses timed tickets, so plan the slot first and the rest of the evening around it.

The quick answer

The Undercroft needs a timed ticket for everyone aged two and older. Reserve on Recreation.gov up to 30 days ahead (released daily at 11 am, $1.00 per reservation) or queue for same-day tickets from 8:45 am at the Korean War Veterans Memorial kiosk.

What is the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft?

A 15,000-square-foot exhibit space beneath the memorial, with a grid of concrete columns that hold the building up.

It holds interactive exhibits on how the memorial was built and multimedia presentations on its role in American history and civil rights.

Visitors climbing the marble steps of the Lincoln Memorial toward the seated statue — Visitors climbing the memorial steps; the Undercroft lies beneath the building.

How do you get Undercroft tickets?

Reserve on Recreation.gov up to 30 days ahead, or by phone at 877-444-6777.

New tickets are released at 11 am daily. Each reservation allows up to six tickets and carries a $1.00 service fee per reservation. Groups can reserve up to 50 tickets online, and large group tours have no walk-up access. Start at Recreation.gov.

Can you get same-day Undercroft tickets?

Yes, in person: from 8:45 am at the Korean War Veterans Memorial kiosk on Daniel Chester French Drive.

One person aged 16 or older may take up to six tickets, first come, first served. Supply is limited and weekends are busy, so arrive early.

Pair a morning slot with an evening ride, and the memorials fill your day.

Check dates for the small-group night tour

Who needs an Undercroft ticket?

Everyone aged two and older.

That includes toddlers, so count every head on the reservation. Tickets cost nothing apart from the advance reservation fee.

How long can you stay?

Visits are reportedly capped at two hours, and the last timed entry is an hour before closing.

Opening hours are not listed on the NPS page; check Recreation.gov for your date. Plan your tour start and the slot so one does not squeeze the other.

The seated marble statue of Abraham Lincoln inside the memorial — The seated Lincoln statue inside the memorial.

What does the memorial offer at any hour?

The seated Lincoln statue and the carved speeches are open to everyone, day and night.

The Lincoln Memorial is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and ranger programs run from 9:30 am to 10 pm. You need no ticket for the chamber, only for the Undercroft.

The Lincoln Memorial lit gold at sunset beside a reflecting pool — The memorial at sunset, open to everyone.

How does the Undercroft fit with a tour?

Tours stop outside; the exhibit is a separate timed ticket.

None of the tours listed here includes the Undercroft. Book your slot first, then add the small-group night van or the electric cart before or after. The night tour guide compares evening options.