Booking choice: The Washington Monument ticket, from $25 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The monument is open to everyone, but the elevator to the top needs a timed ticket. Slots go fast, so the timing of your request matters more than the price.
Here is the ticket system step by step, plus the $25 reseller ticket and the walking tour that includes a ticket.
The quick answer
The NPS releases tickets at 10 am daily, up to 30 days ahead on Recreation.gov, for a $1.00 non-refundable service charge each. Walk-up tickets go on sale at 8:45 am at the Lodge on 15th Street and are usually gone fast. A reseller ticket costs $25.
How do you get Washington Monument tickets?
Book on Recreation.gov at 10 am on the day the slot opens, up to 30 days ahead.
Advance tickets are released daily at 10 am. Book online at Recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777. Extra tickets are released one day before the visit.
Groups of up to 55 tickets can book online only. Log in before 10 am, choose your date and have the payment ready.
Can you get a ticket on the day?
Sometimes. Walk-up tickets are same-day, timed and first come, first served, and they are usually sold out.
The window at the Washington Monument Lodge on 15th Street opens at 8:45 am. One person aged 16 or older may take up to six tickets. Arrive early and have a back-up plan.
A guided ride is a solid back-up when slots are gone, and you still pass the monument.
Check dates for the electric cart tourDoes it cost anything to go up?
There is no admission fee; each advance ticket carries a $1.00 non-refundable service charge.
The same $1.00 applies to group tickets. The reseller route costs more because it sells a direct-entry ticket with a guidebook.
| Option | Price | Refund | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| NPS advance ticket | $1.00 service charge | Non-refundable | Timed elevator slot, up to 30 days ahead |
| NPS walk-up ticket | No ticket price | Same day | Timed slot from 8:45 am, limited |
| Reseller ticket | $25 | Non-refundable | Direct-entry ticket and guidebook, about 1 hour |
| Walking tour bundle | $75 | Full refund 24 h before | Four memorials plus a monument ticket |
What are the $25 ticket and the $75 walking tour?
The $25 listing is a non-refundable reseller product; the $75 walking tour bundles a ticket with a guide.
The reseller ticket gives a direct-entry ticket with a guidebook and meets at the monument on 15th Street. It cannot be refunded, so book it only when your date is fixed.
The walking tour starts outside the Lincoln Memorial Gifts and Cafe on Henry Bacon Drive, covers four memorials and ends at the monument, where your ticket gets you in. It is a daytime tour.
A guided walk through four memorials that finishes with your monument ticket.
Explore the National Mall walking tourWhich days is the monument closed?
One day in the first week of most months, plus July 4 and December 25, and dangerous weather.
The NPS maintenance closures for 2026 were Jan 8, Feb 3, Mar 4, Apr 6, May 7, Jun 2, Jul 4, Jul 8, Aug 3, Sep 10, Oct 5, Nov 5 and Dec 25. Check the date before you pay, because dates for 2027 may differ.
What can you see from 500 feet?
The Capitol, the White House, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, Arlington National Cemetery and the Potomac.
An elevator takes you to the observation level, with windows on all sides. A visit takes about 45 minutes to an hour. The stairs are closed to visitors.
Food, beverages and large backpacks are not permitted inside, so travel light. Elevators, accessible restrooms and service animals are provided; accessible parking nearby is limited.
What if tickets are sold out?
Check the next-day release, try the walk-up line, consider the reseller or the walking tour, or admire it from the ground.
The monument looks best from the lawn at dusk, and a ride gets you around the Mall at once. The electric cart and the night coach both pass it.
For the full outdoor plan, read the Mall walking guide.
Tickets gone? A guided cart ride still puts you at the foot of the monument.
Check dates for the electric cart tourFrequently asked questions
When are Washington Monument tickets released?
Advance tickets are released daily at 10 am, up to 30 days ahead, on Recreation.gov or by phone at 877-444-6777.
Where do walk-up tickets go on sale?
At the Washington Monument Lodge on 15th Street, from 8:45 am. They are same-day, timed and usually sold out.
What is the $25 Washington Monument ticket?
A reseller direct-entry ticket with a guidebook. It is non-refundable; the NPS charges a $1.00 service charge instead.
Can I take a backpack up?
Large backpacks, food and beverages are not permitted inside the monument.
Ready to book
Choose your monuments tour
Every option here can be cancelled for a full refund; the deadline is on each listing. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
National Mall Walking Tour with Washington Monument Ticket
DC Monuments by Electric Cart, Day or Night
- About 2 hours, day or night departures
- Open-air electric roadster seating seven, small group or private
- Local guide, dedicated photo stops at the monuments and memorials
DC Monuments by Night Coach Tour
- About 3 hours after dark from the U.S. Navy Memorial
- Air-conditioned coach, bottled water and a professional guide
- More than ten landmarks, with photo stops at the main memorials
