Small-Group Arlington Cemetery & Changing of the Guard Tour

Duration2h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Group sizeUp to 30 travelers

Overview

Explore the solemn beauty of Arlington National Cemetery on a 2-hour walking tour that showcases its most significant sites. From the iconic JFK gravesite to the revered Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, immerse yourself in the rich history and honor the sacrifices made by those interred here. Visit the Arlington House for an insightful perspective on the grounds and their historical significance. This tour offers a unique opportunity to connect with American history in a profound setting.

This tour includes:
- Two-hour guided walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery
- Small Group (maximum of 10 guests)
- The Changing of the Guard Ceremony
- The Arlington House
- John F. Kennedy and his family's Grave's
- The Eternal Flame
- Joe Lewis Gravesite
- Sir John Dill Memorial
- Ruth Bader Ginsberg memorial
- Tomb of Robert Todd Lincoln
- William Howard Taft Gravesite
- Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial
- Colombia Space Shuttle Memorial
- Iran Hostage Crisis Memorial
- Memorial Amphitheater

Options

Arlington National Cemetery & Changing of the Guard Walking Tour

PRIVATE tour of the cemetery!

Flexible Start Time: We work around your schedule! Pick anywhere from 8am-2pm.
Dedicated Tour Guide: Personalize your tour with a guide who learns your interests and caters the tour to your group.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes: Learn about stories that our public tours do not include with an additional 30 minutes of tour time!

What's included

Languages offered: English
Entry to Arlington House
Expert Tour Guide
Changing of the Guard Ceremony
Maximum of 12 guests

What to expect

Arlington National Cemetery
Pass by

More than 400,000 veterans rest across 639 acres of hallowed Virginia ground — and every one of them has a story worth knowing. On this intimate guided walking tour, you'll witness the legendary Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, stand at JFK's Eternal Flame, and uncover the remarkable Civil War origins of the estate that became America's most sacred cemetery. Small groups, expert guides, and stories you won't find on a bus tour.
President John F. Kennedy Gravesite
10m · Admission ticket included

On a quiet hillside below Arlington House, a small flame has burned every single day since November 25, 1963 — lit by Jacqueline Kennedy at the end of her husband's funeral, hours after she had watched him buried. The JFK gravesite is one of the most visited and most quietly powerful places in Washington. Surrounded by Cape Cod granite and engraved with words from his inaugural address, it holds not just the 35th President, but Jackie, and two of their infant children who never lived to see their father's presidency. A few steps away lie Robert and Ted Kennedy. Standing here, with the Lincoln Memorial directly across the Potomac and the Washington Monument on the horizon, you understand why Kennedy himself once looked out at this hillside and said it was "so magnificent I could stay here forever." He does.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
15m · Admission ticket included

The cemetery's most iconic site, and arguably the most powerful spot in all of Washington. Since 1921, an unidentified soldier from World War I has rested here, later joined by unknowns from WWII and Korea. A sentinel from the Army's elite 3rd Infantry Regiment guards the tomb 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — in every weather condition, without exception. The Changing of the Guard ceremony is a precise, solemn ritual that stops every visitor in their tracks.
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
10m · Admission ticket included

The Greek Revival mansion at the top of the hill tells the story of how Arlington became a cemetery at all. Built by George Washington's step-grandson, it was seized by Union forces at the outbreak of the Civil War — and General Meigs deliberately placed graves as close to the house as possible, including in Mrs. Lee's rose garden, to ensure the Lee family could never return. It is one of the most calculated acts of the entire war.
Audie L. Murphy Gravesite
10m · Admission ticket included

One of the most visited graves in Arlington, and one of the most understated. Murphy was the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II — earning every valor award the Army offered, plus decorations from France and Belgium — and went on to become a Hollywood actor. He specifically requested that his headstone not be decorated with gold leaf, as is customary for Medal of Honor recipients. He wanted to rest like an ordinary soldier. He does.
10m · Admission ticket included

On January 28, 1986, 73 seconds after liftoff, the Challenger disintegrated. All seven crew members were killed — including Christa McAuliffe, a schoolteacher who was to be the first civilian in space. Classrooms across America watched it live. The commingled cremated remains of the crew are interred beneath a single memorial in Section 46, inscribed with the poem "High Flight" — the same poem President Reagan quoted when he addressed the nation that evening.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Go through the security check-point at the main entrance, continue through the double doors leading outside to the cemetery. There will be long stone benches, your guide will meet you close to these! Look out for a text from your guide about 1 hour before the tour start time.

End point

The tour will end within the cemetery at the Arlington House. From here, you can either continue exploring the cemetery on your own, or walk back with your tour guide to the main entrance of the cemetery.

Additional information

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

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