Visualize your group’s perfect visit to Mount Vernon and beyond. Use our suggested estate itinerary and nearby attractions in Northern Virginia and D.C. to craft a seamless, memorable trip that your group will talk about long after the day ends.
2-3 Hours at Mount Vernon: Don't Miss These Favorites!
Tour the Mansion
Duration: 10-30 minutes
Recreate George and Martha Washington’s footsteps and walk through their family home with an expert guide. Advanced reservations are recommended.
Explore the Outbuildings
Duration: 45 minutes
Step into more than a dozen buildings including the blacksmith shop, spinning room, shoemaker’s shop, slave quarters, and smokehouse.
Learn at the Education Center
Duration: 1 hour
Get early access now during a special preview period to our new exhibition, George Washington: A Revolutionary Life, opening in June.
Trace Washington’s life story through new exhibits, such as a recreation of the President’s House in Philadelphia.
Experience the Revolution at the 4D theater, where cannons fire and snow falls every day, and explore the events of the presidency through our Be Washington interactive leadership experience.
Certain areas and attractions may be off-view due to ongoing renovations.
Visit the Patriots Path: A Revolutionary War Encampment
Duration: 15 minutes
Experience the American Revolution through daily hands-on interactions with Continental soldiers' tents, clothes, and cooking utensils.
Observe Washington’s Tomb and the Slave Memorial
Duration: 30 minutes
Visit with the public or reserve a private wreath laying in advance at the final resting place of George and Martha Washington, as well as 28 other family members. On the same pathway, commemorate the community of the enslaved people who lived and worked at Mount Vernon by visiting the Slave Memorial.
Explore More at Mount Vernon with 3-5 Hours
See the Lives Bound Together: Slavery at Mount Vernon Exhibit
Duration: 15 minutes
Uncover the stories of the 317 enslaved individuals who lived and worked at Mount Vernon through this powerful exhibit, featuring newly excavated archaeological artifacts and personal narratives.
Discover the Mount Vernon: The Story of an American Icon exhibit
Duration: 1 hour
Learn about the people who shaped Mount Vernon, including George Washington’s family members, enslaved and hired laborers, and the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.
Interact with Characters at the Interpretive Center
Duration: 30 minutes
Talk with the people who knew George Washington best and hear their first-person recounting of life at Mount Vernon.
Performances daily; schedule varies. See the sign outside of the Interpretive Center for more information.
Stroll the Gardens and Grounds
Duration: 30 minutes
Stroll through all four of Mount Vernon’s beautifully tended gardens and view Washington’s greenhouse.
Meet the Animals
Duration: 10 minutes
Encounter many of the same animals that lived at Mount Vernon in the 18th century, such as hogs, sheep, chickens, and cattle.
Seasonal Group Activities From April - October
Explore the Farm
Duration: 1 hour
Observe 18th-century farming demonstrations, including plowing, harvesting, and cooking.
Tour George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill (Weekends)
Duration: 1 hour
Explore our fully functioning reconstructions of Washington’s gristmill and whiskey distillery.
Beyond Mount Vernon: Northern Virginia
Created with group travel in mind, these Northern Virginia itinerary ideas highlight nearby destinations that pair perfectly with a visit to Mount Vernon.
15 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommended stay: 2 hours
Curated to tell the story of the U.S. Army through the experiences of soldiers, this museum presents 250+ years of Army history. Experience two museums for the price of one when your group visits George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the National Museum of the United States Army on the same day.
20 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommended stay: 1-2 hours
Explore one of America’s oldest towns with its charming historic waterfront, cobblestone streets, boutique shops, 18th and 19th century architecture, and award-winning dining scene.
20 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommend stay: 1.5 hours
Board the Tall Ship Providence, originally named Katy, and learn about the role the Continental Navy played in the American Revolution.
20 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommended stay: 1.5 hours
Honor the lives and experiences of the enslaved and free Black people who lived in and were trafficked through Alexandria from 1828-1861 at The Freedom House.
20 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommended stay: 1 hour
Discover the home of John Carlyle, a wealthy merchant, friend of George Washington, and the founder of Alexandria.
30 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommended stay: 30 minutes
Visit an outdoor memorial that commemorates the full women’s suffrage movement in the U.S., including African American suffragists. This memorial features statues, informational stations, and a section of the White House fence.
35 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommended stay: 2 hours
Continue learning about Washington’s legacy at Arlington House, which was the nation’s first memorial to Washington. The house was built by George Washington Parke Custis, Washington's step-grandson, and later became the home of Robert E. Lee. The house tells the story of the Washington family and the Lee family.
45 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommended stay: 1 hour
Enjoy dramatic river views, rushing waterfalls, and lush trails along this striking section of the Potomac River.
Virginia History Road Trip
Immerse yourself in our nation’s history as you travel across Virginia. This curated 6-day road trip features Mount Vernon, Colonial Williamsburg, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, and more.
Beyond Mount Vernon: District of Columbia
Only 15 miles from Washington, D.C., Mount Vernon pairs perfectly with these nearby experiences, making it easy to include in your group’s overall itinerary.
25 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommended stay: 2 hours
Explore the world of espionage through immersive exhibits and spy artifacts that showcase the tradecraft and history of spies across the globe. The collection includes a letter written by George Washington recruiting a spy for the Continental Army and laying the groundwork for America’s first intelligence network.
30 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommended Stay: 2 hours
Known as America’s front yard, the National Mall features iconic monuments, memorials, and museums, all set along a grand, walkable green space in the heart of Washington, DC.
30 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommended Stay: 1-2 hours
Celebrate George Washington’s legacy at the Washington Monument, the landmark at the center of the National Mall and surrounded by many of DC’s most iconic monuments, memorials, and museums.
30 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommended stay: 1-2 hours
Experience immersive exhibits about the history of American architecture, design, and engineering.
30 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommended stay at each institution: 2 hours
Home to 19 museums, galleries, and the National Zoo, the Smithsonian offers a variety of experiences spanning art, history, culture, and science. Favorites like Air and Space, Natural History, American History, and the African American History and Culture Museum are all members of the Smithsonian Institution
35 minutes from Mount Vernon
Recommended stay: 1 hour
Founded by Martha Washington’s granddaughter, Martha Parke Custis, this Georgetown estate showcases a Federal-era home, Washington family heirlooms, and historic gardens.