Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is a 555-foot (169 m) tall obelisk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, a Founding Father of the United States and the nation's first president.
A national memorial inside Washington
One of the most looked-up attractions in the U.S.
About 369K people a year read its Wikipedia article, more than for 99% of the 7,799 attractions we track.
Visits fell 17% in 2025
The National Park Service counted 204,489 visitors in 2025, down from 247,208 the year before. Visitors ↓
Best month: Oct
October is mild and quieter than average, with a high of 69°. When to go ↓
You can stay in Washington
Washington Monument is inside Washington, which has 247 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Baltimore
Baltimore is about 36 miles northeast (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.
Crowds and weather, month by month
Bars: average monthly visitors, 2022–2025. Line: the typical afternoon high. Green months are mild and quieter than average.
Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is a 555-foot (169 m) tall obelisk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, a Founding Father of the United States and the nation's first president. Standing east of the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial, the monument is made of bluestone gneiss for the foundation and of granite for the construction. The outside facing consists of three different kinds of white marble, as the building process was repeatedly interrupted. The monument stands 554 feet 7+11⁄32 inches (169.046 m) tall, according to U.S. National Geodetic Survey measurements in 2013 and 2014. It is the third tallest monumental column in the world, trailing only the Juche Tower in Pyongyang, and the San Jacinto Monument in Houston, Texas. It was the world's tallest structure between 1884 and 1889, after which it was overtaken by the Eiffel Tower, in Paris.
- Type
- National Memorial
- Established
- 1848
- Opened
- 1885
- Run by
- National Park Service
- Listed
- National Register of Historic Places (1966) · Historic Civil Engineering Landmark (1981) · District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites (1964)
- Wikipedia readers
- 369K a year
- Official site
- nps.gov/wamo
Before you go
- Timed Entry Reservation - Park$1
Where to stay near Washington Monument
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Washington (247) and Arlington (58).
- 1White House
- 2Smithsonian Institution
- 3United States Triumphal Arch
- 4Arlington National Cemetery
- 5Lincoln Memorial
- 6Ford's Theatre
- 7National Mall
- 8Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Washington Monument | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | in town | — | 247 201 hotels · 2 motels · 24 inns & B&Bs · 6 lodges & cabins · 12 hostels · 2 campgrounds | 693,645 | $737K | D− |
| Arlington | 4 mi west | 5 min | 58 54 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 236,254 | $895K | — |
| Alexandria | 6 mi southwest | 10 min | 44 41 hotels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins | 160,662 | $735K | C |
| Bethesda | 8 mi northwest | 10 min | 26 23 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 69,397 | $1,170K | — |
| Tysons | 11 mi west | 15 min | 25 25 hotels | 28,936 | $640K | — |
| College Park | 9 mi northeast | 15 min | 17 16 hotels · 1 motel | 35,418 | $438K | — |
| National Harbor | 7 mi south | 10 min | 10 9 hotels · 1 inn or B&B | 4,454 | $473K | — |
| Springfield | 11 mi southwest | 15 min | 13 13 hotels | 31,154 | $640K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Washington Monument
Other well-known places within 3 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
Big draw1in town National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw2in town MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
Big draw3in town LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw42 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw5in town National MemorialLincoln Memorial7.7M visitors a year
Big draw6in town National Historic SiteFord's Theatre National Historic Site394K visitors a year
Big draw7in town National park siteNational Mall
Big draw82 mi LandmarkTomb of the Unknown SoldierPhoto credits
White House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · Lincoln Memorial: Aerial_view_of_Lincoln_Memorial_-_east_side.jpg: Carol M. Highsmith derivative w, Public domain · Ford's Theatre National Historic Site: Ingfbruno, CC BY-SA 3.0 · National Mall: Raul654 at en.wikipedia. Later version(s) were uploaded by Michael Shields at e, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: Arlington National Cemetery, Public domain
204,489 visitors in 2025
Every full year the Park Service has counted. 2020 (gold) was the pandemic year. Green is the record (2022).
Visiting Washington Monument
Is Washington Monument in Washington?
Yes. It’s inside Washington, DC. The address is 2 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20024.
When is the best time to visit Washington Monument?
October, with a high of 69°. May is the busiest month (about 24,956 visitors).
How many people visit Washington Monument each year?
204,489 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 260,317, set in 2022.
How far is Washington Monument from Baltimore?
About 36 miles northeast of Baltimore, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Washington Monument?
Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), about 3 miles away.
Where should I stay near Washington Monument?
Washington (in town, 247 places to stay), Arlington (4 mi, 58 places to stay) and Alexandria (6 mi, 44 places to stay).
Tips from people in Washington
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Washington’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.