Arlington National Cemetery: Visitor Guide & Getting There

Arlington National Cemetery is the nation's most hallowed ground — more than 600 acres of active military cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, where more than 400,000 service members and their families are laid to rest. It is the site of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the John F. Kennedy gravesite, and the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony. Admission is free, and it is open to visitors 365 days a year. This guide covers what to see, visiting hours, the Changing of the Guard, and how to get to Arlington National Cemetery from Washington DC, Baltimore, and around Maryland.

Arlington National Cemetery Overview

Arlington National Cemetery is the largest active military cemetery in the United States, established during the Civil War in 1864. Those interred here served across the full span of American history — from the Civil War through both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The cemetery conducts between 27 and 30 funerals every weekday, making it a working military cemetery as much as a national memorial. Please note: Arlington is a place of mourning and remembrance. Visitors are asked to remain respectful and quiet throughout the grounds.

The cemetery is open every day of the year with free admission. In 2026-27, it closes only for Wreaths Across America Wreaths In Day (December 19, 2026) and Wreaths Out Day (January 9, 2027). On Memorial Day and Veterans Day, expect large crowds, ceremonies, and altered access.

Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Changing of the Guard is the ceremony most visitors come to witness — among the most solemn and precise rituals in the United States. The Tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by volunteer sentinels of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). A relief commander appears on the plaza to announce the changing, inspects the relieving sentinel's weapon, and oversees the handoff of the walk. The sentinel's measured, deliberate steps — 21 steps, a turn, a 21-second pause — represent a tribute that has continued unbroken for more than a century.

Arrive several minutes before the ceremony to find a place at the plaza. Stand quietly, remain still, and follow the sentinels' requests for silence. Photography is permitted, but the setting calls for reverence.

Famous Graves and Memorials

John F. Kennedy Gravesite — the most-visited site in the cemetery, marked by the Eternal Flame and a granite plaza inscribed with quotes from his inaugural address. President Kennedy rests here alongside Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and two of their children, with Robert F. Kennedy and Edward Kennedy nearby. Memorial Amphitheater — the marble amphitheater adjacent to the Tomb, site of major national ceremonies on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Arlington House — the historic Robert E. Lee Memorial overlooking the cemetery from its highest point, with sweeping views across the Potomac to Washington. Section 60 — the burial ground for many service members who died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and one of the most-visited active sections.

The Welcome Center

Every visit begins at the Welcome Center near the main entrance off Memorial Avenue. The center houses visitor information, exhibits on the cemetery's history, restrooms, and the ANC Explorer — a tool that helps locate specific gravesites and plan a route through the grounds. Optional guided tram tours depart from here. If you are visiting a specific gravesite, stop at the Welcome Center first — the grounds are vast and walking the full cemetery is not practical for most visitors.

Getting to Arlington National Cemetery

From Washington, DC: The Arlington Cemetery Metro station on the Blue Line is a short walk from the Welcome Center — the simplest option. By car, cross the Memorial Bridge onto Memorial Avenue to the cemetery entrance. Walking from the Lincoln Memorial across the Memorial Bridge is also practical for those combining it with a Mall visit.

From Baltimore: Roughly 45 miles, typically an hour to an hour and a half via I-95 S to the Capital Beltway (I-495) or the Baltimore-Washington Parkway toward DC and across the Memorial Bridge. The trip is longer and more traffic-dependent than the mileage suggests — it runs through some of the most congested corridors in the country.

From Annapolis: Roughly 40 miles, about an hour via US-50 W to I-495. From the Maryland suburbs (Columbia, Silver Spring, Bethesda): 30 to 45 minutes to an hour depending on the Beltway. For groups making the trip from across Maryland, Bayside provides transportation from the Baltimore, Annapolis, DC, and Virginia service area.

Private Car and Group Transportation

For many visitors, the practical challenge is not the cemetery itself — it is getting there through DC-area traffic and dealing with parking, especially on ceremony days. Private car service offers door-to-door pickup, a direct trip to the cemetery, and a scheduled return — no navigating the Beltway, no parking garage, and no stress on a day that is often emotional. For families traveling to a burial, a memorial service, or to visit a loved one's grave, being driven means everyone can focus on the occasion rather than the logistics.

Group transportation keeps everyone together from a single pickup point. For a family gathering from different parts of Maryland, a veterans' group, or a civic organization visiting for a ceremony, an Executive Sprinter van or larger vehicle carries everyone together. For funeral and memorial occasions in particular, this is one less thing for a grieving family to manage.

Frequently Asked Questions