Ready to time-travel without leaving the DMV? Mount Vernon was George Washington’s home in the 1700s and could be the perfect day trip for your family. Step back in time and learn more about one of our country’s founding fathers with a tour of the house and gardens, or a walk through a Revolutionary War encampment.
- Location: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon
- Cost: Children under 5 get in free, $16 for youth under 11, $30 for adults. Tickets are required, parking is available on-site for free.
- Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Sunday
What to expect on your visit
To get the most out of a visit to Mount Vernon, you can expect to spend two to three hours wandering the estate and its grounds. Entry to the historic mansion itself is permitted by guided tour only and requires a ticket. The mansion tour is expected to take just 10 minutes leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the outbuildings, gardens, a working farm, Washington’s tomb and a memorial dedicated to those enslaved.
Have any history buffs in the family? They’ll love the Education Center exhibit on George Washington’s life which is set to reopen in March 2026 after an extensive rebuild. There, you can watch a short film on Washington’s life, walk through a recreation of his house in Philadelphia, read authentic founding documents and more. Also opening in March is “Patriots Path: A Revolutionary War Encampment,” a hands-on attraction where guests can touch the items inside the tents, wash clothes in the laundry yard and examine cooking utensils used by camp followers.
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On Saturdays and Sundays from April to October, you can also visit the distillery where Washington made his whiskey and the gristmill where he made flour, cornmeal and grits, included in the price of your ticket.
Take a tour
There’s more than one way to explore Mount Vernon. Choose from guided tours and self-guided experiences that let families tailor their visit to their interests and energy levels.
- Mansion Tour (In-Depth Tour): A guided, 75-minute tour of the Mansion and surrounding outbuildings and gardens that highlights more than 250 years of history.
- Enslaved People of Mount Vernon Tour: A guided experience focused on the lives and contributions of the enslaved community at Mount Vernon; offered daily with seasonal time changes.
- Self-Guided Grounds Exploration: Walk the estate at your own pace, including gardens, farm, tombs and historic structures (no guide required with general admission).
- Specialty or Seasonal Tours & Events: Various limited-time tours and experiences throughout the year, such as behind-the-scenes tours, thematic explorations and Patriots Path Revolutionary War encampments (availability varies by date).
Note: Mansion entry requires a timed ticket; advanced reservations are recommended for guided tours.
Explore Washington’s Library
- Hours of operation: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon is a world-class research center devoted to the life, leadership and legacy of America’s first president, housing original papers, manuscripts, books and historical materials related to Washington, colonial America and the founding era. Even those only mildly interested in history or books will find this collection a true treasure trove.
Open to scholars and researchers by appointment, the library supports study, educational outreach and fellowship programs that deepen understanding of the man behind the legend and the times he lived in.
More to explore
Mount Vernon is just a one-hour bike ride from Alexandria along the scenic Mount Vernon Trail. If your family wants to rent bikes or e-bikes and cycle along the Potomac River, there are plenty of options to choose from including Unlimited Biking, Big Wheel Bikes, Strictly Ebikes and Pedego.
You can also cruise the Potomac River by boat to get to Mount Vernon.
The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant is right next door to the mansion if you’d feel like trying traditional American fare in a historic setting. They serve lunch, dinner and weekend brunch and kids eat free on Tuesday evenings.
