How Long for this tour of the Monuments?
 

Last minute question before our family of 10 goes to DC after Christmas....

How long will it take to tour WWII, Vietnam, Korean and Lincoln Memorials? And then add FDR to it?

Just looking for ballpark walking at a normal pace. Will have grandparents (75), parents and grandchildren in tow. Think that grandparents will only want to do WWII and Vietnam and the rest of us will do the remainder. Wondering if we can fit it all in from 2 to 5 p.m. in one afternoon.

Thanks!

I haven't see the Korean War memorial yet, but most of those memorials can be seen fairly quickly. I think a person's interests determine the length of time. For instance, if the grandparent new someone who served in WWII, he/she might want to look at the computers, spend more time, etc. That said, I'd say 30 minutes did it for me at all of the monuments, but I go through things pretty quickly. The real time eater is the time walking between the memorials. That would depend on how mobile everyone was.

These are all very close together, and most people with average level of interest could easily do these in three hours, even at a relatively leisurely pace. FDR is the outlier, and once you get there also involves more walking than the others. I'd start at WWII, and head toward Lincoln doing Vietnam and Korean on the way. Decide once you're at the Lincoln whether all or part of the group wants to continue on to FDR -- if not, you can head straight up 23rd street to the Foggy Bottom metro, or try to catch a cab on Constitution.

I agree with MoonGirl itineray. And for those of you who can take a bit longer a hike, I'd keep going around the Tidal Basin after FDR and see Jefferson too, returning to the Smithsonian Metro station.

Wow! Fast and incredibly helpful replies!! Thanks especially to Moongirl for the directions to a metro stop and taxi area--that will take the stress out of late afternoon travel.

Looking forward to our trip :)

Foggy Bottom Metro is a bit of a hike - uphill. With more than two people a taxi is not only easier but cheaper - easy to hail on Constitution Ave.

I actually have a professional tourguide license in DC (you have to pass a rigorous exam here) and do this occasionally when I guide (I have another job and guiding is just supplemental income).

For the area you will be looking at, I would allow 4 hours. I would walk down from the Foggy Bottom Metro and start at the Einstein statue along Constitution Ave. You can climb all over it and it is a great place for a photo especially with your large group!

Then, walking from there, you go to Vietnam, Lincoln, Korea (grouped together). Then you go to the WW II Memorial and FDR. I also would include the George Mason Memorial (on the way to the Jefferson) and the Jefferson in a 4 hour tour. The walk can be exhausting for some people. I doubt the grandparents will make it all the way. Depending on the age of the children, they might get "kvetchy" as well.

From the Jefferson Memorial, you walk to the Smithsonian Metro and go home.

I could suggest that you do the monuments by Tourmobile, but you would still need to get on and off and walk.

You could use a cab to get to the start of your walk, but there is no way to avoid a lot of walking in DC because the monuments are spread out and there is a dearth of public transport in between.

If you have a car, there are places to park, but I strongly discourage people who are doing the tour without a guide not to bring cars. I know where to park and can "forage". For out of towners it is, well, a pain in the you-know-where, because you don't know where there is likely to be parking. Moreover, DC will be very busy after Christmas. Things tend to be quiet until then. After Christmas is when the families throw the relatives out of the house and send them to The Mall. So, if you are going to try to minimize your walking, I do suggest hiring a guide. We can help you get around more efficiently and tell you things you do not know. Major hotels all have lists. Make sure you get someone with a LICENSE. It does indicate at least a base degree of knowledge.