I would like to know how early to plan to get in line for the tickets to the public tour of the U.S. Capitol.

According to the Capitol Guide Service website the ticket booth opens at 9 am. They hand out the day's tickets until they're gone.

I'm sure this is a popular tour and we don't want to miss out on seeing the Capitol.

What time does the line generally form at the ticket booth? What time are the tickets generally gone each day?

A better idea would be to call your congressperson or senator (www.congress.org) and arrange a tour through them. No lines and even if there is heightened security that day you'll still get to go.

i agree with bardo.... elected representatives are usually happy to do this as they know it's the only way you'll ever feel they're of value.

I had already tried to get a tour arranged with my congressman with no luck!

I did ask their office about how early the line forms and was told to be early to get the tixs.

So, we will probably try to be there an hour early and hope to get tickets for one of the morning tour times.

Since I have posted twice with this same question and have never received an answer, I will be sure to post my findings upon our return.

I don't know about the Capitol...but in 1999 (pre-terrorism days)...I was going to get some tickets to the White House. The line "opened" at 7-30 and I was there at 7-15. I was at the end of a VERY long line and didn't get tickets.

Later in the day, I found out why...we were walking around on Pennsylvania Ave and found several ladies who had gotten two tickets apiece. They offered us their "extra" tickets and we went through the tour with them since you had to have the original ticket holder with you.

I'm glad, of course, that we were lucky enough to find these ladies (who happened to be from our state and we had a good time talking with them while waiting for the tour)...but the very reason that I didn't get any tickets is because people get more tickets that they need for their personal use.

I'm sure it's the same way at the Capitol. Get there VERY early.

Big Red,

Interestingly enough, the Capitol tour requires that all members of the party be in line to pick up tixs. They do not allow holding a place in line either. Of course, if their tix booth opens at 9 and the line starts forming a hour or more ahead of that, there is probably no way that those rules could be enforced. I'll find out the real story and post when we return.

i just did this tour yesterday with family visiting from out of town.
Our congressional office gives the tour pretty much every day during the summer (when i worked there we did), so i called and asked when the tour would be given on Tuesday, I showed up at the congressman's office at the appointed time, and got a great tour.
So I would suggest you call again or call both of your Senators. at least one of those three offices will be giving a tour on the day you want it.

The last time I toured was back in September so things may have changed. But I was also told to be at the ticket kiosk really early. I got there at 7:45 and was the first one in line. There were only 5 people in line by 8:15 and by the time they opened the kiosk there were still less than 70 people in line. The poor couple from taiwan who were behind me in line learned the hard way that all members of a family or group must be in line. They were there just after me and expected to pick up 4 tickets - 2 for their cousins who were waiting with the car. But after waiting 60+ minutes they were told "no dice". Big hassle - they lost out but luckily there were so few people in line they were able to start over in line and got the 4 tickets an hour later.

Now obviously in the height of the summer season the crowds are probably larger.

As for getting a tour from your congressman - that is the best way to go but they are much more limited than they used to be. So try for that and if you're unsuccessful just show up at the ticket kiosk by or a little before 8AM.

Also for timed tickets to the Washington Monument - the 4 days I was in DC in Sept they never once gave out all the tickets until after 3:30 PM and on one day they still had tickets left when the last tour started.

It would be annoying to me if my US Rep would not help me out - I am also surprised, since they usually love to do this sort of thing since it helps them get votes. I might try that route again - maybe you got the wrong person on the wrong day when you called. We were told to try local office of our Rep, and that was unsuccessful - then we tried Washington, DC office and got a private tour given by a summer intern. So it might be worth a second (or third) try.

I agree w/ Gail that you should always call the DC office of your (3)representatives when asking for Capitol tours.