Lincoln Memorial Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Lincoln Memorial. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• DC Memorials Night Tour: Glass-Roof Convertible Upgrade Option

• DC Monuments Night Tour With 10+ Stops, Cherry Blossoms, Tickets

• Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Tour by Trolley

• Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour

• DC Monuments & Capitol Hill Highlights Tour by Electric Cart

While it’s free to visit the Lincoln Memorial on your own, there are plenty of affordable tours that can help you learn more about the monument with an expert guide—and have some fun along the way. Daytime sightseeing tours that visit the Lincoln Memorial, in addition to other highlight monuments and government landmarks around Washington DC, begin at just US$56. Nighttime tours start at US$60, and bike tours at US$62.

Yes, the Lincoln Memorial is worth visiting. One of Washington DC's best-known monuments, the Lincoln Memorial is a highlight of the National Mall, and close to other major landmarks, such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial. Its location overlooking the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the Washington Monument means it looks particularly dramatic by night. Explore on your own, or as part of a guided tour to go deeper into the history.

Per one customer who booked the DC Memorials Night Tour: Glass-Roof Convertible Upgrade Option, "If you have even the slightest interest in this tour please DO IT!!! The monuments are breathtaking at night. I have zero regrets on going on tour. George was so knowledgeable and an excellent tour leader. He is definitely passionate about the significance of the monuments and the subject they represent."

As with the rest of the monuments on the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial can attract big crowds, especially on weekends, during the summer, and on holidays. For the best chance of enjoying the grandeur of the setting without quite so many other people, aim for early morning or evening.

Yes, there is free parking near the Lincoln Memorial, but it may be in high demand. On-street parking near the monument is generally free for 2-hour slots. If you can get it, free day-long parking is also available nearby on Ohio Drive SW or in the lots south of the Jefferson Memorial. If you’re unable to find free parking, expect to pay around US$2.30 per hour for street parking, assuming you’re able to find a spot on the street.

Yes, the Lincoln Memorial is accessible to disabled visitors. Wheelchairs are available to rent, and visitors can access the main chamber of the monument via a basement-level elevator. Accessible bathrooms are also located in the basement, and several parking spaces are located on David Chester French Drive.

Yes, you can walk up the stairs at the Lincoln Memorial. They make a grand entrance and are the primary way most visitors access the landmark. They're also a historical icon in their own right: It was on these steps that Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his I Have a Dream speech at the height of the civil rights movement. There are 58 steps leading from the chamber to the plaza, and another 87 steps leading from the chamber to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

One of the most popular times to visit the Lincoln Memorial—and see the other sights of the National Mall—is during the spring, when Washington DC's famous cherry trees are blossoming. Alternatively, skip the searing heat and crowds that summer brings and aim for the autumn shoulder season. If you visit in the winter when there is ice, keep in mind that the memorial’s pink Tennessee marble steps can be quite slippery.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Lincoln Memorial. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Washington DC:

• The White House

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

• U.S. Capitol

• Washington Monument

• Vietnam Veterans Memorial

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Washington DC.