Mount Vernon Tours and Tickets

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

• Mount Vernon and Old Town Alexandria Day Trip From Washington DC

• Mount Vernon Guided Estate Tour Plus Old Town Alexandria From DC

• George Washington's Mount Vernon Half-Day Tour From Washington DC

• Mount Vernon & Old Town Alexandria Private Tour

• Full-Day Tour of Washington DC With Mount Vernon & Old Alexandria

Visiting George Washington’s Mount Vernon in 2026 starts around US$28 for adults, US$14 for youth ages 6–11, and is free for children under 6. Ground pass admission includes the museum, gardens, outbuildings, a self-guided audio tour, and optional timed access to the mansion. Guided tours or specialty experiences may incur an additional fee. Discounts are available to military members and teachers. Advance purchase online is recommended for the best pricing and to avoid sold-out time slots on busy days.

Yes, Mount Vernon is absolutely worth visiting, especially if you love American history and being immersed in the life of the nation's first president. The meticulously preserved estate offers self‑guided access to George Washington's mansion, gardens, outbuildings, museum galleries, and the Washington family tomb, all of which help to construct a vivid sense of 18th‑century life and America's founding era. Allow at least a few hours to fully explore the expansive grounds. Consider guided tours led by experts to enrich your visit and offer insights, along with convenient round-trip transportation from DC.

Per one customer who booked the Mount Vernon and Old Town Alexandria Day Trip From Washington DC, "This tour did everything it promised—took us to Mount Vernon with a knowledgeable guide explaining points of interest on the way there and back. Got us entry to the house and grounds. All staff at Mount Vernon are extremely helpful and informative. Really enjoyed this half-day trip out of the city. Would recommend for those on a city break without their own transport."

How long it takes to tour Mount Vernon depends on which tour you take. The Mansion Tour lasts 45 minutes while the Gardens & Landscapes Tour lasts one hour. Several other tours are available. Of course, you’re welcome to buy the general Grounds Pass and explore on your own schedule.

Yes, you need reservations to visit Mount Vernon—book the Grounds Pass online. That gets you an audio tour and self-guided access to the historic area, outbuildings, gardens, tombs, trails, and more. If you’d like to explore inside Washington’s former home, you’ll need to purchase a separate mansion tour ticket.

Yes, parking is free at Mount Vernon. Find parking lots on the east and west sides of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. If these lots happen to be full, simply follow the signs to the overflow parking lot. RVs, motorhomes, and trailers should always park in the overflow lot as well.

Mount Vernon’s can’t-miss spots include the outbuildings where enslaved people lived and worked, gardens, tombs, and trails around the estate. If your schedule and budget allow, visiting Washington’s mansion is a fascinating dive into American history.

You can take photos inside most of Mount Vernon, but not inside the theaters and inside some museum galleries. That being said, you cannot take photos with a flash inside the mansion. Generally, etiquette calls for avoiding photography. Any photography must be for personal, non-commercial use only.

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

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

• The White House

• U.S. Capitol

• Lincoln Memorial

• Vietnam Veterans Memorial

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