Veteran-Led Arlington National Cemetery Walking Tour
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Washington DC, USA
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- All Fees and Taxes
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1 Memorial Ave, Fort Myer, VA 22211, USA
All tours meet at the MILITARY WOMAN'S MEMORIAL located inside Arlington National Cemetery - 200 yards west of the Arlington National Cemetery Visitor Center.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Military Women's Memorial
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
John F. Kennedy Grave Site
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Arlington House - The Robert E. Lee Memorial
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- 3 hour walking tour covering 3 miles
- Small group tour not to exceed 12 guests
- Not recommended for visitors unable to walk 3 miles in 3 hours
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 64 reviews
VANESSA_C, Jan 2026
EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE. This tour was one of the very best we have experienced. Eric is a brilliant and engaging historical story teller. We learnt so much not only about the Arlington National Cemetery and military snippets but also about the connections, relationships and stories of many significant individuals. Eric's military background provided a wealth of information and experiences which he shared to give a truly authentic tour.
Jillene_W, Oct 2025
The best tour in DC!! You cannot miss an opportunity to see Arlington with Eric - you will never forget it. He gives you an unprecedented look at the history and stories associated with Arlington. Absolutely wonderful experience!
Jeffrey_S, Oct 2025
We got way more than we ever expected from our time spent with Eric at Arlington. He imparted so much information that we would never have discovered on our own. Eric has an unparalleled background giving him a profound ability to share stories and facts about many aspects of the cemetery and the people laid to rest there. His engaging personality and desire to please us as to what we were wanting to experience from the tour made this a highlight of our time spent out East. We can't recommend this tour highly enough. If there was a 10 star rating, it would be a 10.
Tom_L, Oct 2025
Exceptional, 5 stars. Eric was a wealth of knowledge, friendly and patient. This was not a timed tour. He gave us far more time that we expected... and it was well worth. Do not visit Arlington Cemetery without Eric. You won't be disappointed.
Kim_S, Oct 2025
This was so informative! I’m no a history buff, I learned so much about people that died for my freedom. Emotional. Everyone should go! Our 3 1/2 hour tour was 5 hours! Perfect. He loves his job. Sharing with passion. Worth every penny, so glad we didn’t go on our own.
nora_o, Sep 2025
Eric is the best tour guide ever! So knowledgeable about Arlington Cemetery and the history behind it! Highly recommend!!!
Crissy_B, Sep 2025
The absolute best experience!!! Eric was amazing, so knowledgeable, patient and kind. It was our favorite tour while in DC and would highly recommend it. Thank you Eric for your service to our Country and sharing your knowledge and experience with us!
cel3, Aug 2025
Eric Hommel, the tour guide, is amazing. He has a wealth of information and experience from his time in the military and in D.C. I highly recommend reading his book, "The Losing Game", prior to the tour. If you read it, you will really appreciate him and what he's been through.
Linda_L, Aug 2025
We had the privilege of touring Arlington National Cemetery with Eric Hommel, a retired Lieutenant Colonel, and it was absolutely outstanding. I arranged this private tour for my husband, who is a history enthusiast, and it exceeded every expectation.
Eric is incredibly knowledgeable and an exceptional storyteller—he weaves history, personal experience, and fascinating facts together in a way that brings the cemetery to life. Throughout the tour, we found ourselves laughing, learning, and even tearing up at times. His passion and respect for the history and the heroes resting there was deeply moving and contagious.
The small group setting made it feel intimate and personal, giving us the chance to ask questions and soak in every detail. We left not only more informed but also profoundly touched.
We are so grateful for this unforgettable experience. If you have the opportunity to take a tour with Eric, do not hesitate you will walk away with your heart full and your mind inspired.
Mike_B, Aug 2025
Eric is one of the most knowledgeable and personable tour guides we’ve had. An excellent tour and one of the best we’ve ever been on.
Earl_W, Aug 2025
This tour of Arlington was perfect, and Eric was a superb guide, who made the experience very educational and due to his vast experience and knowledge, my family and I really enjoyed the wonderful tour. This has got to be one of the best tours in the world, so sign up and go, you will be amazed how thorough and informative and friendly the guide Eric is. Thank you so much !
Erin_D, Jul 2025
10000% would recommend this tour and Eric as your guide. We spent a wonderful Sunday morning learning history and stories as we weaved our war through the cemetery..
Lisa_S, Jul 2025
I have done guided tours in nearly every city I have visited over many years and this was HANDS DOWN the best tour I have ever done. Eric has insight into Arlington like no one else in this city, I promise you. He delivered, and he delivered BIG. I cannot recommend this tour enough.
Nikki_P, Jul 2025
Very knowledgeable guide! Great experience! Great inside knowledge on the military and historical events.
Kimberley_M, Jul 2025
If you travel enough, you end up taking plenty of tours, of museums, of churches (of cemeteries...this was not my first cemetery tour!). Plenty are very good. Plenty are very forgettable. But few stand out. This tour did; it is simply just that - outstanding.
Eric is not just knowledgeable, he is interesting and interested. There is so much history and context at and for Arlington, and Eric conveys it as an expert storyteller, who is telling the story of our country. And he remains so clearly interested in a subject he talks about and thinks about so much! And because of that, I now have a hold at the library on General George C. Marshall and will likely read Eric's own book as well.
There are lots of tours to consider. I saw lots of tours at Arlington. I am confident when I say this is the best one and that I had the best time - this tour was a highlight of my weeklong trip to DC, and I pretty much loved everything I saw and did. If all this sounds like a) I somehow am related to Eric and he made me write this (ha!), or b) this is too overly enthusiastic to be true, you are completely wrong on both counts. Message me if you like, but really, just trust me. You can then message me after and thank me.
Ben_W, Jul 2025
Eric was very knowledgable and personable. We never felt rushed. He showed us important markers, had many interesting stories, and shared a lot of history. My wife and I enjoyed the tour. One of the best tours we experienced during our Washington DC trip. Highly recommend.
Kelli_C, Jun 2025
Our family enjoyed our tour with Eric.
Eric was very knowledgeable, personable, and approachable with any questions. His background as a Veteran, historic preservationist, and past staff member on Capitol Hill was a unique and insightful blend of experience to share.
Our 14 year old son really enjoyed it!
Sheila_S, Jun 2025
This tour exceeded our expectations. Eric was relatable and super informative. He made our Arlington experience come alive. Out of all our DC activities, this tour was by far the highlight of our trip. Would rebook with Eric in a heartbeat!
ENRIQUE_A, Jun 2025
Eric since the beginning of the booking was amazing!.great communication told us everything we needed to know beforehand.
What to expect what to bring,how to dress etc. when it came to the day of the tour. Nothing but a wonderful experience!
He was friendly the moment we met. Shared with us his expectations. He knows the entire cemetery and history front and back.
Very knowledgeable about every detail. And very patient. Shared with us a great deal of history. I can go on and on. But it’s not until you take a tour with him. You will experience the same!
Highly recommended to everyone who is looking for this tour.
Most of all helping a veteran.
Thank you for an amazing tour a once in a life time experience!.
And thank you for your service!.
-Enrique
Joshua_D, May 2025
Our guide Eric was highly knowledgeable and tailored our tour for what we wanted to see. He was professional, funny and engaging. He also made certain to pace the tour according to our physical abilities. He can take a joke and he can dish them out. He’s short so you can see over him. For veterans, he’s a squid and a zoomie. We forgave him that.
Joanne_S, May 2025
Fantastic, excellent, historical experience! Eric (my guide) obviously loves Arlington, is extremely knowledgeable about it’s history and loves sharing that knowledge with as many people as possible. It was a wonderful tour and I highly recommend it to everyone! Thank you so much!
Cathy_D, Apr 2025
Eric was an amazing tour guide. We took this tour because it was the number one activity on my great nephew’s list. The tour is over 4 hours and 4 miles around hilly Arlington National Cemetery. Eric’s knowledge of the history of the cemetery, the people interred there, and the various matters was phenomenal. If you want an in-depth tour, take this one…..you will be supporting a Veteran.
Richard_E, Apr 2025
Eric with Vigilance Tours was phenomenal! He was flexible with our booking as we rescheduled at the last minute due to thunderstorms. He was wonderful! Eric was so knowledgeable about the history of Arlington and even slowed the pace to accommodate me and my artificial hip. It was a “wow” experience made even better by Eric. Nicely done, Eric! Highly recommend!
DebL_T, Apr 2025
Excellent veteran-guide that gave a thorough tour of Arlington Cemetery buildings, burial sites, history, and engaging stories.
Mark_R, Apr 2025
Eric is a fantastic guide. Knows unique history and background on Arlington that makes tour very special. One of the highlights of our visit to DC.
Donnell_H, Apr 2025
This is what you want. Eric is incredible and his perspective brings incredible depth to this visit. Behind the scenes stories and personal accounts tailored to your connection to the cemetery or family history. This decision is a no brainer if you are visiting Arlington. And a huge amount of appreciation and respect to Eric.
Katie_R, Apr 2025
This is the only way to experience Arlington National Cemetery. The property is so expansive that it would be impossible to see all the highlights without a guide. My guide was an extremely knowledgeable veteran who provided a vast wealth of information about the history and traditions of the National Park. He also helped me to follow the correct etiquette, especially while witnessing the changing of the guard. This was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. Thank you Eric.
Donna_C, Mar 2025
We have taken many, many tours over the years, and without a doubt, Eric was the most knowledgeable guide we've ever had. His passion for history and the military is truly unmatched. From start to finish, he spoke eloquently, took his time, and tailored the tour to our specific interests, making the experience even more personal and meaningful.
Eric’s knowledge of Arlington Cemetery is second to none, and his ability to communicate complex history in such a captivating way was incredible. He kept us engaged, informed, and in awe the entire time. The way he honored the stories of those laid to rest here was truly moving.
If you're considering a tour of Arlington, book it with Eric—you will not regret it! This was an unforgettable experience, and I only wish I could give him ten stars! Highly, highly recommend!
Glen_W, Mar 2025
After reading numerous positive reviews regarding Vigilance Tours, we decided to book this tour with Eric. What we received was the best experience we had during our one week stay in Washington, DC.
Communication prior to the tour was perfect, preventing the typical confusion we’ve had on other tour guides. He spent the entire morning and a bit of the afternoon with my wife, our 14-year-old son, and myself, exploring the cemetery and learning invaluable information. Of course, we saw the highlights, but the other graves he took us to made this tour truly unique and special. He personally showed us a grave marker from someone he had served with in Afghanistan along with other veterans. Probably the best part of the tour were the stories he was able to tell from his vast experience working in the cemetery while he was in the military: Joe Louis, DESERT One, Challenger, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, all the incredible stories that made the occupants of the cemetery real.
Eric has a remarkable ability to personalize the tour and keep everyone engaged, even our son. Without reservations of any kind, I highly recommend this tour with him. You would be doing yourself a grave injustice by missing out on this incredible experience because as I said before, it was undoubtedly the best we’ve taken and, without a doubt, the best of our time in DC.
Eric, we also purchased your book and are eager to start reading it soon. Thank you once again for an exceptional tour. You certainly lived up to your online reputation!
Chantal_R, Mar 2025
Eric is an exceptional tour guide. He is knowledgeable about so many different pieces of American history. I really enjoyed my day. Eric extended our tour by a few hours. We had so much to talk about.
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Veteran-Led Arlington National Cemetery Walking Tour
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