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Beyond Washington DC

Veteran-Led Arlington National Cemetery Walking Tour

Recommended by 100% of travelers
Washington DC, USA
Great choice
10+ bookings last month.
  • 3 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0
·
· Karen_H ·
Jun 2026
We had a wonderful experience on our private tour with Eric. He was very friendly, knowledgeable, and engaging. We were able to ask him many questions and go at our own pace. We learned so much from him! Eric has an amazing background and a great guy. He was also very responsive, communicative. This tour exceeded our expectations- definitely a highlight of our DC trip. Highly recommend this tour!!
· Larry_K ·
Jun 2026
Absolutely amazing experience!!! Eric was wonderful and his military experience and detailed knowledge of Arlington made this such a unique experience for our family. He was fabulous with our two children and answered all of their questions (of which they had many!) One of the best guided tours our family has ever been on. I highly recommend Eric as you will not be disappointed!

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 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

      2

      John F. Kennedy Grave Site

      25 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

      3

      Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial

      45 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

      4

      Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial

      45 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

      5

      The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

      50 minutesAdmission 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

      Cancellation Policy

      You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

      Traveler Photos

      Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
      Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
      Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
      Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
      Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

      Reviews

      5.0
      based on 84 reviews
      Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
      Sort by: Most insightful

      Interesting and moving tour

      Glenda_M, Jul 2026
      This was such a fabulous tour with so much history and insight into Arlington and how it came to be. We were introduced to several notable sites and of course the changing of the guard was wonderful to witness. Eric was so interesting and was able to provide me with the area and tomb number of the young man I was interested in visiting, which I greatly appreciated. I would recommend this tour highly.

      Informative and entertaining!

      Edward_J, Jul 2026
      Eric was informative, entertaining and truly loves what he is doing. We had an incredible experience!

      A Must Tour of Arlington National Cemetary

      Lisa_S, Jul 2026
      We have travelled the World and been on many tours. Eric has a wealth of knowledge and shared insight during our tour that really made a trip to Arlington National Cemetary meaningful We would rate this as one of the best tours we have been on But be aware..it has a lot of walking some of which is uphill

      Phenomenal Experience!

      Brandon_C, Jun 2026
      Eric was an outstanding guide on our tour of Arlington National Cemetery. His knowledge of the cemetery’s history, the significance of the memorials, and the stories of those laid to rest there made the experience incredibly meaningful. He was engaging, respectful, and answered every question with patience and insight. Eric’s passion for history and his professionalism made this tour unforgettable. I highly recommend him to anyone visiting Arlington and wanting a deeper understanding of this remarkable place.

      Solo private tour. Amazing !!!

      Euan_D, Jun 2026
      Eric was friendly, informative, helpful and made me feel very welcome and comfortable. His knowledge is incredible. Highly recommend

      Most outstanding tour!

      Ruth_F, Jun 2026
      Eric is an outstanding guide. We toured with our 11 year old grandson and he enjoyed the tour as much as we did. Eric has a wealth of knowledge and answered our grandson’s numerous questions. It was a fantastic way to spend the afternoon learning about Arlington and those who gave their lives for our freedom. I highly recommend this tour!

      Great tour of Arlington!

      sue_s, Jun 2026
      Eric was an awesome tour guide! He was so engaging and had a lots of interesting stories about Arlington cemetery and the history of it. I would definitely recommend this tour to every one.

      Extremely informative. ...

      Diane_V, Jun 2026
      Extremely informative. Lots of time to ask questions. Led by a veteran who shares in depth stories of history. Highly recommend

      Outstanding private tour of Arlington Cemetery!!

      Karen_H, Jun 2026
      We had a wonderful experience on our private tour with Eric. He was very friendly, knowledgeable, and engaging. We were able to ask him many questions and go at our own pace. We learned so much from him! Eric has an amazing background and a great guy. He was also very responsive, communicative. This tour exceeded our expectations- definitely a highlight of our DC trip. Highly recommend this tour!!

      Eric is the best. 5 stars!

      Marissa_D, Jun 2026
      Our tour started by meeting Eric, who was kind enough to bring along an umbrella because the day was rainy. The experience with him is something we could not have asked to be any better. He was knowledgeable. He cared deeply about the history and the people interred at Arlington. Our tour was supposed to end at noon - he asked us if we would like to keep going and we did not break until nearly 2 PM to ensure we covered all of the folks Eric wanted to introduce us to. Eric is very clearly a man with a very rich résumé himself and showed utmost reverence for those whose final resting place was at Arlington. The overarching theme of his tour was that “war is easy, peace is hard.” We could not have asked for a better tour guide for our first time through Arlington National Cemetery. Five stars.

      Absolutely amazing...

      Larry_K, Jun 2026
      Absolutely amazing experience!!! Eric was wonderful and his military experience and detailed knowledge of Arlington made this such a unique experience for our family. He was fabulous with our two children and answered all of their questions (of which they had many!) One of the best guided tours our family has ever been on. I highly recommend Eric as you will not be disappointed!

      Arlington close and personal

      Nancy_M, Jun 2026
      It was a beautiful afternoon to amble through this hallowed ground and learn from Eric all about its history. He has a wealth of knowledge that we could only touch the surface of in our three hours. He leads with the ideal combination of respect, factual reliability, experience, humor, empathy, and reverence. I feel like a better person for having taken this tour. More informed, certainly, but also more thankful to be an American.

      This tour with Eric was...

      Sharon_B, Jun 2026
      This tour with Eric was an amazing experience. I would highly recommend for so many reasons...his knowledge, his passion, the pacing of the tour, absolutely everything. It was the highlight of our short 4-day trip to DC. By the end of the tour, I felt like he was more than a tour guide but a true friend.

      Outstanding!

      Ellen_B, May 2026
      This is a not-to-be-missed tour for anyone visiting the DC area. I cannot properly express my gratitude to Eric for his thoughtful, insightful, respectful, and brilliant tour he shared with us. Three hours flew by. Thank you Eric, not only for your service to our Country, but also for providing us with such a moving experience.

      Most exciting and informational tour ever

      Cecil_T, May 2026
      Exceptional Experience and best Arlington tour ever. Eric is an exceptional guide, as well as being a fellow veteran himself. His extreme knowledge and historical background gave us a truly unique experience . He allowed us to see and ask questions as we walked and we were never in a rush. He also engaged with my 16 year old which kept him engaged and not so bored. Eric found out while watching the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier there was going to be a wreath laying ceremony afterword and positioned us so we were able to here and see all. Eric's military background and experiences which he was willing to share gave us truly authentic tour. I would recommend this tour to anyone going to Arlington wither it's your first visit or tenth visit.

      Never-before seen or experienced! The tour is a must see!!

      Gerrie_B, May 2026
      Eric was an accomplished veteran with an awesome résumé. In fact, his story left me unbelievably awe stricken. His tour was phenomenal and I would recommend it to anyone. He was not only informative but he put emotion into his speech. He took his time touring us instead of rushing us through just to get the tour over with. It was beyond obvious that he was leading this tour because he wanted to and not because he had to. Thank you, Eric!!

      Awesome experience

      John_R, May 2026
      This was an amazing experience that our travel group (family and friends) will remember for a long time. The tour is a minimum of 3 hours, but we went about 4.5 hours and could easily have kept going, if not for the heat and our empty stomachs. Eric is super knowledgeable and shared a good deal of personal and insider information about Arlington and the military, which we all--especially the veterans in our group--got so much out of. He really tailored the experience for us, even walking us to Section 60 (a special request and not part of the tour) when he could have just let us go on our own, and pointing out additional highlights along the way. He was also really patient and considerate of our needs, pacing the tour to help manage with the heat and the amount of walking involved. Can't say enough about the whole experience, from the communication beforehand to the tour itself and even a nice follow-up text the next day. I've done other tours of Arlington, but this one can't be beat!

      Great tour guide!

      Eleni_B, Apr 2026
      This tour was amazing! I usually cant get into historical topics but Eric made it so interesting! We walked 3 miles.

      Highly informative, interesting, and moving experience. Definitely recommend this tour.

      Caroline_L, Apr 2026
      My teenage son and I went on this tour, and we both recommend it. This tour covers not only historical information about how Arlington became a Nat'l Cemetery, but also the fascinating connections of historical figures like George Washington, Robert E. Lee, Lincoln, and the Kennedy family, as well as Arlington's connection to D.C. and current military policies and burials at Arlington. The day we went, we were able to witness a wreath-laying ceremony and the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Guide for this tour has vast military experience and political knowledge. This combined with his deep respect for the fallen and interred at Arlington, and his care for the people he is guiding through the cemetery make this a top notch tour.

      VERY informative &...

      Amber_K, Apr 2026
      VERY informative & amazing tour of the grounds. There was a number of interesting stories, details & “did you know?” that made the tour great. Highly recommend to others!

      Fantastic experience

      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.

      The best tour in DC!! You...

      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!

      Top Notch Tour

      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.

      Veteran led tour of Arlington Cemetery

      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.

      Informational, Emotional

      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.

      Exceptional & Excellent

      nora_o, Sep 2025
      Eric is the best tour guide ever! So knowledgeable about Arlington Cemetery and the history behind it! Highly recommend!!!

      The absolute best...

      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!

      Eric is the ultimate Arlington tour guide

      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.

      Veteran Led Tour

      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.

      Eric is one of the most...

      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.

      From $54.00

      per person

      up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

      Book ahead!
      On average, this is booked 30 days in advance.

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