Arlington National Cemetery Private Tour with Driver: Getting There by Car

Arlington National Cemetery is not an attraction in the usual sense. It is a burial ground for more than a century and a half of American service members, an active cemetery where funerals are held on most days, and a place where visitors are asked to behave accordingly. An arlington national cemetery private tour with driver is therefore less about sightseeing logistics than about arriving calmly, being on time for the ceremonies you want to witness, and not breaking the rules that govern vehicles on the grounds.

This guide covers how to get to Arlington National Cemetery by car, what the cemetery itself says about hours, vehicles, screening and the Changing of the Guard, and how to link the visit with the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall. Our Washington, DC chauffeur service page covers the wider city.

Can a chauffeured car drive into Arlington National Cemetery?

That is the single most important fact on this page. The cemetery's plan-your-visit page states that vehicle access is generally not authorized, and that anyone over 18 traveling in a vehicle that does enter must show REAL ID-compliant identification at the security checkpoint. The checkpoints it names are the Memorial Avenue entrance, the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall gate and the Service Complex gate. Visitors who walk in, arrive by Metro, take a rideshare or park in the Welcome Center garage use standard physical screening at the Welcome Center and do not need REAL ID for that route.

For almost every visitor, the plan is simple. Give the driver 1 Memorial Avenue as the destination. The cemetery says rideshare drop-off and pick-up take place directly in front of the Welcome Center at that address, and a chauffeured car uses the same approach and follows the instructions of cemetery staff on the day. If your family has a specific gravesite and holds an eligible vehicle pass, the pass terms govern how that car may enter; tell the desk when you book and bring the documents.

Hours, entry and the Welcome Center

The cemetery is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The main entrance at 1 Memorial Avenue is about a five-minute walk from the Arlington Cemetery Metro stop, along Memorial Avenue. A second pedestrian entrance, the Ord and Weitzel Gate, is about 15 minutes' walk from the Rosslyn Metro station. The Welcome Center is where you collect maps, use the security screening and start walking or board the tour tram.

Practical points for a driver-supported visit:

• Plan to be at the Welcome Center well before 5 p.m.; the grounds cover 639 acres and take time to cross.
• Screening can line at busy times, so avoid arriving in the last hour if you want to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
• Travel light, since everyone on foot passes through physical screening at the Welcome Center.

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The Changing of the Guard and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the main reason most people visit on a short trip. The cemetery's Changing of the Guard page sets out a simple schedule: from October 1 to March 31 the guard changes every hour on the hour, and from April 1 to September 30 it changes every half hour. Because this guide was written in October, the hourly schedule applies now; check the cemetery's page if you travel in April through September. The relief commander asks spectators to stand and remain silent throughout.

Arrive at the amphitheater 15 to 20 minutes early if you want to stand near the front on a busy day, and plan the rest of your visit around the clock. The walk from the Welcome Center to the Tomb is uphill and of some length, and visitors who cannot manage it can use the interpretive tour tram, which the cemetery says stops at the grave of John F. Kennedy, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and other notable sites. Visitors with a valid disability placard can ride at no cost with one companion.

Rules of conduct: what the cemetery asks

Arlington's visitor information asks for decorum at all times. Specific points reported by the cemetery: running, climbing, bicycling, playing sports and picnicking are not allowed, pets are not permitted other than service animals, and visitors may walk on grass to find graves but must treat headstones with respect. Keep voices low, use headphones for audio, and do not photograph people who are visibly grieving. There is no formal dress code stated on the main page, but most visitors dress respectfully; shoes should be comfortable for hills and long walks. Food and alcohol are not appropriate on the grounds.

The cemetery also offers a mobile app, ANC Explorer, which helps visitors find gravesites, take self-guided tours and get directions. Download it before you arrive, since reception is variable on the hill.

Distances and drive times

Arlington sits directly across the Potomac from the Lincoln Memorial, linked by Memorial Bridge. Our Washington Dulles airport transfer page explains the long-haul arrival; Union Station is about 8 km (5 mi) and 20 to 30 minutes away. Rush hours add time on the bridges and I-395. If your flight is delayed, flight tracking keeps the car with you, and you receive 60 minutes of free waiting after an international landing and 30 minutes after a domestic one.

Comparing ways to get there

Metro is the sensible low-cost choice for solo travelers, since the station is a short walk from the entrance. The chauffeur adds value for families, elderly relatives, delegations with luggage, or a day that links several sites. In every case the last stretch is on foot, so comfortable shoes matter more than the vehicle.

Visiting a specific grave or attending a ceremony

Families visiting a particular grave should use the ANC Explorer app or ask at the Welcome Center for the section and grave number, and plan more time than the Changing of the Guard alone needs. If a family member is eligible to apply for a vehicle pass for a gravesite visit, the cemetery administers the pass; the chauffeur's role is to bring the party to the checkpoint or the Welcome Center and to hold to the schedule you give.

The cemetery also accepts requests for public wreath-laying ceremonies, including by school and community groups, through a form on its site. Funerals take place on the grounds on most days, and visitors should keep a respectful distance from any procession or committal service. If you see one, pause and keep voices down.

A chauffeured day that includes Arlington

1. 7:30 Pick-up at your hotel. Breakfast near the Lincoln Memorial or Georgetown.
2. 8:30 Arrive at the Welcome Center after opening; screening lines are shortest early.
3. 9:00 Visit the Kennedy gravesite and walk toward the Tomb; plan your arrival to catch a change of the guard on the hour in October.
4. 11:00 Return to the car at 1 Memorial Avenue.
5. 12:00 Cross Memorial Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial and the Mall for a museum visit, such as the National Air and Space Museum.
6. 15:30 Keep Mount Vernon for the following day, since the estate needs most of a day on its own.

If you want a longer plan, the page on private tours with a driver explains how day hire works. The North America directory lists other cities in the region, and the attractions hub lists further guides.

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Nearby sights worth knowing about

The National Park Service's George Washington Memorial Parkway lists Arlington House among its sites, a historic home that overlooks the cemetery. Hours and access are managed by the park service, so check its parkway page before you plan. In nearby Rosslyn the Marine Corps War Memorial is a short drive north; check its visiting arrangements before you add it.

Discretion and our role

Families attending a private ceremony usually want the day kept quiet. The driver waits at the agreed point, keeps conversation to a minimum, leaves the schedule to you, and does not photograph or post anything about the trip. An NDA can be signed on request.

What most first-time visitors come to see

Two places draw the largest numbers. The grave of President John F. Kennedy lies on a slope below Arlington House, marked by an eternal flame, and the cemetery's tour tram stops there. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at the hilltop amphitheater, holds unidentified service members, with the first burial having taken place in 1921, according to the cemetery. Guards watch the Tomb continuously, and the ceremonial change is the part visitors are invited to witness.

Beyond these, the sections of the cemetery hold graves of people from every period of American military service, and many visitors come with a name in mind. Staff at the Welcome Center can help with locations, and the ANC Explorer app lets you save a burial record to your phone. If you are searching for a particular person, do it before the day, since the grounds are large and the slopes steep.

Weather, shoes and timing

The hill is exposed. Summer afternoons are hot, with little shade on the main roads, and winter wind can feel colder here than on the Mall. Wear shoes you can walk in for an hour or more on paved paths with gradients, carry water in warm months, and bring a coat in winter. Rain does not close the grounds, but ceremonies may move or end early.

Fall is among the most comfortable seasons. The leaves color in October and early November, and the slower light is flattering for the long rows of headstones. Spring brings crowds from school trips and blossom season; the best hours are the first after opening and the last before closing, but remember that screening lines are longest in mid-morning.

Who should use the car, and who should take the Metro

For a solo visitor staying near a Blue Line station, Metro is the straightforward choice, and it ends at the cemetery's front door. For families with elderly members, for anyone who needs to carry luggage from an airport, for a delegation that must move on to the next appointment, or for a day that links the cemetery with Mount Vernon, the Mall and a dinner reservation, the car saves hours. Larger parties can travel in a Luxury SUV for up to six, or an Executive Sprinter for 12 to 14, and the desk will advise which suits your numbers.

Seats for infants, toddlers and older children can be requested at booking, and most vehicles carry water and phone chargers for the ride. Tell the desk if any passenger uses a wheelchair, so the driver sets down at the right point on Memorial Avenue.