Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Washington, DC and Virginia: Monticello, Mount Vernon and Shenandoah
7 days from Washington: four nights in the capital with the Capitol, Arlington and Mount Vernon, then two in Charlottesville for Monticello and Skyline Drive.
7 days · Round trip from Washington, DC · up to 12 guests
The Washington Monument and the National Mall, a short walk from our Washington hotel Photo: Kurt Kaiser, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_Monument_and_the_National_Mall.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Washington, DC
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
City and estate walking every day, about 5 to 9 km on pavements, gravel paths and the lawns of Mount Vernon and Monticello, with stairs at Metro stations and a steady climb at Arlington. The Shenandoah day has two short mountain walks of about 2 to 3 km each, with climbs of about 100 to 130 metres at elevations above 1,000 metres; an easy, level path and the overlooks are there for anyone who would rather not climb.
- Meals included
- 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 865 (estimated price)
- Season
- April to June and September to early November
Highlights
Why this trip
- A reserved tour of the US Capitol, then the Great Hall of the Library of Congress
- Arlington National Cemetery at its 8 am opening and the Changing of the Guard
- The memorials of the National Mall at dusk, from Lincoln to Jefferson across the Tidal Basin
- Mount Vernon at opening, with the mansion tour and the view from the piazza down the Potomac
- Old Town Alexandria on foot: Christ Church, Gadsby's Tavern and the waterfront
- Monticello and the University of Virginia's Academical Village, Jefferson's two UNESCO-listed works
- Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park, with easy walks to a waterfall and a summit view
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 865 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Washington
Reagan National (DCA), Dulles (IAD) or Union Station to your hotel downtown, then Lafayette Square on foot
- Dinner
- Stay in Washington, DC
- Drive about 45 min
Fly into Reagan National (DCA), about 20 minutes from downtown, or Dulles (IAD), about 45 minutes to an hour, or arrive by train at Union Station. The drive figures for today are the Dulles run; from Reagan National it is about 8 km. Our driver meets you and takes you to the hotel, a short walk from the National Mall, so most of the next three days start on foot. Plan to land by about 3 pm. At about 6 pm your See Sight Tours guide meets the group in the hotel for a short briefing: how the Metro works, what the security screening at the Capitol is like, and which timed tickets we hold for the week. Then we walk a few blocks to Lafayette Square for a first look at the north front of the White House, past St.
Evening
John's Church, where presidents have worshipped since James Madison, and on to a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. On the walk back the Washington Monument is lit against the night sky.
Included
- Pick-up at Reagan National (DCA), Dulles (IAD) or Union Station
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Evening walk to Lafayette Square and the White House
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
Activity: About 2 km on foot in the evening, on flat pavements.
Capitol Hill and the founding documents
Downtown by Metro to Capitol Hill, the US Capitol and the Library of Congress, then the National Archives
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Washington, DC
- By train
Morning
After breakfast we ride the Metro to Capitol Hill and pass through security at the Capitol Visitor Center, under the East Front, for the tour we reserved weeks ahead. A Capitol guide takes us into the Rotunda beneath the dome, the old Supreme Court chamber in the crypt and National Statuary Hall, where the House of Representatives met until 1857. A tunnel leads from the Capitol to the Library of Congress, where the Thomas Jefferson Building opens onto the marble Great Hall; from the gallery you look down into the domed Main Reading Room, and Jefferson's own book collection is on show nearby. Across the street stands the Supreme Court.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal on Capitol Hill. In the afternoon we walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to the National Archives, where the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights lie in the Rotunda under low light to protect the ink.
Evening
The rest of the afternoon and the evening are free.
Included
- US Capitol tour, reserved ahead: the Rotunda, the crypt and National Statuary Hall
- The Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, on timed passes
- The Supreme Court from outside
- Sit-down lunch on Capitol Hill
- The National Archives: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
Easier option: Take a taxi from Capitol Hill to the National Archives, or skip the Archives and rest at the hotel after lunch.
More active option: Walk on after the Archives to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery, free and open until 7 pm.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free
Activity: About 5 km on foot, mostly flat, with long periods standing on the tour. No food, drinks or liquids are allowed into the Capitol.
Arlington and the Mall at dusk
Washington by Metro to Arlington National Cemetery, back to the Smithsonian, then the National Mall memorials on foot
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Washington, DC
- By train
An early start: we leave the hotel at about 7:30 am and ride the Metro across the Potomac to Arlington National Cemetery as it opens at 8 am, ahead of the tour buses. Your guide walks you up between the rows of white headstones to the grave of President John F. Kennedy and its eternal flame, and on to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the Changing of the Guard. Arlington House, once Robert E. Lee's home, looks back over the river to the Lincoln Memorial.
Afternoon
After lunch in the city we hold timed passes for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, whose history galleries begin below ground with the transatlantic slave trade and climb floor by floor to the present; the National Air and Space Museum is the alternative. A break at the hotel follows. As the light goes we walk the memorials: World War II, the Reflecting Pool, Lincoln, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans, then Martin Luther King Jr. and the Jefferson Memorial across the Tidal Basin.
Included
- Metro to Arlington National Cemetery and back
- Arlington with your guide: the Kennedy graves, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Changing of the Guard, Arlington House
- Sit-down lunch
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture on timed passes, or the National Air and Space Museum
- The National Mall memorials at dusk with your guide: World War II, Lincoln, Korean War, Vietnam Veterans, Martin Luther King Jr. and Jefferson
Easier option: Ride Arlington's tram between the main sites (a small fare, paid on the day), and end the evening walk at the Lincoln Memorial with a taxi back to the hotel.
More active option: Walk the full Tidal Basin loop past the FDR Memorial, about 3 km more.
Free time: A break at the hotel in the late afternoon; dinner free after the memorials
Activity: The longest walking day: about 9 km, with Arlington's steady climb to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Arlington House in the morning, and flat gravel paths on the Mall in the evening.
Mount Vernon and Old Town Alexandria
Washington along the George Washington Memorial Parkway to Mount Vernon, then Old Town Alexandria and back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Washington, DC
- Drive about 1.5 h
We leave at about 8:30 am and drive south along the George Washington Memorial Parkway beside the Potomac, about 35 minutes, to be at Mount Vernon when the gates open at 9 am. Our timed tour takes us through the mansion George Washington enlarged over forty years, to the bedroom where he died in 1799, and out onto the long piazza that looks down the river. Then there is time to walk the gardens, the outbuildings where enslaved people cooked, spun and worked the estate, the tomb of George and Martha Washington and the memorial at the slave burial ground nearby. The museum and education center tells his story from surveyor to president.
Afternoon
After lunch we drive fifteen minutes north to Old Town Alexandria, where your guide walks the brick pavements to Christ Church and the pew Washington rented, past Gadsby's Tavern and Carlyle House, seen from outside, and down King Street to the waterfront.
Evening
We are back in Washington by about 5 pm; the evening is free.
Included
- Mount Vernon at opening: the mansion tour, the gardens, the outbuildings, Washington's tomb and the slave memorial
- The Mount Vernon museum and education center
- Sit-down lunch
- Old Town Alexandria walk with your guide: Christ Church, Gadsby's Tavern, Carlyle House, King Street and the waterfront
Optional experiences
- The water taxi from the Alexandria waterfront back to Washington's Wharf, when it is running (spring to autumn), in place of the van
Easier option: Stay with the van at the King Street end of Old Town and meet the group at the waterfront, or rest in a café there.
More active option: Walk the Mount Vernon trail down to the wharf and back along the river, about 2 km more.
Free time: Evening free
Activity: About 6 km on foot on gravel paths, lawns and brick pavements, with a gentle slope from the mansion down to the tomb and wharf.
Monticello and Charlottesville
Washington by road to Monticello, then Charlottesville and the University of Virginia
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Charlottesville
- Drive about 2.5 h
Morning
We check out after breakfast and drive southwest out of Washington through the Virginia Piedmont, about two and a half hours with a coffee stop, with the Blue Ridge appearing on the horizon as we near Charlottesville. Monticello sits on its own hilltop above the town. Our timed tour goes through the house Thomas Jefferson designed and rebuilt over forty years, with his inventions, his library and the dome room, then out to the gardens and Mulberry Row, where the people enslaved at Monticello lived and worked, among them Sally Hemings and her family. We visit Jefferson's grave on the way down.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal near the mountain. In the afternoon we walk the Academical Village of the University of Virginia, which Jefferson also designed: the Rotunda, the Lawn with its pavilions and student rooms, and the gardens behind them. Monticello and the university together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Evening
The evening is free on the Downtown Mall, a brick pedestrian street of restaurants.
Included
- Monticello: the house tour, the gardens, Mulberry Row and Jefferson's grave
- Sit-down lunch near Monticello
- The University of Virginia's Academical Village with your guide: the Rotunda, the Lawn and the pavilion gardens
Easier option: Take the shuttle bus between the Monticello visitor center and the house instead of walking the hillside paths.
More active option: Walk down from Monticello on the Saunders-Monticello Trail through the woods to the visitor center, about 3 km.
Free time: Evening free on the Downtown Mall
Activity: About 5 km on foot on gravel paths and lawns, with slopes on the Monticello hilltop; about 2.5 hours in the van.
Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive
Charlottesville by road to the Swift Run Gap entrance, north on Skyline Drive to Big Meadows and Skyland, and back
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Charlottesville
- Drive about 3.5 h
We leave at about 8:30 am and drive northwest into the Blue Ridge, about fifty minutes, entering Shenandoah National Park at Swift Run Gap. Skyline Drive runs along the crest of the mountains with a limit of 35 mph, and we stop at the overlooks as we go, with the Shenandoah Valley spread out to the west; in mid to late October the ridges turn red, orange and gold. At Big Meadows, a wide open meadow where deer graze, the first walk drops through the woods to Dark Hollow Falls, about 2.3 km there and back with a steady climb on the return.
Afternoon
Lunch is in the park. In the afternoon we drive a few miles on to Skyland and walk the Stony Man trail, about 2.6 km there and back, to a rocky summit over 1,200 metres high with one of the widest views in the park.
Evening
We drive back along the ridge and down to Charlottesville by about 5:30 pm for the farewell dinner.
Included
- Shenandoah National Park entry
- Skyline Drive from Swift Run Gap to Skyland, with stops at the overlooks
- Dark Hollow Falls walk with your guide
- Lunch in the park
- Stony Man summit walk with your guide
- Farewell dinner in Charlottesville
Easier option: Walk the Limberlost Trail, a level, accessible loop of about 2 km through old hemlock and oak woods, in place of either walk, or stay at the overlooks and the Big Meadows visitor center.
More active option: Add the climb to Hawksbill, the highest summit in the park at about 1,235 metres, on a loop of about 4.5 km in place of Stony Man.
Free time: A short free time at the hotel before the farewell dinner
Activity: About 3.5 hours in the van over the day, broken up by the walks and the overlooks. Two walks of about 2.3 and 2.6 km, each with a climb of about 100 to 130 metres on rocky paths. Shoes with grip and a warm layer: the ridge is cooler than Charlottesville.
Back to Washington and home
Charlottesville by road to Dulles (IAD) or Reagan National (DCA), or to Charlottesville's airport (CHO) or Amtrak station
- Breakfast
- Drive about 2.5 h
Morning
A last breakfast in Charlottesville, then we leave at about 9 am for the drive back through the Virginia Piedmont to Washington: about two hours to Dulles (IAD) or two and a quarter to Reagan National (DCA), so you are at the airport by about 11 am to 11:30 am. Book a flight from Dulles after about 2:30 pm or from Reagan National after about 3 pm so there is no rush. If you are flying on from Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO), about 15 minutes from the hotel, or taking the Amtrak train from Charlottesville station, we drop you there instead. If you are staying on in Washington, we can take you to a hotel downtown. Your guide rides with the group and checks everyone's onward plans before saying goodbye. With an early flight from Charlottesville, ask us and we take you to the airport at whatever time suits you.
Included
- Drop-off at Dulles (IAD), Reagan National (DCA), Charlottesville Albemarle Airport (CHO) or Charlottesville's Amtrak station
Activity: Book a flight from IAD after about 2:30 pm or from DCA after about 3 pm. Road time is about 2 hours to IAD and 2.25 hours to DCA.
- Washington, DC4 nights
- Charlottesville2 nights
- Washington, DCend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Spring and autumn bring mild days for walking; July and August are hot and humid in Washington, so the longest walks move to the morning. Autumn colour on Skyline Drive usually peaks in mid to late October, and October weekends bring long queues at the park entrances, which is why we drive it on a weekday. Fog can close in on the ridge at any time of year; white-tailed deer are common at Big Meadows, and black bears live in the park.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- First-time visitors to Washington who want the Capitol, Arlington and the Mall done well, with Virginia added
- American history from the founders to civil rights, including the history of slavery at Mount Vernon and Monticello
- Travellers who want one autumn day in the Blue Ridge without a hiking trip
- Those who prefer two bases to a new hotel every night
Not for you if you want
- Travellers who need step-free access everywhere: Metro stations, Arlington and the mountain trails have stairs and climbs
- New York, Philadelphia or Colonial Williamsburg on the same trip
- Serious hikers: the Shenandoah walks are short
- A beach or resort holiday
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
6 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Washington, DC4 nights
- Charlottesville2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 6 nights in central hotels of at least 3-star-plus standard: 4 in downtown Washington near the National Mall, 2 in Charlottesville near the Downtown Mall
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
- We name each hotel when we confirm your dates
Transport
- Pick-up at Reagan National, Dulles or Union Station on day 1, and drop-off at Dulles, Reagan National, Charlottesville airport or Charlottesville station on day 7
- Our own van and driver for Mount Vernon and Alexandria, the drive to Charlottesville, the Shenandoah day and the return
- Metro fares on touring days in Washington
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group for the whole trip
- The Capitol guide's tour of the US Capitol, and the house guides at Mount Vernon and Monticello
Activities
- Washington: the US Capitol tour, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, Lafayette Square, the National Mall memorials at dusk, the National Museum of African American History and Culture on timed passes
- Arlington: Arlington National Cemetery, the Changing of the Guard and Arlington House
- Mount Vernon: the mansion tour, gardens, Washington's tomb and the museum
- Alexandria: an Old Town walk with Christ Church, Gadsby's Tavern and Carlyle House from outside
- Charlottesville: Monticello's house tour and Mulberry Row, the University of Virginia's Academical Village
- Shenandoah National Park: park entry, Skyline Drive, and the Dark Hollow Falls and Stony Man walks
Meals
- 6 breakfasts
- 5 sit-down lunches, days 2 to 6, including lunch in Shenandoah National Park
- 2 dinners: a welcome dinner in Washington and a farewell dinner in Charlottesville
Not included
- International flights to and from Washington
- Travel insurance
- An ESTA or US visa where your nationality needs one
- Lunch on days 1 and 7, and dinners on days 2 to 5
- Drinks
- Tips for your guide and driver
- The Alexandria water taxi and other optional activities in your free time
- Entry to museums in Gadsby's Tavern and Carlyle House
- Personal spending
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 865 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Six nights in central hotels, 6 breakfasts, 5 sit-down lunches and 2 dinners, airport pick-up and drop-off, our own van and driver outside Washington, Metro fares, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, and every entry in the day plan: the Capitol tour, the Library of Congress, the National Archives, Arlington, the Smithsonian timed passes, Mount Vernon, Monticello and Shenandoah National Park.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests. That keeps the group quick through the security lines at the Capitol and the Smithsonian, able to sit at one table for lunch, and small enough for one van on Skyline Drive and the narrow lanes of Old Town Alexandria.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from the welcome dinner in Washington to the drive back on day 7. Capitol guides lead the tour inside the US Capitol, and the estate's own guides lead the house tours at Mount Vernon and Monticello, with your guide alongside.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderate. Expect 5 to 9 km of walking a day on pavements, gravel paths and lawns, with Metro stairs and a climb at Arlington. In Shenandoah the two walks are short but climb 100 to 130 metres on rocky paths. Each demanding day has an easier option, such as a level trail, a tram or a taxi.
I am travelling solo. Is there a single supplement?
Yes, a room of your own is from CAD 865 more, because hotel rooms in Washington and Charlottesville are priced per room. Pay the supplement and the room is guaranteed yours alone. You are never charged more for anything else, and solo guests sit with the group at every included meal.
When is the best time to see the autumn colour in Shenandoah?
Usually mid to late October, though the timing shifts with the weather each year and the higher ridges turn first. We run October departures mid-week so the Skyline Drive day falls on a weekday, when the queues at the park entrances and overlooks are shorter than on October weekends.
When is the best time to go?
April to June and September to early November bring mild weather for walking. October adds autumn colour in the Blue Ridge. July and August are hot and humid in Washington, so the longest walks move to the morning. The cherry blossom weeks in early spring are crowded and hotels are dear.
How does booking work?
The small group starts from CAD 5,090 per person sharing a room, taxes included. Pick a start date and request to book; we confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken until then. We then reserve your Capitol tour and timed tickets and send hotel names and the day plan.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip runs as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide and vehicle. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we can quote the hotels, transfers and tickets.
Do I need a visa for the United States?
Canadian citizens need only a valid passport for a visit like this. Most other visitors need an ESTA or a US visa before they fly, so check your own rules early. We ask for your passport name when you book because the Capitol tour reservation carries it.
Can we go inside the White House?
Not on this trip. Public White House tours must be requested through a member of Congress for US citizens, or through your own embassy for other visitors, months ahead and with no guarantee. We see the north front from Lafayette Square and take you inside the Capitol instead.
How is this different from your East Coast trip?
Our New York, Philadelphia and Washington trip covers three cities by train, with two nights in Washington. This one stays in Washington for four nights, adds the Capitol tour and Mount Vernon, then goes into Virginia for Monticello and Shenandoah. They run well back to back if you start in New York.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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