Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery
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Pay tribute to those who lost their lives fighting for their country in the best-known military cemetery in America.

For many, the most sobering experience of their Washington is gazing across the seemingly endless rows of small, white headstones, all marked with U.S. flags. Here, in the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery, the graves of veterans from America’s wars, past and present, are lined up in military precision.

Located directly across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial, the Arlington National Cemetery hosts around 30 funerals a day, five days a week. More than 400,000 service women and men are buried here in 70 different sections. A somber, peaceful atmosphere pervades the immaculately maintained 624-acre (252-hectare) grounds.

Unless you know exactly where you’re going, make the Visitor Center your first stop. Here you’ll find maps, guides, and have the chance to take one of the interpretive shuttle bus tours that run from the center to Arlington House, the highest point of the cemetery, which offers rewarding views across Washington. Nearby, you’ll find a monument dedicated to the unknown soldiers who died during the Civil War.

Take a moment to reflect at the cemetery’s other popular memorials. The gravesite of John Fitzgerald Kennedy — marked with an eternal flame — and his wife Jacqueline are two of the most visited graves. Other popular sites are the September 11 Memorials, the Lockerbie Cairn and the Pentagon Group Burial Marker, and Section 46, where the seven astronauts from the ill-fated space shuttle Challenger are memorialized.

Many American heroes who didn’t serve in the military are honored with a burial at Arlington, including heavyweight boxer Joe Louis, novelist Mary Roberts Rinehart and inventor George Westinghouse. Behind Arlington House you’ll find the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater, which hosts state funerals and Memorial Day Services.

The Arlington National Cemetery is open to visitors every day of the year.It is just over two miles (three kilometers) from downtown, over the Arlington Memorial Bridge. It is an easy trip by bus. Alternatively, you can walk across the bridge, which is immediately adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial. The cemetery grounds are extensive though, so some prefer to have a car to get around once there.

Plan a trip to see Arlington National Cemetery

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Reviews of Arlington National Cemetery

4.7
Top destination
5 - Excellent
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" "5 - Excellent 72.4770642201835%
4 - Good
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" "4 - Good 24.770642201834864%
3 - Okay
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" "3 - Okay 2.7522935779816513%
2 - Disappointing
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1 - Terrible
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5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
26 Jun 2019

Its a large place if the weather is hot so book a tour by trolley

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
21 Apr 2019

Ask for a map at the visitor's centre - we relied on our general tourist map of Washington, and it lacked the detail needed to find some key points of interest.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
7 Mar 2019

Accessible via the Metro, wear comfortable shoes!

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