Free and Frugal Things to Do Around Washington D.C.

Next time you visit the nation’s capital, these free and frugal things to do around Washington D.C. are sure to keep your entire family happy.  From visiting national monuments to taking hikes and walks through parks, there are tons of great family friendly activities for everyone.  Washington D.C. is a truly unique city offering a variety of activities for any family to enjoy.

Free And Frugal Things To Do Around Washington D.C.

Visit the White House

Just walking in front of and taking pictures outside the gate is free.  If you plan in advance and request a tour, you can enter and tour the mansion with a possibility of seeing White House staff in action.  If in the area, there is no better place to start your visit than by heading to the home of our nation’s leader.  Find out more about requesting tickets to tour the White House here.  You have to request tickets extremely early, so plan accordingly.

Rock Creek Park Planetarium

View the stars in one of the nation’s best planetariums in the capital city for free.  You can find out more about visiting the Rock Creek Park Planetarium here.

Visit The National Mall

There are many free tours available, or you can simply walk around on your own and explore for free.  The National Mall has been one of the focal points of many movies, rallies, and events and is a great monument to our nation’s history.  You can find out more about visiting the National Mall and Memorial Parks here.

Take a tour of the Bureau of Engraving & Printing

Spend a few hours learning how money is made.  Watch the process, learn about counterfeit money, and the measures taken to protect our nation’s currency.  Tickets are free, but you do need a ticket.  You can find out more information about visiting the Bureau of Engraving & Printing here.

Visit the National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History is part of the Smithsonian Institute museum network.  I haven’t been there in years, but I remember hopping from museum to museum when I was on a college trip to the D.C. area.  We only had one day there, so we had to make it count.  Admission to the Smithsonian is free, but there are additional activities that do cost.  Heading that direction, the Smithsonian has an app.

Visit the National Archives

Everyone wants to see the original artifacts around our nation’s history, and this is the place to go.  See the Declaration of Independence (through a protected glass enclosure) and imagine what you would have done had you been there for the day it was signed.  You can find out more about visiting the National Archives here.

Visit Arlington National Cemetery

Visit the largest memorial cemetery to fallen soldier, and visit the Tomb of the Unknowns.  The changing of the guard here is an amazing thing to witness and gives you new respect for our military.  There is a trolley tour available, for a fee.  You can find out more about the tour here.

Enjoy a free performance every night at the Kennedy Center

The Millennial Stage offers a nightly free performance at 6pm.  This can be opera, orchestra, poetry, and more.  Check the current schedule of events for the next fun free performance.

Visit the Phillips Museum

Located in Dupont Circle, this is the first museum of modern art in our country.  It is a great place to check out amazing artists and cultural pieces.  There is a charge for this museum, and you can find out more about visiting the museum at here.

Visit the National Zoo

One of our favorite things to do when we travel is to visit the zoo.  The National Zoo is free and open 364 days every year.

This list of free and frugal things to do around Washington D.C. is a great beginning for a wonderful time in the most famous of our nation’s cities.  Rub shoulders with White House staff, senators, and our nation’s representatives at local restaurants, or learn a bit of history in the making.