Mount Vernon: Washington's Estate, Gardens & Distillery

Walk Through 18th-Century Gardens Where Washington Lived

You get self-guided access to George Washington's 18th-century gardens, the family tomb, a working distillery and gristmill (weekends, April–October), and an interactive museum. The Grounds Pass skips the ticket line and lets you move through the estate at your own pace. Mansion tours cost extra and sell out early on weekends.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour Mount Vernon estate and grounds

• Visit George Washington's estate
• Explore 18th-century gardens and grounds
• See Washington family tombs
• Visit interactive museum and education center
• Obtain free Mansion tour ticket if desired
• Tour Mansion if ticket available
• Visit gristmill re-creation
• See functioning distillery and rye whiskey production

The experience

So you're standing at the ticket office and someone's already asking if the mansion tour sells out. Yeah, it does, especially weekends, but here's the thing: the grounds themselves are where you actually spend the time. The Grounds Pass gets you into the gardens, the tomb where George and Martha Washington are buried, the working distillery where they still make his rye whiskey using the original mash bill, and a recreation of his gristmill with that patented Oliver Evans system. You're walking through actual 18th-century landscape design, not reading about it behind velvet rope.

The distillery and gristmill operate weekends from April through October, so if you're going in winter or a weekday, you'll see the buildings but they won't be running, worth knowing upfront. The museum and education center are open year-round, though, and they're interactive enough that you're not just staring at artifacts. There are heritage-breed animals around the grounds too, the kind Washington actually kept, so it's not sterile. You move at your own pace, which sounds obvious but matters when you've got kids or when you just want to sit on a bench for twenty minutes and not feel rushed.

Mount Vernon is south of Washington DC proper, accessible by public transportation if you don't have a car, and the whole site is wheelchair accessible: paths are paved, there are accessible restrooms, and you can rent a mobility device if you need one. Strollers work fine for small children. The weather doesn't close it down, so rain or shine you're going, just dress for it. If you do want the Mansion Tour on top of the Grounds Pass, that's a separate $2 ticket purchased in advance online, and yes, those do sell out early.

What’s included

• Your admission includes self-guided access to the 18th-century gardens and grounds, the family tomb, the interactive museum and education center, and the distillery and gristmill (weekends, April through October).
• You skip the ticket office line.
• Mansion Tour tickets are sold separately for $2 if purchased in advance online.
• Strollers and mobility devices are available, and the entire site is wheelchair accessible.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (12 to 64 years) · Youth (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by George Washington's Mount Vernon

Is this one for you?Right for anyone wanting to see Washington's estate without a guided group or a tight schedule. The self-guided format means you linger where you want and skip what doesn't interest you. The distillery and gristmill only run weekends April–October, so plan accordingly if those are must-sees.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

Do I need to buy a separate ticket for the Mansion Tour?

Yes. The Grounds Pass does not include the Mansion Tour. If you want it, purchase a $2 Mansion Tour ticket in advance online. They sell out early, especially on weekends.

When is the distillery and gristmill open?

Weekends, April through October. Outside those dates, you can see the buildings but they won't be operating.

Is Mount Vernon wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Paths are paved, accessible restrooms are available, and mobility devices can be rented on-site.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a stroller or pram throughout the grounds.

How do I get to Mount Vernon from Washington DC?

Public transportation options are available nearby. The site is south of central DC.

Does Mount Vernon close for bad weather?

No. It operates in all weather. Dress appropriately for rain or cold.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes. Service animals are permitted throughout the estate.

What's included in the Grounds Pass?

Gardens, the Washington family tomb, the distillery and gristmill (weekends, April–October), heritage-breed animals, and the interactive museum and education center.