DC & Philadelphia Day Trip from NYC: White House, Liberty Bell & Rocky Steps

Two Capitals in One Day: DC to Philadelphia with a Guide Who Knows Both

You travel by coach from New York City to Washington DC and Philadelphia with a bilingual guide who narrates the route. You walk through Independence National Historical Park and see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, stop at major DC monuments including the Lincoln Memorial and White House, and finish at the Rocky Steps. The full day (both cities, all transport, and the guide) is included. You return to New York by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. The Pentagonpassing by
2. Arlington National Cemeterypassing by
3. Korean War Veterans Memorialpassing by
4. Vietnam Veterans Memorialpassing by
5. Lincoln Memorialpassing by
6. Washington Monumentpassing by
7. US Marine Corps War Memorial5m
8. The White House20m
9. National Air and Space Museumpassing by
10. U.S. Capitolpassing by
11. Independence National Historical Park30m
12. Philadelphia Old City Hallpassing by
13. Rocky Statue30m

Visit Washington DC and Philadelphia highlights

• Travel by bus from NYC to Washington DC
• Pass by The Pentagon
• Pass by Arlington National Cemetery
• Pass by Korean War Veterans Memorial
• Pass by Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• Pass by Lincoln Memorial
• Pass by Washington Monument
• Visit Iwo Jima Memorial
• Visit outside of The White House
• Pass by J. Edgar Hoover Building
• Pass by National Air and Space Museum
• Pass by U.S. Capitol
• Travel to Philadelphia
• Walk tour at Independence National Historical Park
• See Liberty Bell and Independence Hall
• Pass by Philadelphia Old City Hall
• Visit Rocky Steps at Philadelphia Museum of Art

The experience

The bus was supposed to leave at 7 a.m., but we didn't pull out until 7:15. Someone's phone died and they had to call their hotel for a charger. By the time we hit the highway, the guide was already pointing out Arlington Cemetery from the window, and you realize pretty fast that this isn't a slow meander. It's a full day compressed into one route: Washington DC first, then Philadelphia, then back to New York by evening. The bilingual guide (English and Spanish) keeps the pace moving, stopping at the Pentagon as you pass, then Arlington, then the Korean War Veterans Memorial with its 19 stainless steel statues. You're not getting out at every stop (some are drive-bys), but that's how they fit both cities in.

Washington DC takes up the first half. You stop to walk around the Lincoln Memorial, see the Washington Monument from a distance, and stand in front of the White House for photos. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Iwo Jima Memorial are on the route, and the guide explains what you're looking at as you move between them. The National Air and Space Museum passes by the window. The U.S. Capitol comes into view. It's a lot of ground, and the guide is doing the work of making sense of it, which building is which, why it matters, what happened there. You're not going inside most of these. You're seeing them, learning about them, and moving on. That's the trade-off that makes a two-city day possible.

Then it's Philadelphia. The bus pulls into Independence National Historical Park, and this time you get out and walk. The guide leads you through the park to the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall: the actual building where the Declaration of Independence was debated and signed. The Liberty Bell itself is smaller than most people expect, but the inscription is there: "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof." Old City Hall is nearby, and the guide points out it served as City Hall until 1854. The last stop is the Rocky Steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and yes, people do run up them like in the movie. You get free time here to do it yourself or just stand at the bottom and take the photo.

The round-trip coach transfer from New York means you don't drive yourself or navigate two cities. The guide handles the talking. You handle the walking and the looking. Bring your own food for the free time in Washington. There's a window to eat, but it's not a long one. The bus gets you back to New York in the evening, which means you leave early and return late, but both cities fit into a single day without flying or renting a car.

What’s included

• Your day includes round-trip coach transfer from New York City, a bilingual guide (English and Spanish) for the full day, stops at major landmarks in Washington DC including the Lincoln Memorial, White House, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, and U.S. Capitol, a walking tour of Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia with entry to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, and time at the Rocky Steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Food is not included.
• bring your own for the free time in Washington.

Options for this experience

3 options

Washington DC and PhiladelphiaGuide in English or Spanish · 05:00Historic highlights tour without audio guide: spend one day seeing the top landmarks of Washington D.C. and Philadelphia on a guided tour of their most famous sights.

Private TourGuide in English or Spanish · Available from 16 Nov · 5 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 07:00Private tour with pickup and drop-off at your hotel, available if you are staying in the city center.

With AudioguideGuide in English or Spanish · 05:00Includes use of an audio guide throughout your visit to both cities. Headphones are recommended, as noted on your voucher.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 07:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 54

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

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

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

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Amigo Tours USA

Is this one for you?This tour works well if you want to see both Washington DC and Philadelphia in a single day without arranging your own transport, navigating between cities, or figuring out which landmarks matter most: the guide and the fixed schedule handle all of that. The early start and late return are what make both capitals fit into one trip.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

Do you go inside the White House or the Capitol?

No. You stop for an outside view of the White House and pass by the Capitol. The walking tour is in Philadelphia at Independence National Historical Park, where you see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

Is lunch included?

No. The tour recommends bringing your own food to enjoy during free time in Washington DC.

Can you do this tour if you're not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Most of the day is spent on the bus or walking at a normal pace through the parks and streets.

Do you have free time in Philadelphia?

Yes. You have free time at the Rocky Steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art at the end of the Philadelphia portion of the tour.