Private Washington DC City Tour: Cadillac or Mercedes with Historian

Walk past the White House, then choose which memorials matter most to you.

You get a private 4-hour tour of Washington DC in a luxury vehicle with a historian guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, complimentary water, and the freedom to adjust stops and timing as you go. The guide arrives with advance notice, covers the major monuments and museums, and can work around Arlington's 5 PM closing time. Best for families and groups who want the main sights without arranging transport, tickets, or timing themselves.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each21 stops

1. The White House15m
2. St. John’s Church5m
3. United States Treasury Buildingpassing by
4. Old Post Office Pavilionpassing by
5. FBI Headquarterspassing by
6. National Archives Museumpassing by
7. National Gallery of Artpassing by
8. U.S. Capitol15m
9. National Museum of the American Indianpassing by
10. National Air and Space Museumpassing by
11. The Smithsonianpassing by
12. Washington Monumentpassing by
13. National World War II MemorialEntry included20m
14. Martin Luther King, Jr. MemorialEntry included20m
15. Korean War Veterans MemorialEntry included20m
16. Lincoln MemorialEntry included25m
17. Vietnam Veterans MemorialEntry included25m
18. US Marine Corps War MemorialEntry included10m
19. U.S. Air Force Memorialpassing by
20. National 9/11 Pentagon Memorialpassing by
21. Thomas Jefferson Memorialpassing by

Washington DC landmarks and memorials

• Start at St. John's Church
• Walk Black Lives Matter Plaza
• View White House from Lafayette Square
• Visit Andrew Jackson Memorial
• Pass by Treasury Building
• Pass by Old Post Office Pavilion
• Pass by FBI Headquarters
• Pass by National Archives Museum
• Pass by National Gallery of Art
• Stop for panoramic photos at U.S. Capitol
• Pass by National Museum of the American Indian
• Pass by National Air and Space Museum
• Pass by Smithsonian Institution Building
• Drive by Washington Monument
• Walk around World War II Memorial
• Visit National World War II Memorial
• Visit Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
• Visit Korean War Veterans Memorial
• Visit Lincoln Memorial
• Visit Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• Visit Arlington National Cemetery and Kennedy's Grave
• Visit US Marine Corps War Memorial
• Pass by U.S. Air Force Memorial
• Pass by National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
• Pass by Thomas Jefferson Memorial

The experience

Your guide texts 30 to 60 minutes before arrival with their name and vehicle description: a Cadillac Escalade ESV or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van pulls up at your hotel, and the tour begins the moment you step in. St. John's Church sits directly across from the White House on Lafayette Square, and you'll walk the Black Lives Matter Plaza route to the front gates, then move through the Treasury Building and Old Post Office on Pennsylvania Avenue. The historian driving knows the stories behind each stop and adjusts the pace if you want to linger at any point.

The National Mall unfolds in sequence: you'll see the Capitol from the panoramic overlook, pass the Smithsonian museums (Air and Space, American Indian), and reach the Washington Monument with the option to step out and walk around the World War II Memorial if you request it at the start. The Lincoln Memorial comes next, and if cherry blossom season is in full bloom, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin is the kind of stop that justifies the whole trip. The guide takes you directly to the closest entrance so you're not wandering the grounds trying to find the right way in.

Arlington National Cemetery closes at 5 PM, so morning and afternoon departures include Kennedy's Grave and the option to time the Changing of the Guard ceremony if you plan ahead. Tours starting at or after 5 PM run three hours instead of four, since the cemetery will be locked: still worth doing if that's your window. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Marine Corps War Memorial are all on the route, along with the Air Force Memorial and the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial if your interests lean that way. The vehicle stays ice-cold, water is complimentary, and booster seats are available if you're traveling with small children.

You can customize almost everything: slow down at one stop, skip another, add the National Archives to see the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, or spend extra time at the National Gallery of Art. The tour operator picks up from any hotel in the National Mall, Downtown DC, or Arlington area. Just confirm your location at checkout so they know where to find you. The whole thing is built around your family's pace, not a fixed schedule that rushes you through.

What’s included

• Your day includes complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off from select DC and Arlington locations, a 4-hour private tour in a luxury Cadillac Escalade ESV or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, a licensed professional historian guide, complimentary bottled water, and air conditioning throughout.
• The itinerary covers the White House, St.
• John's Church, Treasury Building, Old Post Office, FBI Headquarters, National Archives, National Gallery of Art, U.S.
• Capitol, Smithsonian museums, Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr.
• Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery with Kennedy's Grave, Marine Corps War Memorial, Air Force Memorial, and the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial.
• You can customize stops, timing, and pacing to suit your interests.
• Multiple languages are available (English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese) with advance notice.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private Cadillac Tour, CustomizedUp to 5 per booking · Guide in 4 languages · 8 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 19:00Children and infants: Travelers of all ages are welcome; please count all children as passengers at checkout so we can assign a vehicle. Duration: 4 hours. Bottled spring water is available. Comfortable luxury Cadillac Escalade ESV SUVs are available for private city tours for up to 5 people. Phone number: Tour guides will contact you on the day of travel at the number you provide at checkout; a cell phone number is recommended. Pickup is included.

Private Sprinter Tour, CustomizedUp to 14 per booking · Guide in 4 languages · 8 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 19:00The large Mercedes-Benz Sprinter seats up to 14 people and has extra roof height and clearance for tall families and gear. Children and infants: Travelers of all ages are welcome; please count all children as passengers at checkout so we can assign a vehicle. Private tour: Every private tour can be customized to change the stops and time spent at the memorials to suit your family. Duration: 4 hours. Bottled water is available at the back; just ask your driver. The black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a spacious 14-passenger van with plenty of cargo room at the back for a liftable wheelchair or stroller. Phone number: Tour guides will contact you on the day of travel at the number you provide at checkout; a cell phone number is recommended. Pickup is included.

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

Information

Lasts 4h, runs every day, 8 start times, from US$ 550 per group, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 13:30, 14:00, 18:00, 18:30 and 19:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Turkish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to1h before

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Continental City Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Washington DC landmarks in one private tour without arranging your own transport, timing multiple stops, or navigating crowds: the historian guide and flexible itinerary let you focus on what matters to your group, and the morning or afternoon start time is what makes Arlington Cemetery possible in the same day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Turkish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What if I want to visit Arlington Cemetery but my tour starts after 5 PM?

Tours starting at or after 5 PM run 3 hours instead of 4, since Arlington closes daily at 5 PM. You can still do the tour and visit other monuments, or choose a morning or afternoon start time to include Arlington.

Can I change the itinerary on the day of the tour?

Yes. You can slow down at any stop, skip attractions, or add others like the National Archives or National Gallery of Art. Let your guide know at the beginning of the tour.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, complimentary pickup and drop-off from select hotels in the National Mall, Downtown DC, or Arlington area. Confirm your location at checkout.

Are children allowed, and do I need a car seat?

Yes, all ages welcome. Booster seats are available: include all children in your passenger count at checkout. Strollers and collapsible wheelchairs that can be lifted are also accommodated.

How will the guide contact me on the day of the tour?

The guide will text you 30 to 60 minutes before your scheduled time with their name and vehicle description, using the phone number you provide at checkout. Be ready to meet them at least 5 minutes early.

What if my hotel is outside the pickup area?

The tour operator serves the National Mall, Downtown DC, and Arlington, VA. If your location is outside this radius, contact them immediately to confirm whether they can accommodate you.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Collapsible wheelchairs that can be lifted are accommodated in the vehicle. There are no ramps or lifts in the vehicles themselves. Many of the outdoor monuments are accessible on foot.