Ready to ditch the hustle of the Big Apple for some historic vibes in the nation’s capital? Get ready to hop on a budget-friendly ride from NYC to Washington, DC, for one of the best day trips or overnight trips you can possibly take from New York City. We’re talking about a sweet day trip or an overnight adventure that won’t break the bank. Washington, DC, has a lot of things to do, and the awesome part is that most of them are totally free! From major attractions and rich history to world-class museums, let’s plot out your ultimate budget-friendly escapade from NYC to DC. I did this trip independently, but if you want the convenience, you can book a Washington, DC day tour trip from NYC, where all of the logistics will be taken care of for you. A full-day tour will take you on a whirlwind of the top attractions in DC.
Day 1: Exploring Capitol Hill and Beyond
7:00 a.m.: Depart from NYC on the bus to Washington, DC. I booked my tickets with Megabus for only $14.99 to DC for a departure time of 7 a.m. Another popular choice is to book with Flixbus. These 2 transportation options offer the best value; alternatively, you can book with Amtrak, which is probably the fastest way by land, but that’s a more expensive option, especially if you wait to book your tickets at the at the last minute like I did. The bus departure point was in midtown Manhattan at 34th Street and 11th Avenue, scheduled for 7:00 a.m. I live on Long Island, meaning I had a very early morning. I left my house at around 5:30 a.m. and boarded the LIRR to Penn Station. From Penn Station, the Megabus stop was only about a 12-minute walk.
11:30 a.m.: You should arrive at Union Station right around 11:30 a.m. Kick off your Washington, DC, tour with a bite to eat at one of the many shops at Union Station for a quick meal. I got something to eat at Raising Cane’s; it was my first time actually trying this fast food chain.
12:00 p.m.: The first stop will be the US Capitol. Take a 15-minute walk to Capitol Hill and follow signs for the Visitor’s Center. You will have to go through security before you enter the building. Entry is free, and although reservations are recommended, it’s not necessary. When I visited, I did not make a reservation, and thankfully, there was no line. Depending on whether it’s open when you’re visiting, you may want to make a reservation for 12:20 p.m. The tours begin every 10 minutes and are led by professional tour guides. Since the tours start every 10 minutes, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t make it exactly on time. Keep in mind that Capitol Hill is closed on Sundays and holidays, so be sure to check the website for availability. If it’s closed, you can still go and admire the exterior architecture, which alone is impressive, before heading to the next stop. This itinerary assumes it’s open, but if it’s not, no worries; I will cover that later on.
2:00 pm: Leave Capitol Hill and take a 10-minute walk to the U.S. Botanic Garden. Along the way, you’ll pass by the President James Garfield Memorial. Spend 45 minutes to an hour exploring the garden, which features several exhibits with different climates and over 40,000 plants. This was my favorite part of the entire trip, and it was such a great option to experience different ecosystems all in one place.
3:10 pm: Depart from the Botanic Garden and take a 20-minute stroll to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, or choose another Smithsonian museum of your preference, like the Air and Space Museum. Enjoy beautiful views of the Capitol Building and Washington Monument along the way. Grab a quick bite to eat from one of the several food trucks near the reflecting pool.
4:00 p.m.: Arrive at the museum and explore the exhibits. If you went inside Capitol Hill and did a tour, you may only have time to see one exhibit in the museums. They’re huge, so you could easily spend half a day there. Entry to all of the Smithsonian museums is free, of course, and does not require a reservation. Some of the most popular Smithsonian museums are the National Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the American History Museum. I chose to go to the natural history museum and simply walked in. If you only did an outside visit to Capitol Hill, you could spend a lot more time exploring the impressive exhibits.
5:00 pm: After exploring the museum, grab some ice cream to refresh from one of the ice cream trucks and make your way back to Union Station. Take an Uber to Union Station, which is only a 5-minute drive away.
5:20 p.m.: That’s a wrap from your Washington, D.C., day trip. If you depart from Union Station on the bus back to NYC, you can expect to arrive back in NYC at 10:00 p.m. Note: If you’re more interested in seeing the White House, you can swap out the day 1 plans for day 2.
If you’re staying overnight in Washington, DC, it’s time to head to your hotel and recharge for another awesome day of exploring. Make sure you pack very light because, obviously, you would have been walking around with all of your stuff until now. I packed a shoulder bag and brought a change of clothes, pajamas, and toiletries. I hopped in an Uber and made my way to the Washington District Hotel. You can also take public transportation, but I was feeling lazy after a long day of exploring and walking. The Washington District Hotel is the real deal when it comes to budget-friendly accommodations. The room was comfy, the place was clean, and it’s super convenient for checking out all the sights and sounds of the city. After checking in, I got Uber eats since I was a little tired from walking around all day and was planning on going out later.
8:00 pm: Now, if you’re itching for some evening fun, here’s a hot tip: check out Eventbrite for cool events happening around town. On Eventbrite, you can find all types of cool events, like even free parties with open bars! DC really knows how to keep the good times rolling without breaking the bank. I found a free comedy show at Metro Bar on Eventbrite; it was so fun! The best part? You don’t even have to buy drinks to enjoy the laughs. If you want to do something fancy, Broadway shows are another fun way to spend a night out in DC, but that’s not free, of course! If you’re tired from exploring all day, take this free time to just rest and get ready to explore tomorrow.
Day 2: White House to Washington Monument
9:00 a.m.: Start your day with breakfast at Lincoln’s Waffle Shop. This is a casual and affordable spot that has breakfast and brunch options and is especially known for their waffles. It’s a popular spot among locals and tourists alike for a hearty morning meal. On your way to breakfast, make a pit stop at the Cathedral of St. Matthew to quickly glance at the beautiful, ornate interior and take in the serene atmosphere.
11:00 a.m.: After breakfast, take a 25-minute walk to the white house! You can also take the scooters, which are easy to set up with the apps and are such a fun way to get around. There are several scooter companies you can try, like Bird, Lime, Spin, Skip, Lyft, and Jump by Uber. You can usually just find scooters lying around that you can just pick up to scoot around town.
11:30 am: Arrive at the White House and admire the iconic symbol of American democracy from the outside. A public white White House tour requires advance reservations or special arrangements and is not typically available for casual visitors. So if you want to visit, make sure you schedule that well in advance by visiting this website.
12:00 p.m.: Take a 15-minute walk to the Washington Monument. On the walk there, you’ll walk by Pershin Park Memorial Plaza. The Washington Monument is right in the middle of the National Mall, sandwiched between the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. At the Washington Monument, you can enjoy the panoramic views of the city from the top, but you’ll need tickets for this. You can either reserve them online ahead of time or pay a booking fee of $1 per ticket. Alternatively, you can swing by the Washington Monument Lodge on 15th Street to snag some free same-day tickets. But hey, word to the wise, these babies go fast, so I highly recommend making your reservation online ahead of time. Once you’re up on that observation deck, you’re in for killer panoramic views in every direction! You’ll spot all the big hitters, from the U.S. Capitol to the White House. You can even catch a glimpse of Arlington National Cemetery, some of the national monuments, and the Washington National Cathedral.
1:30 pm: Head back to Union Station, which is a 30-minute walk, 15 minutes by bus, and about 10 minutes by car. D.C. is full of international restaurants, making it the perfect spot for foodies to explore different cuisines. If your bus or train is departing at around 5 p.m. or later, check out the Swahili Village restaurant for some authentic East African food or any other restaurant that interests you. I loved trying the East African food, although the food was a bit on the pricier side. If your bus is departing earlier than 5 p.m., head straight to Union Station from the Washington Monument and grab a quick bite from one of the multiple fast food spots while you wait for your bus or train to depart. Consider grabbing some snacks or food for the journey back. If you have time to spare before your bus departs, check out the U.S. Postal Museum, which is directly next to Union Station and free, of course!
7–10:00 p.m.: Depending on when you choose to depart from D.C., you can expect to arrive back in NYC between 7 and 9:30 p.m. I did experience some traffic on the way back to NYC, which sucked, but I did not experience any on the way there, so I’ll take that as a partial win.
From exploring the iconic landmarks of Capitol Hill to soaking in the breathtaking views from the top of the Washington Monument, every moment has been nothing short of unforgettable. As you head back to the Big Apple, take a piece of D.C. with you from the spirit of adventure, the awe-inspiring history, and the promise of more adventures to come. Until next time, keep exploring, keep adventuring, and keep making memories that will last a lifetime.
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