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The subject of this article is located on these scenic highways.
After the guided tour of the house, I returned to a long row of wooden chairs on the covered porch. The Potomac River stretched the landscape. As I enjoyed the peaceful view I realized something that gave me chills.
This was the same view George Washington once enjoyed.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon is one of the best presidential places to visit in the country. It’s a testament to preserving America’s history while also providing entertainment to the masses. But it’s more than just a guided house tour – it’s a museum, dining hall, research center, and distillery.
Yes, the historic site includes a recreation of Washington’s distillery.
I didn’t have a chance to do everything during my visit on an unusually sweltering September day. I left with more things on my to-do list when I return than things I checked off on my first visit. That’s fine with me – I love exploring Northern Virginia and it’s been far too long since I spent a week in the District of Columbia.
Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about visiting George Washington’s Mount Vernon including an interactive map, travel tips, and a few ways to get there.
Things to Do
How to use this map: Click the icon in the top-left corner to open the Map Legend, then click on any of the legend items to display more information. If you have a Google account, click the star beside the map’s name to save this map to your account, then access the map from your smartphone during your trip.
Learn about the annual celebration of the National Park System and read my travel guides to national park units across the country.
The most direct driving route to Mount Vernon is to take Exit 166 on Interstate 95 onto Fairfax County Parkway, turn onto Richmond Highway, and then turn onto Mount Vernon Memorial Highway.
But my favorite driving route to Mount Vernon is the 25-mile George Washington Memorial Parkway. The four-lane highway is an All-American Road, creating a scenic driving alternative through the dense Northern Virginia urbanscape.
To enjoy the entire route, take Exit 43 on Interstate 495 just shy of the Maryland border. The scenic road follows the Potomac River around Arlington National Cemetery, Reagan Washington National Airport, and passes through downtown Arlington.
But the absolute coolest way to visit Mount Vernon? Take a three-hour scenic boat ride! Spirit Cruise’s Spirit of Mount Vernon cruise boat departs Washington, D.C. just after 8 a.m. for a two-hour cruise along the Potomac River, and then leaves Mount Vernon around 1 p.m. for a two-hour return cruise.
A more affordable and quicker option is to ride on the Mount Vernon Cruise with the Potomac Riverboat Company. This 50-minute cruise departs Alexandria, makes a stop at National Harbor, and then sails down the Potomac River to Mount Vernon.
If you drive to Mount Vernon, you can take advantage of a rarity in Northern Virginia: free parking.
The nearest parking lot is adjacent to the traffic circle. It’s a 5-minute walk to the Ford Orientation Center where you’ll begin exploring Mount Vernon. An overflow parking lot across the road is about 10-minute walk to the entrance.
The George Washington Presidential Library opened in 2013. The 45,000 square foot facility contains thousands of books, documents, and photographs about the country’s first president.
Unlike many other presidential libraries, the George Washington Presidential Library is privately funded and operated and not part of the National Archive and Records Administration.
The library is open to scholars, students, and anyone with a passion for learning about Washington – but it’s open by appointment only.
On April 19, 2025, America begins the 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War. The celebration begins with a reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and Cocord in Massachusetts where the first shots of the war were fired.
In July 2026, visitors to Mount Vernon can experience the result of a three year preservation and renovation project.
No. 1
Your visit to George Washington’s Mount Vernon begins at the Ford Orientation Center. The admission building is one of the best entrances to a historic site, especially for first-time visitors.
My favorite feature of the building was the ginormous map with labels and walking trails. It’s always great to get a sense of where everything is located. Especially at a site as large as Mount Vernon.
Pay for admission in the Ford Orientation Center, book a guided tour, and pickup a brochure before you leave.
No. 2
The first thing I noticed about the grounds at George Washington’s Mount Vernon was the Bowling Green. The large manicured grass field in front of the Mansion was an oddity. Nobody kept grass trimmed like this int he 1700s.
Touring the grounds of Mount Vernon was just as excited as the guided tour of the Mansion and exploring the museum. Formal gardens were a peaceful place for a walk even though hundreds were visiting the estate.
And the view of the Potomac River was breathtaking.
Mount Vernon is a large estate to explore along crushed gravel paths. The brochure map lays out the paths and areas to explore, including the gardens.
No. 3
If you look really closely when you visit you can just make out the outline of the original one-and-a-half story house built by Augustine Washington in 1734. When George Washington took over the plantation in 1754 he began a series of renovations and expansions. After nearly 50 years of tinkering he settled with the 21-room Mansion he called Mount Vernon.
The only way to see the Mansion is with a guided tour included in the price of admission. The house has been meticulously restored over the years and offers an absolutely stunning look into an authentic 18th century home. Not a recreation, but the actual home of George and Martha Washington. The architectural details designed by Washington himself are stunning. The fact present-day Mount Vernon has maintained them so well is nothing short of astounding.
The guided tours are admittedly brief, and quite frequently my group bumped into either the group behind or in front of us. Mount Vernon is one of the most-visited presidential homes in the country so I can’t entirely blame them, but my entire tour lasted only 20 minutes. It was an amazing twenty minutes, however, with each room uniquely painted and adorned with paintings, furniture, and artifacts from Washington’s time.
About midway through the tour my guide pointed to a bed on the upper floor of the Mansion and said, “This is where George Washington died in 1799.” To realize I was standing in the very room where Washington passed away was one of the most profound moments of travel and history in all of my adventures.
Learn about the annual celebration of the National Park System and read my travel guides to national park units across the country.
No. 4
Surrounding the Mansion at the heart of Mount Vernon is the Historic Area dotted with outbuildings, gardens, and trails. I found this to be the most peaceful part of my time at the estate with no rush to get anywhere and very thin crowds compared to the house tour.
The Historic Area includes the Spinning House, Blacksmith Shop, Slave Quarters, and more than a dozen other buildings. Each was fully set up as it would have been during Washington’s time on the plantation and open to the public to pop in and explore. My favorite building at Mount Vernon? The
Necessary. It was just the outhouse, but I found the name hilarious (and reminded me of the necessary chairs I found at The Charleston Museum in South Carolina).
There are three gardens to explore at Mount Vernon: Fruit Garden, Lower Garden, and Upper Garden. The Lower Garden is beside the animal enclosure where animals typically used on the plantation are kept for viewing today. My favorite was the Upper Garden with a peaceful walk along a crushed gravel trail through the formal garden beside the Greenhouse.
No. 5
George Washington’s will was to be buried in a tomb on his estate at Mount Vernon. When he died in 1799, he was initially interred at what is now called the Old Tomb. The Old Tomb is south of the Mansion near the Potomac River.
In 1831, a new family tomb was completed. George and Martha Washington’s bodies were moved to the new tomb where they have laid at rest since.
Visitors can see the Washington Family Tomb near the Fruit Garden south of the Mansion. Visitors can also participate in a daily wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb. Check Mount Vernon’s current events schedule or ask someone at the Ford Orientation Center for the time.
No. 6
The Slave Cemetery is an active archaeological site at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Efforts are underway to locate individual unmarked gravesites throughout the burial ground.
Visitors can explore the cemetery and visit the Slave Memorial. Both are located south of the Washington Family Tomb. Visitors can also participate in a daily wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial. Check the current schedule at Mount Vernon’s Tribute at the Slave Memorial website.
No. 7
The four-acre Farm Site is so well hidden that I didn’t even know it existed during my visit. The Farm Site is the southernmost point to explore at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
The Farm Site features living history as docents dressed in period clothing work on the active farm, simulating what life was like in late 1700s America. The farm includes crops, sheep, and facilities for cooking food.
The 16-sided treading barn is the highlight of a visit to the Farm Site. The enormous recreation is a peculiar type of barn that begs exploration.
It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk to the Farm Site from the Ford Orientation Center, 10 minutes from the Mansion, and 5 minutes from the Washington Family Tomb. Restrooms are available for convenience.
No. 8
Hot and humid? Raining? Just plumb tired and need a rest? The Reynolds Museum and Education Center is the perfect place for you! With a whopping 23 galleries, the Revolutionary War 4D Theater, and an interactive theater, you’ll certainly have a lot to do there.
The museum was an amazing walk through Washington’s life. Hundreds of artifacts and entire scenes from history were on display in the museum. One of the coolest scenes was the life size George Washington on an equally life size horse from the Revolutionary War. But my favorite piece in the museum was a simple painting depicting George Washington’s first expansion of the original house built by his father.
One of the most popular indoor attractions at Mount Vernon is the Revolutionary War 4D Theater. Prepare yourself for canon fire, harmless smoke, and snowflakes as the fourth dimension comes to life during a thrilling experience. It is a recent addition to the estate so the video and effects were top notch.
No. 9
The Shops at Mount Vernon is an indoor shopping mall filled with modern home decor, 1700s games, and collectibles to remember your visit to George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
The shops are a great place for finding books about Washington’s life, politics, and Revolutionary War exploits. The collection of books was far greater than any gift shop I’d visited before.
Collectibles included pocket editions of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, figurines, glassware featuring the Mount Vernon logo, and clothing.
No. 10
The distillery was the most surprising thing I discovered at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. And I found it entirely by accident.
The Distillery and Gristmill are located about three miles from the Mansion on Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. Access to the site is included in the price of general admission. I passed the site on my way to the hotel after visiting Mount Vernon – I had to turn around when I passed the sign.
If you didn’t drive to Mount Vernon, you can take a shuttle bus between the Distillery and Gristmill and Mount Vernon.
Once there you’ll see authentic recreations of the gristmill and distillery once used by George Washington on the plantation. The gristmill is a gorgeous stone building with a ginormous wheel that you’ll frequently find turning under the power of water. Step inside for one of the most in-depth looks at how a gristmill functions in the country.
Great news! The vast majority of everything to see and do at Mount Vernon is fully accessible. There are some limits, but for the most part this is one of the most accessible historic sites I have come across yet.
Begin with the curbside drop off directly in front of the main entrance to the estate. There are no shuttles between the parking lots and entrance, so this is the best option for those with wheelchairs and walkers.
The Ford Orientation Center, where your adventure at Mount Vernon begins, and the Reynolds Museum and Education Center are fully accessible. However, only the first floor of the Mansion is accessible. This will still allow you to see about 70% of the tour, but unfortunately you will miss the bedroom where Washington died.
Through the Historical Area there are a few accessible paths. The primary route is beside the North Garden directly to the Mansion. Other paths around the outbuildings and through the formal gardens are passable on a surface of crushed gravel but be careful on wet days.
Just in case you need it Mount Vernon offers free non-motorized wheelchairs and walkers for visitors.
Take a guided tour, sit on the front porch watching the Potomac River, and go for a walk through the gardens and the next thing you know you’ll be hungry. Fortunately, there are two great places to eat on the property so you don’t have to leave when the rumble in your belly starts.
The Food Court Pavilion is located near the main entrance across from the Ford Orientation Center. The pavilion offers food throughout the day including breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Papa Johns has a shop set up inside where you’ll also find hamburgers, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. There is plenty of indoor seating with large tables.
The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant is located next door to the pavilion. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner throughout the week and brunch on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The diverse menu includes everything from hamburgers and sandwiches to pork chop and roasted duck. The dining room at the restaurant is quite gorgeous with patterned wallpaper and white linen tablecloths.
There is actually so much to do at Mount Vernon that I strongly recommend spending the entire day exploring it. The historic site does not offer two day passes so you might as well do everything in one trip! Okay, maybe not everything. But you can try and you’ll be tired afterwards.
If you want to make a weekend trip out of visiting Mount Vernon, I recommend staying in nearby Alexandria about twenty minutes away.
My first night in Alexandria I stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites on Richmond Highway. This is my top recommendation for hotels in Northern Virginia because of easy access, outstanding room, and proximity to everything. The hotel includes an outdoor swimming pool, free on-site parking, and a fantastic breakfast.
The Alexandrian is a top-rated posh hotel in Alexandria’s Old Town historic district. It’s located within walking distance of many attractions in the city and takes only minutes to drive out of town.
The Best Western Mount Vernon is just four miles from Mount Vernon. With comfortable rooms, free on-site parking, and a decent breakfast in the morning, it is a no-frills great place to spend the night.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott across the street is a step above with an outdoor swimming pool, free on-site parking, and a One Bedroom King Suite with a sleeper sofa that makes it better for traveling families.
I am always a fan of Hampton Inn hotels and this one makes a great place to stay. It has a rather nice indoor swimming pool and fantastic breakfast in the morning. In fact, that breakfast is exactly why I was late getting to Mount Vernon when I stayed there!
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2 Responses
Hi Jason,
I enjoyed your article! I’ll be in Georgetown for a wedding in a few weeks and have a full Sunday free to visit Mt. Vernon with my husband, daughter and her boyfriend. Do you think it’s worth it to hire a half day private guide to take us around the premises, or can we easily navigate on our own? We are very interested in history, so I thought it may be worth it to be able to ask questions and get more out of the day. I would appreciate your thoughts!
Hi Laurie! Mount Vernon is a very easy property to navigate on your own. However, if you want the most immersive experience with a docent or guide who will really dive deep into the history of the property, I absolutely recommend the half-day tour. I hope you enjoy the wedding and trip to Mount Vernon!