Park Unit · District of Columbia

Lincoln Memorial

"...as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." Beneath these words, the 16th president of the United States sits immortalized in marble as an enduring symbol of unity, strength, and wisdom.

About under an hour from Washington and under an hour from Baltimore by car.

Photos: National Park Service
Reservation required to enter. Details under Fees & passes ↓

Fees & passes

Free. No entrance fee here. The tours below are the exception.

TypeCost
Tours & reservations
Lincoln Memorial Undercroft and Museum - Advance Ticket ↗Jan–DecA $1 service fee applies to advance reservation tickets.$1
Lincoln Memorial Undercroft and Museum - Same Day TicketJan–DecFree
From the park

The Lincoln Memorial is free and open to the public. This experience includes ascending into the chamber where you can view the statue of Abraham Lincoln and other inspiring, symbolic features. Beginning June 25, 2026, a new Lincoln Memorial museum and undercroft experience will be available to visitors. This new experience requires a timed entry ticket.

From the park

Timed entry tickets are required to visit the undercroft and museum on the lower level. For advance reservations, visit Recreation.gov or call 877‑444‑6777 beginning May 26, 2026. You may get same day tickets at the Korean War Veterans Memorial starting June 25, 2026.

Hours

Open 24 hoursDaily · All Day

Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.

DatesHours
Standard hoursNowAll Day
Dec 25, 2026Christmas DayClosed

April draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.

Visits by month with average temperature, precipitation, snowfall, Lincoln Memorial0300k600k900kJanuary: 334,321 visits on average, 37.5°FJanFebruary: 350,671 visits on average, 40.0°FFebMarch: 726,895 visits on average, 47.6°FMarApril: 834,895 visits on average, 58.2°FAprMay: 776,348 visits on average, 67.2°FMayJune: 731,699 visits on average, 76.3°FJunJuly: 773,822 visits on average, 81.0°FJulAugust: 729,229 visits on average, 79.4°FAugSeptember: 599,573 visits on average, 72.4°FSepOctober: 680,301 visits on average, 60.8°FOctNovember: 570,858 visits on average, 49.9°FNovDecember: 479,292 visits on average, 41.7°FDecJanuary: 37.5°F averageFebruary: 40.0°F averageMarch: 47.6°F averageApril: 58.2°F averageMay: 67.2°F averageJune: 76.3°F averageJuly: 81.0°F averageAugust: 79.4°F averageSeptember: 72.4°F averageOctober: 60.8°F averageNovember: 49.9°F averageDecember: 41.7°F average30°F40°F50°F60°F70°F80°F90°FVisitsRain and snow, inches0.0 in2.0 in4.0 in6.0 inJanuary: 2.86 in precipitationFebruary: 2.62 in precipitationMarch: 3.50 in precipitationApril: 3.21 in precipitationMay: 3.94 in precipitationJune: 4.20 in precipitationJuly: 4.33 in precipitationAugust: 3.25 in precipitationSeptember: 3.93 in precipitationOctober: 3.66 in precipitationNovember: 2.91 in precipitationDecember: 3.41 in precipitationJanuary: 4.9 in snowFebruary: 5.0 in snowMarch: 2.0 in snowApril: 0.0 in snowMay: 0.0 in snowJune: 0.0 in snowJuly: 0.0 in snowAugust: 0.0 in snowSeptember: 0.0 in snowOctober: 0.0 in snowNovember: 0.1 in snowDecember: 1.7 in snow
Bars are the average recreation visits in each month over 2021 to 2025. The line is the average temperature at Washington Reagan AP, 3 miles from the park's reference point at 10 feet, station USW00013743 in the NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals. The lower panel is monthly rain and snow from the same station, also 1991 to 2020 averages.

See every month and year since 1979.

Explore

Things to do

  • Reflect on Lincoln's Legacy5-30 Minutes

    Few places in Washington, DC, are as well-known or as inspiring as the Lincoln Memorial. Here you can experience how a nation remembers one of its great leaders, and the enduring values of union, emancipation, justice, and healing.

    Opens on the Park Service site

Films

Lincoln Memorial at 100: Visiting Lincoln · 2.6 min · on NPS.gov ↗
Ranger Reflections: Responding to Lincoln's Second Address · 3 min · on NPS.gov ↗

National Park Service productions, public domain.

Webcams

Camera images load live from the National Park Service and partner agencies

Map

Interactive map by the National Park Service

Guidebooks for the Mid-Atlantic

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Hikes of the Appalachian Trail
    Matt Willen, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Rail-trails mid-Atlantic
    Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Scenic Routes and Byways Middle Atlantic
    Randi Minetor and Nic Minetor, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org

Local history books for Lincoln Memorial

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.

Reference

Weather & climate

Washington, DC experiences all four seasons. Humidity will make the temps feel hotter in summer and colder in winter. Spring (March - May) Temp: Average high is 65.5 degrees with a low of 46.5 degrees Summer (June - August) Temp: Average high is 86 degrees with a low of 68.5 degrees Fall (September - November) Temp: Average high is 68 degrees with a low of 51.5 degrees Winter (December - February) Temp: Average high is 45 degrees with a low of 30 degrees (Source: www.usclimatedata.com)

Questions people ask

Does Lincoln Memorial charge an entrance fee?

No. Lincoln Memorial is free to enter, though some tours and ticketed sites inside charge separately.

Source: National Park Service

Do I need a reservation to enter Lincoln Memorial?

Timed entry tickets are required to visit the undercroft and museum on the lower level. For advance reservations, visit Recreation.gov or call 877‑444‑6777 beginning May 26, 2026.

Source: Timed entry, by park

Is Lincoln Memorial open year-round?

Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.

Source: National Park Service

How busy is Lincoln Memorial?

7,743,295 recreation visits in 2025, number 5 of 387 units that report visitation.

Source: Most visited parks

Is there cell service at Lincoln Memorial?

At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is the weather like at Lincoln Memorial?

Washington, DC experiences all four seasons. Humidity will make the temps feel hotter in summer and colder in winter.

Source: Weather & climate

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Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.