The White House and President's Park
The White House is owned by the American people and stewarded by the National Park Service. It is more than the President's residence; it is a site for protests and national discourse about what it means to be American. As one of the most iconic sites in the country, the White House and President's Park seeks to tell the stories of all people who have lived, worked, and visited.
About under an hour from Washington and under an hour from Baltimore by car.
Alerts
- InformationNPS ↗Temporary Closure of Park Areas for the 2026 White House Fall Garden Tours
In conjunction with the 2026 White House Fall Garden Tour event being held at the White House, several designated areas of President's Park will be temporarily closed on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2026, from approximately 9:00 a.m. to approximately 6:00 p.m. For a closure map and more detailed information, please follow the link below.
- InformationNPS ↗Temporary Closure of Park Areas at Request of US Secret Service
At the request of the United States Secret Service and to ensure necessary security and safety for the adjacent White House complex and its occupants, several designated areas of President's Park will be temporarily closed from approximately 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026, until approximately 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Hours
| White House Visitor Center | Daily · 7:30AM - 4:00PM |
When to go
December draws the most visits here and November the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- White House Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
Visitors can explore an interactive touchscreen tour of the White House, view over 90 artifacts from the White House collection, shop at the White House Historical Association retail store, and view the 14 minute film, "White House: Reflections From Within." Visit the information desk to inquire…
Explore
Things to do
- Silver Line - DC Metro1-2 Days
Step off the Silver Line to take a walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island, or sight see from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Each of the parks listed here are 1 mile or less from each metro stop (about a 20 minute walk) or a 10 minute bus ride away.
Opens on the Park Service site - Blue Line - DC Metro1-2 Days
From the National Mall and Memorial Parks to the Mount Vernon Trail, travel the Blue Line to see what the southern portion of Washington, DC has to offer.
Opens on the Park Service site - Red Line - DC Metro1-2 Days
Embrace the outdoors, explore interactive exhbits and stand where history happened by taking the Red Line to visit some of DC's National Park Sites.
Opens on the Park Service site - Go sightseeing at President's Park30-90 Minutes
Every president except George Washington has called the White House and its surrounding grounds his place of work, rest, and solitude. Recognizable around the world, the White House stands as a symbol of democracy.
Opens on the Park Service site - Explore the White House Visitor Center1-2 Hours
Explore interactive exhibits, discover historic White House treasures, watch a free film, and get to know the White House as a home, office, symbol, and stage.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- 10:00 AM · free · registration requiredThe White House Grounds
- Ranger Talk: First Ladies10/2002:00 PM · runs through Oct 27 · free
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for the Mid-Atlantic
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthRed Fox 89× · Bald Eagle 26× · Peregrine Falcon 11× · Osprey 10× · Barred Owl 9× · Greater Yellowlegs 8× · Belted Kingfisher 7× · Lesser Yellowlegs 5×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 54 birds, 0 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel
WoodpeckersDowny Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Red-headed Woodpecker · Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsChimney Swift · Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Also on the checklistAmerican Crow · American Goldfinch · American Redstart · American Robin · American Tree Sparrow · Baltimore Oriole · Barn Swallow · Bay-breasted Warbler · Black-and-white Warbler · Black-throated Blue Warbler · Black-throated Green Warbler · Blackburnian Warbler · Blackpoll Warbler · Brown Creeper · Canada Warbler · Cape May Warbler · Carolina Chickadee · Carolina Wren · Cedar Waxwing · Chestnut-sided Warbler · Chipping Sparrow · Common Grackle · Common Yellowthroat · Dark-eyed Junco · Eastern Bluebird · Fish Crow · Fox Sparrow · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Gray Catbird · Indigo Bunting · Magnolia Warbler · Mangrove Warbler · Myrtle Warbler · Northern Cardinal · Northern Parula · Orchard Oriole · Pine Warbler · Purple Finch · Red-eyed Vireo · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Song Sparrow · Tufted Titmouse · Warbling Vireo · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-throated Sparrow · Wood Thrush · Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Activities
Weather & climate
The Washington, DC, area has a four-season Mid-Atlantic climate. Summertime is warm and humid, while winter can be cold and snowy. Precipitation averages 2-4” monthly, year-round. The warmest months are June, July, and August, with average highs in the 80s (~31) combined with high humidity. Temperatures often climb into the 90s (~34). The coldest months are December, January, and February, with average temperatures in the 30s (~3), though lows may dip into the single digits on occasion.
Questions people ask
Does The White House and President's Park charge an entrance fee?
No. The White House and President's Park is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at The White House and President's Park?
Standard hours are 7:30AM - 4:00PM, every day.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at The White House and President's Park right now?
2 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Temporary Closure of Park Areas for the 2026 White House Fall Garden Tours; Temporary Closure of Park Areas at Request of US Secret Service.
Source: Alerts
How busy is The White House and President's Park?
311,213 recreation visits in 2025, number 148 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at The White House and President's Park?
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 The White House and President's Park?
The Washington, DC, area has a four-season Mid-Atlantic climate. Summertime is warm and humid, while winter can be cold and snowy.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
