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Sample itinerary · 3 days / 2 nights

8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip Itinerary

For many middle schools, the 8th grade trip to Washington is a rite of passage. Students stand inside the Capitol, walk the National Mall at dusk and see the history they've studied all year.

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Overview

Three days in the nation's capital.

Washington connects students with the institutions and people who run the country. They learn about the founders and their legacy, stand among buildings they've only seen in textbooks, and move between museums in a single afternoon: the Wright brothers' first airplane and the Concorde in the morning, the original Star-Spangled Banner after lunch, a Monet before dinner.

This sample plan is a starting point. Swap any stop, meal or hotel to fit your curriculum and your group.

Length
3 days, 2 nights
Grade
8th grade, middle school
Getting there
Motorcoach, flight, train or ferry
Hotels
Downtown, city center, downtown-adjacent or suburban
Safety
Overnight hotel security both nights
Flexibility
Fully customizable attractions and meals
Sample itinerary

Day by day

Add any of the extras below, or tell us what you'd like to change.

  1. Students at the Lincoln Memorial
    Day 1

    The White House and the National Mall

    • Departure by motorcoach, flight, train or ferry
    • Boxed lunch
    • Walk past the White House to Lafayette Park for group photos
    • Lincoln, Korean War and Vietnam Veterans Memorials
    • World War II Memorial and the Washington Monument
    • Group sit-down dinner
    • Check in to your hotel, with overnight security
  2. A school group on the steps of the U.S. Capitol
    Day 2

    The Capitol and the Smithsonian

    • Tour of the United States Capitol Building
    • Lunch voucher or boxed sandwich, with a custom sandwich and cookie order
    • Smithsonian museums Add-on: International Spy Museum
    • Group sit-down dinner Add-on: pizza and bowling, or Dave & Buster's
    • Thomas Jefferson, FDR and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorials
  3. A school group at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial
    Day 3

    Arlington and the journey home

    • U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial
    • Arlington National Cemetery
    • Lunch voucher or boxed sandwich
    • Lafayette Park and the White House grounds
    • Departure for home
    • Group sit-down dinner

Want more time? Add extra nights or a second destination to your package.

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Destination highlights

What your students will see

The U.S. Capitol

Capitol Hill

Tour the Capitol, then cross the street to the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court.

The Lincoln Memorial

The National Mall and the Smithsonian

Air and Space, American History, Natural History and more, side by side between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial.

A school group at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial

Arlington National Cemetery

A quiet, moving visit, paired with the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial nearby.

The White House

The White House from Lafayette Park

The classic group photo spot, with the White House in the background.

Students at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

War memorials

Vietnam, Korean War and World War II memorials, best seen on foot.

Students at the FDR Memorial

Jefferson, FDR and MLK memorials

Three memorials along the Tidal Basin that bring American leaders and ideals to life.

Plan your trip

Book this trip as is, or build it your way.

Start from this sample itinerary or design your own. A Landmark trip coordinator will put together a custom plan for your group, dates and budget.

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Prefer to talk it through?

Call a trip coordinator at 888-886-2781 or email Hello@LandmarkEducationalTours.com.

Ready to plan your class trip to Washington?

Tell us your dates and group size, and we'll build your custom itinerary.

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