Hours and Directions

Hours of Operation

The Mount Vernon Estate is open 365 days of the year!

March 31st through August, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
March, September, and October, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
November through February, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The Historic Area of Mount Vernon is cleared a half-hour after the posted estate closing time. The Donald W. Reynolds Museum & Education Center is cleared one hour after the posted closing time.

Travel to Mount Vernon via Bus or Metro

Metro/Metro Bus provides service to Mount Vernon as well as other sightseeing bus companies. Click for more information about traveling to Mount Vernon by bus or metro.

Travel to Mount Vernon via Automobile

Parking:

Visitor parking is always free at Mount Vernon.  There are parking lots on the east (Potomac River) and west sides of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, as you approach Mount Vernon.  On busy visitation days, these lots often fill up and are marked with "Lot Full" signs.  If you are unable to park in the east or west lots, please follow the signs to our overflow parking lot, which will require you to turn into the Estate at the four way traffic stop and enter through one of our security gates.  There are also spaces for RVs, motor coaches and trailers, either in the east lot or in the overflow lot.

For visitors with walking challenges, please review Accessibility Information by clicking on the link on the left side of this page.

Driving Directions:

Mount Vernon is located 16 miles south of Washington, D.C. and 8 miles south of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, at the southern terminus of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

Since Mount Vernon does not have an actual street address, many older GPS systems have some difficulty finding us.  You can try the following options:

• Utilize our overnight shipping address of 3200 Mount (or Mt) Vernon Memorial Highway, Alexandria, VA.    NOTE: MANY GPS SYSTEMS REQUIRE THE STREET NAME OF MT VERNON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY (INSTEAD OF SPELLING OUT MOUNT) AND THE CITY NAME OF ALEXANDRIA INSTEAD OF MOUNT OR MT VERNON.
• Look for Mount Vernon under Points of Interest in either Alexandria or Mount Vernon, VA
• If your system allows the entry of a business telephone number, you can enter our primary business telephone number of (703) 780-2000
• You may also enter the address of our Gristmill and Distillery location at 5514 Mount (or Mt) Vernon Memorial Highway, Alexandria, VA.  Once you reach this location, you can then reach the Mount Vernon estate by proceeding east on Mount Vernon Memorial Highway (Route 235) for three miles.

Click here to find Mount Vernon on Google Maps!

Directions From Washington, D.C. / Memorial Bridge
Cross the Memorial Bridge, heading toward Arlington National Cemetery. While you are on the bridge, get in the center lane. At the circle on the Virginia side, go to the right, following the sign George Washington Parkway (do not head to Arlington Cemetery). Just after the circle, take the left hand exit, marked Parkway South/Alexandria/Mount Vernon. Once on the Parkway, follow the signs to National Airport and continue south, through Alexandria. The Parkway is renamed Washington Street in Alexandria. Mount Vernon is eight miles south of Alexandria, located at the large traffic circle at the end of Parkway.

Directions From Washington, D.C. / 14th St Bridge
Cross the Fourteenth Street Bridge, heading to Virginia. While on the bridge, move to the far right lane. Take the second exit on the right, which is marked National Airport/Mount Vernon. Once on the Parkway, follow the signs to National Airport and continue south, through Alexandria. The Parkway is renamed Washington Street in downtown Alexandria. Mount Vernon is eight miles south of Alexandria, at the large traffic circle at the end of Parkway.

Directions From the North (Frederick, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Bethesda)
Travel south on Interstate 270 to Interstate 495 (the Beltway). Follow the beltway south to Virginia. As you cross the American Legion Bridge over the Potomac River, get in the right lane. Take the first exit in Virginia, marked George Washington Memorial Parkway. Follow the George Washington Parkway south for about 30 miles, which takes you directly to Mount Vernon. The Parkway is renamed Washington Street in Alexandria, and Mount Vernon is eight miles south of Alexandria, at the large traffic circle at the end of the Parkway.

Directions From the South (Woodbridge, Richmond, North Carolina)
Travel north on Interstate 95 and turn off at exit 161, Route 1 North, marked Ft. Belvoir/Mt. Vernon. Continue north on Route 1 about six miles, through Ft. Belvoir. Just after Ft. Belvoir, turn right on Route 235 north. Mount Vernon is three miles straight ahead, at a large traffic circle.

Directions From the East (New Jersey, Baltimore, Annapolis)
Travel south on Interstate 95 (which becomes the beltway). As you cross the Potomac River on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, get in right hand local lanes for Alexandria. After you cross the bridge, take Exit 177 to Mount Vernon. The exit takes you to a light at S. Washington Street. Take a right on S. Washington Street. Washington Street becomes the George Washington Parkway as you leave Alexandria, and Mount Vernon is eight miles south, at the large traffic circle at the end of Parkway.

Directions From the West (Reston and beyond)
Travel east on Interstate 66 to Interstate 495 South (the beltway). Follow the outer beltway which becomes Interstate 95 North (headed towards Baltimore). Turn off at exit 177B, Route 1 North, marked Alexandria/Mount Vernon. Once on Route 1, make the first right turn, onto Franklin Street. Turn right again at Washington Street, which is marked for Mount Vernon. Washington Street becomes the George Washington Parkway as you leave Alexandria, and Mount Vernon is eight miles south, at the large traffic circle at the end of Parkway.

Travel to Mount Vernon on Boat

Spirit Cruises and The Potomac Riverboat Company provide roundtrip service to Mount Vernon, on a seasonal basis. Click for more information about traveling to Mount Vernon by boat.

Travel to Mount Vernon on Bike

Cyclists can reach Mount Vernon from Washington, D.C. via the Mount Vernon trail. Nearly 18 miles long, the paved Trail follows the Potomac River’s Virginia shoreline from Theodore Roosevelt Island (near Rosslyn, Virginia) to Mount Vernon. Bike racks are located at the end of the bike trail.  

Bicycle enthusiasts without a bike can also visit Mount Vernon by renting a bike from Bike and Roll in Old Town Alexandria and enjoying the final scenic ten miles of the Mount Vernon trail through Dykes Marsh and Belle View Park.  The canopy coverage and banks of the Potomac provide seclusion and a beautiful transition back in time to an early America, making the ride a wonderful way to approach the timeless feel of Mount Vernon.  

Prices for bike rental from Bike and Roll, including Estate admission:

Adults                     $48

Children (6-12)       $31

Children (2-5)         $20

Travel to Mount Vernon on Bike, Return by Boat (from and return to Old Town Alexandria)

You can also rent a bike from Bike and Roll in Old Town Alexandria, ride to Mount Vernon, and return to Alexandria on Potomac Riverboat's Miss Christin for a narrated cruise back to Old Town.  Recommended departure from Alexandria is 11:00 AM, since Miss Christin departs Mount Vernon at 4:00 PM.  The boat arrives back in Alexandria at 5:30 PM.  Boat rides are seasonal and space is limited, so advance registrations are required.  

Prices for bike rental from Bike and Roll, bike pick-up at Mount Vernon, and return boat ticket, including Estate admission:

Adults                    $53

Children (6-11)      $36

Children (2-5)        $20

Call Bike and Roll at (703) 548-7655 for reservations and more information or book online at www.bikethesites.com.