VISITOR INFORMATION DESTINATION DC BASICS Population: About 700,000 live in DC proper; more than 6.3 million live in the greater DC metro area. Peak Season: March and June are the busiest months, followed by September and October. Climate: DC experiences all four seasons: a hot summer, cold and sometimes snowy winter and pleasant spring and fall. Lay of the Land: The nation’s capital is located in the Mid-Atlantic region between Maryland and Virginia, 225 miles south of New York City. Washington, DC is laid out on a grid split into quadrants: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest. Streets denote their quadrants using NE, NW, SE or SW. The numbered streets run north-south, the lettered streets run east-west and diagonal streets have state names. s l a i nt e s s E PLANNING TIPS & HELPFUL HINTS Reserve in Advance: Avoid waiting in line at popular attractions by pre-ordering tickets. For group rates, consult with the sales department at Destination DC. Tour at Off-Peak Hours: Some attractions offer special early openings or extended evening hours. Visit the monuments at sunrise or at night for a truly inspiring experience. Touring the Capitol: The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is open to the public from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Reservations are required for a tour. Multilingual Services: Many attractions, like the Smithsonian Visitor Center and the Kennedy Center , offer multilingual print material. ADA Compliant: Check with individual facilities about ADA compliance, a feature central to many of DC’s offerings. j U.S. National Arboretum j Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge Memorial j Lincoln DC Weather AVERAGE HIGHS AND LOWS (IN ºF) 46 º 26 º 66 º 42 º 87 º 65 º 69 º 46 º WINTER SPRING SUMMER FALL GUIDE PRECIPITATION 3-4 ”/ MONTH February tends to be the driest month, with average rainfall just under three inches. j Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial PL ANNING CONTACT US (800) 422-8644 info@washington.org EVENT GET MAPS & GUIDES FOR YOUR GROUP (202) 789-7000 washington.org 6
Washington DC Event Planner Guide 2026 Event Planning Guide: Page 6
