Walk Through 639 Acres Of Arlington Military History

For a first walk through Arlington National Cemetery, or ANC, start at the Welcome Center at 1 Memorial Ave. These grounds cover 639 acres, with rolling hills and long formations of white headstones. Expect inclines as you make your way through a landscape devoted to remembrance. A slower pace leaves space for the weight of an active military cemetery.

Plan around the daily window from 8 AM to 5 PM, rather than squeezing this stop into the end of an afternoon. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Memorial Amphitheater are places to pause within these expansive grounds. Allow time between the places you choose.

The grounds also hold an accredited Level III Arboretum with more than 300 distinct tree species. That living collection sits alongside the ordered headstones and the military history here. Across the Potomac, take in one stretch at a time.