Visiting Washington

The nation's capitol is an amazing place to visit. It is a city full of culture and history, with countless opportunities for visitors to learn about our national heritage.

If your group or family is planning a trip to Washington, D.C., my office is here to help. Please don't hesitate to contact my staff for information regarding tours, maps, and visiting my office! They can answer many of your questions about scheduling a tour of the White House, visiting the House gallery, taking a tour of the U.S. Capitol, or visiting other sites throughout the city.

Capitol Tours

To schedule a tour of the United States Capitol, please contact my Washington, DC office at 202-225-2711. Let my staff know your name, the date of your visit and the number of visitors in your party and they will be happy to schedule a tour for you and your family. On weekdays, my staff regularly leads tours themselves, while tours led by the Capitol Guide Service are available on Saturdays.

With the recent opening of the Capitol Visitor's Center (CVC), all Capitol tours begin and end at the CVC and run on a tight schedule. As a result, please let my staff know if you will be unable to make your scheduled tour, or if you will be late.

Additionally, please be aware that all visitors to the United States Capitol (and many other building in Washington, DC) must pass through security screening. Tours of the Capitol are free of charge, and typically last between one and two hours.

White House Tours

White House tour appointments are granted to groups of 10 or more and can also be scheduled through my office. Given the significant public interest in visiting the White House - particularly in the summer months - requests for White House tours should be made at least four months in advance. Visitors should also be prepared with the full names, social security numbers and dates of birth for all tour participants. White House officials will require this information at least 10 days prior to your visit if you tour request is granted.

If your group contains less than 10 people, my office can still attempt to accommodate your request by combining your tour with another family.

Please understand that there is a limited availability for White House tours, particularly in the summer months. All tour decisions are made by the White House Visitors Office approximately 2 weeks prior to your requested tour date. Once my office receives a confirmation from the White House, we will notify you about your tour. However, please be aware that tours are also subject to last minute cancellation due to events at the White House.

White House tours operate on Mondays through Fridays between 7:30 AM and 10:00 AM and are free of charge. To learn more about White House tours, please visit the White House Visitor Center at www.whitehouse.gov.


if you would like more information about tours please fill out and submit the Washington Tour Request Form, and someone on my staff will be in touch with you.