Tours and Tickets
You can request tours of both The White House and the Capitol through my office. Please note, however, that my office only places requests and CANNOT GUARANTEE the scheduling of any tour. If you have any questions, please contact Will Palmer on my staff at (202) 225-5136. NOTE: Because I will be retiring from Congress at the end of the year, I will no longer be able to process requests for White House or Capitol tours for tour dates later than November 1. Please contact the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center directly for Capitol tours. Should you need a White House tour after November 1, please contact one of the Virginia Senate offices.
Availability: Tuesday-Thursday from 7:30am-11am, Friday from 7:30am-noon and Saturday 7:30am to 1pm (excluding federal holidays). No tours are offered on Sunday or Monday. The White House Visitor’s Office reserves the right to select the time and there is no guarantee that tickets will be granted. Congressional offices have no control over who gets tickets. THAT DECISION IS MADE BY THE WHITE HOUSE.
Tour Summary: The tour includes visits to the State Dining Room, the Red Room, the Blue Room, the Green Room, and the East Room.
Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Closest Metro Stop: McPherson Square (Blue and Orange lines)
Tour Length: 30-45 minutes, self-guided
Note: The White House is not available for tours during the period of December 21- January 2.
Costs: Free.
How to Request a Tour: All White House Tours must be requested at least 30 days in advance and up to six months in advance. Constituents are encouraged to submit their request as early as possible since a limited number of tours are available and tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis approximately three weeks in advance of the requested date.
Security Information: Once you have submitted your request and have been contacted by my office, constituents must provide security information (including the full names, social security numbers, dates of birth, status of citizenship, and city & state of residence for EACH member of the group) to my office, which is in turn passed on to the White House. You will then be notified via email if your tour request was accepted or denied.
Notification: You will be notified of your tour’s status approximately three weeks before the requested tour date.
Large Groups: Due to the high demand for White House tours, it is very difficult to get tickets for large groups. Please be advised that once your request is submitted to the White House, individuals cannot be added or dropped from your group. When you submit your security form, please make sure it is the final list of guests who will be attending the tour.
The United States Capitol
Tour Summary: The United States Capitol in Washington, DC is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. The tour includes visits to the Crypt, Rotunda, Old Supreme Court Chamber, and Statuary Hall.
Closest Metro Stop: Capitol South (Blue and Orange lines)
Tour Length: 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on crowds
Tour Availability: Tours through the Capitol Visitors Center are available between 9:00 am to 3:20 pm, Monday through Saturday and can be booked through my office or through the Capitol Visitor’s Center Web site. Visitors seeking a tour through the Capitol Visitors Center may also obtain same-day tickets at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk beginning at 9:00 am.
Costs: Free.
Notes: Constituents can also obtain Gallery passes to view House and Senate proceedings as they unfold through my Washington, D.C. office. Visitors do not need a reservation to see the galleries. Gallery passes can be picked up from the front desk of my Washington office anytime from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Please note that the galleries close at 4:00 pm and are closed on weekends.
To request a United States Capitol tour CLICK HERE.