From the giant sarcophagus containing the remains of an unknown American soldier to a sea of white marble headstones dotting the green rolling hills, visiting Arlington National Cemetery is an important, but somber experience. Here is the information you’ll want to have before you visit the military cemetery in Washington, DC.
On the rolling green hills just across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery stands as a poignant symbol of America’s valor and sacrifice. This hallowed ground honors over 400,000 veterans and their families from every American conflict. From the somber beauty of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded around the clock, to the eternal flame marking President John F. Kennedy’s resting place, Arlington tells the story of a grateful nation.
When visiting Arlington National Cemetery, expect a deeply moving experience. You’ll witness solemn ceremonies, like the Changing of the Guard, and have the opportunity to walk among memorials that span U.S. history. If you’re coming to offer your respects, connect with history, or seek peace in its peaceful scenery, the cemetery offers a look into America’s shared memory and its enduring tribute to those who’ve served.
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Where is Arlington National Cemetery?
The cemetery is just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, in Arlington, Virginia. It can easily be reached by car or via the DC Metro on the blue line.
How Big is Arlington Cemetery?
Arlington Cemetery spans 624 acres, which is roughly the equivalent of 472 American football fields.
How Many People Visit Arlington National Cemetery Each Year?
More than three million people visit the cemetery annually.
How Many Graves Are in Arlington National Cemetery?
During the Civil War, on May 13, 1864, Private William Christman of Pennsylvania became the first member of the military buried at Arlington National Cemetery. More than 150 years later, 400,000 men and women are interred in this military cemetery.
Who is Buried at Arlington National Cemetery?
Arlington is the final resting place of more than 400,000 people. The vast majority of those buried across the Potomac River from the nation’s capital are veterans who served the US in the Army, Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps.
But others are also interred at Arlington including:
- Two US presidents, William Howard Taft and John F. Kennedy
- Supreme Court justices including Thurgood Marshall, William Rehnquist, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- Other high-ranking federal government officials,
- Medal of Honor recipients, and
- Famous actors and other notable Americans.
What Does it Cost to be Buried at Arlington National Cemetery?
Provided the deceased qualifies to be laid to rest here, there is no fee to be interred or inurned.
How Many Funeral Services are Held at Arlington National Cemetery Daily?
There are about 25 people buried daily at Arlington National Cemetery, and each funeral service lasts approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Military funeral honors are based on the deceased’s rank, medals received, and circumstances. For example, any Medal of Honor recipient or person killed in action receives military funeral honors with a funeral escort regardless of rank.
For half an hour before the first funeral and for half an hour after the last funeral, the flags at the cemetery are flown at half staff.
Who Can be Buried at Arlington National Cemetery?
Soldiers who perish while on active duty and retired members of the military are eligible for burial at this military cemetery. Others may qualify for burial based on these requirements to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
What is There to See at Arlington National Cemetery?
The most visited graves within the 624-acre site are the:
- John F. Kennedy gravesite with its eternal flame,
- Kennedy family plot, and
- Tomb of the Unknowns
Visitors also stop at Arlington House, the former plantation estate of General Robert E. Lee. The mansion and surrounding grounds were confiscated during the Civil War to become Arlington National Cemetery. Today the mansion is known as the Robert E. Lee Memorial, and it is operated by the National Park Service.
Be sure to pay your respects at these other notable gravesites at Arlington Cemetery.
Can You Visit JFK’s Grave?
Yes. With its eternal flame encircled with Cape Cod granite, President John F. Kennedy’s grave is one of the most-visited sites at Arlington National Park.
Where is JFK Buried?
President John F. Kennedy is buried in Section 45, Grid U-35. Marked by an eternal flame, his grave is just down the hill from Arlington House, the former Custis-Lee Mansion.
Sage Advice: As you turn to leave John F. Kennedy’s gravesite, don’t miss the impressive view of the Lincoln Memorial on the other side of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Arlington Memorial Bridge.
Who is Buried with Kennedy at Arlington Cemetery?
President John F. Kennedy is buried with his wife, Jackie, and their two infant children. Nearby are the graves of JFK’s two brothers, Robert F. Kennedy (AKA Bobby) and Edward Kennedy (AKA Ted). You’ll also find a marker honoring his older brother, Joseph Kennedy, who died when his plane exploded over the English Channel during World War II.
Is Kennedy the Only President Buried in DC?
No, William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States, is also buried here. Taft was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in March 1930 after passing away at his home. He was the first president and the first chief justice buried at Arlington National Cemetery. As of 2022, Taft is the only American in history to have served as both president and chief justice.
Why are There Coins on Graves at Arlington National Cemetery?
According to our trolley tour guides, a popular tradition beginning with the Vietnam War is to place a single coin on military graves. This is what each symbolizes:
- A penny demonstrates that you knew them
- A nickel says you trained with them
- A dime shows you served with them
- A quarter indicates you were there when they died
However, when you visit the Kennedy family graves at Arlington, you’ll likely observe people throwing coins of all kinds — sometimes in handfuls — at the grave.
I found the scene so upsetting that I discussed it with a nearby guard. He explained that the family feels that the coin tossing is incredibly disrespectful. But to make the best of the situation, the coins are collected a few times a year and donated to charity.
If you choose to respectfully place a coin on a gravestone, following the tradition cited above is acceptable. But under no circumstances should you throw coins on any grave when visiting Arlington National Cemetery.
What Famous Boxer is Buried at Arlington National Cemetery?
As reigning heavyweight champion of the world, Joe Louis enlisted in the US Army during World War II. He fought nearly 100 matches in front of more than two million troops. When Louis died in 1981, President Reagan waived the technical requirements for burial at Arlington to allow the champion boxer to be buried at Arlington with full military honors.
He is buried in Section 7A, Grave 177, next to actor Lee Marvin. His tombstone features a bas-relief of the champion and his nickname, “The Brown Bomber.”
Related Article: 12 Graves to Visit in Arlington National Cemetery (After You’ve Paid Respect to JFK)
What Famous Actors are Buried at Arlington National Cemetery?
There are several famous actors buried here including:
- Lee Marvin, a Purple Heart recipient and World War II veteran who starred in The Dirty Dozen.
- Audie L. Murphy, one of the most decorated soldiers in US history. Murphy starred in Gunsmoke and wrote To Hell and Back about his experiences in World War II.
- Maureen O’Hara, the actress who starred in Miracle on 34th Street and The Quiet Man. She is buried next to her husband, retired Air Force Brigadier General Charles Blair.
Where is Audie Murphy Buried at Arlington?
One of the most decorated soldiers in US history, Murphy is buried in Section 46, Site 366-11.
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Audie L. Murphy wanted to enlist and serve his country. However, the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps turned him down for being underweight and underage. Because he’d lost both parents by the age of 16, his older sister provided an affidavit that inflated his age by a year, and Murphy joined the US Army in June 1942, a week after his 17th birthday.
During World War II, Murphy fought in North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. He received every American combat award for valor available at the time of his service, including the Medal of Honor, making him one of the most decorated soldiers in US History.
Murphy went on to be an actor and author. Based on his 1949 autobiography detailing his experiences during World War II, Murphy stars as himself in the movie To Hell and Back.
Plagued by his own demons after World War II, Murphy became a vocal advocate for Korean and Vietnam War veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, was dedicated in 1973, in part due to his work championing post-service healthcare for veterans.
Where is the Radioactive Grave at Arlington?
SPF4 Richard LeRoy McKinley is buried in Section 31, Lot 472. He lies in eternal rest in a lead-lined casket sealed in concrete and placed in a metal vault. Included on his record of interment is this statement, “Victim of nuclear accident. Body is contaminated with long-life radioactive isotopes. Under no circumstances will the body be moved from this location without prior approval of the Atomic Energy Commission in consultation with this headquarters.”
McKinley was killed when a control rod was intentionally removed by a civilian scientist working at a small experimental power station in Idaho in 1961. It was the first fatal nuclear plant accident in the US.
Can You Take Photos at Arlington National Cemetery?
While photography is permitted within the cemetery, visitors should be respectful of their surroundings at all times. Do not take photos of someone who is visibly mourning, and ask permission before photographing or filming someone visiting a grave.
Photography with a tripod or lighting equipment is only permitted with permission from the Office of Public Affairs.
How Do I Get to Arlington National Cemetery?
The address for the cemetery is simply Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. Most search engines and map applications can find the cemetery using that information. The cemetery is located just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, and can be reached using the DC Metro via the blue line.
What is the Best Way to Tour Arlington National Cemetery?
Once at the cemetery, consider taking the bus tour. Not only does the tram help you better navigate the expansive cemetery, but it also includes a narrator. As you move between stops, this guide will provide additional details about Arlington National Cemetery.
Sage Advice: Download ANC Explorer from either the App Store or Google Play. This web-based mobile app helps visitors obtain directions to gravesites and other points of interest at Arlington National Cemetery.
You may also want to take a guided walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery. This experience includes the changing of the tomb guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns as well as some of the cemetery’s most important gravesites and memorials.
Sage Advice: The cemetery is a lot bigger than you might anticipate, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes when you visit.
How Much Time Does it Take to Visit Arlington National Cemetery?
With 400,000 graves on 624 acres, a visitor could easily spend all day at the cemetery and not see everything. However, a standard visit — using the Arlington bus tour and hopping off at the designated stops — will take approximately two to three hours.
What are Arlington National Cemetery Visiting Hours?
The cemetery is open daily from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm April through September and 8:00 am to 5:00 pm October through March.
Is Arlington Cemetery Free?
There is no admission fee to visit Arlington National Cemetery. However, tickets are required for the tram that winds through the cemetery. Discounted tickets are offered to active-duty military, veterans, seniors, and children. Purchase tickets at Arlington National Cemetery, or skip the line and purchase your tram tickets in advance here.
Have You Visited Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC?
What memorials and graves did you see when you were there? Any additional tips or advice to pass along to others who are planning a visit to Arlington? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Looking for more information to plan your Washington DC vacation? Check out my additional recommendations to help you plan your trip to Washington, DC, including what to see and do in Washington DC, the best places to stay in Washington DC, where to eat in Washington DC, and more!
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This is such a special place to visit in DC. Looks very moving. Need to make it here one day, thanks for sharing this!
This is such an interesting post. I had the opportunity to chaperone a group of students to the cemetery a couple of years in a row. It was so moving to see their reaction to the changing of the guard and the story that accompanies that ceremony.
Like many experiences in Washington, DC, a visit to Arlington National Cemetery is moving, humbling, and emotional.
We buried my grandfather at Arlington last year. He was a lifer in the marines and achieved the highest rank possible for a NCO (Master Gunnery Sergeant) and served three tours in Vietnam, so had a funeral with all the honors. It was a incredible service to be part of and I am sure he would have loved it.
Oh, wow, that just gives me chills. Your grandfather sounds like an amazing man! Sending a big hug your way!
I visited Arlington a long time ago and only remember visiting JFK’s grave. The place was huge and I didn’t really know my way around it but JFK’s grave was an easy one. This was before Jackie passed away but I remember seeing the plaque for his son Patrick and thinking how sad it was. There was a third one but I didn’t remember it was another child… It was a very moving experience. Obviously there is a lot more to see in Arlington so I’ll have to spend more time there!
In addition to baby Patrick, Jack and Jackie’s stillborn daughter, Arabella, is also buried with them at Arlington.
We were in Arlington Cemetery ten years ago. We just took photos, especially of the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I didn’t know Taft was also buried there and that Robert E Lee’s house sits atop the hill.
The Robert E. Lee House is one of the most absolutely fascinating parts of Arlington National Cemetery.
I can see why you might want to take a shuttle through the 624 acre site. I find cemeteries interesting to visit for all the history they can reveal. I am sure the 400,000 graves tell so many different stories. I am a Kennedy history fan so would definitely want to stop there. And I won’t be throwing coins on the grave!
It’s a very moving place to visit.