Like the White House category, these are DC monuments-and-memorials tours where the Lincoln Memorial is one stop on the National Mall circuit—no tour 'enters' it because it's an open-air monument. The choice is the familiar DC one: night versus day, private versus group, and the price gap is huge, from $54 to $595.
DC's monuments are at their most powerful lit up after dark, so the night tours (the $94.34 monuments tour, the $275 small-group evening tour, the private ones) are the emotional highlight. But the two standout values are the $54 electric-cart Mall tour and the $67 Moonlight tour—both cover the memorial well without the private-tour markup. Reserve the $500-595 private tours for larger groups splitting the cost.
#1Editor's Choice
Washington DC Monuments and Memorials Night Tour
The best-rated night tour of the Mall's monuments, at a fair price.
★★★★★ 5.0 (143 reviews)·from $94·3h 00m·
This 3-hour night tour holds a perfect 5.0 across 143 reviews for $94.34, taking in the Jefferson Memorial, Ford's Theatre, the White House, and the Marine Corps War Memorial—the Mall's monuments at their most striking, lit after dark. It's the top-rated option here and priced far below the private night tours covering the same ground.
★★★★★“Very professional complete coverage of every site and hise voice was hearable and showed great concern about our comfort wonderful tour guide I would rate him a 10.”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Bottled water
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Audio Link for Each Site
Where you'll go: Thomas Jefferson Memorial · Ford's Theatre · The White House · Marine Corps War Memorial
What's good
- Perfect 5.0 across 143 reviews
- Monuments illuminated at night are unforgettable
- Well under half the price of the private night tours
What to know
- Group format, not private
- Open-air monuments only (true of all here)
Best for: Most visitors wanting the monuments after dark, done well.
Skip it if: You need a private tour or prefer daytime.
#2Best Small-Group Evening
Washington DC Small-Group Evening City Tour
A perfect-rated small-group evening tour—premium price for the smaller crowd.
★★★★★ 5.0 (136 reviews)·from $275·3h 00m·
This 3-hour small-group evening tour rates a perfect 5.0 across 136 reviews and includes the Lincoln Memorial by name among stops at the Jefferson Memorial and Pentagon 9/11 Memorial, for $275. The 5.0 and small-group cap are the appeal; the price is a big step up from the similarly rated $94 tour, so you're paying mainly for a smaller group.
★★★★★“Great tour guide - amazing experience. The tour guide was so knowledgeable and kind. We all learned a lot”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Where you'll go: Marine Corps War Memorial · Jefferson Memorial · Lincoln Memorial · The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
What's good
- Perfect 5.0 across 136 reviews
- Small-group cap for a less crowded experience
- Explicitly includes the Lincoln Memorial and 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
What to know
- Nearly 3x the price of the $94 night tour
- Small-group premium may not feel worth it to everyone
Best for: Travelers who'll pay more to avoid a big group at night.
Skip it if: You're fine in a standard group and want to save.
#3Most Expensive
Private Night-Time Monuments Tour of DC for up to 10 Guests
A private night tour for up to 10—value only if you fill it.
★★★★½ 4.9 (127 reviews)·from $595·Flexible·Private
At $595 this private night-time monuments tour for up to 10 guests rates 4.9 across 127 reviews, covering the Capitol, White House, WWII Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial. As with the White House category, the economics hinge on group size: divided among ten it's fair; for a couple it's the most expensive way to see monuments that a $94 tour covers.
★★★★★“This tour was the perfect experience for our little family. Christopher picked us up promptly at our hotel and ensured that we saw everything on our list since we had very limited time in The District. He even gave us restaurant recommendations that were on point! Great experience. Highly recommend!!!”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Pass by John F. Kennedy Center, and Arlington Cemetery
- Complimentary umbrellas or ponchos during inclement weather
- Transportation via luxury air conditioned vehicle
- Great photo opportunities at each stop
Where you'll go: U.S. Capitol · The White House · National World War II Memorial · Jefferson Memorial
What's good
- Private night tour of the illuminated monuments
- Fits up to 10, so big groups get real value
- Strong 4.9 rating
What to know
- Top price on the list at $595
- Poor value for small parties
Best for: Large groups wanting a private night tour to split.
Skip it if: You're a small party—the group night tours are far better value.
#4Best Private + Ceremony
Private Washington DC Tour with Changing of the Guard Ceremony
A private daytime tour centered on the Changing of the Guard.
★★★★½ 4.9 (100 reviews)·from $500·4h 00m·Private
This 4-hour private daytime tour ($500, 4.9 over 100 reviews) covers the White House, Capitol, and Smithsonian with a Changing of the Guard ceremony. It's a distinctive private option, but with 100 reviews it's the least-proven private tour here and, being daytime, misses the illuminated-monument drama that makes the night tours special.
★★★★★“Very good experience our tour guide Louis was very informative and gave us the best facts about all our tour site visits . Very friendly and. Very good at his dates and information .. fully recommend this trip”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Bottled water
- WiFi on board
- Flexibility to customize the visit to your requests.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off.
Where you'll go: Washington DC · The White House · U.S. Capitol · Smithsonian Institution Building
What's good
- Private tour featuring the guard-changing ceremony
- 4.9 rating
- Covers the government-landmark core
What to know
- Fewest reviews among the private options
- Daytime, so no lit-monument payoff
Best for: Private-tour seekers set on seeing the ceremony.
Skip it if: You want the monuments at night or better value.
#5Best Value
DC Monuments & Capitol Hill Highlights Tour by Electric Cart
An electric-cart Mall tour that covers the most ground for the least money.
★★★★½ 4.8 (1,833 reviews)·from $54·2h 00m·
At $54 this 2-hour electric-cart tour is the cheapest option here and well-reviewed at 4.8 across a large 1,833 reviews. It rolls through the National Mall and its Smithsonian museums efficiently—the cart covers far more than you'd walk in two hours. For daytime Mall touring on a budget, this is the clear pick.
★★★★★“Super fun tour! Chris was friendly and knowledgeable. The golf cart is the way to tour DC! We enjoyed it!”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Hear expert stories and local insights
- Explore with a friendly, expert local guide
- Get insider tips to plan your DC adventure
- Enjoy photo stops and scenic views
Where you'll go: National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · The National Mall · Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History · National Air and Space Museum
What's good
- Cheapest tour at $54 with a big 1,833-review base
- Electric cart covers the sprawling Mall efficiently
- Solid 4.8 rating
What to know
- Daytime tour, no illuminated monuments
- Mall/museum focus more than a deep Lincoln Memorial stop
Best for: Budget travelers wanting maximum Mall coverage by day.
Skip it if: You want the monuments lit up at night.
#6Most Active
Washington DC "See the City" Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour
A Segway glide around the White House and Mall area.
★★★★½ 4.8 (517 reviews)·from $70·2h 30m·
This 2.5-hour Segway tour (4.8, 517 reviews) covers the White House, Lafayette Square, and the Treasury for $70. The 517-review 4.8 is reliable and the Segway adds fun and range, but its route centers on the White House area more than the Lincoln Memorial specifically, and it's a daytime experience.
★★★★★“This was a great tour lead by an excellent group that understands their work and was so helpful on learning to use a Segway”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Guided Sightseeing Segway Tour of Washington DC
- Multiple opportunities to stop for photos
- 30-minute training session on the Segway with video and one-on-one assistance from guide
- See over 25+ top DC attractions including the White House, US Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and more!
Where you'll go: The White House · Lafayette Square · United States Department of the Treasury · Lockkeeper's House
What's good
- Strong 4.8 across 517 reviews
- Segway covers ground with a novelty factor
- Affordable at $70
What to know
- Route is White House-centric, lighter on Lincoln Memorial
- Segways don't suit everyone; daytime only
Best for: Active travelers wanting a fun, efficient daytime tour.
Skip it if: You want a night tour or a Lincoln Memorial focus.
#7Best Value at Night
Moonlight Tour of Washington DC
A cheap, well-rated moonlight tour of the big monuments.
★★★★½ 4.8 (263 reviews)·from $67·3h 00m·
At $67 this 3-hour Moonlight Tour (4.8, 263 reviews) covers the White House, Capitol, WWII Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial after dark—the same night-monument appeal as the 5.0 leader for less money. The rating is a step lower (4.8) and the review base smaller, but it's the budget route to seeing DC illuminated.
★★★★★“Small group, small bus, short stops, but amazing experience! Great tour guide. Avoided crowds and weather.”
— Verified traveller
What's included
- Hotel pick up and drop off from downtown Washington DC hotels only.
- Local guide
- Bottled water
- Small-group tours
Where you'll go: The White House · U.S. Capitol · National World War II Memorial · Jefferson Memorial
What's good
- One of the cheapest tours at $67
- Covers the major monuments lit at night
- Solid 4.8 over 263 reviews
What to know
- Rating below the 5.0 top pick
- Smaller review base than the leader
Best for: Budget travelers wanting the night monuments and willing to trade a little polish.
Skip it if: You'll pay a bit more for the higher-rated 5.0 night tour.
Before you go
- It's free and open 24/7 — no ticket ever needed; you're only paying tours for transport and narration.
- Visit after dark for the lit statue and thin crowds, or at sunrise for a quiet Reflecting Pool shot toward the Washington Monument.
- The Mall is ~2 miles end to end and the memorials are spread out — a cart or Segway tour saves a lot of walking in DC heat.
- Look for the engraved step marking where MLK delivered 'I Have a Dream,' and read the Gettysburg Address on the interior wall.
- Bring water and sun protection in summer; the open Mall offers little shade between memorials.
- Private/small-group night tours are priced per vehicle — compare against the ~$67 shared Moonlight tour for your group size.
How I ranked these
For Lincoln Memorial tours I weighted three things: what you actually get for the money (group size, what's included, special access), the rating balanced against how many reviews back it up — a 4.9 from 200 people isn't the same as a 4.6 from 15,000 — and price for what's on offer. Ratings, review counts and prices shift over time, so always check the live booking page before you pay.
Good to know
Is the Lincoln Memorial free to visit, and is a tour necessary?
The memorial is free and open around the clock, so you never need a ticket. Tours add value through transport and storytelling — the National Mall is bigger than it looks and the memorials are spread out. The DC electric-cart tour (~$54) or a Segway tour (~$70) let you cover Lincoln, the Reflecting Pool, WWII, and Jefferson memorials without exhausting walks.
When is the best time to see the Lincoln Memorial?
After dark is a favorite — the statue is dramatically lit inside the columns and crowds thin out, which is why the night tours (~$67–$275) center on it. Sunrise over the Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument is also stunning and quiet. Midday in summer is hot, humid, and busy with school groups.
How far is the Lincoln Memorial from the other monuments?
It anchors the west end of the National Mall by the Reflecting Pool; the WWII Memorial, Washington Monument, and Jefferson Memorial (around the Tidal Basin) are each a solid walk away — the full Mall is roughly two miles end to end. That distance is exactly why the cart, Segway, and evening driving tours here exist.
Can I read the Gettysburg Address and see where MLK spoke?
Yes — the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's Second Inaugural are carved into the interior side walls, and an engraving on the steps marks roughly where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered 'I Have a Dream' in 1963. Good guides point both out; on your own, look for the marked step below the chamber entrance.
Are the evening small-group and private night tours worth the higher price?
The small-group evening tour (~$275) and private night tours (~$500–$595) are priced for exclusivity or per-vehicle for up to ~10 people. For a group they spread out; for individuals the ~$67 Moonlight tour covers the same lit memorials far more cheaply. Choose based on party size and how much you value a private guide.
Prices are "from" prices in USD and change with date and availability. Last updated August 2026.