NYC Bus ToursWashington DC Tour from NYC: What the 15-Hour Bus Day Trip Covers
This washington dc tour from nyc is Interviajes NY's day trip by bus or van from Times Square, listed on GetYourGuide at $107 per person with a 4.6 rating from 4,650 reviews, the most reviewed day trip in the comparison. It runs 15 hours, leaves at 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM depending on the departure you pick when booking, and puts a live English or Spanish guide in front of you for the whole day. You stop at Arlington National Cemetery, the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam and Korean War memorials, the White House and the Capitol, then get 90 minutes of free time on the National Mall. This page breaks down the price, the route stop by stop, and who should book something else. Compare it with the other NYC sightseeing bus tours.
About This Tour
Interviajes NY runs this day trip daily from 7th Avenue and West 51st Street in Times Square, with departures at 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM chosen at booking. The ride south goes through New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, with a 30-minute breakfast stop at the Delaware House Travel Plaza. In Washington you get about three hours of guided sightseeing plus 90 minutes of free time.
The vehicle is an air-conditioned bus or van, and the operator picks which one based on the day's bookings, so you cannot choose. The guide leads walks at Arlington, the memorials, the White House and the Capitol. The return leg includes a night view of the NYC skyline from New Jersey, with an optional photo stop at Hamilton Park.
$107 per person, shown on GetYourGuide with $114 crossed out. Reserve now and pay later is available.
15 hours, door to door from Times Square.
7th Ave and W 51st St, New York, NY 10019. Return drop-off is at Times Square, 7th Avenue and West 51st Street, one of two drop-off locations.
Live tour guide, in English or Spanish. You choose the language when booking.
This is a fixed guided itinerary, not hop-on hop-off. You get off with the group at the walking stops and stay with the guide.
Not included: tips, food and drinks, and no museum admission. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund.
Check Dates and Availability
The listing marks this tour as likely to sell out, so checking a date early is sensible. Departure times are 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM and you select one when reserving.
Quick answer The DC day trip in brief
This washington dc tour from nyc costs $107 per person, runs 15 hours and carries a 4.6 rating from 4,650 GetYourGuide reviews. You leave Times Square from 6:00, 7:00 or 8:00 AM with a live guide in English or Spanish, walk the main memorials with the group, and get 90 minutes of free time on the National Mall.
Key takeaways
- The price covers transport, the guide and pickup and drop-off at the meeting point, but not food, tips or museum entry. See what the ticket covers.
- You spend about three hours on guided sightseeing in DC plus 90 minutes free, the only museum time. Read the route stop by stop.
- It is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. Check who this rules out.
- If you want Philadelphia in the same day, the Washington DC and Philadelphia day trip is the alternative.
What the Ticket Actually Covers
The $107 buys the round trip, the guide and the walking stops. Almost everything you consume on the day is extra, so budget for it.
Included in the $107
The lines below separate what the $107 covers from what you pay for yourself on the day, based only on the operator's own listing. The listing includes round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned bus or van, the live tour guide, meeting point pickup and drop-off, the walking and photo stops, and the 90 minutes of free time at the end. Reserve now and pay later is offered.
Whether you ride a bus or a van is decided by the operator from the day's reservations, not by you.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Round-trip transport | Yes | Air-conditioned bus or van, chosen by the operator from the day's bookings |
| Live guide | Yes | English or Spanish, chosen at booking |
| Walking stops | Yes | Arlington, Iwo Jima, Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean, White House, Capitol |
| 90 minutes free time | Yes | At the National Mall, the itinerary names the Air and Space Museum |
| Museum admission | No | No entry is included, the free time is your only museum window |
| Food and drinks | No | Breakfast at the Delaware stop and lunch in DC are bought on site |
| Tips | No | Not included |
| Hotel pickup | No | You meet at 7th Ave and W 51st St |
One Thing to Watch
The listing names the free-time stop as the National Mall in its description and as the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in its itinerary. The two descriptions differ, so confirm with the operator which one applies before you plan around a museum. The Smithsonian museums along the Mall have free admission, and the Air and Space Museum requires free timed-entry passes and is open 10am to 5:30pm daily, so you would need to arrange a pass and time it against the 90-minute window.
If a museum matters to you more than a quick look, the 90 minutes may feel short, and a Washington DC and Philadelphia day trip trades DC depth for a second city instead.
Sources: GetYourGuide listing, Smithsonian, Air and Space Museum.
The US Capitol dome, a 20-minute stop. Photo: Diliff, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
The Route, Stop by Stop
The itinerary below follows the operator's own listing. Durations are as stated there, and the listing notes that itineraries are subject to change.
The Ride Down
You meet at 7th Ave and W 51st St for your chosen 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM departure. The first leg is about two hours by bus or coach to the Delaware House Travel Plaza, a 30-minute breakfast and restroom break. Then it is about two more hours through Maryland, passing Baltimore, before you reach Washington DC.
The Guided Walking Stops
These are the stops where you get off, with the minutes the listing gives for each. In DC the tour passes the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and the Pentagon for about five minutes each from the vehicle, then stops properly. Arlington National Cemetery gets 50 minutes, with the guide escorting you to the Kennedy brothers' gravesite.
The Iwo Jima Memorial gets 15 minutes for photos. After passing Georgetown for 10 minutes, you cross to the Lincoln Memorial for a 20-minute visit, walk the Reflecting Pool for 10 minutes, and spend 20 minutes at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and 15 at the Korean War Veterans Memorial. The White House gets a 20-minute photo stop and walk through the gardens, and the Capitol gets 20 minutes.
Along the way the bus passes Constitution Avenue, the Organization of American States, the Washington Monument, Pennsylvania Avenue, the FBI headquarters and the National Archives.
| Stop | Time off the bus | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware House Travel Plaza | 30 minutes | Breakfast and restrooms, both directions |
| Arlington National Cemetery | 50 minutes | Guided walk to the Kennedy gravesite |
| Iwo Jima Memorial | 15 minutes | Photo stop |
| Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool | 20 plus 10 minutes | Visit and guided walk |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial | 20 minutes | Visit |
| Korean War Veterans Memorial | 15 minutes | Visit |
| White House | 20 minutes | Photo stop and garden walk |
| US Capitol | 20 minutes | Photo stop and walk |
| National Mall free time | 90 minutes | Museums and lunch on your own |
Free Time and the Ride Back
The final stop is the National Mall, where you get 90 minutes for exhibits, lunch and photos. The itinerary labels it the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum with break time, lunch, free time and a walk. Then comes a bus leg of about 2.33 hours back to the Delaware House Travel Plaza for a 20-minute coffee break, another two hours of driving, and a 15-minute optional photo stop at Hamilton Park in New Jersey for a night view of the NYC skyline before drop-off back at Times Square.
One Day Tour from New York City to Washington DC
How a one-day coach trip to Washington runs. Third-party video by Tour America. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
This is a long, fixed, shared day on a vehicle you do not choose. The listing is explicit about who it does not work for.
Access and Mobility
The listing states the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. The day involves walking at several stops with tight windows, 50 minutes at Arlington being the longest, and there is no statement of lift-equipped vehicles. If access is a priority, ask the operator of any bus tour before booking.
Time, Pace and Money
Fifteen hours from a 6:00, 7:00 or 8:00 AM start is a very long day, and most of it is on the road. The vehicle is a bus or van at the operator's discretion, the guide speaks English or Spanish only, and pets are not allowed. Food, drinks, tips and museum entry are outside the $107, and free cancellation closes 24 hours before the start.
If you would rather see Washington and Philadelphia together in the same 15 hours, the Washington DC and Philadelphia day trip by coach departs at 5:00 AM and starts from $95 with a 4.8 rating from 2,311 reviews. For shorter city days, compare all NYC bus tours on the homepage.
One Honest Note
The listing says itineraries are subject to change, so treat the stated leg lengths as estimates. Do not plan anything in Manhattan for the evening of the tour.
The Lincoln Memorial. Photo: Smash the Iron Cage, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting to the Start and What to Add
The meeting point sits inside the Times Square district, which the Times Square Alliance describes as 40th to 53rd Street between 6th and 8th Avenues. Give yourself time to find the group.
Finding the Meeting Point
You meet at 7th Ave and W 51st St, New York, NY 10019. The same corner serves other departures, including the contrasts tour of Harlem, the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn run by the same operator, Interviajes NY. Arrive ahead of your chosen departure, since the listing gives no pickup window.
Comfortable shoes and a jacket are listed as what to bring.
Before or After the Tour
The meeting point is in the Times Square district. The open-top double-decker NYC night bus tour departs at 6:00 PM or 8:00 PM for 90 minutes, which suits a different day than this one. For cheap independent travel in the city, the MTA local bus and subway fare is $3 and the Staten Island Ferry is free.
If DC has hooked you, note that Amtrak puts the Acela at about three hours between New York and Washington and the Northeast Regional at about 3 hours 20 minutes, with buses averaging about 4 to 4.5 hours, so a train trip is the faster way to reach the museums. More practical background sits in the hop on hop off NYC guide and the NYC contrast tour guide on this site.
The Day in Order
Clock times below are only where the listing states them. Everything else follows the listing's order and durations.
-
6:00, 7:00 or 8:00 AM
Depart Times Square
Meet at 7th Ave and W 51st St for your booked departure. The vehicle is an air-conditioned bus or van assigned by the operator.
-
After about 2 hours
Delaware House Travel Plaza
A 30-minute breakfast and restroom break in Delaware.
-
Arrival
Arrive in Washington DC
The ride continues through Maryland past Baltimore. The tour passes the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and the Pentagon, about five minutes each, from the vehicle.
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Guided DC block
Arlington and the memorials
50 minutes at Arlington National Cemetery with a guided walk to the Kennedy gravesite, 15 minutes at the Iwo Jima Memorial, then Georgetown from the bus, 20 minutes at the Lincoln Memorial, 10 at the Reflecting Pool, 20 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and 15 at the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
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Guided DC block
White House and Capitol
A 20-minute photo stop and garden walk at the White House, then Pennsylvania Avenue from the bus and a 20-minute stop at the US Capitol.
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Last 90 minutes in DC
Free time on the National Mall
The itinerary names the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Entry is not included and you buy lunch yourself.
-
Return
Return with a night view
About 2.33 hours back to the Delaware stop for a 20-minute coffee break, two more hours of driving, an optional 15-minute photo stop at Hamilton Park in New Jersey for the lit NYC skyline, then drop-off at Times Square.
Pros and Cons
A straight read of what this day trip gives you and what it costs you beyond the $107.
What we genuinely like
- The most reviewed day trip in the comparison, 4.6 from 4,650 verified bookings
- A live guide in English or Spanish for the whole day, not recorded audio
- Real walking stops in DC, including 50 minutes at Arlington National Cemetery
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, and reserve now and pay later
- A night view of the NYC skyline from New Jersey on the return, with an optional Hamilton Park photo stop
- Three departure times to choose from at booking
The honest downsides
- Fifteen hours is a long day, and most of it is on the road
- No museum admission is included, and 90 minutes is all the museum time you get
- The bus or van is chosen by the operator, not by you
- Food, drinks and tips are extra on top of the $107
- Not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments
- The itinerary is subject to change
Who it's NOT for: Not for anyone who needs step-free access, wants real museum time, or would rather spend a 15-hour day on two cities instead of one, in which case the Philadelphia combination tour fits better.
Questions About This Day Trip
How much does the Washington DC tour from NYC cost?
$107 per person on GetYourGuide, shown with $114 crossed out, and reserve now and pay later is available. Transport, the live guide and the walking stops are included, while food, tips and museum entry are not. See what the ticket covers.
What time does the bus leave Times Square?
You choose a 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM departure when booking, and the meeting point is 7th Ave and W 51st St. The tour lasts 15 hours in total. The full order of the day is in the route stop by stop.
Do I get to go inside the White House or the Capitol?
No. You stop outside both for 20 minutes each to walk and take pictures, and no attraction entry is included in the price. If a museum matters to you, the 90 minutes of free time at the National Mall is your only window, and the Smithsonian museums there are free. Details in what the ticket covers.
Is this tour suitable for someone who uses a wheelchair?
No. The listing states it is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments, and the day involves guided walking at several stops with tight time windows. Alternatives are set out in who this tour rules out.
Can I see Philadelphia on the same day trip?
Not on this one. The Washington DC and Philadelphia day trip by coach does both cities in 15 hours from $95 with a 4.8 rating from 2,311 reviews, leaving at 5:00 AM and adding the Independence Hall area and the Rocky Steps.
How does the bus compare with the train to Washington?
Amtrak puts the Acela at about three hours between New York and Washington and the Northeast Regional at about 3 hours 20 minutes, against about 4 to 4.5 hours for buses. What this $107 day trip buys is the guide and the structured stops, not the speed. The trade-offs are in who this tour rules out.
What is included in the price and what is not?
Round-trip transport in an air-conditioned bus or van, the live English or Spanish guide, meeting point pickup and drop-off, the walking stops and the 90 minutes of free time are included. Tips, food, drinks and museum admission are not, and there is no hotel pickup. The full list is in what the ticket covers.
What Travelers Said
Both the guides Tanya and David were great very informative and Diego the driver was excellent overall and excellent trip
Amazing tour and can’t appreciate enough our tour guide (English tour) . He was so professional, helpful and knowledgeable . Wonderful
Excelent Journey, with good host and most enjoyable moments
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