If you want know how to visit the Pentagon in Washington DC, you’re in for one of the most unique experiences the DC area has to offer — and most tourists never even try. The Pentagon is open to the public, the tour is free, and the guides are active-duty U.S. service members who walk you through one of the most historically significant buildings in the world. You just need to plan ahead and pass a security review.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What the Pentagon Actually Is
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington, Virginia — just across the Potomac from Washington DC, about 10 minutes from the National Mall. It is the largest office building in the world by floor space, housing roughly 26,000 military and civilian employees across 6.5 million square feet.
The building itself is a feat of engineering — five concentric pentagons connected by ten corridors, designed so that no two points in the building are more than a seven-minute walk apart. It was built in just 16 months during World War II and completed in January 1943.
It is also, of course, a site of profound national significance. On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 struck the western side of the building, killing 184 people. The Pentagon was repaired and fully operational within a year — a deliberate act of resilience — and the memorial to those lost is part of what you’ll see on the tour.
The Tour: What to Expect
Pentagon tours are guided — all guides are active U.S. service members. Tours run on Tuesdays and Thursdays only, at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., excluding federal holidays. Each tour accommodates up to 20 people and lasts approximately 60 minutes.
The tour covers about 1.5 miles on foot. Wear comfortable shoes — this is not a leisurely stroll.
What you’ll see:
- The Hall of Heroes — a display listing every recipient of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration
- The September 11 Memorial Corridor — the indoor memorial near the site of the 2001 attack, including the September 11 Memorial Chapel
- Military history displays — artifacts and exhibits covering significant moments across all branches of the U.S. military
- Native American military history — a display honoring the role of Native Americans in U.S. military service
- Three sections of the Berlin Wall — yes, inside the Pentagon
- 9/11 gallery — includes a piece of limestone from the Pentagon’s exterior that was damaged in the attack
Your guides are the real highlight. Active-duty service members who know this building and its history personally lead every tour, and they bring a depth of context that no exhibit label can replicate.
How to Book
Unlike the Capitol or Supreme Court, the Pentagon has its own online reservation portal where you can book directly — you don’t necessarily need to go through your congressional office, though that’s also an option.
Online booking: Visit the Pentagon Tours reservation portal at war.gov/Pentagon-Tours to request your tour. You’ll need to provide full names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers for every adult in your group. This information is used by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA) to conduct a pre-visit security review. Every adult visitor must be cleared before entry is approved.
Through your congressional office: Your senator or representative’s office can also submit a tour request on your behalf. Some offices have dedicated tour coordinators who handle this.
Timing: Requests must be submitted at least 14 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance. Tours fill up quickly — especially on Thursdays and during spring and summer. Book as early as your 90-day window allows.
Who can visit: U.S. citizens and permanent residents (green card holders) only. International visitors must arrange tours through their home country’s embassy in Washington DC.
Security: What to Know Before You Arrive
The Pentagon takes security seriously in a way that’s different from any other DC attraction.
- Arrive at least 60 minutes before your scheduled tour to allow time for security screening. If you arrive late, you will not be admitted.
- Check in at the Pentagon Tours window near the Metro entrance — bring your tour confirmation email and photo ID.
- No photography inside the building. None. This is strictly enforced. You can photograph the exterior freely.
- No electronic devices on the tour. This includes cell phones, cameras, headphones, and any other electronics. Since there is no secure storage for these items, leave them at your hotel or in your car if possible.
- No large bags or backpacks. Travel as light as you possibly can.
- All purses are subject to search.
This is the strictest security of any public tour in the DC area. Plan accordingly.
Getting There
The Pentagon has its own dedicated Metro station — Pentagon Station on the Blue and Yellow lines. It’s one of the most convenient federal building stops in the entire Metro system.
No public parking at the Pentagon. If you’re driving, park at Pentagon City Mall and walk through the pedestrian tunnel — it’s about a five-minute walk to the entrance.
The Pentagon is in Arlington, Virginia — not technically in Washington DC — but it’s easily accessible from anywhere in the city via Metro in 15–20 minutes from downtown.
Pair It With Arlington National Cemetery
The Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery are less than a mile apart, and visiting both on the same day is one of the most powerful military history experiences you can have in the DC area.
Arlington is the resting place of over 400,000 military service members, veterans, and their families. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Kennedy gravesites, and the Memorial Amphitheater are all within walking distance of the cemetery entrance. [Read our full guide to visiting Arlington National Cemetery here — LINK]
Spending a morning at the Pentagon and an afternoon at Arlington is a full-day itinerary that leaves a lasting impression — especially for families with children who are learning about American military history.
The Pentagon Memorial (No Reservation Required)
If you can’t get a tour confirmed or want to add time before or after — the Pentagon Memorial on the building’s southwest side is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no reservation required.
The memorial honors the 184 people killed in the September 11 attack — 125 inside the Pentagon and 59 aboard Flight 77. Each victim is represented by an illuminated bench placed along the flight path of the plane. The benches for Pentagon victims face the building; the benches for those aboard the flight face the sky.
It is one of the quietest, most moving memorials in the entire DC area. Worth visiting regardless of whether you get inside the building.
For Families and DC Locals
The Pentagon tour is genuinely underused by DC-area families, and it shouldn’t be.
What makes it different from every other government building tour is the guides. Sitting in a briefing room or walking a corridor while an active-duty Army colonel or Marine Corps sergeant explains what happened in that space on September 11, or describes the decision-making culture of the building they work in every day — that’s not something you can replicate in a museum.
For older kids especially (middle school and up), this is one of the most memorable experiences the DC area offers. The combination of military history, 9/11 context, and the sheer scale of the building hits differently than anything on the Mall.
Practical Tips
- Book early. Tuesdays and Thursdays only, limited to 20 people per session. The 90-day window goes fast in spring.
- Leave electronics at the hotel. No exceptions, no storage options.
- Wear walking shoes. 1.5 miles at a brisk pace.
- Arrive 60 minutes early. Security takes longer than you expect.
- The memorial is always open. Even if you can’t get inside, go see the memorial.
- Metro is the only smart option. Pentagon Station, Blue and Yellow lines.
Quick Reference
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Tour days | Tuesdays and Thursdays only |
| Tour times | 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. |
| Admission | Free |
| Capacity | 20 people per session |
| Booking | war.gov/Pentagon-Tours or congressional office |
| Advance notice | 14 days min / 90 days max |
| Who can visit | U.S. citizens and green card holders only |
| Duration | ~60 minutes / 1.5 miles |
| Electronics | Not permitted inside |
| Photography | Exterior only |
| Metro | Pentagon Station (Blue/Yellow Line) |
| Memorial | Open 24/7, no reservation needed |
The Pentagon pairs naturally with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery — both are in Arlington, Virginia, and together make one of the most meaningful full-day military history experiences in the DC area. You can also arrange your Pentagon tour through your senator or representative’s office — read our guide to visiting your senator in DC for everything you need to know about making the most of that connection.
Before you drive in, read our guide to parking near the Pentagon — public visitor parking is much more limited than most people expect.