How to visit the Supreme Court in Washington DC. Most visitor guides leave out: the building is free, open to the public on weekdays, and you can actually sit inside the courtroom and watch the justices hear real cases — no ticket required, no congressional connection needed. You just have to know how it works.
Whether you’re visiting from out of town or you’re a DC local who has never made the trip across the Capitol grounds, this is everything you need to know.
The Basics
Address: 1 First Street NE, Washington DC 20543
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed federal holidays and weekends)
Admission: Free
Nearest Metro: Capitol South (Blue/Orange/Silver Line) or Union Station (Red Line)
The building sits directly across the street from the U.S. Capitol on First Street. You can’t miss it — it’s the one that looks like it was designed to make you feel small on purpose. That’s intentional. The neoclassical marble structure was built in 1935 and carries the inscription Equal Justice Under Law above the main entrance.
What You Can See on a Regular Visit
The Supreme Court doesn’t offer guided tours, but the self-guided experience is genuinely worth your time.
The Great Hall runs along the main floor and is lined with busts of every former Chief Justice. It’s impressive and surprisingly personal — you’re walking past the faces of the people who shaped American law for over two centuries.
The Courtroom is the main event. You can enter and look around when court is not in session. A docent gives a free courtroom lecture at the bottom of every hour — these run about 30 minutes and cover how the court works, the history of the building, and the significance of what happens in that room. If you have kids with you, this is the version to do. The docents are good at making it accessible.
Ground floor exhibits cover the history of the court, landmark decisions, and how the judicial process works. Plan on 30–45 minutes for the exhibits alone.
The cafeteria is open to the public. It’s a legitimate hidden gem for a quick lunch on the Hill — not fancy, but convenient and cheap by DC standards.
The Big Thing: Watching Oral Arguments Live
This is what most people don’t know is possible.
From the first Monday in October through late April, the Supreme Court hears oral arguments — the actual cases. Both sides get 30 minutes to argue before the nine justices. It is one of the most extraordinary things you can witness in Washington DC, and it’s open to the public.
Here’s how to get a seat:
The court is currently running a pilot online lottery program for courtroom seating. You can apply for up to 4 tickets per argument session through the Supreme Court’s website. Tickets are non-transferable and you’ll need a government-issued ID that matches your name to claim them.
On top of the lottery, seats are also available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the argument. For a high-profile case, people line up the night before — sometimes days before. For a lower-profile argument, arriving by 6:00–7:00 a.m. typically gets you in. Only about 50 seats are available to the general public for the full session.
Bench Opinions are another option worth knowing about. From mid-May through late June, the court announces its decisions on Monday mornings at 10:00 a.m. These are open to the public and require no advance planning — just show up.
Argument schedule: Cases are generally heard on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. during session weeks, with occasional afternoon sessions. Check the court’s official calendar at supremecourt.gov before you go.
Important Rules Before You Go
A few things that will save you from a frustrating experience:
- No photography inside the building. This includes the courtroom, even before the justices enter. Court officers enforce this strictly. You can photograph the exterior and plaza freely.
- No food or drinks inside (cafeteria excepted).
- No large bags or backpacks — security screening is required for all visitors. Travel light.
- The building closes to general visitors on court session days unless you have a seat for oral arguments. Check the daily calendar at supremecourt.gov before making the trip.
- No parking at the building. Metro is your best option.
For Families and DC Locals: Why This Is Worth the Trip
This is one of the best civics experiences in the entire city for kids — and it’s genuinely underused by DC-area families.
Think about what it means for a child to stand in the actual room where cases like Brown v. Board of Education were argued. To sit in on a live oral argument and watch nine justices question attorneys in real time. To walk past the busts of people whose decisions changed the course of American history.
The courtroom lectures are designed to be accessible to all ages. The exhibits on the ground floor do a good job explaining the court’s role without assuming prior knowledge. And unlike many DC monuments, the Supreme Court building feels intimate — it’s not a stadium, it’s a working courthouse, and that scale makes it feel real in a way that resonates with kids.
Local families: this is a half-day trip that pairs naturally with a walk over to the Capitol Visitor Center and then lunch. You don’t need to travel across the country to justify making this stop.
Best Time to Visit
October through April if you want any chance of watching oral arguments — that’s the court’s active term.
May through June for Bench Opinion Mondays, when decisions are announced. Given what’s on the docket in any given term, this can be electric.
Summer if you just want to tour the building without crowds. The exhibits are open, the courtroom lectures run, and the lines are shorter. The court is not in session but the building is fully accessible.
Crowds peak March through June. Go early — doors open at 9:00 a.m. and the first courtroom lecture of the day fills up fast.
Getting There
Metro: Capitol South station (Blue/Orange/Silver Line) is the closest — about a 5-minute walk. Union Station (Red Line) is about 10–12 minutes on foot.
From the Capitol: If you’re already visiting the Capitol Visitor Center, the Supreme Court is a 3-minute walk across First Street. These two stops pair perfectly together.
From the Senate office buildings: Also walkable — give yourself about 10 minutes.
There is no on-site parking. Street parking on Capitol Hill is limited and heavily enforced. Metro is the right call.
Quick Reference
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Admission | Free |
| Courtroom lectures | Bottom of every hour, free |
| Oral arguments | Oct–April, lottery + first-come seats |
| Bench opinions | Mid-May through June, Monday mornings |
| Photography | Exterior only |
| Metro | Capitol South or Union Station |
The Supreme Court pairs naturally with a visit to the U.S. Capitol and the Senate office buildings. If you haven’t read our guide on how to visit your senator or representative in DC — including how to get gallery passes and arrange other federal tours — that’s a good next stop.
Before you drive in, read our guide to parking near the US Capitol — the Supreme Court shares the same parking situation and the RPP zones will catch you off guard.