Free in Arlington: MoCA Arlington, the Changing of the Guard, Theodore Roosevelt Island, the Netherlands Carillon, 159 county parks and two nature centers.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Facts come from each place’s own site: MoCA Arlington, the National Park Service, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County’s parks pages and NOVA Parks. “Free” means the organizer says so or lists no fee; parking may cost extra.

Some of Arlington’s best-known places cost nothing to see. The National Park Service runs a string of memorials and river parks along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, MoCA Arlington charges no admission, and the county keeps 159 parks and two nature centers open to everyone. For county parks, call park maintenance at 703-228-6525.

What this means for you

  • Free museum: MoCA Arlington, noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, free parking.
  • Free outdoors: county parks (sunrise to sunset), the W&OD (5 a.m. to 9 p.m.), Theodore Roosevelt Island (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.).
  • Pay to park: Arlington National Cemetery’s garage is $3 an hour; the Metro station is a five-minute walk.

Memorials and history

  • Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery: every hour on the hour Oct. 1 to March 31, every half hour April 1 to Sept. 30. The cemetery is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. See our cemetery guide for parking and security.
  • Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, inside the cemetery: the house, grounds, museum and Enslaved People’s Quarters are open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, and the park service lists no entrance fee.
  • U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, near Rosslyn: based on Joe Rosenthal’s photograph of Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima, dedicated Nov. 10, 1954, and paid for by Marines and friends of the Marine Corps. NPS page.
  • Netherlands Carillon, beside it: a 49-bell tower given by the people of the Netherlands and dedicated May 5, 1960. Its bells weigh 61,403 pounds in total. Restrooms are between the carillon and the war memorial. NPS page.

Free museum

MoCA Arlington, the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, 3550 Wilson Blvd., 703-248-6800, offers free admission for everyone. Galleries are open noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday or by appointment, with free art making and live music on Sundays. It has a free parking lot, and more parking is on Wilson Boulevard and Monroe Street.

River parks and views

  • Theodore Roosevelt Island: miles of trails through woods and swamp on an island built as a memorial to the 26th president, open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, no entrance fee listed.
  • Gravelly Point: plane spotters watch jets arrive and depart at Reagan National Airport.
  • Mount Vernon Trail: 18 paved miles along the Potomac with views of the Washington skyline, open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Parks, trails and nature centers

  • County parks: 159 of them, open sunrise to sunset unless posted. Find one on the county’s park finder.
  • Nature centers: Long Branch, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, and Gulf Branch, 3608 N. Military Road, have exhibits and live animals.
  • Trails: the W&OD, Custis, Four Mile Run and Mount Vernon trails. See our walking and biking trails guide.
  • Dog parks: 10 county dog parks. See our dog-friendly guide.
  • Spraygrounds: seven, open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. See our summer camps and pools guide.

Free events

The business improvement districts run events through the year; the Rosslyn BID says its events are free or low cost. Next up: The Lodge, National Landing’s free winter festival, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, in Metropolitan Park, 1330 S. Fair St., with Santa photos, a holiday train and live music.

More are on our holiday lights and Christmas events page and the weekly things to do this weekend guide. Libraries run free story times and programs; see our kids’ activities guide.

Related guides: farmers markets, history and landmarks and date night.

Frequently asked questions

Is MoCA Arlington free?

Yes. The Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, 3550 Wilson Blvd., offers free admission for everyone and free parking in its lot. Galleries are open noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday.

Is there an entrance fee for Theodore Roosevelt Island?

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for Theodore Roosevelt Island, the George Washington Memorial Parkway or Arlington House. The island is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

What free events are in Arlington?

The business districts run free festivals, such as National Landing’s The Lodge winter festival on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, in Metropolitan Park. County parks, nature centers and libraries also run free programs.

Can you watch the Changing of the Guard in Arlington?

Yes. At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery it happens every hour on the hour from Oct. 1 to March 31 and every half hour from April 1 to Sept. 30. Garage parking is $3 an hour; the Metro station is a five-minute walk.