How to Visit the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, DC with Kids

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington DC — Photo by chiyacat

THE INSIDE SCOOP ON EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VISITING THE Franklin Delano Roosevelt MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, DC WITH KIDS.

The Junior Ranger Program has a National Malls and Memorial Parks book.

For the latest, up-to-the-minute information about closures and events, you’ll want to visit the National Park Service’s website here.

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.

No tickets are required for any part of the FDR Memorial.

The FDR Memorial is an outdoor memorial with ample places to sit and rest. There are plenty of benches in both the sunshine and shade; the Tidal Basin, which also lends itself to beautiful views of the water.

There are two public bathrooms available at the FDR Memorial, one at the north entrance, located on the opposite side of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Bookstore. The other bathroom is located at the other far end of the memorial, facing the Tidal Basin.

There are benches throughout the memorial and on the walkways along the Tidal Basin that are well shaded by trees. The FDR sits right next to the Tidal Basin’s edge and is a beautiful place to take a rest and cool off.

This memorial doesn’t have steps of any kind, so it’s very accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

Pets are welcome at the FDR Memorial! Bring your dog along to meet Fala, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s dog who sits next to FDR in one of the most popular statues in the memorial.

If you bring your pet, the National Park Service has asked the dogs to stay on a leash, and please always clean up after them.

The closest food available is at a food kiosk between the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. If you are visiting during one of the busy months for tourism, you will often find food trucks without a couple of blocks. My kids love the experience of ordering from a food truck; they think it’s so fun! Find some shade and have a picnic!

Cameras are permitted at the FDR Memorial and there are several popular places to take a photo, including with Fala (FDR’s dog) and standing in the breadline .

The Junior Ranger Program has a National Malls and Memorial Parks book.

nearby places your kids might like

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Lincoln Memorial Statue in Washington, DC

Korean War Veterans Memorial

World War II Memorial

How to Get to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, DC

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
1850 West Basin Dr SW, Washington, DC 20242
Nearest Intersection: West Basin Drive SW & Ohio Dr SW

The nearest Metro station is the Smithsonian on the Mall station (1.0 miles) and is about a 15-minute walk.

If riding the DC Circulator (all rides just $1), use the National Mall route and get off at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial / Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial stop.

There is bicycle parking near each of the major memorials, but the National Park Service asks that you walk your bikes through the memorials for everyone’s safety and to show respect. There is a bike dock for Capital Bikeshare between the Korean War Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial as well as on Ohio Drive just past the FDR Memorial where West Basin Drive SW and Ohio Drive intersect. There is street parking available on Ohio Drive.

Dockless scooters are all around, click here to read a helpful article on how to use the scooters. *Please be aware, that according to the scooter companies, you must be 18 years old to use a scooter.

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial has the closest options for street parking of most other memorials. There is street parking available on West Basin Drive, SW right by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (0.3 miles). These street parking options are for paid parking (you’ll need the ParkMobile App) and limited to 2 hours. Carefully read parking signs to avoid getting a ticket.

Alternatively, if you want to park all day without worrying about 2 hour limits, you can park along Ohio Drive, SW, near the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial/Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, or at the Tidal Basin parking lot (1500 Maine Avenue SW), or in Lots A, B & C south of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and then walk to the nearest attraction or Circulator stop.

If you want to know you have a guaranteed parking spot waiting for you, we recommend you use SpotHero and choose a garage closeby.