How to Visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC with Kids

Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington DC — Photo by bloodua

THE INSIDE SCOOP ON EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VISITING THE KOREAN WAR VETERANS 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 Korean War Memorial is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year. It never closes and can be a neat place to visit in the early morning hours or late at night when it’s much less crowded.

No tickets are required for any part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

The Korean War Memorial is an outdoor memorial. Much of the memorial is open to the sun, but there is a wonderfully peaceful area to sit and contemplate that is covered by trees and gives great shade coverage.

There are three bathrooms that are rather close, but all are in separate directions your next stop will determine which is best to visit.

If heading to the Lincoln Memorial, bathrooms available in the lower lobby area in the southeast corner of the building, follow the ramp on the left side of the memorial.

If you are heading to the World War II Memorial, there are public bathrooms just beyond the DC War Memorial on the path through the grass (start walking towards the Washington Monument).

If you are heading to the MLK Jr. Memorial or FDR Memorial, then your best option, is to head to the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Bookstore, there is a public bathroom on the other side of that same building. It is across the street from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on West Basin Drive, SW.

There are a semi-circle of benches under a canopy of dense shade at this memorial. Please remember to be respectful when resting here.

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

You can borrow a wheelchair from the ranger station when it’s open (9:30am-10pm daily, except for Christmas) as long as there is one available. You will need to provide a form of ID until the wheelchair is returned.

There is handicapped parking on the south side of the Lincoln Memorial.

Although National Parks are pet-friendly and your dog is welcome at the National Mall, they are NOT permitted in most of the memorials. 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 Korean War Veterans Memorial.

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

NEARBY PLACES YOUR KIDS WILL LIKE

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

World War II Memorial

How to Get to the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC

Korean War Veterans Memorial
10 Daniel French Dr, SW, Washington, D.C.
Nearest Intersection: Independence Ave. & Daniel Chester French Dr. SW

The nearest Metro stations are Foggy Bottom (1 mile away) or the Smithsonian on the Mall station (1.1 miles away). Both will require quite a walk, so Metro is not usually your best option for visiting the memorial unless you are already planning to stop by and see the Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, or the Lincoln Memorial along the way. You will pass many of these while walking from the Smithsonian Metro station.

If riding the DC Circulator (all rides just $1), use the National Mall route and get off at the Lincoln Memorial/Korean War 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.

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.

Parking at the Korean and Lincoln Memorials are very limited. You can park along Constitution Avenue, NW when it isn’t rush hour or along West Basin Drive, SW by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial/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.