How to Visit the White House
If you’re planning to visit Washington DC, it’s also a perfect opportunity to visit its gem: The White House. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue played home and host to many great leaders and dignitaries. Here’s how to get a chance to step on the historic place.
Start your planning by finding ten or more people to go with as a group.
Submit a letter of request to your member of Congress. You can send in your request six months in advance, but no later than 30 days in advance. It’s recommended to send in your request as early as possible because the tours are very high demand and have very few slots.
whitehouse visit
If you’re not from the United States, contact your country’s embassy in Washington, DC to submit a letter of request.
You hopefully will receive a list of documentation required as proof of your identity. These could include your driver’s license, passport or birth certificate.
Once the documentation is processed, all you have to do is wait for confirmation of your White House visit.
The White House reserves the right to cancel tours at the last minute. To ensure that your tour is still a go, you can call the 24-hour Visitor’s Office Information at 202-456-7041 to confirm.
If you are hearing-impaired, call 202-456-2121 to access the Visitor’s Office Information telephone device for the deaf.
Tours for the visually-impaired are also welcome, and guide animals are allowed within the White House premises.
The White House has devices that will help those in wheelchairs or those with disabilities.
There are no parking lots near the White House, so it’s better to take public transportation to get there. It’s also best if you already know the route getting there beforehand.
Come on time. Self-guided tours are only available 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Tours take place Tuesdays through Thursdays on 7:30 AM to 12:00 nn. Fridays and Saturdays have tours from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM. The tour hours will be extended if possible, based on the White House schedule.
You are prohibited from bringing these items in the White House. Book bags, backpacks, handbags, food, beverages, purses, cameras, video recorders, strollers, tobacco products, pointed objects, aerosol containers, ammunition, electric stun guns, fireworks, martial arts weapons and knives of any size. The US Secret Service has the right to prohibit other personal items. However, cellphones, umbrellas, car keys and wallets are all allowed.
Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, the following: handbags, book bags, backpacks, purses, food and beverages of any kind, strollers, cameras, video recorders or any type of recording device, tobacco products, personal grooming items (make-up, hair brush or comb, lip or hand lotions, etc.), any pointed objects (pens, knitting needles, etc.), aerosol containers, guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons/devices, or knives of any size
Public tours of the White House are available. Requests must be submitted through one’s Member of Congress and are accepted up to six months in advance. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Fridays, and 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturdays (excluding federal holidays). Tour hours will be extended when possible based on the official White House schedule.
After the tour, you can visit the Visitor’s Station.