What to wear on the National Mall

Shoes you have already walked in, and layers. A realistic day out here is about four miles on flat paved and gravel paths, so this is a walking-shoes day rather than a sightseeing-sandals day. In summer, cover your head and carry water: there is very little shade on the grass panels, and the shade there is sits in the elm rows along the sides. In cool months, remember that the open-air cart tours are unheated.

Full day on footAbout 4 miles

Mall end to end1.9 miles

GroundFlat, paved or gravel

Shade on the grassVery little

Open-air cartsUnheated

Mall open24 hours

The single most common mistake I saw as a ranger was new footwear. Four flat miles in shoes you bought for the trip is worse than eight in shoes you have owned a year. After that it is sun cover: the Mall is designed as an open axis, which is beautiful and gives you almost nowhere to hide in July. If you are out in the middle of the day, walk the elm rows rather than the centre panels, or go into a museum, since they are free and air-conditioned.

Evenings need one more layer than you expect, because you will be standing still at memorials rather than walking. That goes double if you have booked anything open-air: the electric carts are open-sided and unheated, which is fine in May and noticeable in November.

Insider tip

Whatever you wear, carry water. There is very little on sale on the Mall itself, and the walk between the Lincoln Memorial and the museum row is longer than it looks on a map.

If the four miles is the part you want to avoid rather than dress for, hand some of it over: the two-hour electric cart at $49 covers most of the line with seven guests to a cart and hop-off stops at the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. Folding wheelchairs are welcome with independent or assisted boarding, though there is no ramp and motorised or non-folding wheelchairs cannot be accommodated. Distances and timings are on how long it takes to walk the Mall, and the seasonal picture is on the best time to visit.

Check dates for the electric cart tour

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure on most tours — book now, decide later.

Frequently asked questions

What should I wear to walk around DC all day?

Broken-in walking shoes, layers you can shed, and sun cover in summer. A full day on the National Mall runs to about four miles on flat ground, and the grass panels have very little shade. Detail on the distances is in how long it takes to walk the Mall.

Is there anywhere to shelter from the sun on the National Mall?

The elm rows along the sides of the Mall hold most of the shade; the grass panels down the middle hold almost none. The other option is free: every Smithsonian museum along the Mall costs nothing to walk into — see the free museums.

What should I wear on an evening tour of the memorials?

One more layer than the daytime temperature suggests, because you spend evenings standing still rather than walking. The open-air electric carts are unheated, and the night trolley involves two stretches on foot at the memorials. See the Mall at night.