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📍 D.C. · DATE NIGHT $

Date night & paid activities in Washington, D.C.

Paid picks with prices and hours from each official site. Open-now first.

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ParkPaid

Great Falls Park

📍 Great Falls · Fairfax & Inner Northern Virginia

NPS park overlooking Potomac River falls with overlooks and trails. Paid entrance; digital passes available via Recreation.gov.

💵 Entrance fee required (credit/debit only; no cash). Private vehicle $20; motorcycle $15; per person on foot/bike/horse $10 (ages 15 and under free). Passes valid 7 consecutive days; also valid at C&O Canal NHP. Annual park pass $35. America the Beautiful passes accepted.

🕑 Hours vary by season; see the official page

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026

Details Official site ↗

GardenPaid

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

📍 Vienna · Fairfax & Inner Northern Virginia

NOVA Parks 95-acre botanical gardens in Vienna with themed plantings and visitor center. Paid daytime admission; seasonal Winter Walk of Lights is a separate ticketed event.

💵 Ages 5 & under free; ages 6–17 $5; ages 18–59 $9; ages 60+ $5. Nov–Dec visitor center hours 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day (Winter Walk of Lights hours differ).

🕑 Hours vary by season; see the official page

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026

Details Official site ↗

MuseumPaid

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

📍 Chantilly · Fairfax & Inner Northern Virginia

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum annex near Dulles with large aircraft and spacecraft hangars including Space Shuttle Discovery. Free entry; paid parking.

💵 Museum admission free; no passes required. Parking $15. Open daily 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; closed Dec. 25. IMAX shows charge separately.

🕑 Daily 10am–5:30pm

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026

Details Official site ↗

Historic SitePaid

Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site

📍 Alexandria · Arlington & Alexandria

City of Alexandria Civil War fort and museum within a 45-acre park. Park grounds are free; the museum charges a small admission fee (residents free).

💵 Museum admission $3 per person; children under 5 free. Alexandria residents free. Park grounds open daily 9 a.m.–sunset (free). Museum: Thu–Fri 11 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun 1–5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day. Free parking.

🕑 Hours vary by season; see the official page

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026

Details Official site ↗

Historic SitePaid

Arlington National Cemetery

📍 Arlington · Arlington & Alexandria

Active national cemetery across the Potomac from DC. Public walking visits are free; paid parking and optional tram tours are available. Air Force Memorial area noted temporarily closed beginning on or about Nov. 2, 2026 for construction.

💵 Walking the cemetery grounds is free. Welcome Center parking garage $3/hour (daily max $12 for passenger vehicles). Optional interpretive tour tram charges separately; visitors with a valid disability placard ride free with one companion. Open daily 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

🕑 Daily 8am–5pm

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026

Details Official site ↗

MuseumPaid

National Archives Museum

📍 Downtown · Central D.C.

Museum in the National Archives Building featuring the Charters of Freedom in the Rotunda. Tickets are encouraged but not required; $1 timed entry is optional.

💵 General admission free (optional free general tickets online). Optional $1 timed-entry tickets reduce wait. Exhibits open 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas; last admission 30 minutes before closing.

🕑 Daily 10am–5:30pm

✓ Checked on the official page Nov 3, 2026

Details Official site ↗