Mount Vernon: 5 Best Kalorama Stay Tips

The house
Getting there
Practical tips

Visiting Washington D.C. for the first time and want to have the trip of a lifetime?

Look no further than a day trip to Mount Vernon. Located roughly 30 minutes from Washington by car, Mount Vernon is a great escape from the bustling city life of downtown D.C.

You can walk the grounds where our nation’s first president grew up and would later retire after serving in the Revolutionary War.

The Man

Born on February 22, 1732, George Washington was an American political leader, war hero, founding father, and first president of the United States of America. He was born into a wealthy family that gained their money through land speculation in Virginia.

Before Mount Vernon would be called by this name, generations of Washington’s owned this land and passed it down through inheritance.

Before Mount Vernon

Several generations of Washington’s owned this massive plot of land throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1674, John Washington (George’s great-grandfather) received a 2500-acre land grant from Lord Thomas Culpeper, the proprietor of the Northern Neck.

This land and even surrounding plots would one day encompass George Washington’s Mount Vernon home. George Washington lived at Mount Vernon starting at the age of three.

While he lived there nearly his whole life, he did not take ownership of it until the year 1762. At that time, he added on to the one-and-a-half story home, expanding it into the 11,028 ft.

mansion visitors can see today. Mount Vernon is open every day of the week and offers a variety of activities to enjoy during your visit.

Tickets can be purchased online, so we suggest that you plan your visit ahead of time. Mount Vernon offers tours of the mansion and grounds, as well as two places to grab a bite to eat while there.

If you plan to eat at Mount Vernon Inn, also be sure to make a reservation ahead of time.

Tickets and Fees

Tickets to visit Mount Vernon vary based on age. For adults, tickets cost $20.

Children between the ages of 6-11 are $12. Children under the age of 5 are free.

However, on or around George Washington’s birthday (February 22) each year, entrance is free for all visitors. A unique treat is the George Washington’s Birthday Celebration.

Stop by from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm to enjoy various tributes and musical and military demonstrations taking place all day long.

**Please note that Mount Vernon is closed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic

WASHINGTON D.C ACCOMMODATIONS

Our nation’s capital is home to many great neighborhoods – each with its own unique character and aesthetic.

If you are looking to break out of the normal big hotel routine, we would love to have you stay at our Dupont circle bed and breakfast during your visit to Washington D.C. and Mount Vernon.

We are conveniently located between Woodley Park and Dupont Circle. Additionally, our bed and breakfast is a brisk 12-minute walk to the metro where you can easily access downtown D.C.

and the National Mall. For the trip to Mount Vernon, plan on a 40 minute car ride.

Those wishing to take public transport to Mount Vernon will board Metrorail’s Yellow Line to Huntington Station. Exit at the lower level of the station (Huntington Avenue) to catch a Fairfax Connector bus to Mount Vernon.

Board the Fairfax Connector Bus #101, the Fort Hunt Line, for a 20-minute trip to Mount Vernon’s entrance gate.

Getting there from Kalorama

Mount Vernon is an easy day from American Guest House. Take about a 5-minute walk to the Washington Hilton or 7-10 minutes to Dupont Circle Metro (Red Line), then ride downtown.

We are not the host venue – confirm hours and tickets with the attraction.

Getting to Mount Vernon from Kalorama

Mount Vernon sits about 16 miles south of downtown Washington along the Potomac.

From American Guest House, rideshare or a rental car is usually 30–45 minutes without heavy traffic.

The Fairfax Connector and seasonal boat options can also work when schedules align.

Build buffer time for security screening and parking at the estate gates.

Practical Mount Vernon tips

Buy timed tickets for the mansion tour before you leave Kalorama.

Mount Vernon gardens, pioneer farm, and museum galleries easily fill a half day.

Wear comfortable shoes; paths between sites are longer than they look on the map.

Food is available on-site, or pack snacks if you prefer a lighter stop.

Afterward, return to Kalorama for a quieter evening one block from the Washington Hilton.

Guests often pair Mount Vernon with a short Alexandria Old Town stroll on the same day.

Check the official Mount Vernon calendar for wreath-laying or evening illumination events.

Our front desk can store luggage after 10am if your tour starts before standard 4pm check-in.

What our Kalorama hosts notice

As a historic 1893 bed and breakfast with 11 ensuite rooms, we host many first-time DC visitors every week.

We recommend starting early at Mount Vernon so you avoid the midday rush at the mansion.

Ask us for Metro and SpotHero guidance the night before — we do not offer on-site parking.

Breakfast on the Standard Rate or the Last Minute Deal: 2-Day Refundable makes an early departure easier.

The house (Kalorama facts)

American Guest House is at 2005 Columbia Road NW, Washington, DC 20009, in Kalorama (Sheridan-Kalorama). Adams Morgan restaurants are nearby; the house itself is in Kalorama, not Adams Morgan.

We are a historic bed and breakfast in an 1893 house with 11 ensuite rooms. We are one block from the Washington Hilton (about a 5-minute walk) and a 7-10 minute walk to Dupont Circle Metro.

Breakfast, check-in, parking (read carefully)

Breakfast is included on the Standard Rate and the Last Minute Deal: 2-Day Refundable only. It is not included on Corporate or Non-Refundable rates.
Check-in is 4pm-10pm. Complimentary luggage storage opens from 10am.
We do not offer parking. There is no on-site lot. Nearby street parking is often 2-hour residential. Use SpotHero or paid lots/garages. Full details: map, directions, and parking.

We do not take reservations by phone. Book direct on Think Reservations.

House policies: FAQ.

Breakfast is included with the Standard Rate and the Last Minute Deal: 2-Day Refundable rate (not the No Breakfast Non-Refundable rate), served at 8:30, 8:45 or 9 AM, booked in advance. We do not offer parking; use SpotHero or paid lots.

Book direct on Think Reservations – we do not take phone reservations.

Practical tips from the house

Build buffer time for security lines and Metro transfers.
Travel light for the day; complimentary luggage storage opens from 10am.
Read your rate rules before assuming breakfast is included.
Street parking near the house is often 2-hour residential – plan SpotHero if you drive.
Book direct: Check rates and availability.

Eleven ensuite rooms means inventory is finite on busy Washington weeks. Keep the same Kalorama room when your itinerary mixes monuments, museums, and evening returns.

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