Washington, D.C.’s National Mall in the Early Morning
A visit to Washington, D.C. wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the National Mall. Within its 146 acres, visitors can find many of America’s greatest monuments. There’s the Smithsonian, the Washington Monument, the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and so many more great things to see.
Like so many others, I wanted to explore the National Mall when I visited D.C. in April 2022. I also wanted to see some of the memorials with the sun rising in the sky before they got crowded. The best way to do that was to get up early and go for an early morning run through the National Mall!
So, at 6:30 a.m. on a crisp, windy April morning, I set off from our hotel in downtown Washington, D.C. and headed towards the National Mall.
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A Bit About Washington, D.C.’s National Mall
But let’s slow down a bit and get our bearings first. Many of you reading are probably familiar with Washington, D.C.’s National Mall. For everyone else, here’s some background on what the mall is.
First off, it’s not a mall in the modern sense of the word. There are no shops or food halls to be found. Instead, the National Mall is a 146-acre plot of land containing many of America’s most important national monuments and museums.
The National Mall encompasses the land from the Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial and then stretches south to include the Tidal Basin all the way to the Jefferson Memorial. The White House is sometimes included in the definition of the National Mall, as well.
The idea for the National Mall evolved from an initial idea of Pierre Charles L’Enfant when he was designing Washington, D.C. Now, the National Mall is included in the number of lands operated and managed by the National Park Service.
Related: Running When You Travel
The Washington Monument
With those boring facts out of the way, let’s get running. My first stop was the Washington Monument. My route took me by the White House and Lafayette Square. Unfortunately, the White House had barricades up around it for repairs preventing me from being able to see it or take good photos.
After turning past White House, I had my first view of the Washington Monument in the early morning sun. I couldn’t yet see the rising sun because of the direction I was coming from, but I was able to see the contrast of the sun to the east lighting up that corner of the monument against the still dark westwards side.
I gradually saw the sun coming up over the horizon as I made my way towards the monument. There were only a couple of other joggers and one or two people taking photos. Otherwise, it was perfectly silent as I approached this massive obelisk dedicated to George Washington.
While walking along the pavilion reflecting on America’s history with the monument rising 555 feet into the sky was a perfect way to start my morning in our nation’s capital, the real treat came as I made my way west towards the Lincoln memorial. The view looking back at the Washington Monument with the sun peeking through the clouds was perfect.
You can come back later to ride the elevator to the top of the Washington Monument with a ticket. Tickets are free but should be reserved up to 30 days in advance of your visit. There are a number of same day tickets available at the Washington Monument Lodge.
The World War II Memorial
The World War II Memorial was my next stop on my run through Washington D.C.’s National Mall. I actually wasn’t sure what this memorial even was when I first saw it. It seemed interesting, though, so I had to stop to see what it was.
It was immediately fairly clear what this memorial was as it had two opposing archways with inscriptions of “Atlantic” and “Pacific” above their keystones (referring to the two theaters of the war) and then smaller pillars with the names of the American states and territories from 1945. Walking around the perimeter, reliefs of scenes from the war came into focus, further confirming what this memorial was.
(There is a large plaque at the front of the memorial describing it in more detail. I didn’t see this till after the fact.)
I enjoyed my time walking around the various parts of the World War II Memorial. It was a bit grandiose in its size, yet the individual components were relatively simple. This combination worked to create an elegantly poignant memorial for someone to explore or simply sit to reflect on the events memorialized within.
Besides the memorial itself, this is a great spot to admire the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial from the other end of the reflecting pool. Even if you have no interest in military history, you should stop here for the views.
The Lincoln Memorial
After exploring the World War II Memorial, I continued to make my way past the National Mall’s reflecting pool towards the Lincoln Memorial. Unfortunately, the reflecting pool was partially drained while the National Park Service cleaned goose poop out of it. You read that right: goose poop. This development wasn’t ideal, but it was still an attractive scene even only half filled with water.
The Lincoln Memorial was a little more crowded than the Washington Monument but still significantly less than when I returned later with Michelle. There were people running the stairs, taking photographs and even taking wedding photos.
Regardless, it was well worth getting up early to be mostly alone at this important memorial. Most everyone was staying on the lower half of the steps, so I was able to spend a peaceful several minutes in the interior with Lincoln’s likeness while thinking about Lincoln’s significance to American history. I was also able to get some great photos!
The Vietnam Memorial
The Vietnam Memorial sits just off from the Lincoln Memorial making it an easy next stop after I was done with Honest Abe. After just a few quick strides, I was already at the iconic granite walls that make up this memorial. I only took a few brief moments to admire the memorial knowing that I’d be back a little later with Michelle.
With its simple yet powerful design, the Vietnam Memorial is widely believed to be one of the best memorials in America. However, it was another monument in this area that struck me as far more impactful this morning.
Just several feet away is the Three Soldiers statue. This statue depicts three American soldiers from the Vietnam War looking out on the field of war. As it stands in the overall memorial, though, it appears as if they’re looking at the granite walls listing the names of their fallen comrades. The morning dew made the statues come to life by creating a scene of mixed exhaustion and grief. They seemed to stare back at me in their anguish as the sweat and tears from the war slowly dripped down their faces.
Black Lives Matter Plaza
These last two stops weren’t technically part of the National Mall. However, I’m including them as they are just adjacent to the White House.
Black Lives Matter Plaza is a new addition to this area. It was created by Mayor Muriel Brown in 2020 as a response to George Floyd protests. I actually wasn’t aware that this was where Black Lives Matter Plaza was until I saw those vivid yellow letters on the black road.
More importantly than its visual appeal is its historic significance. There is some controversy on both sides of the political aisle regarding its creation. Yet despite this, it is a testament to a momentous time in America’s history regarding our difficult and complicated history with race. It’s worth a stop here to consider the overall message that the Black Lives Matter slogan is meant to convey.
I was surprised by how long the plaza was. If you want a picture of the whole thing, bring a selfie stick to try to get a higher angle. Also, cars drive on either side of the words. Come early if you want a photo without cars.
Lafayette Square
My last stop was Lafayette Square situated between Black Lives Matter Live Plaza and the White House. Lafayette Square is a small park with statues of four foreign fighters who were pivotal in the American Revolutionary War. These figures are Marquis de Lafayette, Comte de Rochambeau, Tadeusz Kosciuszko and Baron von Steuben.
The statues don’t give much information on the people, but whether you know their histories or not, they are still impressive to admire. I found the statue of Rochambeau pointing across the battlefield to be particularly stirring.
In addition to the four war heroes, Lafayette Square also features a statue of President Andrew Jackson striking a pose with the White House in the background. The square sits at a slight elevation compared to the White House giving onlookers a great angle for viewing this famous building. This view makes visiting Lafayette Square worthwhile whether you want to see the other statues or not.
Enjoy experiencing America’s founding firsthand? There’s no better place for that than Philadelphia’s Old City where America was founded!
What if I Don’t Want to Run to See the National Mall?
That’s absolutely fine! However, the pictures and route I just described covered a total of 4.5 miles. If you are walking, you may not get some of the uncrowded, sunrise views I photographed. You’ll also have to consider the extra time it will take if you have other morning plans.
If you do choose to run, it’s a very easy run as long as the weather cooperates. Most of the National Mall is flat and the monuments provide great distractions meaning you never will get too winded.
For those of you who want a bit of a workout, the only substantial incline is the steps at the Lincoln Memorial. Just walking up these is enough to get your quads burning. But be careful: In the morning these stairs were extremely wet and slippery.
Other Things to See on the National Mall
There are so many other great things to see on the National Mall with more time. If you find yourself walking or, like me, jogging around the mall, here are some of my other favorites that I saw later that same day.
- Einstein Memorial
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
- Martin Luther King Jr Memorial
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- Walk around the Tidal Basin, especially if the cherry blossoms are blooming
Are you ready to go inside to see one of the Smithsonian’s best museums? Take a look at my guide to the National Museum of American History!
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