Question 1

What is there to do in Arlington?

Accepted Answer

Arlington National Cemetery is the essential visit — the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Kennedy gravesites and 400,000 headstones on solemn green hills. Nearby stand the Marine Corps (Iwo Jima) Memorial and the Air Force Memorial, with the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial at the Pentagon; evenings, the Rosslyn and Clarendon corridors handle dinner, and DC's monuments are one Metro stop away.

Question 2

How do I visit Arlington National Cemetery?

Accepted Answer

It's free and open daily — enter through the welcome center (photo ID for adults), and time your visit to the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, every hour on the hour (every half hour April–September). It's an active cemetery with daily funerals: dress and act respectfully. The Metro's Blue Line stops at its gate.

Question 3

Is Arlington a good base for visiting Washington DC?

Accepted Answer

One of the best — hotels in Rosslyn, Crystal City and Clarendon often undercut DC rates, the Metro crosses the river in minutes, and you can walk across Memorial Bridge from Rosslyn to the Lincoln Memorial. Bonus: the classic postcard view of the DC skyline is from the Arlington side.

Question 4

How do I get from Reagan National Airport into Arlington and DC?

Accepted Answer

DCA is actually in Arlington, with its own Metro station on the Blue and Yellow lines — downtown DC or Arlington's hotel corridors are 10–15 minutes away, with rides about $2.85–$3.85 depending on time and distance. It's one of the easiest airport-to-city connections in the country.

Question 5

Is Arlington safe?

Accepted Answer

Very — Arlington consistently ranks among the safest urban counties in America, and the Metro-corridor neighborhoods (Rosslyn, Clarendon, Crystal City, Ballston) are busy and comfortable at night. Ordinary city awareness suffices. Emergency number: 911.

Question 6

Do I need a car in Arlington?

Accepted Answer

No — this is genuinely car-free territory: eleven Metro stations, the airport on the rail line, walkable urban villages along the Orange and Blue lines, and bike trails (the Mount Vernon Trail hugs the Potomac with monument views). A car is only useful for day trips out to Shenandoah or wine country.

Question 7

What is the Marine Corps War Memorial?

Accepted Answer

The famous bronze of six Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima, sculpted from the Pulitzer-winning 1945 photograph, standing just north of Arlington Cemetery with the DC skyline behind it. It's free, open 24 hours, and on summer Tuesday evenings hosts the Marine Corps Sunset Parade with the silent drill platoon.

Question 8

When was Arlington established?

Accepted Answer

Arlington was founded around 1801.

Question 9

What languages do people speak here?

Accepted Answer

English; Spanish is spoken by 40+ million people — dominant in parts of Miami, LA, Texas and the Southwest.

Question 10

What is Arlington known for?

Accepted Answer

Arlington is known as: The Virginia side of the nation's capital — Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, the Marine Corps (Iwo Jima) Memorial and skyline views across the Potomac to DC.

Question 11

What is the nearest major airport?

Accepted Answer

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) — about 6 km away.

Question 12

What timezone is it in?

Accepted Answer

Arlington is in the UTC-5 to UTC-10 timezone.

Arlington

Airports near Arlington

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Washington Dulles International Airport

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

Arlington at a Glance

Nearby places to explore

Famous Places Near Arlington

Info about Arlington