Our Road Trip To Washington, D.C. For $300 – With Five Kids!

Many are calling us “brave” for taking five kids (including almost-one-year-old twins) on an adventure to Washington, D.C., but it was the perfect trip for us right now.  We were able to get away from home, enjoy some educational and entertaining experiences, and it really didn’t cost very much at all.

One of the main reasons why our trip was so inexpensive is because most of the “attractions” were free.  But before I break down all of our costs, here are a few highlights and tips from our family vacation to Washington, D.C.

The weather could have been a bit nicer during our four-day trip, but we still managed to do quite a bit of sightseeing in the capital.  We took the kids to see Arlington Cemetery, including the JFK flame and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  We visited Lincoln, Jefferson, and FDR.  We spent time at the Air and Space, American History, and the Natural History Museums.  We visited all of the war memorials on our walk of the mall and even snapped a few pictures in front of the White House.  There were other destinations on our list that just didn’t happen on this visit.  We really wanted to visit the zoo, but it will have to wait until next time.

The destinations on our trip to Washington, D.C. were probably very similar to any other family.  However, we spent only a few hundred dollars on this family vacation.  Here’s some helpful information for other families planning to visit D.C.

National Park Jr. Ranger Program

Did you know that the White House is located in a National Park?  The kids completed the Jr. Ranger Program at Acadia National Park last time we took a trip up to Maine.  It involves picking up a workbook at the White House Visitor Center, with a bunch of educational activities in it.  Once they complete a few of the activities, they take it to the Ranger desk, to be sworn in as official Jr. Rangers.  They get a stamped certificate and cute little badges to bring home with them, for free!

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

The Air and Space Museum is a great place to visit with kids in Washington, D.C. (despite the fairly long line to get in).  But did you know there is a second location with some really awesome things to see?  If you take a 45 minute drive into Virginia you can visit the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Annex.  There is a $15 fee for parking, but free admission.  They have the Enola Gay, the Discovery Space Shuttle, and so many other planes – from World War I planes to experimental Nazi planes, and plenty of modern ones too, as well as lots of space equipment and weapons.  It was pretty awesome and much less crowded than the other museums.

Tips For Traveling With Little Ones

All of the museums are free, but they also have security checks at the entrances.  They are going to ask you to unzip all of your bags before sending them through the x-ray machines.  This ends up being a little bit of a hassle when you’re traveling with lots of kid supplies.

One of the ways that we kept our costs down is by using the Metro, subway to get around D.C.  We had to pay about $2 per trip for Mr. Smith, myself, and the two oldest kids.  Trey was free because he hadn’t turned three years old yet.  The main Metro entrances have escalators, which don’t really work for strollers.  There are handicap-accessible elevators located in the general vicinity of the main entrance (sometimes across the street).  Be prepared.  These things move super slow and there are sometimes lines.  You have to take one elevator down to the Mezzanine where you buy and/or swipe your ticket.  Then, you have to take a second elevator down to the train platform.  Just be aware that using the Metro with strollers is going to add some time to your commute around D.C.

The Expenses

Most of the cost of our trip was fuel for the bus.  Mr. Smith’s brother lives in D.C.  He was awesome enough to find us an apartment that we could use for three nights, for FREE.  He was very happy to have the kids visiting him, so he offered to cook some meals and do some cleaning to repay his friend.

One of big expenses of traveling is eating out.  We kept our expenses low by bringing along lots of food with us – plenty of room for coolers and boxes of snacks in the bus!  Lunch consisted of sandwiches, or these yummy chicken salad wraps (chicken prepared at home the day before we left), with carrots, fruit, and snacks.  I even brought a thermos with coffee for my afternoon caffeine fix.

Reusable water bottles are a must for D.C.!  There are refill stations all over the place.

We made a big batch of a pasta dish one night that lasted for two dinners.  Another night we made some sausage and rice (quick and easy for the weary sightseers).

We did treat ourselves to fast food dinner on the night before we left to drive back home.

Totaling just under $300 was the gas, tolls, one windshield wiper (broke during drive), Metro passes, parking for the Hazy Center, and one fast-food dinner.  I’m not counting the food we purchased to bring with us on the trip because it wasn’t anything that different from our normal grocery purchases.

Where To Next?

Please note that this post is not titled, “How To Travel To Washington, D.C. For $300.”  I realize we were only able to make this trip so inexpensive due to having a relative who lives there.  So, no, very few people will be able to take this vacation for such a low cost.  However, try to think about where your friends and relatives live.  If your family is also on a tight budget, it doesn’t mean that you can’t travel.  The key is being strategic – plan some adventures in a locale where you have access to free or discounted lodging, and somewhere you can drive to, instead of flying.

Just because everyone else is taking their kids to Disney . . .

As always, make the decisions that are right for you and your family.  Who cares about what others are doing or what they will think?

Anyone planning a fun road trip for this summer?