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SightseeingFamily FavoriteDate Night

National Harbor

165 Waterfront Street · Oxon Hill, MD

Why you should go…

National Harbor is a waterfront destination on the Potomac River in Oxon Hill, Maryland, just across from Washington, DC. Visitors ride the 180-foot Capital Wheel, browse Tanger Outlets and boutique shops, dine along the water, and visit the MGM National Harbor casino and resort.

  • #waterfront
  • #ferris-wheel
  • #shopping
  • #casino
  • #dc-area

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to National Harbor, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Office of Historic Alexandria

    Free

    The City of Alexandria agency that runs the city's historic museums and sites, headquartered at the Lloyd House.

    3.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Alexandria

    Free

    A historic riverside city just south of Washington, D.C., known for cobblestone Old Town and the King Street waterfront.

    4.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    History Buff

    George Washington's Mount Vernon

    $25–$50

    George Washington's riverside estate: mansion tours, gardens, farm animals, and sweeping Potomac views.

    6.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Tours
    Date Night

    City Cruises Washington DC

    $25–$50

    Watch the monuments glow from the Potomac on narrated sightseeing, brunch, and dinner cruises from The Wharf.

    7.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Thomas Jefferson Memorial

    Free

    The domed rotunda on the Tidal Basin, a 19-foot bronze Jefferson, his words carved in marble, and DC's best cherry-blossom backdrop.

    7.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    International Spy Museum

    $25–$50

    Crack codes, adopt a cover identity, and squeeze through ductwork at the world's largest espionage museum.

    7.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions