A White House tour is free, and the only way to get one is to request it through your U.S. Representative or one of your two U.S. Senators between 7 and 90 days before the date you want.1The White House. Visit The White House There is no admission fee, no booking charge, and no processing cost. Any site or person asking you to pay for tickets is running a scam.
How to Request a Tour Through Congress
You cannot book directly with the White House. Find your representatives at congress.gov/members or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.1The White House. Visit The White House Most congressional offices post a tour request form on their website. You fill in your group’s details, the office forwards the request to the White House Visitors Office, and you’ll typically get an email confirming receipt. Receipt is not approval.
Requests submitted outside the 7-to-90-day window are rejected automatically.1The White House. Visit The White House Slots fill quickly in peak months, so submitting close to the 90-day mark gives you the best odds. Approval or denial usually lands about two to three weeks before the tour date, by email. Denials are common when the building is closed for official functions or when a day has hit capacity.
Information Each Guest Has to Submit
Every person in your group goes through a background check. U.S. citizens submit full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Non-U.S. citizens submit a passport number or other applicable ID number. Foreign nationals of all ages, including children, must be registered and must present valid ID on tour day.2The White House. Visit The White House FAQs
Every detail has to match your government-issued ID exactly. A minor mismatch between your registration and the name on your ID will get you turned away at the gate.
When Tours Run and What You’ll See
Public tours are generally offered Tuesday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., excluding federal holidays.1The White House. Visit The White House The self-guided route passes through several rooms on the ground and state floors, including spaces where presidents have hosted world leaders and signed legislation. The schedule can shift without much warning for state visits, official events, or security concerns, and a confirmed reservation can still be canceled on short notice.
Changes and Cancellations After Confirmation
Tour dates and times can’t be modified once confirmed. If your plans change, cancel the reservation and submit a new request through your congressional office. You can remove guests from the list before the RSVP deadline, but adding a new guest requires a separate reservation. If someone’s security information was entered incorrectly, that person must be removed and re-registered, not corrected in place.
Arrival, ID, and Security Screening
Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour. Late arrivals may not be admitted. The entrance is at the northeast corner of Lafayette Square, at H Street NW and Madison Place NW.2The White House. Visit The White House FAQs Every U.S. citizen 18 or older must show a valid government-issued photo ID; foreign nationals of every age must show ID as well. Screening is similar to what you’d get at an airport.
What You Cannot Bring
- Bags of any kind, including purses, backpacks, fanny packs, clutches, and strollers
- Laptops, tablets, and cameras with detachable lenses
- Food, liquids, and tobacco products
Anyone who shows up with a prohibited item is turned away. The White House does not store belongings.2The White House. Visit The White House FAQs
What You Can Bring
Cell phones are allowed but must be silenced, and phone calls during the tour are not permitted. Wallets, umbrellas without metal tips, and compact cameras with lenses shorter than three inches are fine. Parents can bring baby carriers worn on the body, diapers, wipes, formula, and bottles. Medically necessary items, including wheelchairs, EpiPens, and prescription medication, are permitted. Registered service animals are allowed after Secret Service screening.2The White House. Visit The White House FAQs
Where to Stash a Bag
Since the White House won’t hold your belongings, plan ahead if you’re traveling with a bag. Nearby hotels often hold luggage for guests, and third-party luggage storage services operate at partner locations near the White House for a few dollars per bag. Leaving anything you can’t carry inside at your hotel is the safest approach.
Getting There
There is no visitor parking at the White House, and street parking in the area is extremely limited. Public transit, taxis, or rideshare are the recommended options.2The White House. Visit The White House FAQs The closest Metrorail stations are McPherson Square (Blue, Orange, Silver), about a five-minute walk to the entrance, Federal Triangle (Blue, Orange), and Metro Center (Blue, Orange, Silver, Red).
Accessibility
The tour route is wheelchair accessible. A limited number of wheelchairs are available to borrow on the day of your visit by asking a Secret Service officer at the entrance; no advance reservation is required. Visitors who are deaf or blind can download the White House Experience App, which includes captioned transcripts and audio versions of the tour content. Tactile elements have been added in the Green Room, Blue Room, and Red Room.2The White House. Visit The White House FAQs
There are no restrooms at the tour entrance or along the tour route. The nearest public restrooms are inside the White House Visitor Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, which is free and doesn’t require a reservation. Stop there before heading to check-in.2The White House. Visit The White House FAQs