How much does a trip to Washington Cost?
The Cost of a Trip to Washington
A journey to Washington will usually cost from $103 to $477 for an individual and $206 to $954 for two people. The mid-range tends to hover around $226 per person daily, as calculated from our travel cost data from fellow travelers covering food, accommodation, sightseeing, and local transportation expenses. This is a fairly wide price range, and your individual expenses will vary by the level of luxury and travel style that you choose. For those seeking a balance between comfort and budget, booking standard accommodation and eating at typical restaurants, your expenses will be close to this calculated average. Read on for a detailed breakdown of travel expenses by category and a comprehensive overview of accommodation and activity costs tailored to your visit.
How much money should you budget for your trip to Washington?
For budget travelers in Washington, planning for around $103 per day should cover essentials such as accommodations in hostels and budget hotels, affordable meal options, local transportation, and engaging in various activities. If you're a mid-range traveler, setting aside around $226 per day would allow for more comfortable stays in typical hotels, dining at regular restaurants, and exploring a diverse range of popular attractions. Luxury travelers, on the other hand, should consider a daily budget of approximately $477 to accommodate higher-end hotel stays, dining at nicer restaurants, and indulging in more exclusive private tour options. It's important to note that these price ranges are derived from our extensive travel cost data for Washington, which is based on valuable insights from other travelers as well as hotel and tour data provided by travel companies. For a more detailed breakdown of travel costs, you can refer to our comprehensive travel cost data for Washington.
Average Daily Costs, Per Person, by Category
| Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation1 | $47 | $113 | $256 |
| Local Transportation1 | $19 | $47 | $105 |
| Food2 | $29 | $66 | $129 |
| Water2 | $3 | $3 | $5 |
| Entertainment1 | $9 | $24 | $62 |
| Souvenirs1 | $15 | $35 | $77 |
| Communication2 | $46 | $46 | $46 |
| Living Expenses2 | $73 | $78 | $87 |
| Alcohol2 | $8 | $19 | $36 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | $8 | $20 | $59 |
How much does a weekend trip to Washington cost?
On average, travelers spend around $678 per person during a three-day trip to Washington. This average includes expenses for sightseeing, hotels, food, and local transportation. To align with this average price range, consider opting for mid-range hotels and dining at mid-level restaurants, while also allocating funds for entry tickets to popular attractions. For those seeking a more budget-friendly approach, it is possible to find lower-cost accommodations, dine at less expensive restaurants, and explore free activities. Also, many visitors choose to spend a higher travel budget, as Washington offers a range of high-end hotels and restaurants for those seeking a more luxurious experience.
The Lincoln Memorial during the Cherry Blossom Festival - Washington, D.C.
How much does a five day trip to Washington cost?
With five days in Washington, you can expect to spend about $1,130 total, not including transportation to and from the city. It's possible to stay close to this daily average by booking mid-range hotels, eating at normal restaurants, and paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. It's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities if you want to spent less money.
How much does a one week trip to Washington cost?
Most visitors spend between $719 and $3,338 for a one week trip to Washington, with the average being $1,583. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to have a more in-depth experience in Washington. Also, one week allows you to be more flexible with your time and money, so you can potentially save money on some aspects of your trip while spending more on others.
Hostel Prices in Washington
With more than 9 hostels in Washington, the average price is $32 per night for a dorm bed. The cheapest hostel costs $22 and the most expensive is $42. Usually popular with younger travelers, hostels are a great way to save money while also being social. But not all hostels are the same, and we've analyzed the prices of both dorms and private rooms to find the average prices and best places to stay. You can see more details about the hostel prices in Washington here.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Washington.
- $35 for a dorm bed at Duo Housing DC in Washington DC
- $35 for a dorm bed at Highroad Hostel DC in Washington DC
- $26 for a dorm bed at Generator Washington DC in Washington DC
Hotel Prices in Washington
Based on our calculations from available hotels in the Washington, the average price for a hotel room is $185 per night. To save money, or if you're planning a more luxurious trip, it's important to look at hotel prices based on the overall star-rating as well as guest reviews. Also, prices can vary by amenities and location. Check out more details from our analysis of hotel prices in Washington here, and below is a breakdown of hotel prices by star-rating.
Hotels by star rating in Washington
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 15 | $404 |
| 4 stars | 55 | $211 |
| 3 stars | 61 | $184 |
| 2 stars | 19 | $143 |
| 1 star | 1 | $216 |
| No rating | 2 | $151 |
Should you do a tour in Washington?
Many visitors enjoy the convenience of booking tours and activities while they visit, and Washington has a wide array of things to do. These activities often include knowledgable guides and unique experiences. Tours range in price from $5 for the Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Washington to $999 for the Washington DC: Winery Tour.
- Private Tour to see the Monuments and Memorials in Washington DC: $120
- The Escape Game DC: Epic 60-Minute Adventures in Georgetown: $36
- Curated Tour - National Gallery of Art with French Art Historian: $95
- National Archives + National Portrait Gallery - Semi Private Tour: $186
- Historic Alleyways Guided Walking Tour of Washington DC: $30
- Veteran-Led Arlington National Cemetery Walking Tour: $49
- "Women of the Cold War" Guided Walking Tour in Georgetown: $25
- National Archives + National Portrait Gallery - Exclusive Tour: $186
More for Washington
If you're planning a trip to Washington, District of Columbia, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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