We are unaffiliated with the Inauguration and can offer no more assistance than the advice compiled below. Please do not contact us to arrange tickets to attend. We do not offer guide service or tours on Inauguration Day, however we do offer tours to visitors coming to DC for Inauguration in the days before and after!
The Presidential Inauguration is a significant historical event and the entire city usually begins preparing for the inaugural events long before January. From parades to balls to the actual inauguration, use this as your guide to how to attend inauguration, get tickets to an inaugural ball, and welcome the new president into the White House.
I have attended two Presidential Inaugurations and hope to attend the 2025 Inauguration with my kids.
IMPORTANT INAUGURATION INFORMATION
The swearing in of the 47th President of the United States and the 60th Vice President will take place on Monday, January 20. 2025.
Location: The Swearing In Ceremony takes place on the west front of the U.S. Capitol Building but can be viewed from along the National Mall. The Parade will then continue down Pennsylvania Ave NW ending at the White House.
Weather: January is the coldest month of the year in D.C. and most of the events take place outside. Dress warmly!
Security: Regardless of the events, you'll often have to go through security in D.C. but more so during inauguration.
Inauguration prep happens in the fall before the event - from repaving Pennsylvania Ave NW to building the viewing stand at the White House and the inauguration stage itself on the West Side of the Capitol.
Since Ronald Reagan's inauguration in 1981, the event has taken place on the West Lawn of the Capitol. Prior to this, inauguration was held on the east side which is the official entrance.
The stage is built in the months before. If you're standing on the west lawn you can see the arches at the top of the stairs - each is a window except the one in the center. This is where the president-elect walks through to take the oath of office.
Unless you get a ticket to the ceremony, you won't be this close!
How to Attend Inauguration
One thing to note is that my experience is with inaugurations of the past and things could be different this year, so do check back as we get closer and security and event details are announced!
First step in attending the swearing in ceremony is to be prepared for disappointment if you want to sit up close in the stands, as there are tens of thousands of requests for not nearly as many tickets.
In my experience, they also ask if you're requesting tickets from another member of congress, so don't plan on asking everyone to increase your chances!
It is free to attend the inauguration swearing in ceremony itself though tickets are required to attend the event. Beware of scammers trying to sell you tickets in advance. Tickets are only given out in person at your congressperson's office about a week prior to the inauguration so do not try to buy tickets online.
However, you can attend inauguration without tickets! This is a public event as we welcome our new President. Tickets are required to watch from the platform but there are viewing stations all along the National Mall with large screen televisions and speakers. You can always expect a crowd and usually various entrances to the separate areas on the National Mall (usually by separated by block).
Attending Inauguration without tickets is one of those things that honestly will be miserable in the moment. You will be cold and tired and its crowded - but you get to say you were there!
If I attend the 2025 Inauguration, I'm bringing my kids. Will I regret this in the moment? Probably. I have never enjoyed being at any Presidential Inauguration in the moment!
The entire National Mall is open to the public for witnessing the inauguration, but there are some things to note about attending inauguration this way.
You will want to be early if you care about where you stand. The area traditionally opens early - some years at 6 AM and others at 8 AM. Keep in mind the event is usually at 12 PM and everything is outdoors!
When I lived on Capitol Hill, I decided that I could either watch the inauguration on tv screen from my warm living room a mile away from the Capitol building or I could watch it from a jumbotron in the cold a mile away from the Capitol.
However, attending the event in person is something special!
For the 2025 Inauguration, if I'll be attending, I'll be with two young kids who will probably not want to be there. To combat waiting outside in the cold for 5 hours, I plan on being okay with a spot in the back if you will. The Lincoln Memorial is 2 miles from the inauguration stand but in my opinion you're watching it from a tv whether you're two miles or half a mile away, but those extra few hours of a warm bed may be worth it.
There will be crowds at places like the Metro stations, portapotties and the entrances to the different sections of the National Mall, but there will likely be space on the Mall the further back you go. Even for Obama's historic first inauguration there was plenty of room from Washington Monument to Lincoln Memorial.
The National Mall is usually sectioned off so you are not able to just walk down the length of the mall like you usually are. Think about Trump's inauguration and how there were distinct sections.
How to attend the Inaugural Parade? The Inaugural Parade has been a part of the celebrations since George Washington first took office. After the swearing In ceremony and inaugual luncheon, the new President and Vice President will travel down Pennsylvania Avenue between the Capitol and White House. They'll remain on the viewing platform at the White House to watch the rest of the parade.
- Ticketed Viewing: A limited number of tickets for bleachers along the parade route will be available from the Presidential Inauguration Committee. In the past, the tickets were available online for $44 per person with a limit of 6 tickets per order. Tickets usually go on sale the week prior.
- Watching the Inaugural Parade without tickets: Public entrances are set along the route where guests can watch the parade without tickets. Public entrances open at 6:30 AM for the afternoon parade and are closed as the area becomes filled.
Best place to watch the Inaugural Parade? If you don't want to stand out in the cold, you can watch a live stream of the Inaugural Parade. However, if you want to be there in person there are several great spots:
The parade route starts at the East Front of the Capitol Building, travels down Constitutition Ave and then down Pennsylvania Ave, up 17th Street and back on Pennsylvania Ave (see map).
Keep these tips in mind when considering where to watch the Inaugural Parade:
- DON'T try to watch the Parade Route by going to the White House. Most of that area is restricted to special bleacher seating.
- DON'T plan on driving. The blocks surrounding the parade route are closed to vehicular traffic.
- DON'T plan on using the Archives/Navy Memorial Metro Station. It is closed on Inauguration Day.
Where will there be security checkpoints?
Furthermore, in order to access the parade route, you must go through security. There are many security checkpoints that will remain open from 6:30am until that section is filled. They are usually located as follows:
- 2nd Street NW and C Street NW
- John Marshall Park at C Street NW
- Indiana Avenue NW between 6th Street NW and 7th Street NW
- 7th Street NW and D Street NW
- 10th Street NW and E Street NW
- 12th Street NW and E Street NW
- 13th Street NW and E Street NW
- 14th Street NW and E Street NW
- 12th Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW
- 10th Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW
- 7th Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW
- Constitution Avenue NW between 6th Street NW and 7th Street NW
How to get Tickets to Inaugural Ball
There are two types of Inaugural Balls: official and unofficial. Official Inaugural Balls will see attendance by the President and/or Vice President where as unofficial balls will likely not.
How to get tickets to the Official Inaugural Ball? Official Inaugural Ball tickets can be hard to come by and usually announced a couple weeks before the event.
Can I attend the Inaugural Ball? When the information is released, there is usually one Official Inaugural Ball open to the public. Last election tickets were sold at $60 a person online.
How to attend an Inaugural Ball? If you just want to dress up and celebrate there are dozens of unofficial balls that take place around the city. Some are black tie affairs, others low key and some encourage you to dress as your favorite politician. There are a variety of styles to suit every person.
Where to Stay for Inauguration
If you're reading the updates to this post now (just one week before election day), hotels in the city are mostly fully booked. However, that will change after the election is called so you can try after! Call hotels directly - not the reservations line!
Hotels: Plan early because hotel rooms quickly sell out in Washington D.C. during inauguration. Keep in mind, many hotels will require you to have a 4 night minimum for inauguration weekend.
AirBnB: this is a great option where you'll find additional rooming options come on the market just for Inauguration as residents rent out spare bedrooms or entire house for the events. The closer the property is to the U.S. Capitol and/or White House, the more expensive it will be. Have a look at neighborhoods on the Blue/Silver/Orange lines if you want a direct connection to the Inauguration.
INSIDER TIP: If hotels in DC are out of your price range or unavailable, consider staying at one outside of DC! There are many great and affordable hotels outside the city that are easily accessible by Metro, bus and cab. In fact, DC is rather small so in some cases you can still walk to your hotel from DC, even if you’re staying in Virgina! You’ll find many chain hotels just across the Potomac River in Virginia and in Maryland:
- On the Orange Line: Rosslyn, Courthouse, New Carrollton
- On the Red Line: Bethesda, Silver Spring
- On the Silver Line: Tysons Corner, Spring Hill
- On the Blue Line: Rosslyn, Pentagon City, Crystal City, Old Town Alexandria.
You will find many large chain hotels in the above areas and most are within walking distance or offer a free shuttle to a Metro.
Getting Around DC on Inauguration Day
As a federal holiday, most business and schools will be closed on Inauguration Day. In addition, thousands of people are expected to attend the events.
Where to park on Inauguration Day?
Parking is difficult on a typical DC day so it will be near impossible around the Inauguration. In addition, there will be numerous road closures around the city. A great option is to park outside the city and take public transportation in.
Taking public transportation on Inauguration Day?
- The Metro will open at 4 a.m. and close at 2 a.m.
- Metro will provide 17 consecutive hours of rush-hour service -- from 4 a.m. until 9 p.m. Peak fares will be in effect during the entire time.
- Metrobus will operate weekday rush hour service in the morning, followed by an early rush hour in the afternoon. Many routes will operate on detours due to Inaugural events.
The crowds on the Metro will be intense, so keep that in mind! This photo shows the morning of inauguration at the nearby Metro station.
