Family Trip Planner

June 11–15, 2026 · Hinsdale MA → Washington DC
Jun 11–15
4
Nights total
2
UFC days
~$17
Parking/day
⚠️

About Your Tickets

The fight takes place on the South Lawn — military/VIP only. Your tickets are for The Ellipse Fan Fest, an outdoor watch party with large screens. Up to 85,000 attendees. Gates open 3:30 PM Saturday and Sunday.

🔒

SEAR 1 Security — Both Event Days

Highest security classification (Super Bowl level). Explosive detection, multiple checkpoints, no drones. Photo ID required. Arrive 45 min before gates. Sign up at alert.dc.gov.

🎸

Saturday Bonus: Weigh-ins + Zac Brown Band

Ceremonial weigh-ins 8:30 PM · Zac Brown Band headline concert 9:30 PM — both included with your Ellipse tickets.

🥊

Friday Night: UFC Press Conference

Free public event at the Lincoln Memorial — Friday June 12 at 8:30 PM. ~33 min walk / 1.4 mi from hotel.

Schedule Overview
Full Trip at a Glance
Wed Jun 11 → Mon Jun 15
Wed 6/11
Drive Hinsdale → Great Wolf Lodge Poconos. Overnight + water park.
Fri 6/12
Leave Great Wolf Lodge ~11 AM → DC, arrive ~3:30 PM. Settle in. Private DC Tours pickup at hotel 7:00 PM (3-hr evening SUV tour). UFC Press Conference at Lincoln Memorial 8:30 PM.
Sat 6/13
Spy Museum AM (Metro to L'Enfant Plaza). Lunch at the Wharf + Shake Shack. Head to Ellipse ~6:30 PM → Weigh-ins 8:30 PM → Zac Brown Band 9:30 PM.
Sun 6/14
Holocaust Museum + American History Museum AM. Washington Monument + other Smithsonians if time. Head to Ellipse ~6:30 PM → Watch Party 7:30 PM → Main card 8 PM. Walk home midnight+.
Mon 6/15
Check out. Drive home. Krispy Pizza Jersey City + Liberty State Park on the return. Home by evening.
Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown
815 14th St NW · Fri–Mon · Garage parking next door
Address
815 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Check-in
Friday June 12 · Check-in 3 PM
Check-out
Monday June 15 · Check-out 12 PM
Parking
1350 I St NW Garage — enter at 819 14th St NW, one driveway from the hotel. Operated by One Parking. ~$17/day early bird rate. Self-park, covered. No in/out access — car stays until you leave for good. Height restriction: 6'7".
Metro
McPherson Square (Blue/Orange/Silver) — 3 min walk, directly across the street.
Phone
(202) 783-7800
Directions Website
UFC Tickets
Ellipse Fan Fest
Sat June 13 + Sun June 14 · Gates 3:30 PM
Tickets
Mobile-only via Ticketmaster. Non-transferable. Download offline. Do NOT screenshot — rotating barcodes.
Cost
Free (won) — no public ticket sales exist for this event.
Gates
3:30 PM both days. Your plan: Arrive ~6:30 PM after entry rush dies down. Bring photo ID.
Walk
~0.6 mi · ~12 min from hotel
Bag
Check ufc.com/freedom250 for bag policy — clear bag likely required
The Ellipse UFC.com
Pre-Trip Checklist
Confirm Hilton reservation · note garage at 819 14th St NW (1350 I St garage)
No in/out · height limit 6'7" · ~$17/day early bird · Sat–Sun opens 9 AM
Download Ticketmaster app — save both Ellipse tickets offline
Sign up AlertDC — alert.dc.gov
Pay Private DC Tours balance — $407 due
Booking VRYB-290526 · $5 deposit paid · Pickup at hotel 7 PM Friday · Cancel 24hr+ for full refund
Holocaust Museum timed passes — ushmm.org
Free · June 2026 available now · BOOK IMMEDIATELY
Washington Monument timed passes — recreation.gov
Free · Books up weeks ahead · Optional Sunday
Spy Museum tickets — spymuseum.org
~$35 adult · Under 7 free · Buy in advance for best rate
National Zoo timed tickets + parking — book day before if visiting
Free entry · ~$30 parking if reserved online day prior · Optional Monday morning
Check ufc.com/freedom250 for security/bag policy
Buy SmarTrip card for Metro ($2 card fee · ~$2.25/ride)
Pack ponchos for all 4 — events are rain or shine
Portable battery pack — long days away from outlets
Confirm Paramount+ — fight airs live on CBS / Paramount+
Wednesday June 11 — Great Wolf Lodge
🐺

Great Wolf Lodge Poconos

1 Great Wolf Dr, Scotrun PA 18355 (I-80 Exit 298). Drive from Hinsdale ~3.5 hrs. Check in after 4 PM, water park evening. Check out Friday June 12 morning by 11 AM.

Great Wolf Lodge Details
Scotrun, PA · Water park included
Address
1 Great Wolf Dr, Scotrun, PA 18355
Exit
I-80 Exit 298 onto Route 611 North
Drive
Hinsdale MA → Great Wolf Lodge: ~3.5 hrs via I-84 West + I-80 West
Depart
Leave Hinsdale mid-afternoon Wednesday for comfortable arrival
Directions Website
Friday June 12 — Drive to DC
⏰

Depart Great Wolf Lodge ~11:00 AM

Morning rush hour cleared. Arrive DC ~3:30 PM — before afternoon rush and with plenty of buffer before the 7 PM SUV tour pickup at the hotel.

Route — Scotrun PA to Washington DC

A
Great Wolf Lodge — Depart 11:00 AM
Take I-80 West briefly → PA-33 South toward Stroudsburg/Allentown area. This keeps you moving south without backtracking east toward NJ metro traffic.
B
PA-33 South → I-78 West
PA-33 carries you south across the Lehigh Valley into Allentown area where you pick up I-78. Avoids the I-95 coastal corridor entirely.
C
NJ Turnpike South → I-95 → Baltimore → DC
~2.5 hrs midday Friday. You're past the AM rush, well ahead of PM rush. Use Waze live. Enter DC via New York Ave NW.
D
Hilton Garden Inn DC — ~3:30 PM
Check in. Park at 1350 I St NW garage (enter 819 14th St NW — one driveway from hotel). Car stays until Monday.
Full Route in Maps
Friday Afternoon + Evening
3:00–4:30 PM
Check in + park
Park at 1350 I St NW garage (enter 819 14th St NW, one driveway down). Check in to hotel. Car stays put — walking everywhere from here.
4:30–6:00 PM
National Mall — first look
White House exterior, Washington Monument grounds, start of the Reflecting Pool.
~0.9 mi · ~18 min to WWII MemorialFree
6:00–6:30 PM
Dinner near hotel
Walk to Penn Quarter or eat at hotel restaurant (The Third Rail). Be back at the hotel by 6:45 PM — your SUV tour picks you up at 7 PM.
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Private DC Tours — Evening SUV Tour
3-hour private SUV tour with a personal guide. Pickup at the hotel (815 14th St NW) — no walking required. Customizable stops; let the guide know your son is a 14-yr-old history fan. Confirm car seat needs for the 3-yr-old when they call/arrive.
$412 total · $5 paid · $407 dueConfirm car seat for 3-yr-old
(202) 809-8168 Website
8:30 PM (overlaps with trolley)
🥊 UFC Press Conference — Lincoln Memorial
Free, open to the public. The trolley stops at the Lincoln Memorial during the tour — you may catch part of the press conference from the trolley stop itself. Confirm timing when you book. If the tour Lincoln stop is around 8–8:30 PM, you may be able to linger and catch staredowns.
Free~1.3 mi · ~27 min from hotel (or via trolley)
Directions
Monday June 15 — Drive Home
✅

Two Options Monday

If skipping the Zoo: Leave ~10 AM, straight to Jersey City for Krispy + Statue of Liberty views. Home by evening.
If doing the Zoo: Leave ~9 AM to start at the Zoo before checkout, then continue north.

Optional: National Zoo on the way out
Free entry · ~$30 parking (book day before)
Cost
Free entry · Parking ~$30 if reserved online the day before. Also consider ordering free timed entry tickets ahead.
Strategy
Leave hotel ~9 AM, head to Zoo, spend 2–3 hours. Then back to grab car/bags from hotel before checkout (12 PM), or pack and check out before going. Confirm with hotel about late checkout if needed.
Note
Adds significant time to the day. Skip if everyone's tired — you'll have a long drive ahead.
Directions Tickets + Parking
By 12:00 PM
Check out of Hilton
Check-out is at 12 PM. Retrieve car from 1350 I St garage. Pack up.
~10:00 AM (or post-Zoo)
DC → Jersey City
Drive: 3 hr 47 min. I-95 North or New York Ave → I-295 → Baltimore (~1 hr). NJ Turnpike North (~2.5 hrs). Smooth on a Monday morning.
~1:45–2:00 PM
🍕 Krispy Pizza — Jersey City
33 Hudson St, Jersey City, NJ 07302 · (201) 685-7313
Mon–Fri 10:30 AM – 9 PM. Grandma's Pizza (thin-crust Sicilian, fresh mozzarella, EVOO, basil), rice balls, bruschetta squares, heroes.

Parking options near Krispy:
  • One Parking (10 Exchange Place) — ~$30 · 5 min walk to Krispy
  • Liberty Towers Parking — $25 up to 10 hours · ~2 hrs walk distance? Verify before parking
Krispy Pizza One Parking
~2:30 PM
🗽 Hudson River Walkway
Hudson River Walkway is monitored/maintained all the way along the Jersey City waterfront — unobstructed Statue of Liberty views, lower Manhattan skyline. Less crowded than Liberty State Park and closer to where you parked for Krispy. Budget 30–45 min for a stroll.
Walkway Liberty State Park (alt)
~3:15 PM
Jersey City → Hinsdale
Drive: 3 hr 23 min. NJ Turnpike North → I-287 North → I-87 (Thruway) → Taconic State Pkwy → I-90 East → Hinsdale. The Taconic is scenic and low-traffic on a Monday afternoon. Est. home: ~6:30–7:00 PM.
Saturday June 13
9:00–10:00 AM
Breakfast + slow start
Long drive day Friday. Hotel restaurant for breakfast. Easy morning.
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Spy Museum
Take Metro from McPherson Square → L'Enfant Plaza (Blue Line, ~6 min, ~$2.25/person). Spy Museum is a short walk from the station. Plan 2.5–3 hours — guests get a cover identity at entry and carry it through an interactive mission across two floors.
~$35 adult · Under 7 freeBook at spymuseum.org
Spy Museum Buy Tickets
1:00–2:00 PM
Walk to The Wharf
Walk down 12th Street SW / Maine Ave SW to The Wharf (DC's waterfront district). Plenty of food options, casual atmosphere, kid-friendly. ~10 min walk from Spy Museum.
The Wharf
2:00–3:00 PM
Shake Shack (optional)
If still hungry or need a second stop — ~8 min walk from the Wharf. Burgers, shakes, kid-friendly menu.
Find nearest
3:00–6:00 PM
Walk + rest at hotel
Head back toward L'Enfant Plaza (7th Street SW northbound) or Metro back to hotel. Rest, recharge, eat dinner. No rush — you're arriving at Ellipse around 6:30 PM after entry line winds down.
~6:30 PM
🥊 Head to Ellipse — you + son
Gates opened at 3:30 PM but you're skipping the rush. Walk over after dinner — entry should be quicker by now.
~0.6 mi · ~12 min walk
Directions to Ellipse
8:30 PM
⚖️ Ceremonial Weigh-ins at the Ellipse
All fighters on the scale. Staredowns. Crowd energy peaks here.
9:30 PM
🎸 Zac Brown Band
Multi-platinum Grammy-winning country-rock. Included with your Ellipse tickets. Runs late.
Sunday June 14 — Fight Night
⚠️

Largest Crowds of the Weekend

Roads around the Ellipse and Mall restricted from early AM. Walk everywhere. Post-fight rideshares will be unavailable or heavily surging — plan to walk the ~12 min back to hotel.

9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Holocaust Museum + American History Museum
Both are on/near the Mall. Take Metro from McPherson Square → Federal Triangle (1 stop). Start with Holocaust Museum (allow 2 hrs), then walk to American History Museum (5 min away).
  • Holocaust Museum — Free · Timed pass required — ushmm.org
  • American History Museum — Free · No tickets needed · Penny smasher in the lower level (1 corner, just past Washington Monument + other Smithsonian areas)
Both FreeHolocaust: book at ushmm.org
Holocaust Museum American History
12:30–2:00 PM
🍽️ Lunch + Washington Monument area (optional)
Grab lunch on/near the Mall. If energy allows, see the Washington Monument exterior and other Smithsonian museums (Natural History is 2 min from American History). Or head back to the hotel to rest.
FreeMonument interior: timed pass — recreation.gov
2:00–6:00 PM
Rest + early dinner at hotel
Charge all devices. Pack layers, snacks, water. Portable battery is critical tonight. Eat dinner before heading to the Ellipse.
~6:30 PM
🥊 Head to Ellipse — you + son
Same strategy as Saturday — skip the early gates rush. Walk over after dinner.
~0.6 mi · ~12 min walk
Directions to Ellipse
7:30 PM
📺 UFC Watch Party warms up
Crowd settles in. Prelims wrapping up on the big screens.
8:00 PM
🏆 Main Card
Co-main: Pereira vs Gane — UFC Interim Heavyweight Title.
Main event: Topuria (17-0) vs Gaethje — Lightweight Unification Title.
~11:30 PM – Midnight+
Walk back to hotel
Do not rely on rideshare. Walk.
~0.6 mi · ~12 min from Ellipse to hotel
🧩

Day Planner — Drag & Drop

Tap and hold an activity, drag it into a time slot. Reorder anytime. Use the calculator below to check walk times between any two places. Saved locally on your phone.

Walk Time Calculator
From
To
Pick two locations
Activities
Schedule
Great Wolf Lodge Poconos
Great Wolf Lodge
Confirmation
102599520
Guest
Josh Arico
Room
Grizzly Bear Suite (Balcony)
Check-in
Wed, Jun 11, 2026 · after 4:00 PM
Check-out
Thu, Jun 12, 2026 · before 11:00 AM
Nights
1 night
Guests
2 Adults · 2 Children
Includes
Water Park Passes for all guests (wristbands for guests 3+)
ID needed
Photo ID + credit card used to book
Directions Website
Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown
Hilton Garden Inn
Confirmation
3459244881
Guest
Josh Arico
Address
815 14th Street NW, Washington DC 20005
Phone
+1 (202) 783-7800
Room
2 Queen Beds · City View
Guests
2 Adults · 2 Children
Check-in
Fri, Jun 12, 2026 · from 3:00 PM
Check-out
Mon, Jun 15, 2026 · by 12:00 PM
Nights
3 nights
Rate
Jun 12–14: $319.20/night
Jun 14–15: $455.20/night
Subtotal
$1,093.60 + $174.43 taxes
Total
$1,268.03
Directions Call Hotel
Parking — 1350 I St NW Garage
Enter at
819 14th St NW — one driveway south of the hotel. Look for 1350 I St NW signage.
Rate
~$17/day early bird · Self-park · Covered
Hours
Mon–Fri 6 AM – 12 AM · Sat–Sun 9 AM – 12 AM
Note
No in/out privileges. Car stays until Monday. Height limit: 6'7".
Savings
~$138 saved vs hotel valet ($63/night × 3 nights)
Directions to Garage Garage Info
Private DC Tours — Friday Evening
Private DC Tours
Booking ID
VRYB-290526
Operator
Private DC Tours, LLC · 700 K Street NW Suite 300, Washington DC 20001
Service
Private Evening SUV Tour
Date
Friday, June 12, 2026 · 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Passengers
4 @ $100/person = $400 base
Pickup
815 14th Street NW — at the hotel
Phone
+1 (202) 809-8168
Total
$412.00 (incl. 3% CC fee)
Paid
$5.00 deposit · May 29 · Visa 1099
Balance
$407.00 due
Notes
Confirm car seat for 3-yr-old with operator before tour. Guide knows son is a history fan.
Cancel
Full refund up to 24 hrs before. Within 24 hrs: no refund.
Call to confirm Website
💰

Trip Budget Breakdown

Confirmed bookings, expected costs, and a contingency buffer. Variable ranges where exact costs depend on choices day-of.

✅ Already paid
$1,273.03
📅 Confirmed / due
$1,675.03
🍽️ Expected variable
$700 – $1,150
⚠️ Optional / unexpected
$200 – $500
Total estimate
$2,575 – $3,325
🏨 Lodging
🏨
Hotels (booked)
~$1,668
Great Wolf Lodge Poconos
Wed Jun 11 · 1 night · Grizzly Bear Suite · includes water park
~$400est. (verify)
Hilton Garden Inn DC
Fri–Mon · 3 nights · 2 Queens · Hilton Honors rate · incl. taxes
$1,268.03
🚗 Transportation
🚗
Driving + parking
~$280 – $370
Gas (round trip)Est.
Hinsdale → GWL → DC → Jersey City → home · ~900 mi · 22–28 mpg @ $3.30/gal
$110 – $140
Tolls (round trip)Est.
NJ Turnpike, DE, MD · varies by E-ZPass vs cash
$50 – $80
DC parking — 1350 I St garageEst.
3 days @ ~$17/day early bird
~$51
DC MetroEst.
Family of 4 · ~3–4 rides total · SmarTrip card $2 + ~$2.25/ride
$30 – $50
Jersey City parking (Monday)Est.
One Parking @ Exchange Place ~$30 or Liberty Towers $25
$25 – $30
🎟️ Tours + Attractions
🎟️
Activities
~$510
Private DC Tours — Evening SUV$407 due
Fri 7–10 PM · Booking VRYB-290526 · $5 deposit paid · $407 balance
$412.00
Spy MuseumEst.
2 adults @ ~$35 + youth (14) ~$25 · 3-yr-old free
~$95
UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest
Sat + Sun · Ticketmaster digital tickets
Holocaust Museum, American History, Mall
All Smithsonian + memorials · timed passes free
🍔 Food
🍔
Meals (5 days, family of 4)
~$580 – $880
BreakfastsEst.
Hotel grab-and-go or quick service · 4 mornings
$80 – $140
LunchesEst.
Wharf, L'Enfant, Shake Shack, Penn Quarter · 5 days
$200 – $300
DinnersEst.
Penn Quarter, Chinatown, hotel · 4 nights · sit-down + casual
$240 – $360
Krispy Pizza Jersey City
Monday lunch on the way home
$30 – $50
Snacks, coffee, drinksEst.
Water, coffee, hotel snacks, vending
$30 – $80
⚠️ Optional + Unexpected
⚠️
Wild-card budget
~$200 – $500
SUV tour gratuityExpected
15–20% on $412 — bring cash for the guide
$60 – $85
National Zoo (Monday)Optional
Free entry + ~$30 parking if reserved day before
$0 – $35
Statue of Liberty ferryOptional
If you do Liberty Island · 2 adults + youth, toddler free
$0 – $85
UFC Fan Fest souvenirsOptional
Merch tents, hats, shirts at the Ellipse
$0 – $150
Other tips (restaurants)Expected
Already included in food estimates above if you tip card
— included
Contingency / forgotten itemsBuffer
Pharmacy run, hotel incidentals, ponchos, batteries
$50 – $150
💡

Smart Splits

Confirmed sunk cost: ~$2,148 (hotels + Pvt tour + parking + spy museum + gas/tolls baseline)
Worst-case ceiling: ~$3,325 if you do everything and eat well
Lean budget: ~$2,575 with modest meals and skip the optional stops
Sanity buffer: Carry $200–$300 in cash for tips, vending, and the tour guide