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.
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.
Ceremonial weigh-ins 8:30 PM · Zac Brown Band headline concert 9:30 PM — both included with your Ellipse tickets.
Free public event at the Lincoln Memorial — Friday June 12 at 8:30 PM. ~33 min walk / 1.4 mi from hotel.
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.
Morning rush hour cleared. Arrive DC ~3:30 PM — before afternoon rush and well before the Moonlight Tour.
Commuters flow inbound. Leave ~10 AM to clear DC + Baltimore before any traffic builds. Jersey City Krispy + Liberty State Park on the return — perfect northbound stop.
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.
Holocaust Museum — ushmm.org · Free · Book immediately, June fills fast
Spy Museum — spymuseum.org · Paid · Price rises closer to date
Washington Monument — recreation.gov · Free · Books up weeks ahead
700 L'Enfant Plaza SW. Two-floor museum on the history of espionage. Guests receive a cover identity at entry and carry it through an interactive mission. Exhibits cover spy tradecraft, Cold War intelligence, real spy gadgets, cyberwarfare, and global operations. 25,000 sq ft across two floors. Most visitors spend 2–3 hours. No café on-site; food court accessible at L'Enfant Plaza.
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW. National memorial to the Holocaust. The Permanent Exhibition documents the Holocaust through artifacts, photographs, film footage, and personal histories across three floors. Plan 2–3 hours minimum. Emotionally demanding — recommended for 11+ for the Permanent Exhibition. "Daniel's Story" (free, no ticket) is appropriate for younger children.
Constitution Ave NW & 14th St. Smithsonian museum. The original Star-Spangled Banner — the actual 30×34 ft flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1814 — is displayed in a dedicated dim-light gallery. Additional holdings include the First Ladies' gown collection, artifacts from American popular culture, the presidency, and an exhibit on the American flag. America's 250th anniversary makes this especially relevant this weekend.
Walking distances are from your hotel at 815 14th St NW. Spot-to-spot times listed below. All memorials open 24/7 with park rangers on duty ~10:00 AM – 11:30 PM. All free, no tickets needed (except Washington Monument interior).
401 F St NW. Housed in the 1887 Pension Building, a National Historic Landmark. The Great Hall features 75-foot Corinthian columns — one of the most spectacular interior spaces in DC. Current exhibits include architecture, design, and engineering-focused content. The Great Hall and Museum Shop are always free to enter without purchasing exhibit tickets.
100 Maryland Ave SW. Indoor conservatory with tropical plants, cacti, orchids, medicinal plants, and themed garden rooms. The adjacent Bartholdi Park is also free. Good option in hot weather or rain. Fully stroller-accessible.
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