Are you planning a trip to Washington, D.C.? How should you pack for it?
My first trip to D.C. was part of my tenth grade East Coast trip. Although I wanted to return as soon as possible, that didn’t come to fruition until this past summer. In July, I joined the organization Passages Israel on their four-day D.C. trip. I went to Israel with this same nonprofit organization a couple of years ago, and it was great to connect with them again in their mission to advocate for both Israelis and Palestinians in Israel’s right to exist. Passages asked me to return for another trip to D.C. as a cohort leader, so I am now getting ready for my January trip!
As a cohort leader, many of the participants in my cohort asked about what to wear, how to pack, and how to get around D.C. from the airports. I decided to write this blog post to help them out as well as anyone else preparing for a trip to D.C. Passages hosts four-day trips, and my high school trip also spent four days in D.C., so this seems like a common length of time for a trip like this. Of course, four days is not nearly enough time to see and do everything in our nation’s capital, but it’s at least enough for a quick overview of spotting the main sites!
What NOT to Bring
For my last trip, I purposely just brought a backpack as I wanted to hike the four miles between the DCA airport and the National Mall upon my arrival. Even if you don’t want to do this, a carryon should be sufficient for most four-day trips. By bringing just a carryon, you’ll be subject to TSA requirements, which are a good indicator of what you can have at most D.C. locations. Most museums, monuments, and government buildings will have some sort of entrance security, so obviously you shouldn’t bring weapons or other dangerous items.
For January, I got a ticket to go to the top of the Washington Monument, so I also have to make sure that I don’t bring nail clippers or tweezers – these items are allowed on planes, and I’m not sure what kind of dangerous damage they could do if they got into the wrong hands, but regardless, I am deciding not to pack them in case I can’t make it to my hotel before my strict timed entry at the monument. Every building will tell you what’s not allowed on their website, so check that before you go.
Clothing
Business casual is a good idea for exploring D.C. (Of course, if you have plans to meet a government representative or attend an event of similar prestige, even more professional clothing is recommended.) Wear clothes that can look nice inside buildings but are comfortable enough to walk around outside in. In July, I packed mostly knee-length skirts, and I recommend wearing shorts underneath due to the humidity. It will be a lot colder in January, so instead I’ll look to pack nice jeans, khakis, dress pants, or full-length skirts. I’m still hoping to have just a backpack by wearing my heavy coat on the plane, and I’ll pack a thin pair of gloves and some other winter accessories.
Shoes
I’m planning to wear the same shoes on my upcoming trip as I did my last one. Walking shoes are a must (especially if you decide it would be fun to walk four miles from the airport), and my Allbirds shoes fit the bill while also being eco-friendly. I may pack slippers or flip flops for the hotel, but a neutral pair of walking shoes can go with just about any business casual outfit. I also packed a lightweight pair of ballet flats for our nice-dress Shabbat dinner and will likely do that again. If you have an event that justifies bringing more than one pair of shoes, wear your walking shoes and look for lightweight options to pack the others.
Toiletries
I’m the kind of traveler who stays at hostels for city trips or camps in remote areas. Hotels seem like a luxury to me, with soap, shampoo, and towels provided. I take advantage of those when I do stay in hotels (but only if the shampoo is in a refillable bottle, not those wasteful little plastic bottles), which makes my toiletry bag pretty tiny. Here’s what I packed last time:
Folding hairbrush
Folding toothbrush
Just enough toothpaste tabs for my time there
Small container of floss
Nail clippers and tweezers (no, I won’t bring these this time- see above)
I brought a TSA-friendly razor last time, but due to wearing pants in the colder weather I might forgo this for the few days I’m in D.C.
Deodorant- I’m a fan of Hey Humans because their cardboard tube is lightweight and their deodorant works well!
Small container of moisturizer sunscreen
Small container of hand sanitizer
Electronics and Apps
I didn’t have a need for a laptop any time I’ve gone to D.C. However, a phone is a must. Passages utilizes WhatsApp for their cohorts, so I needed that. I also used Google Maps quite a bit during my own times of exploration before and after the program. I also used the Lime app for the first time in D.C., as the e-bikes and scooters are a fun way to get around. Want a free unlock credit with Lime? Use this link to download the app: https://lime.bike/referral_signin/RPWH337XVOY
Remember to bring any chargers you need. I wish I had brought headphones as I was sharing a room with someone else, so I couldn’t watch or listen to anything when she was sleeping. A portable charger might be a good idea too.
Money and ID
While D.C. is an expensive destination, so much of it is also free. Smithsonian Museums all offer free entry, as do most of the monuments and government buildings. My hotel even provided free snacks to guests. My favorite souvenirs were the free stamps I got at the National Park Sites. And by traveling with Passages, we got a lot of freebies too.
But there are some things you’ll have to pay for, such as food, souvenirs, and transportation. However, credit cards seem to be more widely accepted than cash. I didn’t see any place that was cash-only, not even the food trucks! I carried two credit cards stored in two different places so that I would still be okay if one was lost or stolen.
Also make sure to have government ID. (I brought a passport, which will be necessary if you’re not a U.S. resident.) If you’re flying, of course it’s required for that, but it may also be required for government-sponsored activities.
Food and Drink
I saved some money by packing my own snacks. Some attractions say food is not allowed, but will allow sealed snacks as long as you don’t open them inside. It’s also VERY important to bring a refillable water bottle! As long as it’s empty at airport security, it can be refilled in a lot of places and go anywhere.
What to Do
There is too much to do in D.C.! I think I could easily spend a month just touring there. So do your research and prioritize what’s important to you.
Some activities are free but require advanced reservations and timed entry. On my last trip, I reserved a time at the Museum of African American History before I left. It was my first activity, so I had to carefully time it to make sure I could get there on time even if my plane was delayed. I decided to book it for three hours after my arrival time. I decided to do the same thing when booking the Washington Monument tour for this trip. Tickets are even more limited, so I had to book a month early.
The cool thing about traveling with Passages is that everything is included, so I only planned activities for the first day before check-in time and after the program was over on the last day. Each trip varies slightly, but they typically include Museum of the Bible, the Holocaust Museum, Union Station, and a monument tour to sites like the Jefferson Memorial, MLK Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial. We also stay at a hotel within walking distance to the National Mall, so we can’t help but see sites like the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument.
Jessica Lippe 