Directions & Hours

The following information may be helpful to visitors planning a future visit.

The Capitol Visitor Center, the main entrance to the U.S. Capitol, is located beneath the East Front plaza of the U.S. Capitol at First Street and East Capitol Street.  Getting to the Capitol »

Hours - The Capitol Visitor Center is open to visitors from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and on Inauguration Day.

Official Business - Visitors with official business appointments may enter the Visitor Center as early as 7:15 a.m.

Admission and Passes - Admission to the Capitol Visitor Center is free. However, passes are required for tours of the historic Capitol and may be needed for other special events. All visitors to the Capitol are required to go through security screening.

Tours - Tours of the U.S. Capitol can be scheduled in advance on the Capitol Visitor Center website or through the office of one of your senators or your representative. Same-day passes are usually available at the Information Desk on the lower level. The last tour of the day is at 3:20 p.m. Please leave time to go through security. Book a Tour »

Visitors with Disabilities - The Capitol Visitor Center is fully accessible to people with disabilities. All films have open captioning. In addition, there are a variety of other services for visitors with disabilities, including adaptive tours of the Capitol, wheelchairs, and sign-language interpreting services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.  More Information on Accessibility »

Smoking - All areas of the Visitor Center are smoke free.

Strollers and Baby Changing - Strollers are permitted in the Capitol Visitor Center and baby changing stations are available in each family restroom.

Public telephones and ATM machines - Pay phones and ATM's are located outside each Gift Shop.

Service Animals - Service animals are allowed in the Capitol Visitor Center and the Capitol.

Capitol Etiquette Information - To ensure that everyone has an enjoyable visit to the Capitol, we ask that all visitors adhere to the Capitol Etiquette guidelines.