Standing inside the White House is one of the most memorable moments of a Washington, D.C. school trip. The tour is free, but you can’t just walk up and get in.
Every public tour starts with a request to your Member of Congress, and the window to ask is short. This guide walks school groups through the whole process, from submitting the request to clearing security on tour day, plus a calculator that tells you exactly when to apply.
White House Tours at a Glance
- Cost: Free
- How to request: Through your U.S. Representative or one of your U.S. Senators
- When to request: 7 to 90 days before your tour date (earlier is better)
- Tour days: Tuesday through Saturday, excluding federal holidays
- Tour hours: 7:30–11:30 a.m. Tue–Thu; 7:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Fri–Sat
- Length: About 45 minutes, self-guided
- Biggest rule: No bags of any kind, and nowhere to store them
What You’ll See on a White House Tour
Public tours cover the rooms on the State Floor, where presidents have hosted heads of state, holiday celebrations, and historic ceremonies for more than two centuries.
Tours are self-guided, but U.S. Secret Service officers are stationed along the route to answer questions about each room’s history, art, and furnishings. Part of the route is outdoors, so dress for the weather.
Rooms on the Tour
- Entrance Hall
- Cross Hall
- Green Room
- Blue Room
- Red Room
- State Dining Room
Step 1: Find Your Member of Congress
Public White House tours are requested through your congressional office: your U.S. Representative or either of your two U.S. Senators. For a school group, that’s the Member who represents your school’s district or state. Look up your Members at congress.gov/members, or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected.
Tip: Each office handles requests its own way. Most have a “White House Tour Request” form under the Services or Constituent Services section of their website. If you’re not sure which office to use, start with your Representative.
Step 2: Submit Inside the Window
Requests can be submitted between 7 and 90 days before your tour date. Spots are limited and fill quickly, especially in spring, so plan to submit on the first day your window opens. Use the calculator to find your dates.
White House Tour Request Window Calculator
Enter the date your group hopes to tour the White House.
Dates are based on the official 7–90 day request window. Your congressional office may set its own earlier deadline, so check their form. Submitting a request does not guarantee a tour.
Step 3: Gather Information for Every Person
Once your request is accepted, every guest, including every student, must submit their personal information through the RSVP link before tour day. The information must exactly match the ID each adult shows at the gate. A misspelled name or a nickname can delay entry or get a guest turned away.
- Collect each traveler’s full legal name as it appears on their ID.
- Have chaperones double-check their own entries before submitting.
- Keep a final roster in hand on tour day, and don’t add or swap travelers at the last minute.
Step 4: Make Sure Every Adult Has the Right ID
- U.S. citizens 18 and older: a REAL ID–compliant driver’s license or state ID, a U.S. passport, or a U.S. military ID.
- U.S. citizens 17 and younger: no ID needed, but students must be with an adult. Minors without an adult guardian are denied entry.
- Foreign nationals of any age, including students: a valid passport, Permanent Resident Card, Alien Registration Card, or U.S. State Department–issued diplomatic ID.
Only physical IDs are accepted. Digital IDs, photos of IDs on a phone, photocopies, and expired passports will not get anyone through the gate.
Step 5: Pack Light (Really Light)
This is where school groups most often get caught. Bags of any kind are not allowed, and the White House does not provide storage. Anyone who arrives with a prohibited item will not be admitted. Leave backpacks on the motorcoach or at the hotel.
OK to Bring
- Cell phones (silenced)
- Compact cameras with lenses under 3 inches
- Wallets
- Umbrellas without metal tips
- Medication and medical items, including EpiPens and wheelchairs
- Service animals
Leave Behind
- Bags of any kind: backpacks, purses, fanny packs
- Food, drinks, and water bottles
- Tablets, laptops, video cameras, and cameras with detachable lenses
- Smart glasses or other wearables that record photo or video
- Signs, flags, and strollers
- Lighters, aerosols, vapes, knives, toy weapons, and anything sharp
Step 6: Tour Day
- Use the restroom first. There are no restrooms once the tour begins. The closest public restrooms are at the White House Visitor Center, 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
- Eat and hydrate beforehand. Food and drinks aren’t allowed inside.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes early. Late arrivals may not be admitted.
- Head to the tour entrance at the northeast corner of Lafayette Square, at H Street NW and Madison Place NW. There’s no parking at the White House, so plan your motorcoach drop-off nearby. McPherson Square Metro is about a five-minute walk.
- Clear security. Have adult IDs out and ready, and keep the group together in roster order.
- Enjoy the tour. No flash photography or video, and no touching or leaning on furniture, art, or walls.
Good to Know
Tours can be changed or canceled with little notice because of weather or the President’s schedule, even after they’re confirmed. Build a backup plan into your itinerary.
Before or After: The White House Visitor Center
Run by the National Park Service, the Visitor Center is free and open to everyone, no reservation needed. Students can see about 100 artifacts, many from the White House collection, explore an interactive touchscreen tour, and watch the 14-minute film White House: Reflections From Within. It has its own security screening and bag-size limits, so check the National Park Service website before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Student Adventures request the White House tour for us?
White House tour requests have to come through your own Member of Congress, so the request is submitted by your school or trip leader. Student Adventures will help you time the request, build the tour into your itinerary, and plan a backup in case your tour is changed or canceled.
How far in advance should we request a tour?
Requests are accepted 7 to 90 days before the tour date. Because spots are limited, submit as close to the 90-day mark as you can.
Do students need an ID?
U.S. citizens 17 and younger don’t need an ID, but they must be accompanied by an adult. Students who are foreign nationals need a valid passport or other accepted ID, regardless of age.
Can we bring backpacks?
No. Bags of any kind are prohibited, and there is no storage on site. Leave them on the motorcoach or at the hotel.
Is the White House tour wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The tour route is wheelchair accessible, and a limited number of wheelchairs are available on request from a Secret Service officer on the day of the tour.
How much does a White House tour cost?
Nothing. Public White House tours are free.
Planning a Washington, D.C. Trip?
Student Adventures builds White House tours, Arlington National Cemetery, the monuments, and the Smithsonian into one stress-free itinerary, with a tour director by your side the whole way.
Tour rules, hours, and ID requirements come from WhiteHouse.gov and the National Park Service, and can change at any time. Always confirm details with your congressional office before your trip.
Photo credits: White House North Façade by Nishkid64 (Public domain); White House South Lawn by Mark Skrobola (CC BY 2.0). Via Wikimedia Commons.