Hotels near the Washington Monument put you within reach of the entire National Mall corridor, from the Lincoln Memorial to the west and the Smithsonian museums stretching east toward the Capitol.
Pennsylvania Avenue runs just north of the Monument grounds, connecting you to the White House, Federal Triangle, and Penn Quarter within a short walk. This list covers five bookable hotels within one mile of the Monument, spanning premium and mid-range price points, selected for proximity first and then for guest satisfaction and sustainability credentials. The properties below are ordered closest to farthest so you can match your budget to your tolerance for walking.
How we ranked these hotels
Walking distance to the Washington Monument set the order. The Monument is at 2 15th St NW, and every hotel on this list is within 0.55 miles, which translates to an 11-minute walk at a standard urban pace.
When two hotels fell within 0.1 miles of each other, the higher star rating moved up. A verified sustainability credential pushed a hotel above an otherwise equal competitor.
The Salamander Washington DC leads because it is the closest at 0.48 miles. The JW Marriott Washington, DC and the Willard InterContinental both clock in at 0.51 miles, with the JW Marriott's five-star rating placing it second. Hotel Washington and the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC round out the five, with the Waldorf earning its spot despite a slightly longer walk because of its five-star rating and a perfect guest score.
Side-by-side comparison: hotels near the Washington Monument
| Hotel | Distance (miles) | Walk (min) | Stars | Guest score | Sustainability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salamander Washington DC | 0.48 | 10 | 5 | 9.0 | None verified |
| JW Marriott Washington, DC | 0.51 | 10 | 5 | 8.2 | Marriott Serve 360 program |
| Willard InterContinental Washington by IHG | 0.51 | 10 | 4 | 9.1 | IHG Green Engage program |
| Hotel Washington | 0.52 | 10 | 4 | 9.0 | None verified |
| Waldorf Astoria Washington DC | 0.54 | 11 | 5 | 10.0 | Hilton LightStay program |
Getting around from these hotels
- Smithsonian Metro station (Blue, Orange, Silver lines) is on the Mall at 12th St SW and is the closest station to the Monument, roughly a 5-minute walk from the obelisk itself.
- Federal Triangle station (Blue, Orange, Silver lines) on 12th St NW serves the northern cluster of hotels along Pennsylvania Avenue.
- The National Mall has no car access for most of its length, so walking or cycling the dedicated paths is faster than driving between monuments.
- Capital Bikeshare docks appear at multiple points along the Mall and on 15th St NW, giving you a faster option for reaching the Lincoln Memorial or the Capitol than walking the full length.
What to expect in this part of Washington DC
The blocks immediately south and west of the White House form one of the most walkable stretches in the city. From any hotel on this list, you can reach the Washington Monument in under 12 minutes on foot, the White House in under 15, and the National Museum of American History in under 20.
Pennsylvania Avenue connects the cluster of hotels along 13th and 14th Streets to both the Federal Triangle government buildings and the Penn Quarter dining and theater district. The Southwest Waterfront and the Wharf are about a mile south, reachable on foot or by a short Metro ride from L'Enfant Plaza.
If you plan to spend most of your time on the Mall, the hotels on this list eliminate the need for a daily Metro commute to the monuments.
The hotels
Salamander Washington DC
1330 Maryland Ave, SW
9.0697 reviews
7 min walk to Smithsonian (Blue/Orange/Silver)At 0.48 miles from the Monument, the Salamander Washington DC is the closest five-star hotel on this list, and its Maryland Ave SW address places it directly in the southern Mall corridor with no major intersections between the front door and the obelisk.
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JW Marriott Washington, DC
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
8.2535 reviews
4 min walk to Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange/Silver)The JW Marriott's five-star rating and Pennsylvania Avenue address at 0.51 miles place it second on this list, and its position between Federal Triangle and the Monument makes it a practical base for travelers splitting time between the Mall and downtown DC.
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Willard InterContinental Washington by IHG
1401 Pennsylvania Ave Nw
9.1635 reviews
5 min walk to Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange/Silver)The Willard InterContinental matches the JW Marriott's 0.51-mile distance but carries a four-star rating, placing it third; its guest score of 9.1 and the IHG Green Engage enrollment give it a clear edge over other four-star options at the same distance.
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Hotel Washington
515 15th Street, NW
9.03,857 reviews
4 min walk to Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange/Silver)Hotel Washington is at 515 15th St NW, which places it on the same street as the Monument itself, and its 0.52-mile distance reflects a straight south walk down 15th St NW to the obelisk, making the route unusually direct for a downtown hotel.
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Waldorf Astoria Washington DC
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
10.0388 reviews
5 min walk to Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange/Silver)The Waldorf Astoria carries a perfect guest score of 10 and a five-star rating at 0.54 miles, and its Hilton LightStay enrollment gives it a verified sustainability credential that no other five-star property at this distance can match.
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Frequently asked questions
Which hotel is closest to the Washington Monument?＋
The Salamander Washington DC at 1330 Maryland Ave SW is the closest at 0.48 miles, a 10-minute walk north along Maryland Ave SW to the Monument grounds.
Is there a Metro station near the Washington Monument?＋
Smithsonian station on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines is on the Mall at 12th St SW, about a 5-minute walk from the Monument. Federal Triangle station on the same lines is slightly farther but closer to the hotels along Pennsylvania Avenue.
What is the best mid-range hotel near the Washington Monument?＋
Hotel Washington at 515 15th St NW is the most accessible mid-range option on this list. It is on the same street as the Monument, the walk south is direct, and the rooftop bar gives you a view of the surrounding Mall area.
Can you walk to the Lincoln Memorial from these hotels?＋
Yes. From any hotel on this list, you can walk to the Washington Monument in under 12 minutes, and the Lincoln Memorial is another 0.6 miles west along the Mall from the Monument, adding roughly 12 more minutes on foot.
Which hotels near the Washington Monument have verified sustainability programs?＋
Three of the five hotels on this list participate in verified programs. The JW Marriott Washington, DC is enrolled in Marriott's Serve 360 program, the Willard InterContinental participates in IHG's Green Engage program, and the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC uses Hilton's LightStay tracking system.
How far is the White House from these hotels?＋
The hotels along Pennsylvania Avenue, including the JW Marriott, the Willard InterContinental, and the Waldorf Astoria, are between 0.3 and 0.5 miles from the White House, which puts it within a 6 to 10-minute walk north from each property.
