Hopefully, you’re not reading this because the federal government is shut down. Government shutdowns are painful for many Americans and especially disruptive to the Washington DC travel industry. If you’re concerned about visiting DC during a government shutdown, here’s what you need to know.
What Exactly is a Government Shutdown?
You’ll often hear a shutdown referred to as a “partial government shutdown” in the news because the full U.S. government never completely shuts down. Essential services like the military, TSA, diplomats, and other key employees continue to work. While they will not get paid on time, they still show up and fulfill their duties.
Which Tourist Sites in DC Close During a Government Shutdown?
Short answer: any tourist site operated by the federal government closes during a shutdown. The more complicated answer is that it depends on many different variables and factors.
While agencies like the Smithsonian may not be tasked with national security, they play a vital role if you’re planning a vacation to Washington, DC. However, it’s impossible to predict what will happen during a government shutdown until it actually occurs.
For example, during a three-day shutdown in January 2018, which fell over a weekend, very few DC sites closed. If you visited that weekend, your trip would have been only minimally impacted.
In contrast, during the 2013 shutdown, which lasted 16 days starting on October 1st, every Smithsonian museum was closed. Visitors found locked doors and signs apologizing for the situation.
Another example is the December 2018 shutdown, which stretched for 34 days. Fortunately, the Smithsonian had enough reserve funding to remain open for the first ten days. If the shutdown had ended by day seven, the Smithsonian wouldn’t have been affected at all.
The challenge is that there’s simply no way to know these details in advance.
National Monuments and Memorials During a Government Shutdown
Similar to what happens with museums, when it comes to government shutdowns, uncertainty surrounds the national monuments and memorials. During the 2013 shutdown, the monuments and memorials were closed, with barriers set up around their perimeters to prevent visitor access. In contrast, during the 2018–2019 shutdown, they remained open, and people were allowed to visit.
While many private tour guides continued to offer tours during that time, park rangers were not working. Garbage collection was irregular, sidewalks and paths went uncleared after snow, and restrooms were closed. A limited number of portable toilets were provided near the sites, but these weren’t serviced frequently enough. Not to be too graphic, but the situation with the portable toilets became unpleasant very quickly.
Bottom Line: Should You Cancel Your Washington DC Trip?
When it comes to government shutdowns, those of us in the tourism industry don’t have any insider information. Like everyone else, we get our updates from The Washington Post or similar sources at the same time as the general public. Still, people often ask us if they should cancel their trip to DC.
My advice is no—and not just because tour guides and tour companies lose business when trips are canceled. The reality is that there are simply too many unknowns and uncertainties.
For instance, if the shutdown begins ten days before your trip but ends one day before you arrive, canceling would have been unnecessary.
On the other hand, if the shutdown starts the day before your trip and you cancel—only to find that many of the attractions you planned to visit remain open—you’ve also canceled for no reason.
There are Still Things to Do in DC During a Government Shutdown
What if there’s a shutdown during your trip and the attractions you planned to visit are closed? Don’t worry—there’s still hope. Not every site in DC is affiliated with the federal government. Private museums, like the Spy Museum and Planet Word, will remain open. While these museums aren’t free, they are reasonably priced.
Additionally, many people don’t realize that Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home, is not federally funded and stays open during shutdowns. Exploring Georgetown’s shops and historical sites, attending a professional sports game, or catching a play or concert are all excellent alternatives.
It may not be the ideal scenario, but there are still plenty of ways to turn lemons into lemonade and make the most of your trip.
How to Know What’s Closed in DC During a Government Shutdown
The best way to stay informed about what’s open and closed during a government shutdown is by following local (not national) DC news. Outlets like The Washington Post, NBC4, and other local news sources typically publish articles every few days—or even daily—with updates on the status of government sites and agencies.
If there’s a specific site you’re curious about, consider following it on social media for the most up-to-date information.
Lastly, if you’re interested in learning about past shutdowns—when they happened and how long they lasted—there’s an excellent Washington Post article that provides this information.
Hopefully, no one will ever need this article because we’ll never have another shutdown. But if we do, I hope you found this helpful.