U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree
✓ Verified 2025-2026
Where: West Lawn, U.S. Capitol, Washington, District of Columbia
When: Throughout the holiday season
Hours: typically dusk – 10 PM
Cost: free
giant spruce or firthousands of handmade ornamentstradition since 1964attraction
Each year since 1964 a spruce or fir has traveled thousands of miles from a different U.S. state or territory to the Capitol's West Lawn, where it is decorated with thousands of ornaments made in its home state. Social media trackers follow the tree's cross-country journey.
Best time to arrive. Sunset in Washington is around 4:47 PM in mid-December, fully dark by about 5:17 PM. A typical December night here bottoms out near 28°F, so dress for standing around outside.
Other displays nearby
There are 11 other displays within 5 miles of this one, and 30 within 15 miles. Most people make a loop of it rather than driving out for a single house.
- CityCenterDC Holiday Tree
- District Holiday Boat Parade
- Frosted at Franklin Park
- National Menorah Lighting
- Season's Greenings at the U.S. Botanic Garden
- ZooLights at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
- National Christmas Tree
- Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park
Make a night of it. This is stop 7 on our 10-stop Washington lights loop — about 3.4 miles and 48 minutes of driving in total.