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George Washington's Mount Vernon

Tour the grounds of George Washington's estate, Mount Vernon, with your leashed pets in Alexandria, VA. Pets are welcome during daytime visitation hours. Your canine companion can accompany you as you visit George Washington's tomb, the stables, the gardens, and dozens of other outdoor places. Enjoy the view of the Potomac River from the dog-friendly piazza. Pets aren't allowed in the historic buildings, the museum, or the Education Center exhibition galleries. Visit Website

Or call (703) 780-2000 or email tickets@mountvernon.org for more information.

Reviews

BringFido Guest Rating
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

George Washington's Mount Vernon has received a rating of 4.2 out of 5 bones by 5 canine critics on BringFido and 3.5 out of 5 by 69 guests on TripAdvisor.

  • Kristen
    Sep 18, 2020
    Awesome

    Parking is free and close. Tickets to walk the grounds (excluding the mansion) are $20/day for adults ($14 for military, free for Purple Heart recipients). An annual pass includes free daytime admission all year long if you are local, and you can deduct your day pass cost if you come back and get an annual within 30 days.

    COVID admission requirements include a mask. Bags must be clear (they do provide plastic bags if you do not have one to put the contents of your bag inside).

    There’s miles of trail and clean / filled water bowls throughout the grounds. Livestock is present (sheep, goats, horses, etc.) and there’s a substantial amount of wildlife. If Fido is a squirrel freak this might not be the place. Mount Vernon trail runs outside of the estate grounds as well - all the way down the GW Parkway along the Potomac River. There is a sandy spit of beach.

    Dogs are allowed anywhere on the grounds - the gardens, the tombs, the water, etc. Obviously keep them out of roped off flowerbeds and memorial sites, etc.

    The conservation crew is always working - so if you are not local and planning to make a trip I recommend calling ahead and asking if any of the trail segments are closed for maintenance. It can sometimes be significant portions including the long trail to the waterfront.

    Pathways are brick, loose stone, and sometimes mud. Dogs are allowed on the lawns of the estate. All staff is very dog friendly (period costumes might freak some dogs out - huge skirts, weird hats, etc).

    All in all a wonderful, scenic, friendly place for you and Fido. Interpreters do give ad hoc talks outside, and you can do an audio tour that only includes the grounds.

  • Betsy
    May 20, 2019
    Well, not so friendly

    The grounds are dog friendly however you cannot go into the mansion and they won't sell you a ticket to just walk the grounds. It's a first class rip off to have to pay full price to walk around outside and not be able to take a tour. Why? Greed, that's why.

  • Thalia
    May 17, 2019
    Awesome Place for Pups!

    You can really spend your whole day there with your dog. Lots to explore! They also have a neat forest trail that makes you forget you're in the busy DC area!

  • Tamara
    More than a year ago
    pups have a place in history

    Dog friendly grounds to explore.

  • Laura
    Oct 7, 2018
    Very Friendly

    We have brought our big German Shepherd here several times. He loves walking around and sniffing everything. The center staff are very understanding. Dogs are not allowed in the house tour but if you line up as a group the staff will let you wait outside and when one of your party completes the tour you can go to the top of the line so you don’t have to wait for too long.

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George Washington's Mount Vernon