Lincoln Memorial museum tickets cost $1 online, or free same day
The Lincoln Memorial is free. You do not need a ticket to walk up to the statue. The new museum and undercroft on the lower level opened June 25, 2026, and it needs a timed ticket. Advance tickets on Recreation.gov have a $1 service fee each. Same day tickets are free at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, first come, first served, while they last.
Lincoln Memorial museum ticket facts for 2026
| Lincoln Memorial and statue chamber | Free, no ticket |
|---|---|
| Museum and undercroft, advance ticket | $1 service fee per ticket, on Recreation.gov |
| Museum and undercroft, same day ticket | Free, at the Korean War Veterans Memorial |
| When advance tickets open | Up to 30 days ahead, new tickets at 11 am each day |
| Most advance tickets per person | 6 |
| Who can get same day tickets | People 16 and older, up to 6 each |
| Book by phone | 877-444-6777 |
| America the Beautiful pass | Not needed, there is no entrance fee |
| Family of 4, advance tickets | $4 |
|---|---|
| 6 advance tickets, the most allowed | $6 |
| Family of 4, same day tickets | Free |
The $1 is a service fee on advance tickets. Same day tickets have no fee. The upper level with the statue needs no ticket at all. Sources: National Park Service, Lincoln Memorial; Recreation.gov ticket page; National Park Service Data API, fees and passes for every park (pulled September 26, 2026).
Other tickets and park fees near Washington, DC
Planning more than one stop? Here is what each one charges in 2026.
| Independence National Historical Park | $1 to reserve, free before 10 am |
|---|---|
| Washington Monument | $1 online, free same day |
| Antietam National Battlefield | $20 per car |
| Assateague Island National Seashore | $25 per car |
| Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area | Free, $10 per car at beaches |
| Great Falls Park | $20 per car |
| Harpers Ferry National Historical Park | $20 per car |
| Shenandoah National Park | $30 per car |
What this price covers
What the park says: The Lincoln Memorial is free and open to the public, including the chamber with the statue of Abraham Lincoln. Since June 25, 2026, a new museum and undercroft on the lower level needs a timed entry ticket.
About the advance ticket: You can reserve up to 30 days ahead on Recreation.gov. New advance tickets come out at 11 am daily. The most you can book is 6. A $1 service fee applies to each advance ticket.
About the same day ticket: Same day tickets are handed out at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, first come, first served, while they last. There is no fee. People 16 and older can get up to 6.
Which option is best for you? If your plans are loose, same day tickets cost nothing. If you want a set time, the $1 advance ticket is cheap insurance. There is no entrance fee, so no park pass is needed.
What changes your price
- When you book. Advance tickets cost $1 each. Same day tickets are free.
- How many people. The $1 fee is per ticket, up to 6 per person.
- What you want to see. The statue chamber is free with no ticket. Only the lower level museum and undercroft need one.
Ways to pay less
- Want to pay nothing? Get free same day tickets at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, early in the day.
- Need a set time? Book on Recreation.gov. New advance tickets come out at 11 am each day, up to 30 days ahead.
- See the statue anytime with no ticket, then decide if you want the museum too.
- One person 16 or older can pick up same day tickets for a group of up to 6.
How we got these numbers
Every fee on this page comes from the National Park Service. We pulled the fee data for every park from the official NPS Data API on September 26, 2026, and each park's own fees page shows the same numbers. Where we show a total, we only add up the park's own fees. We do not add our own guesses. Fees can change, so check the park's page before you go.
Common questions
Is the Lincoln Memorial free?
Yes. The memorial and the statue chamber are free, with no ticket.
How much are Lincoln Memorial museum tickets?
$1 each when booked ahead on Recreation.gov. Same day tickets are free.
Where do you get same day Lincoln Memorial museum tickets?
At the Korean War Veterans Memorial, first come, first served.
When did the Lincoln Memorial museum open?
June 25, 2026.