Are you looking for a new and unique way to see the nation’s capital? Washington DC bike tours are the perfect way to see the city as a family, couple, or small group. We’ve rounded up some of the best bike tours Washington DC has to offer.
When you are visiting Washington DC there are so many tour options. Walking tours wear kids out quickly, bus tours can be a bore. But bike tours give you the ability to see a lot of Washington DC while letting kids burn energy in a fun way.
During our family trip to Washington DC, we took a bike tour at the beginning of our stay. It was one of the best things we did! It was such a hit that we decided to do the same thing on our trip to London.
Washington DC bike tours offer lots of options from electric bike upgrades to bike trailers and baby seats for young children. My three-year-old had the best time riding with Daddy during our tour.
Let’s dive into the best Washington DC tours for families with bicycles!
Best Washington DC Bicycle Tours
1. Private Family-Friendly DC Tour by Bike
Rating: 5/5
A private, customizable bike tour in Washington DC is the perfect fit for a large family or group of friends. This bike tour offers hotel pick-up and drop-off, along with healthy snacks and water to make the bike experience even better. Guests will see important sites such as the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Capitol Building, and learn fun facts from your guide.
| Important Information |
| 3 hours |
| Ideal for small groups (10 or less) |
| Snacks and water included |
| Hotel pick up |
| Bike trailers/family bikes available |
“This was our favorite activity during our time in DC. Jeff met us at our hotel and had great equipment. The route was perfect – we hit everything we expected and more. His narrative was spot on – educational and age-appropriate. Not only is he an excellent guide, he is a great photographer! I’m usually the one taking the pictures and now I have evidence I was on the trip.”
2. Private Customized DC Sights Biking Tour
Rating: 5/5
This private bike tour is jam-packed with all the sites of Washington DC. Your tour guide gives facts and information about memorials and monuments as well as the White House, the Capitol building, and the Smithsonian museums. This tour is great for families and multigenerational groups, and customers rank this as one of the best bike tours of Washington DC.
| Important Information |
| 3 hours |
| Snacks and water included |
| Hotel pick up |
| 6 person max |
“Jeff is an amazing tour guide. He kept all four kids of varying ages excited and engaged. He was chock full of interesting information at every sight. The tour was the highlight of our trip! I highly recommend Jeff and DC Cycling Concierge, you won’t be disappointed!”
3. Private Group Monuments & Memorials Bike Tour
Rating: 5/5
This private tour highlights the National Mall and Tidal Basin in the center of Washington DC. Guests will learn fascinating facts about the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the World War II Memorial. Your guide will share interesting details about the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument as well.
| Important Information |
| 3 hours |
| Snacks and water included |
| Helmets required |
For the seventeenth year in a row, the bike tour has been a highlight of my students’ week-long senior class trip to DC. We are already planning for next year. We had to make adjustments this year due to appointments with the White House and weather. The professionals made this happen with no headaches for me in my planning.”
4. Private Endorphin Inducing Bike Road Ride
Rating: 5/5
This private bike tour allows you to set the pace and endurance level for the day. Guests can choose a more leisurely itinerary that takes in the historic sites of DC as well as the natural beauty outside the city. Amp up the energy level with a 3-4 hour tour that goes into Virginia or Maryland. More extreme 6-hour tours are available upon request.
| Important Information |
| 2-6 hours |
| Snacks and water included |
| Customized itinerary |
| Hotel pick up |
| 4 person max |
“Met at my hotel. I was expecting a good ride out along the Potomac. I got that. What I wasn’t expecting was the fount of knowledge and the fascinating insights about the history of the places we passed. A pretty unique experience.”
5. Washington DC: Monuments and Memorials Bike Tour
Rating: 4.7/5
Enjoy 3 hours of easy biking around the National Mall and Tidal Basin. The Unlimited Biking guided bike tour of DC will stop at the most popular memorials including the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and the Washington Monument. Experience the Jefferson Memorial and learn about its history with your guide.
| Important Information |
| 3 hours |
| Great for families |
| Helmets included |
| Closed-toed shoes required |
“Joe was the best tour guide. He looked out for both my kids (ages 8 and 11), was super knowledgeable, and had a wealth of fun tidbits about all the sights. Would definitely recommend to anyone, especially families if your children could bike that distance.”
6. Bike Tour: Capitol Hill, Lincoln Memorial, National Mall
Rating: 4.5/5
This 2-hour guided bike tour covers 7 miles across the center of Washington DC. The tour includes all the highlights of DC: the White House, the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, and more. Guests will learn the history and interesting facts about the many monuments around the National Mall and get a great introduction to the capital city.
| Important Information |
| 2 hours |
| Bike trailers and baby seats available to rent |
| Helmets included |
| Closed-toed shoes required |
”We had a great time on this tour. Our guide Joe was a wealth of knowledge and enthusiastic about showing us all he could in just two hours. It was apparent he loves DC and its history and lives to share it with others. Our group was about 13 people, all from different places. We had a family with middle school kids, several high school-aged kids, and adults. The tour route was manageable for everyone.”
7. Washington DC: Best of Capitol Hill Guided Bike Tour
Rating: 4/5
This tour is perfect for political enthusiasts, government geeks, or those who want to learn more about civics. This guided tour will take guests to all three branches of government including the Capitol and Supreme Court buildings, the Library of Congress, and the White House.
| Important Information |
| 2 hours |
| Electric bike upgrade available upon request |
“Very good experience! My tour guide, Sam is humorous and very experienced. I really enjoyed this bike tour.”
E-bikes and Segway Tours
8. Washington DC: E-Bike Tour of the National Mall
Rating: 4.8/5
Electric bikes allow tourists to see more and pedal less. This Washington DC electric bike tour takes guests along the Tidal Basin, across the National Mall, and around the Capitol building and Smithsonian museums. Learn fun facts and history during multiple stops at various memorials and monuments throughout the capital.
| Important Information |
| 3 hours |
| Must be 16+ years old |
| Closed-toed shoes required |
“We had a great day touring on the e-bikes with David and Joe! Both guys are prideful in the nation’s Capital and seemed to truly enjoy what they do!! We would absolutely recommend this excursion for any that want to get a general lay of the land!”
9. Washington DC: See the City Segway Tour
Rating: 4.9/5
Seeing Washington DC by segway is a fun and unique way to learn about our nation’s capital. Once you arrive, you will be trained on how to ride the segway, then you will zip off to see the top monuments, memorials, and historical sites. Guests can see much more on a segway tour than on a walking tour.
| Important Information |
| 2.5 hours |
| Must be 16+ years old |
| Radio headsets included |
| Included ticket to the US Treasury building |
“Excellent tour to get a quick overview of the National Mall. We were all new to Segway riding and got a good introduction and felt safe all along the tour. Great experience, rounded up by two nice guides who gave interesting info on DC and monuments, and excellent recommendation for dining.”
10. Washington DC: Sightseeing Segway Tour
Rating: 4.9/5
After comprehensive training, guests will feel comfortable setting off on segways to see the National Mall and Capitol Hill. Your guided tour will stop at monuments such as the Lincoln memorial and the White House to give interesting facts and detailed information about the nation’s capital.
| Important Information |
| 2.5 hours |
| Must be 16+ years old |
| 8 person max |
| Weight limit 260lbs |
“My daughter and I loved this tour! Our guide, “Joe” was fantastic! He was extremely knowledgeable in DC history and architecture. We took several of his advisements on where to go and what to do. He made sure all guests on the tour were carefully trained on Segway usage and looked after during the tour. It was fun, informative, and safe. I will bring friends next time.”
Pro Travel Tip
Night Bike Tours Washington DC
11. Private DC Monuments at Night Biking Tour
Rating: 5/5
Gear up for a nighttime adventure. This private tour of Washington DC allows guests to see the monuments and memorials lit up in a unique way. Your guide will take you to all the top historical sites of the nation’s capital. This customizable tour is great for family groups. It is one of the most popular bicycle tours of Washington DC.
| Important Information |
| 2.5-3 hours |
| Hotel pick up |
| Water bottle souvenir |
| Snacks provided |
| Safety gear provided |
“We loved our bike tour with Jeff! Seeing all the sites on bikes is absolutely the best way to do it, and the personalized experience was exactly what we were hoping for. Jeff is incredibly knowledgeable about the area’s history, all the way up to modern times. He weaves in stories and anecdotes that would keep people of all ages engaged. Plus, with a small group size you can always hear what he’s saying (which is not always the case with large groups) and you can ask all the silly tourist questions you want. Our tour with Jeff was hands-down our favorite part of our very first trip to Washington DC.”
12. Washington DC Monuments by Night Bike Tour
Rating: 4.7/5
Enjoy the national monuments lit up at night and without the crowds. Guests will cruise along the Tidal Basin and National Mall with a guide to give fun facts and detailed information about the historical sites of the city.
| Important Information |
| 3 hours |
| Closed-toed shoes required |
| Helmets required |
| Trailers and baby seats available to rent upon request |
| Safety gear provided |
“We took our children ages 12 & 10. It was perfect for their ability level on bikes and much cooler than being out in the middle of the day. We were able to see all the monuments and learn about each one along the way. The entire family enjoyed this fun way to explore DC.”
Seasonal Tours
13. Washington DC: Cherry Blossom Festival Tour by Bike
Rating: 5/5
Explore Washington DC in all its glory during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This springtime event takes place from mid March to mid April, when the cherry tree blossoms are in full bloom. This Washington DC monuments bike tour takes visitors for a scenic ride around the Tidal Basin and East Patomic Park as well as the capital’s top historical sites when spring flowers are at their peak.
| Important Information |
| 2 hours |
| Closed-toed shoes required |
| Helmets required |
| Electric bike options available upon request |
“Very good. Loved seeing the blossoms and the monuments — especially the Roosevelt Monument, as I had not seen it before.”
Bike Tours Beyond DC
14. Mount Vernon: Full-Day Bike and Optional Boat Tour
Rating: 4.2/5
This bike tour from Alexandria starts off in historic Old Town and is self-paced. Guests take a leisurely ride along the Potomac River to George Washington’s home and plantation. After exploring Mount Vernon guests can choose to take a scenic boat ride back to Alexandria or ride bikes back. Alexandria is an easy metro ride on the blue line from Washington DC.
| Important Information |
| 6.5-7.5 hours |
| Helmet and bike lock included |
| Mount Vernon ticket included |
| Scenic boat ride ticket included |
“From the beautiful, historic town of Alexandria, following level terrain along the Potomac river with some wooded sections with modest hills. This was a ride that we were able to do, even though my wife and I are aged 70, with histories of knee and hip surgeries, and our granddaughters ages 8 and 12. Ending with a tour of the home of George Washington and visit to the tomb of the first President and his wife. Finally, slow boat ride back to Alexandria within steps of our car. A fantastic trip.”
15. Alexandria, VA: Bike Rental
Rating: 4/5
If you want to get out of the city and explore historic Old Town Alexandria and the surrounding areas on your own, choose a bike rental. The bike rentals include maps of the area. From there, you can decide to stay in town, hit the nature trails, or bike down to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home, for the day.
| Important Information |
| 2-hour, 4-hour, or full-day options |
| Bike trailers and baby seats available for rent |
| Helmet, bike lock, bike bag, and color-coded map included |
| Helmets required <14 years old |
| Closed-toed shoes required |
“Was easy to reserve bikes on the website and by call. The employe was super friendly and prepared everything for us to hope on and go when we walked in. Nothing went wrong and prices were reasonable. I would highly recommend and definitely going back.”
Washington DC Bike Rentals
16. Washington DC eBike Rentals
Rating: 3.5/5
Explore Washington DC in a unique way by electric bike. See more of the city than when walking and if the ride gets tiring, you will have help with the e-bike. This Washington DC bike rental allows you to choose the places you want to see that fit your interests without feeling exhausted at the end of the day.
| Important Information |
| 2-hour, 4-hour options |
| Bike trailers and baby seats available for rent |
| Helmet, bike lock, bike bag, and city map included |
| Helmets required <18 years old |
| Must be +16 years old to use the e-bikes |
“We had a great time! Will definitely do it again next time we’re in DC. We were given very nice maps, directions and even suggestions for dinner.”
17. Washington DC Bike Rental
Rating: 4.5/5
Touring Washington DC on your own can be an adventure. When you rent bikes for the day, you can customize the route you take to fit your personal interests. Employees are happy to offer ideas for the best bike routes around Washington DC. Bike locks allow you to secure your bikes and enjoy lunch or explore the monuments and museums.
| Important Information |
| 2-hour and 4-hour options are available |
| Helmet, bike lock, bike bag, and city map included |
| Bike trailers available |
| Helmets required <18 years old |
“Bike ride was the way to go! Everyone was so helpful here and the bikes worked perfectly. It was easy and the only way to see all the sight in a few hours.”
FAQs
Is Washington DC bike friendly?
Washington DC is very bike friendly. With over 40 miles of bike lanes throughout the city, cyclists can easily and safely see all the top landmarks by bicycle. The greater DC Metro area offers 800 miles of trails. This offers a healthy and environmentally friendly way to explore the nation’s capital and beyond.
Is it safe to bike in Washington DC?
Cycling in Washington DC is a very safe activity as long as you follow the rules and pay attention. Here are some safety tips for bike riding in Washington DC:
- Always wear a helmet
- Ride in the same direction as the traffic
- Use bike lanes whenever available
- Obey all traffic laws
- Yield to pedestrians
- Always lock your bike if you will be away from it
Conclusion: Best Washington DC Bike Tours
A Washington DC bike tour is a great activity for families, couples, or groups to get to know the center of DC. After our family bike tour, we learned so much and had great memories that we still talk about today. A bike tour of Washington DC allows you to see many of the monuments memorials and important sites that shape our American government.
There are so many other places to see in Washington DC that it can be hard to choose what to fit into your trip. Head on over to our Ultimate Washington DC Family Vacation Guide to learn about family-friendly restaurants and hotels, the best attractions for your kids’ ages (even playgrounds), and a free 3-day itinerary.
Recommended
Travel Helps
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Travel Insurance
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Attractions
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What’s your favorite thing to do in Washington DC?
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Kyleen Bontrager
The Bonnie TravelerKyleen is a wife, homeschool mama, lover of teatime, and passionate traveler. Having lived on 3 continents and visited +32 countries, she helps others enjoy memory-making experiences for multigenerational travel. Ready for a bonnie adventure? Let’s go!
