Local Guides World
This huge, iconic pool on the National Mall reflects the Lincoln Memorial & the Washington Monument.
Photos — 98
Reviews — 8
The colleagues and I had a quick trip, so I didn't get the image I really wanted. Overall, this is a highly photogenic location. It's also fine to simply hang around the pool as well.
We visited over the holiday season 2021 / 2022.
The pool and loop of memorials would make a good morning walk with a coffee. It does get quite crowded, so just keep that in mind.
The pool and loop of memorials would make a good morning walk with a coffee. It does get quite crowded, so just keep that in mind.
In pictures online you never see how filthy the water actually is. When you get right up to it it's kind of nasty. I have seen cleaner ponds on farms.
Amazing view, calming vibes. Love that there's a large paved path on both sides of the reflecting pool. We were able to bike down this area while strolling through the area.
This is my favorite building in all of Washington, DC. You can feel the power of history from the steps, imaging events like Dr. Martin Luther King’s speech. The building is a classic and perfect form. The views of the Washington monument and Capitol building are incredible. A short walk from the building you can check out the WWII memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Vietnam War Memorial. It is also a nice walk from here to the Washington Monument. Love this monument!
This reflecting pool is absolutely gorgeous, especially at night time. If you go to the Lincoln memorial and look across the reflecting pool at night, you get an amazing view of the Washington Monument reflected. If you go in the daytime, it can get quite busy, but there are lots of areas around the sides to sit, relax and have a picnic if you wish. Definitely recommend visiting.
Even though the pool was drained for maintenance during my visit I still enjoyed it a lot!
There was a little strip of water left in the middle that reflected Lincoln memorial as well as Washington monument so I didn't completely miss the experience. In fact it gave me a unique opportunity to walk on the concrete bottom surface of the pool and take some amazing pictures! It is a very photogenic place regardless of whether the pool is full or not.
I personally liked the atmosphere more in the evening/early in the morning when Lincoln memorial was still lit up and the sky was dark blue.
It’s a nice area for a walk, however due to the popularity of this place you won’t enjoy it just by yourself (people were around as early as 6:30 AM in March). It was extremely busy during the cherry blossom festival even though there are no cherry trees in the pool's proximity!
Visited in March 2023.
There was a little strip of water left in the middle that reflected Lincoln memorial as well as Washington monument so I didn't completely miss the experience. In fact it gave me a unique opportunity to walk on the concrete bottom surface of the pool and take some amazing pictures! It is a very photogenic place regardless of whether the pool is full or not.
I personally liked the atmosphere more in the evening/early in the morning when Lincoln memorial was still lit up and the sky was dark blue.
It’s a nice area for a walk, however due to the popularity of this place you won’t enjoy it just by yourself (people were around as early as 6:30 AM in March). It was extremely busy during the cherry blossom festival even though there are no cherry trees in the pool's proximity!
Visited in March 2023.
