1. Drive, walk, or take a bus to the Memorial!
I know this sounds silly, but simply making a point to go is important. It is relatively easy to get to and driving right up to the memorial is doable. The memorial is at the corner of Independence Ave. and West Basin Drive (which has parking). The parking spots are constantly moving with people coming to and leaving the Memorial, so parking is actually pretty easy! Of course, public transportation is a great way to get to the Memorial too!
2. Read about Dr. King before visiting the Memorial
There are lots of teachable moments when visiting the Dr. King Memorial with children before visiting. It helps kids center our minds on the magnitude he’s had on the US (and world). Then, when you see the quote “out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope” it’ll make much more sense! We especially love the Letter from Birmingham as a means to teach our kids how Dr. King battled inequality in his own words.
3. Enter the Memorial from the opening at the corner of Independence and West Basin Drive
4. Very family friendly MLK Memorial
Logistically speaking, this is a very stroller friendly memorial. The memorial is very easy to walk to and there are bathrooms located near the gift shop across West Basin Drive. The gift shop is worth a visit too. Be careful with the Tidal Basin right near the memorial. It is not completely blocked off with a fence.
5. Need to know info about the MLK Memorial
Lastly, more logistics, the MLK Memorial is an open air monument that is free to the public and is open year round 24/7. There are park rangers all over the national mall so you can ask questions if needed. The memorial can be seen from the road, but since Dr. King is looking in the direction of the Tidal Basin, driving by to view it is not possible.
We hope you enjoy these tips to visit the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Again, the biggest takeaway is to simply GO to the memorial. It’s a beautiful way to honor his life and legacy and a way to keep his memory and spirit alive.
