Best Washington DC Bike Tour: Unlimited Biking

I’ve been to Washington, D.C., a couple of times and wandered the memorials and monuments. During my recent trip to the nation’s capital for work, I organized a group activity – a guided Washington DC bike tour for 14 people. The three-hour tour around the Tidal Basin and to many iconic memorials in the city was amazing. We shared laughs, learned about history and created some fun memories.

If you’re in Washington, D.C., I recommend scheduling a Washington DC bike tour with Unlimited Biking. Here’s a rundown on what to expect and how to prepare for a fantastic experience round the nation’s capital.

And a big shout out to our amazing guide on the bike tour. Rebecca was knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about her work. All are traits you need in a guided tour and she had that, hands down.

Schedule a Monuments @ Nite Bike Tour

Guided bike tours in Washington DC are great for groups large and small. Our group had 14 people in it because we were in town for a work conference. But individuals or smaller groups can also be accommodated.

Since we were all working at the convention center during the day, we needed a nighttime activity. Most of the museums in Washington DC are closed after 5:30, so options are definitely limited. But Unlimited Biking offered a nighttime, guided bike tour of the monuments and memorials in the area.

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A month prior to our business trip, I connected with Unlimited Biking to schedule our group tour. The 6:30 p.m. Monuments @ Nite bike tour can be booked online. If you have any questions while you’re booking your tour, you can use their Live Chat feature on their website to ask any questions you have.

What to Bring on Your Washington DC Bike Tour

Before arriving at the meeting spot (998 Maine Avenue Washington DC, 20024), take a look at the weather. You’ll need to plan for your own level of comfort as it relates to the weather. For our tour, the temperature was about 52 degrees, but the wind made it feel lots colder. Many in our group had layers, but there were still some who were too cold to be comfortable.

One person in our group brought a nice, warm hat. But the large fluffy ball on top wouldn’t work with a helmet. So keep in mind you’ll be wearing a helmet on the bike tour. 😉

Unlimited Biking provides each rider with a bottle of water and a bike helmet (safety is important). Each bike also has a little pouch on the front that works great for storing the water bottle, wallet or even small cameras and phones. I brought a backpack so I could carry my nice Canon 6D camera with me to capture photos of the monuments at night. I did NOT bring my tripod.

Here’s a list of what you should bring with you:

• Wear weather-appropriate clothes
• Wallet (so you have your credit card and ID)
• Camera
• Backpack (optional)

Monuments @ Nite Bike Tour Route

The Monuments @ Nite Bike Tour is a short four miles along pretty flat ground. There are some small inclines, but nothing strenuous. The four mile loop takes you around the Tidal Basin and to the Washington Monument. It lasts about three hours, so if you leave at 6:30 p.m., you won’t return until around 9:30 p.m. That’s just a reminder to look at the weather and wear the right clothes so you aren’t on a bike at 9 p.m. shivering.

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Arrive about 5-10 minutes before your tour start time. The guide will help get you a helmet and the right-sized bike. There are eBikes available, but they cost about $30 more. Once your group checks in and the guide gives a few instructions, you’re ready to go.

Here’s the route you’ll follow and the memorials and monuments you’ll visit:

• Jefferson Memorial
• Franklin Delanor Roosevelt Memorial
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
• Korean War Memorial
• Lincoln Memorial
• Vietnam Veteran Memorial
• World War II Memorial
• Washington Monument (with views of the White House)

At each stop, Rebecca (our tour guide) shared some great information about each memorial. There were unique facts about the structures themselves and the people they were memorializing. It’s true that a tour guide can make or break your experience. Our guide was amazing, friendly and knowledgeable!

Other Guided Bike Tours in Washington DC

Unlimited Biking offers several other bike tours in Washington DC. Our group was on the Monuments @ Nite Bike Tour. If you want to go on a Segway tour, they offer those as well.

Here’s a rundown on a few of the tours they offer in Washington DC – but note that Unlimited Biking offers bike tours in New York, San Francisco, Alexandria (VA) and Sanibel Island:

• Best of Capitol Hill Bike Tour (2 hours)
• Washington DC Blossoms by Bike Tour (2 hours)
• Monuments and Memorials Bike Tour (3 hours)
• Sites by Segway Tour (2.5 hours)

The Details

Address: The Wharf, 998 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024

Cost: Adult tours are $54 each. Kids 12 and under are $49. Electric bikes are available for an additional $30.

Hours: The Monuments @ Nite Bike Tour starts between 5:30 and 7:30, depending on the time of year. There are other guided bike tours available around Washington, DC, as well, in the event you want a daytime bike tour.

Website: https://bikeandrolldc.com/tour/monuments-nite-bike-tour/

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