Visitor Screening and Security

Arlington National Cemetery has increased its security posture and is implementing 100% ID checks at all entrances.

Effective immediately, all visitors 18 years of age and older (pedestrians, drivers and passengers) must present a valid photo identification upon entering the cemetery. Visitors include all funeral attendees, tourists and personnel on official business. School group leaders and tour guides must also present the required identification. Original documentation is required. Paper copies or cell phone photos of identification are not accepted. 

  • Visitors 18 years of age and older must present a valid U.S. state or federal government-issued photo identification for entry.  
  • Visitors 16 and 17 years old who do not have a U.S. state or federal government-issued photo identification may present an official school-issued photo identification or have an adult/chaperone cleared for entry
  • Persons who are not U.S. citizens must present a valid passport or U.S. State Department-issued photo identification for entry. 

We ask for your patience, as this will create longer than usual delays. Cemetery officials are reminding all visitors to add a few extra minutes to their travel times.

Physical security is everyone's responsibility. We ask you to stay especially vigilant and remember to report any suspicious activity to the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Watch Desk: 703-588-2800 or 703-588-2801.

Visitor entrance at Arlington National Cemetery Welcome Center

Screening Procedures

Arlington National Cemetery aims to ensure the safety and security of all visitors and employees. The cemetery requires all visitors to go through physical security screening, in addition to identification checks and other security measures.

Prior to the screening process, inform the screener if you have an internal or external medical device (pacemaker, artificial knee, stimulator, port, ostomy, insulin pump, glucose monitor) or if you have any medically necessary liquids, powders and/or medications with you. Prior to screening, we recommend that you separate these items from other belongings and label them with prescription labels. Please also alert the screener if you are carrying any accessories associated with liquid medication (such as freezer packs, IV bags and syringes).

You may request screening by pat-down instead of screening by technology. Pat-down screening will be conducted in private.

Anyone granted vehicular access to the cemetery — including funeral attendees, those with permanent family passes and employees — will be required to present a valid government-issued photo identification when entering the cemetery and will be subject to random inspections.   


Prohibited Items

  • Explosives
  • Firearms
  • Knives (blades longer than four inches; switchblades)
  • Narcotics 
  • Fireworks
  • Alcohol
  • Paint
  • Mace, pepper spray and similar products
  • Unauthorized media/photography equipment
  • Tripods which cannot fit into a purse/small bag
  • Taser or stun guns
  • Flags larger than 8.5" x 11" 

Pedestrians

All pedestrian traffic will be required to enter Arlington National Cemetery through one of four access points:

  • The cemetery’s main entrance, on Memorial Avenue
  • Ord-Weitzel Gate
  • Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Old Post Chapel Gate
  • Service Complex gate, off Columbia Pike

The pedestrian access point from Memorial Avenue is through the Welcome Center. There are up to four screening lines for visitors.

Please allow time to go through security screening when visiting the cemetery, especially large tour groups. To expedite the screening process, we recommend that visitors bring minimal to no bags. We strive to keep wait times to under 20 minutes. 


Accessibility

Visitors with disabilities may use a separate access point, in compliance with disability laws. Please see our accessibility page for more information. If you have an accessibility or accommodation concern about Arlington National Cemetery, please contact us at 877-907-8585.


Emergencies

To report any suspicious activity within the cemetery, please call Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Department of Emergency Services at 703-588-2800. Call 911 for emergency situations.