The Ellipse Park

Address: The Ellipse, President’s Park South, Washington, D.C. (just south of the White House)

Website: https://www.nps.gov/whho/ellipse.htm

Hours: Public park - typically open 24 hours

Admission: Free

The Ellipse is an open oval park immediately south of the White House in Washington, D.C., forming part of President’s Park. It functions as a public greenspace used for ceremonial events, promenades and seasonal displays.

Paths, lawns and scattered memorials occupy the Ellipse, which offers unobstructed views toward the White House to the north and the Washington Monument to the south. The park is frequently used for official events and public gatherings.

Historically the Ellipse has been part of the planned grounds surrounding the Executive Mansion and has hosted civic ceremonies and annual festivities. It is managed as part of the National Park Service’s urban historic landscape.

The Ellipse is located just south of the White House on the north end of the National Mall in the District of Columbia, within easy walking distance of many downtown attractions.

• Event timing: The site hosts the annual National Christmas Tree lighting and other seasonal events, making December evenings particularly busy. Early morning visits are much quieter for photography and views of the White House grounds.

The Ellipse is a short walk from the White House and accessible from Metro stops at Metro Center (Red/Blue/Orange lines) or Federal Triangle (Blue/Orange). Several bus routes serve the National Mall area; security checkpoints can vary on event days.

• Go early morning for unobstructed views of the White House and to see regulars walking dogs and doing tai chi.
• In winter the Ellipse hosts the National Christmas Tree and seasonal displays - check the National Park Service schedule.
• The southern path along the Ellipse offers unobstructed sightlines for photographing the White House without fences in the frame.