This page covers everything you need for visiting the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex in Alexandria, Virginia: how to get there by car, on foot, or by trolley, where to park, and what to expect when you arrive. The complex brings together thirteen separate cemeteries, each managed independently, and serves as the final resting place for Alexandrians from every walk of life across more than two centuries.
Funerals and events take place regularly, and road closures may affect access. Because each cemetery plans its own events, there is no central place to check for updates, so plan ahead and be flexible when you visit.
Take the Self-Guided Walking Tour
Ready to explore on your own? Download our free Self-Guided Walking Tour Map of the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex. This tri-fold guide leads you through all thirteen cemeteries at your own pace, with a map to orient you and highlights along the way. Print it at home or pull it up on your phone when you arrive.
Download the Self-Guided Walking Tour Map (PDF)
Prefer a guided experience? Join the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex Walking Tour, a 90-minute walk led by independent historian David Heiby, offered Thursday through Saturday in season. Private group tours are also available for organizations, clubs, and gatherings.
Getting to the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex
Tap or click the map for turn-by-turn Google directions to the entrance at 1300 Wilkes Street.
Driving Directions:
Enter the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex at 1300 Wilkes Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. (The 1475–1501 Wilkes Street address marks the Wilkes and Hamilton intersection, the starting point for our guided tours.)
Walking Directions:
Option 1: From Old Town, take the tunnel at Lee Street Park and follow Wilkes Street one mile west.
Option 2: From Eisenhower Valley, walk along Holland Lane and Jamieson Avenue, then cross the Hooff’s Run bridge to the pedestrian gate that leads into Alexandria National Cemetery at 1450 Wilkes Street. This route depends on the National Cemetery’s gates being open. The cemetery is open daily from sunrise to sunset; check the National Cemetery Administration’s Alexandria page for any closures, or see our guide to visiting Alexandria National Cemetery.
By Trolley:
Take the free King Street Trolley to the King Street and West Street stop. From this stop:
- Walk south on West Street to the corner of Duke Street. (The Executive Diner, at 1400 Duke Street, marks the corner.)
- Continue south on South West Street for two more blocks.
- Cross over Roundhouse Lane and enter the small park ahead of you.
- Follow the path through the park to 1300 Wilkes Street, where you can enter the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex.
- For guided tours, turn right and continue one block west to the corner of Wilkes Street and Hamilton Avenue, our meeting point.
Tips for Visiting the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex
Event Awareness: Be mindful of funeral services and events that may cause temporary road closures or restricted access.
Public Transportation: The Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex can be reached by bus and by the free King Street Trolley.
Accessibility: Some areas of the cemeteries have uneven terrain. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
Parking: Free street parking is available on Wilkes Street and Hamilton Avenue. Weekends can be busier.
Resources
To learn more about the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex before you come, read the full history of the complex, or contact us directly with questions.
Looking for more printable guides? Browse all of our free brochures and walking maps on the Free Guides page. And if you’d like to carry the stories with you, our e-book library includes The Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex: A Walking Companion and other titles on Alexandria’s historic burial grounds.
A Place Worth Lingering
The Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex is more than a destination. It is an open-air archive of Alexandria’s story, told through thirteen cemeteries. Whether you come for an hour or an afternoon, walk slowly, read the stones, and remember that every name here belonged to someone who helped shape this city. We hope your visit leaves you with a deeper connection to Alexandria’s past, and if a particular gravestone raises a question, we’d love to hear about it.
Gravestone Stories: preserving Alexandria’s history, one story at a time.
Page last updated: October 27, 2026