How do you set up meetings for a Hill Day?
You contact each Member’s office. There’s no central booking page. The House’s visitor page says to contact a Member’s office to meet with them, that the office can arrange a staff-led Capitol tour, and that gallery passes are issued only by Member offices (House visitors).
Plan the schedule office by office, and ask each one for a confirmed time and a contact on the day. Build in time to get between buildings.
What can a group do at the Capitol Visitor Center?
Tours are free, and you can reserve a timed-entry pass online at tours.visitthecapitol.gov/cvc. The Visitor Center says tours can also be booked through your Representative or Senators (book a tour). The Visitor Center phone is 202-226-8000.
The Visitor Center’s pages don’t state group size limits, so ask before you plan a big group.
Where can a group hold a briefing or meeting?
A Member of Congress sponsors it. The House’s visitor page says hosting an event on House grounds requires a Member sponsor, whose office books the meeting room (House visitors).
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s fly-in guide says Capitol Visitor Center meeting room requests must come from a Member or Officer of Congress and are for events connected to congressional legislative business (Chamber guide). That’s an advocacy group’s summary, so confirm the current rules with the office that is sponsoring you.
What hours are the buildings open?
Capitol Police list these hours. Confirm them before your date (building access hours).
- House office buildings (Cannon, Ford, Longworth, Rayburn): Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. When the House is in recess, doors close at 5:00 p.m.
- Senate office buildings (Dirksen, Hart, Russell): Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. When the Senate is in recess, they close at 6:30 p.m.
- Capitol and Visitor Center: open for tours Monday to Saturday. Visitors with official business appointments may enter the Visitor Center starting at 7:15 a.m.
What can you bring through security?
Capitol Police updated the prohibited items list effective July 14, 2025, with separate lists for the office buildings, the Capitol and Visitor Center, and the galleries. Firearms, ammunition, explosives, incendiary devices and drones are banned everywhere on Capitol Grounds and in the buildings (prohibited items). Read the page before the day and send it to your group.
Food and drink are allowed in the House and Senate office buildings, subject to screening. They aren’t allowed in the Capitol or the Visitor Center, and water bottles must be emptied before entry there.
Can you take photos inside?
The Visitor Center’s FAQ says cameras are allowed in the Visitor Center and on the Capitol tour, and that photography is prohibited in one section of Exhibition Hall (Visitor Center FAQ). That’s about visitors’ own photos.
The Capitol Police page on prohibited items doesn’t address cameras or tripods. If you’re bringing a hired photographer, ask first. Capitol Police refer these questions to their Public Information Office at PIO@uscp.gov.
When is Congress in session?
The House Majority Leader publishes the House calendar at majorityleader.gov. The 2027 House calendar wasn’t posted when this page was checked. For the Senate, see senate.gov/legislative. The House gallery is open only when the House is in session and only to Members who personally escort their guests, so plan around that (building access hours).
Should you double-check this?
Capitol rules, hours and security change, sometimes without much notice. Check with each Member’s office and the Capitol Police close to your visit, not only when you start planning.
Planning the photos?
If you want pictures of the day, see Hill Day photography and the Capitol Hill Day case study. For rooms nearby, see Capitol Hill event venues.
