
MGM National Harbor
Best for casino gaming, big-stage entertainment, and a wide variety of on-site restaurants.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
MGM National Harbor is a large, casino-focused five-star resort on the Potomac with gaming, a 3,000-seat theater, many restaurants, and a seasonal rooftop pool—good for travelers who want nightlife, shows, and a waterfront resort vibe. Willard InterContinental Washington is a historic five-star grand hotel steps from the White House—choose it if you want a centrally located, formal luxury stay with historic rooms and a full-service spa.
Updated · about 10 km apart

Best for casino gaming, big-stage entertainment, and a wide variety of on-site restaurants.

Best for a traditional, centrally located Washington, DC stay near the White House and major museums.
When MGM National Harbor wins: Pick MGM if you want a resort-centered trip with casino action, multiple casual and signature restaurants, a large theater for concerts and comedy, and a seasonal rooftop pool with Potomac views.
When Willard InterContinental Washington wins: Choose the Willard for a classic, downtown DC experience — walking access to the White House, National Theatre and museums, a formal historic atmosphere, and a full-service Beaux Arts hotel spa.
Bottom line: Both hotels are five-star options for polished getaways, but they serve different priorities—MGM is a full-service resort built around gaming and entertainment on the river; the Willard is about location, history, and traditional city-center luxury.
| Category | MGM National Harbor | Willard InterContinental Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Resort-casino with lively nightlife, big entertainment venue, and many casual-to-upscale dining options. | Historic Beaux Arts grand hotel with formal public rooms and a longstanding downtown luxury identity. |
| Location (to major DC sites) | National Harbor / Oxon Hill waterfront—short drive or water taxi to downtown DC attractions. | Centrally in downtown Washington—within a 10-minute walk of the White House and several museums. |
| Size | 308 guest rooms (including 74 suites); large casino and a 3,000-seat theater. | 335 guestrooms (per supplier listing); historic footprint with many meeting rooms. |
| Built / character | Opened 2016; contemporary resort architecture and finishes. | Beaux Arts historic hotel with classic public rooms and long provenance. |
| Pools / beach | Seasonal rooftop outdoor pool (river views; cabanas; typically open Memorial Day–Labor Day). | Not published |
| Restaurants & bars | 12–15+ venues including Voltaggio Brothers Steak House, Ginger, Diablo's Cantina, Bread + Butter, Shake Shack, a food hall and multiple bars/lounges. | 1 restaurant (Cafe du Parc), 1 coffee shop/cafe and 1 bar/lounge listed; room service (limited hours). |
| Spa & wellness | The Spa & Salon — 27,000 sq ft, 11 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy, Vichy room; adult-only for treatments/areas. | Full-service spa with treatment rooms and steam room listed among amenities. |
| Known for | Casino gaming floor, sportsbook, concerts/comedy in a 3,000-seat theater, resort dining options and riverfront events. | Historic location near the White House, formal dining at Cafe du Parc, and meeting/event space in a classic landmark hotel. |
| Family / age policy | All ages may stay in rooms and use the outdoor pool; check-in minimum age 21 and casino/gaming 21+. | All ages may stay; property not adults-only. |
| Meetings & events | Extensive meeting and event space (roughly 50,000 sq ft total, large ballrooms, 3,000-seat theater and outdoor plazas). | Significant conference space (about 22,000 sq ft / 19 meeting rooms noted in supplier listing). |
MGM National Harbor sits on the Potomac waterfront at National Harbor, a short drive from downtown DC and local attractions like the Capital Wheel.
Best if you want a resort atmosphere on the river with easy drive or water links into Washington, DC.
Willard InterContinental is in the heart of Washington, steps from the White House, Lafayette Square and multiple Smithsonian sites.
Best if you want to base yourself downtown and walk to DC’s primary landmarks and museums.
MGM offers contemporary guest rooms and suites across a modern hotel tower with river views.
Choose MGM for modern, larger-suite inventory and river-view resort room options.
Willard lists 335 guestrooms with a mix of classic room types and multiple named suites and view options.
Choose the Willard for historic rooms, named suites, and proximity to DC landmarks.
MGM’s dining is wide-ranging, from casual food-hall options to celebrity-steakhouse and nightlife-driven restaurants.
MGM is the pick for variety and late-night or high-energy dining and bar scenes.
Willard lists Cafe du Parc as its primary restaurant with additional coffee shop and bar service.
The Willard suits travelers who prefer classic, formal dining and downtown restaurant options nearby.
MGM features a seasonal rooftop outdoor pool with Potomac views and private day cabanas.
If a summertime pool with river views and cabanas matters, MGM is the likely choice.
Willard’s supplier listing does not publish a pool; its standout features are central location and formal public spaces.
Not a pool-first property; the Willard focuses on central-city access and historic ambiance.
MGM mixes a large Clarins spa and an active nightlife driven by the casino, lounges and a theater.
Good for guests who want both an upscale spa and on-property nightlife/entertainment options.
Willard offers a full-service spa and quieter, formal evening options in a downtown setting.
Pick Willard for a traditional hotel spa experience and calm, centrally located evenings.

MGM National Harbor—full casino floor, sportsbook, lounges and a 3,000-seat theater for concerts and comedy.

Willard InterContinental Washington—steps from the White House, National Theatre and Smithsonian museums.

MGM National Harbor—12–15+ restaurants and multiple bar/lounge options, from casual to signature steakhouse.

Willard InterContinental Washington—Beaux Arts public rooms, named suites and a long-established downtown reputation.
Willard InterContinental Washington is the better base for sightseeing—it's within walking distance of the White House and many museums; MGM requires a short drive, shuttle or water taxi to reach central DC.
MGM National Harbor has more on-site options (roughly 12–15+ venues) ranging from casual to signature restaurants; the Willard lists Cafe du Parc, a coffee shop and a bar on its supplier listing.
Both properties allow children to stay in rooms. MGM’s outdoor pool is open to children; the MGM spa restricts use to adults under the property’s policy. The Willard is not adults-only.
MGM National Harbor has a seasonal rooftop outdoor pool; the Willard supplier listing does not publish pool information.
Explore how MGM National Harbor stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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