If you have a tour pre-arranged, you should arrive about 15/20 minutes early. After the security checks, you need to walk to the ticket booths which are situated downstairs at the end of the main hall to get your tickets and stickers to put on your jacket. As for taking drinks in, you are not allowed to take any in and there are receptacles outside to leave them in. No exceptions apparently. The entrance to the Capitol building is on the East side, which is the opposite side to that seen at the end of the Mall. If you want food, there is a restaurant at the far end of the hall. However, the food, although fine in quality, might be a little expensive. Hope this assists

You need some sort of government issued I'd. When you sign up online the tour is included, no fees and you cannot tour solo.

No we live in Bremerton but police stole are home. Because trump is a realtor. And a thief....

The capital tour is free. It takes off several times per hour. The guides are excellent very knowledgeable. It is the only way to see the Capital. You must be escorted and have special passes otherwise. Highly recommended but does require significant walking & of course security checks

They mentioned selfie sticks when I went through. Not sure how that may apply in your case.

I signed up ahead of time so we didn’t have to wait in line. Just showed up 10 min before our tour time. Definitely do the tour! It’s worth it to learn all of the interesting stories you wouldn’t learn by looking at the artifacts.

parking garage near the newseum and walk.. we left are car there all day and walked to all the attractions.

Ours was about an hour and a half.