The Obamas will now leave for Palm Springs for some downtime.
Barack Obama waved goodbye as he and wife Michelle start their new lives Friday afternoon following eight years in the White House.
Read: As Obama Closes a Chapter on American History, Donald Trump Begins to Write His
They were escorted to a helicopter parked at the Capitol by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, and were sent off with hugs, kisses and handshakes.
The former first couple took a victory lap over Washington and headed to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
Mrs. Obama fought back tears as her husband spoke at the base.
"We have really been milking this goodbye thing," he joked at the event. "So it behooves me to be very brief."
He added: "I've said before and I'll say again — when we started on this journey, we did so with an abiding faith in the American people and their abilities, our abilities, to join together to change the country in ways that would make life better for our kids and our grandkids.
"Change didn't happen from the top down, it happened from the bottom up."
The crowd chanted "yes we can!" — echoing Obama’s campaign slogan.
The Obamas will take a vacation in Palm Springs before returning to their new home in Washington, D.C., where they will remain until their youngest daughter, Sasha, finishes school.
Malia Obama, who has taken a year off between graduating high school and attending Harvard, is said to have her eyes set on the film industry. The 18-year-old is set to start work in the New York office of The Weinstein Company next month.
While the Obamas had a grand send off, former Vice President Joe Biden took a more low key approach-- returning home to Delaware by Amtrak.
It was a poignant day for Obama as he strolled through the Oval Office one final time as president. Acknowledging the American tradition, he left a note in his desk drawer that he penned for his successor.
After pushing in the desk chair, he took one last look. Exiting the White House, Obama waved to reporters.
"Are you feeling nostalgic?" a photographer asked.
“Of course,” Obama replied.
Watch: Michelle Obama Gets Nostalgic as She Bids Farewell to White House: 'The Honor of a Lifetime'
