Location: Maine to Georgia, CT,GA,MA,MD,ME,NC,NH,NJ,NY,PA,TN,VA,VT,WV
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,180+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.
Fees: The Appalachian National Scenic Trail (NST) does not charge an entrance fee for use of the trail on Appalachian NST land.
Hours Info: In general, the Appalachian Trail is open year-round. The northern terminus at Mount Katahdin in Maine is within Baxter State Park, which may be closed in winter months, depending on weather conditions. Particular sections of the Trail, and less-developed roads accessing the Trail, may be closed temporarily for a number of reasons, but otherwise the trail is open.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/appa/
Location: Appomattox, VA
On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the end of the nation's largest war. Two important questions about its future were answered. Could the nation survive a civil war intact, and would that nation exist without slavery? The answer to both was yes and a new nation was born.
Fees: There are no fees to visit the park.
Hours Info: The park is open daily from 9-5, with the exception of certain holidays: Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1. The park may have reduced hours (9-2) on December 24 and 31.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/apco/
Location: Arlington, VA
Arlington House is the nation’s memorial to Robert E. Lee. It honors him for specific reasons, including his role in promoting peace and reunion after the Civil War. In a larger sense it exists as a place of study and contemplation of the meaning of some of the most difficult aspects of American history: military service; sacrifice; citizenship; duty; loyalty; slavery and freedom.
Fees: There is no fee for Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial.
Hours Info: Arlington House and grounds, the North and South Slave Quarters Exhibits, and the museum are open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm. The bookstore is open from 9:00-1:00 and 1:30-4:30. Closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/arho/
Location: MD,VA
Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Rest, relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent.
Fees: Entrance into Assateague Island National Seashore (MD) & Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (VA). Valid for 7 days. Purchased at Assateague Island National Seashore (MD) and the Toms Cove Visitor Center (VA).
Hours Info: Open year round, 24 hours a day.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/asis/
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, NC,VA
A Blue Ridge Parkway experience is unlike any other: a slow-paced and relaxing drive revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes of the Appalachian Highlands. The Parkway meanders for 469 miles, protecting a diversity of plants and animals, and providing opportunities for enjoying all that makes this region of the country so special.
Fees: Driving the parkway is free.
Hours Info: The road is open 24 hours a day, weather permitting. Road closures due to inclement weather occur most frequently during winter. Sections of the road may also be closed during road maintenance projects. Check our road closure map to verify that the parkway is open before traveling. Visitor centers and other facilities have hours and seasons that vary. Most picnic areas, campgrounds, and visitor centers are closed from the beginning of November until early May.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/blri/
Location: Hardy, VA
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later as an adviser, author and orator, his past would influence his philosophies as the most influential African American of his era. Come explore his birthplace.
Fees: No charge to visit Booker T. Washington NM
Hours Info: Booker T. Washington National Monument is open daily except for Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. The park may close due to inclement weather. Call the park at 540-721-2094 for more information.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/bowa/
Location: Fort Story, VA
English colonists first landed here in April 1607, erected a wooden cross and gave thanks for a successful crossing to a new land. In 1781, Americans could watch from these same sand dunes the largest naval battle of the Revolutionary War. Our French Allies defeated a British fleet just off this shore to set the stage for General George Washington's victory at Yorktown.
Fees: Due to COVID restrictions on JEBLCFS only military ID holders can access the Cape Henry Memorial. Currently, Cape Henry Memorial is only open to those who have access to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek – Fort Story. You must be able to provide a military ID.
Hours Info: Due to COVID restrictions on JEBLCFS only military ID holders can access the Cape Henry Memorial Currently, Cape Henry Memorial is only open to those who have access to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek – Fort Story. You must be able to provide a military ID. This quarter acre of ground marks the approximate site of the first landing of the Jamestown settlers in Virginia.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/came/
Location: Various States VA,MD,DE,DC,PA,NY
People first arrived in the Chesapeake Bay during the last ice age. As glaciers melted, diverse societies learned to thrive in a world of water. When Englishman Captain John Smith explored the Bay in 1608, he documented hundreds of American Indian communities. Today, sites on his map are archeological treasures and sacred sites for tribal citizens. Come join us on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay!
Fees: There is no fee to use the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Some of the visitor centers, state parks, museums, wildlife refuges, and other sites along the trail may charge entrance fees.
Hours Info: The water trail is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! To launch your kayak or other vessel on the trail, access a local boat launch along one of the trail's many tributary rivers and coastlines. Local boat launches, state parks, and other locations may have specific operating hours and seasons. Always check weather and conditions before going out on the water - take care during the winter months to dress appropriately for the weather and the possibility of submersion in cold water.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/cajo/
Location: Middletown and Strasburg, VA
The Shenandoah Valley invites you to learn about its rich heritage, from Native Americans who first shaped the land, to pioneers of this frontier; this fertile area became one of the most important wheat producing regions of the entire South. The Valley also witnessed some of the most dramatic events of the Civil War,including the Battle of Cedar Creek, a decisive October 19, 1864 Union victory.
Fees: There are no fees to enter the Visitor Contact Station, to visit public areas administered by the NPS, or to attend any ranger led program. America the Beautiful - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series discounts do not apply at partner sites. Contact our partners directly for admission fees to their visitor facilities.
Hours Info: Public areas administered by the National Park Service— Morning Attack Trails, Claven Lane parking area, Vermont Monument property and parking area, and park headquarters— are open from sunrise to sunset.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/cebe/
Location: Chesapeake Bay Watershed, DC,DE,MD,NY,PA,VA,WV
NPS helps you learn about and enjoy the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America. Here, you can visit major league cities, colonial towns, American Indian landscapes, farms and fishing villages. You can learn to kayak, pick crabs, go fishing, tour a lighthouse, slurp oysters, and slow down to enjoy the natural beauty of the Chesapeake.
Fees: There is no fee to visit the Chesapeake Bay Office. Some of the state parks, museums, wildlife refuges and other sites throughout the Chesapeake watershed may charge entrance fees. Visit FindYourChesapeake.com to find complete information about each partner site.
Hours Info: Core hours at the Chesapeake Bay Office are from 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday and the office is closed on federal holidays. Quite frequently, the office is open for business at least one hour earlier and one hour later than core hours.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/cbpo/
Location: Washington, DC,MD,VA
On forested hills surrounding the nation's capital are the remnants of a complex system of Civil War fortifications. These strategic buttresses transformed the young capital into one of the world's most fortified cities. By 1865, 68 forts and 93 batteries armed with over 800 cannons encircled Washington, DC. Today, you can visit 17 of the original sites now managed by the National Park Service.
Fees: Civil War Defenses of Washington sites are fee free.
Hours Info: Grounds open to visitors dawn to dusk
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/cwdw/
Location: Jamestown and Yorktown, VA
On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African–to create a new society that would eventually seek independence from Great Britain. On October 19, 1781, American and French troops defeated the British at Yorktown in the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War.
Fees: Adult (16 and older) -$15; good for 7 days entrance to Yorktown Battlefield (and NPS areas at Historic Jamestowne); can be upgraded to see Preservation Virginia areas at Historic Jamestowne for an additional $10 at the Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center. Yorktown Battlefield will not be selling the $ 25 entrance permit for Historic Jamestowne
Hours Info: The Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center is open for access to the Preservation Virginia Museum store and for fee collection. The theater and exhibit areas are currently closed. The Historic Jamestowne ENTRANCE GATE opens 8:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily. Historic Jamestowne Gift Shop is open 9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily. Glasshouse is open 8:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/colo/
Location: Middlesboro, KY,TN,VA
At Cumberland Gap, the first great gateway to the west, follow the buffalo, the Native American, the longhunter, the pioneer... all traveled this route through the mountains into the wilderness of Kentucky. Modern day explorers and travelers stand in awe at this great gateway and the many miles of trails and scenic features found in the park.
Fees: There are no entrance fees at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
Hours Info: The park is open 24 hours a day to pedestrian and cyclists. Some services and facilities have separate hours, however; please see descriptions of those areas elsewhere.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/cuga/
Location: Fort Monroe, VA
Fort Monroe National Monument has a diverse history spanning the American story from American Indian presence, Captain John Smith's journeys, first arrival of enslaved Africans in English North America, a safe haven for freedom seekers during the American Civil War, and a bastion of defense for the Chesapeake Bay through the 21st Century. Visit and witness the on-going preservation work in action.
Fees: Day use visitation of the grounds and Casemate Museum.
Hours Info: Fort Monroe is managed and operated in partnership between the National Park Service, Fort Monroe Authority, and US Army offering daily public access as well as commercial and residential leasing. National Park Service lands are open as indicated here.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/fomr/
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania--this is America's battleground, where the Civil War roared to its bloody climax. No place more vividly reflects the War's tragic cost in all its forms. A town bombarded and looted. Farms large and small ruined. Refugees by the thousands forced into the countryside. More than 85,000 men wounded; 15,000 killed--most in graves unknown.
Hours Info: Park grounds are open from sunrise to sunset daily, with the exception of extreme weather incidents. Building hours vary by building and season.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/frsp/
Location: DC,MD,VA
The George Washington Memorial Parkway was designed for recreational driving. It links sites that commemorate important episodes in American history and preserve habitat for local wildlife. The parkway and its associated trails provide a scenic place to play and rest in the busy Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Fees: Great Falls Park Vehicle Permit ($20) 7-day pass. Admits one single, private, non-commercial vehicle and all its passengers. Organized groups are not eligible for the vehicle permit. Is also valid for entrance into the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP. Great Falls Park Individual Permit ($10) Admits one individual when entering by foot, bicycle, or equestrian. Individuals 15 years old and younger are admitted free of charge. Is also valid for entrance into the C &O Canal National Historic Park
Hours Info: Parkway headquarters is open Monday through Friday from 8:15 am to 4:15 pm. It is closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/
Location: Westmoreland County, VA
George Washington Birthplace National Monument is located in the Northern Neck of Virginia. It encompasses 550 acres of the former Popes Creek Plantation, the American ancestral home of the Washington Family where George Washington was born. In addition to a Colonial Revival farm, burial ground, visitor center, and historic structures, the park also has picnic grounds and a public beach.
Fees: The park has no entrance fee
Hours Info: The Potomac River Beach, Burial Ground, Picnic Area, and Hiking Trails are open seven days a week from 9:00-5:00. The Historic Area Grounds are open seven days a week from 9:00-4:30. The park is closed on the following holidays; Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/gewa/
Location: McLean, VA
At Great Falls, the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge. The Patowmack Canal offers a glimpse into the early history of this country. Great Falls Park has many opportunities to explore history and nature, all in a beautiful 800-acre park only 15 miles from the Nation's Capital.
Fees: 7-day pass. Admits one single, private, non-commercial vehicle and all its passengers. Organized groups are not eligible for the vehicle permit. Is also valid for entrance into the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
Hours Info: Great Falls Park is open until 30 minutes after sunset. This time varies each day.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/grfa/
Location: Louisa County, VA
Green Springs National Historic Landmark District in Virginia’s Piedmont encompasses over 14,000 acres. Its landscapes and structures, privately owned today but viewable from public roads, offer a continuum of rural vernacular architecture with minimal alteration. Many of the farmsteads, often dating to the 19th century and connecting to one another visually, are preserved through easements.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/grsp/
Location: Harpers Ferry, WV,VA,MD
Find yourself at the confluence of history and nature. Experience a flash point that ignited the Civil War. Find your story in the struggle for freedom, education, and civil rights. Explore the rolling Blue Ridge mountains and rushing waters of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers.
Fees: For a single, private vehicle. Excludes group tours and 7+ passenger vans. Entrance passes are valid for three consecutive days, beginning on date of purchase and are required in all park areas. Fees are payable at the Entrance Station near the park's visitor center, Bolivar Heights, Maryland Heights, Harpers Ferry Train Station, and River Access Parking Lot. Credit cards are accepted only at the Entrance Station.
Hours Info: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is open year round with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Park museums are open from 9am to 6pm in the summer season, and the information tent located in front of the Visitor Center is open from 9am to 5pm. Park passes may be purchased at the fee collection entrance station daily. Park shuttle bus hours begin at 9am daily, though the end time for buses varies by season.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/hafe/
Location: James City County, VA
Walk in the steps of Captain John Smith and Pocahontas where a successful English colonization of North America began. Despite early struggles to survive, the 1607 settlement evolved into a prosperous colony. As the colony expanded, the Virginia Indians were pushed out of their homeland. In 1619, the arrival of Africans was recorded, marking the origin of slavery in English North America.
Hours Info: The Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center has public access to the Preservation Virginia Museum store, indoor public restrooms and for fee collection. Entrance Gate hours are from 8:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Daily. No entrance is permitted prior to 8:45 a.m. or after 4:30 p.m. including bicyclists and pedestrians.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/jame/
Location: Richmond, VA
Maggie Lena Walker devoted her life to civil rights advancement, economic empowerment, and educational opportunities for Jim Crow-era African Americans and women. As a bank president, newspaper editor, and fraternal leader, Walker served as an inspiration of pride and progress. Today, Walker’s home is preserved as a tribute to her enduring legacy of vision, courage, and determination.
Fees: There is no fee to visit Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site.
Hours Info: The site is closed on Thanksgiving, December 25th and January 1st.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/mawa/
Location: Manassas, VA
On July 21, 1861, two armies clashed for the first time on the fields overlooking Bull Run. Heavy fighting swept away any notion of a quick war. In August 1862, Union and Confederate armies converged for a second time on the plains of Manassas. The Confederates won a solid victory bringing them to the height of their power.
Fees: Manassas National Battlefield Park is a fee free park
Hours Info: The park is open daily from dawn until dusk.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/mana/
Location: NC,SC,TN,VA
Stretching 330 miles through four states (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina) the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail traces the route used by patriot militia during the pivotal Kings Mountain campaign of 1780. Follow the campaign by utilizing a Commemorative Motor Route which uses existing state highways marked with the distinctive trail logo, or 87 miles of walkable pathways.
Fees: Free
Hours Info: The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail can be visited in any season. It includes sections of walkable pathway, a Commemorative Motor Route, affiliated historic sites and museums, and wayside exhibits. Along the way it passes through four NPS areas, two National Forests, an Army Corps of Engineers Dam &Reservoir, plus several state and county parks.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/ovvi/
Location: Petersburg, VA
Nine and a half months, 70,000 casualties, the suffering of civilians, thousands of U. S. Colored Troops fighting for the freedom of their race, and the decline of Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of No. Virginia all describe the Siege of Petersburg. It was here Gen. Ulysses S. Grant cut off all of Petersburg's supply lines ensuring the fall of Richmond on April 3, 1865. Six days later, Lee surrendered.
Fees: There is no fee to enter Petersburg National Battlefield and passes are not available for purchase. To learn more about America the Beautiful Passes or to purchase a pass online, visit: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
Hours Info: The Eastern Front Unit includes our main visitor center and a four mile, 7-stop tour road which includes the Fort Stedman and Crater battlefields. The Visitor Center is open from 9:00 - 5:00 pm daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day when the park is closed.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/pete/
Location: the corridor between the Chesapeake Bay and the Allegheny Highlands, DC,MD,PA,VA
Over thousands of years, the Potomac River wound its way through layers of rock. Carving limestone cliffs, roaring falls, and serene winding bends, these waters created a landscape and shaped a nation. Today, the Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation. Offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey below!
Fees: 0
Hours Info: 0
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/pohe/
Location: Triangle, VA
Prince William Forest Park is an oasis, a respite of quiet and calm. In 1936, Chopawamsic Recreation Area opened its gates to house children's 'relief' camps during the Great Depression. Renamed Prince William Forest Park in 1948, these fragrant woods and trickling streams have welcomed generations of campers, hikers, bikers and nature lovers. Discover Northern Virginia's best kept secret!
Fees: Per single passenger vehicle or motorcycle (less than 14 passengers), valid for 7 consecutive days. If someone on the motorcycle has a valid National Park Service annual or lifetime pass, no entrance fee is charged.
Hours Info: Prince William Forest Park is open every day from sunrise to sunset. The visitor center is open from 9 to 5 from March 11th to November 3rd. The visitor center is open 8 to 4 from November 4th through March 10th. Winter closures of the visitor center on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays begin November 12 through March 13. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/prwi/
Location: Richmond, VA
The center of Confederate manufacturing fueled a modern war, one of the South’s largest hospitals gave care to the sick and wounded, and armies battled on open fields and in miles of defensive earthworks. From 1861 to 1865, Richmond’s fate would determine America’s future.
Fees: Richmond National Battlefield Park does not have an entrance fee. The parking lot at Tredegar Iron Works charges a nominal parking fee, and limited free public parking is available nearby.
Hours Info: Visitor contact station with trails, earthworks, and information about the 1862 Battle of Gaines' Mill and the 1864 Battle of Cold Harbor.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/rich/
Location: the Blue Ridge Mountains near Luray, VA
Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over 200,000 acres of protected lands that are haven to deer, songbirds, and black bear, there's so much to explore...and your journey begins right here!
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/shen/
Location: DC,MD,VA
For three years the young United States was embroiled in the War of 1812 and the Chesapeake Bay region felt the brunt of it, choked by shipping blockades and ravaged by enemy raids. Through sites and landscapes in Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, the Trail tells the stories of the events, people, and places that led to the birth of the U.S. national anthem.
Fees: The entrance fee to the Historic Zone (including the Star Fort) is $15.00 per adult 16 years of age and older. Children 15 and younger are free. All 'America the Beautiful' Interagency Passes are accepted. All passes cover admission for the pass holder and three additional guests ages 16 and older. Passes may be purchased/obtained at the main desk inside the Visitor and Education Center.
Hours Info: Hours of opening for the many sites along the trail vary widely by location and season. The trail's premiere orientation and visitor center is located at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. As of March 31, 2021, the historic area and visitor center restrooms will be open Wed-Sun, 9AM-4:45PM. The park closes at 5PM. All indoor exhibit areas remain closed.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/stsp/
Location: MA,RI,CT,NY,NJ,PA,DE,MD,VA,DC
In 1781, General Rochambeau’s French Army joined forces with General Washington’s Continental Army to fight the British Army in Yorktown, Virginia. With the French Navy in support, the allied armies moved hundreds of miles to become the largest troop movement of the American Revolution. The effort and cooperation between the two sides led to a victory at Yorktown and secured American independence.
Fees: There is no fee to explore the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, but fees may apply for sites and attractions along the trail. Visitors should contact sites individually for further information.
Hours Info: The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route NHT can be travelled year-round. The NHT connects national, state, and local parks as well a great number of historic sites and landmarks. Visitors should contact sites or attractions individually as operating hours vary widely by site and season.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/waro/
Location: Vienna, VA
No matter what your age or taste in shows, you'll find something you like onstage at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. From May through September, multiple amphitheaters in the park present performances such as musicals, dance, opera, jazz, and popular and country music. A good time to explore the beauty and history of the park without the crowds is October - April.
Fees: There is no entrance fee at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.
Hours Info: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is open to the public from sunrise to dusk every day. During the performance season, the park is closed to public visitation which is not performance related during park festivals and Filene Center performances to avoid conflict among visitor use activities. This public use restriction begins two hours prior to Filene Center show times and ends one hour after Filene Center performances have completed. The park is closed from dusk to sunrise except to patrons a
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/wotr/
Location: Yorktown, VA
Discover what it took for the United States to be independent as you explore the site of the last major battle of the Revolutionary War. Here at Yorktown, in the fall of 1781, General George Washington, with allied American and French forces, besieged General Charles Lord Cornwallis’s British army. On October 19, Cornwallis surrendered, effectively ending the war and ensuring independence.
Fees: Yorktown Battlefield is part of Colonial National Historical Park. For information about park fees visit Colonial National Historical Park's Fee Page here. https://www.nps.gov/colo/planyourvisit/fees.htm
Hours Info: The Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center and the Eastern National Store is open 9:00 am to 5:00 PM Daily. The theater and exhibit areas are currently closed. The Moore House, The Nelson House, The Cemetery Lodge and the Poor Potter are also closed but their grounds are open for visitation. The Battlefield Tour Roads are open till Sunset.
More Info: https://www.nps.gov/york/