National Monument · NPS · VA
Fort Monroe National Monument
Photo: NPS Photo, Fort Monroe Aerial View
Alerts and conditions
Information Reminder: Look Before Parking
Visitors are reminded to park in marked parking spaces. Parking in the grass or other alternative areas is unauthorized. Please help us #KeepFortMonroeBeautiful.
Park Closure Road Closure and Fishing Pier Impact
The Engineer Wharf, one of two fishing piers at Fort Monroe is temporarily closed. The Finger Pier remains open. Also closed is the section of Fenwick Road between Ingalls and the East Gate of the fort. Detour signs will aid travelers around the closure.
Overview
Fort Monroe's story spans from prehistory to the 2000s. Kecoughtan Indians occupied Old Point Comfort before the arrival of English colonists. The first enslaved Africans arrived in 1619. Those escaping slavery sought their freedom at the fort during the Civil War. The fort remained bastion of national defense until 2011, when it became a national park.
From the National Park Service
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
What to see and do
Activities
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Volunteer Vacation
- Hiking
- Living History
- Reenactments
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Plan your visit
Hours
Fort Monroe: Fort Monroe National Monument is open year-round for outdoor activities like walking and exploring the historic grounds. Residents occupy many of the buildings. Respect their privacy by not peering into windows or opening gates.
Beaches: The beaches at Fort Monroe are open to the public all year from sunrise to sunset. Only the first two coves at Outlook Beach have Life guards. Please use caution when entering the water. September 16 - May 14: Dogs allowed on the beach with 6 foot leash May 15 - September 15: Dogs not allowed on the beach
Getting there
Take exit 268 from Interstate 64 (I-64) in Hampton, Virginia toward Fort Monroe. Turn left from the exit ramp onto South Mallory Street. Turn right at the second light onto East Mellen Street. Cross the bridge and turn left at the light onto Ingalls Road. The Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center is on the left after about two-thirds of a mile. Park on Ingalls Road or in the lot behind the building.
Visitor centers
Campgrounds
- The Colonies RV Travel Park & Country Store (35 sites) — reserve
Weather
Spring: Temperatures range from 40 F to 70 F with rain being common. Summer: Temperatures range from 75 F to 100 F with rain and sun equally common. On very sunny days, be prepared with plenty of water. Fall: Temperatures usually range from 40 F to 65 F. Hurricanes are more likely to threaten the are at this time of year. If planning a visit during this time, please be mindful of the storm activity. Winter: Temperatures range from 40 F to 50 F on average with snow being uncommon.
Phone: 757-722-FORT (3678)
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos
Pair it with
- Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 9 miles
- Cape Henry Memorial Part of Colonial National Historical Park NPS · 17 miles
- Yorktown Battlefield Part of Colonial National Historical Park NPS · 17 miles
- Nansemond National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 19 miles
- Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 19 miles
- Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 21 miles