About Fort Monroe National Monument
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.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
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…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Virginia. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
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.
Activities
Current Alerts
Visitors are reminded to park in marked parking spaces. Parking in the grass or other alternative areas is unauthorized. Please help us #KeepFortMonroeBeautiful.
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.
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.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Commemorate the First African Landing
Come together at Fort Monroe each August to commemorate the landing of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia. Their historic…
Discover Fort Monroe's African American Heritage
Immerse yourself in over four hundred years of African American history. That story begins in 1619 with the arrival of…
Join a Guided Tour of Fort Monroe
National Park Service and the Fort Monroe Authority offer guided walking tours year-round. Tours may answer questions about different aspects…
Be a Fort Monroe Junior Ranger
The Junior Ranger program helps kids explore, learn about, and protect Fort Monroe National Monument. Anyone can become a Junior…
Start at the Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center
Start at the Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center Pick up a park brochure, ticket for the Casemate Museum, and…
See Exhibits at the Casemate Museum
Exhibits at the Casemate Museum chronicle the military history of Fort Monroe. Get your free museum ticket Fort Monroe Visitor &…
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Take a Self-Guiding Walking Tour
Start by getting a self-guiding walking tour brochure outside the Visitor & Education Center at 30 Ingalls Road, Fort Monroe, Virginia.
Visitor Centers
Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center
Start your visit at Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center. Get oriented, see exhibits, and pick up visitor guides. Find national park passport cancellation stamps.…
Casemate Museum
Located within the fort walls, the museum highlights a topical history of Point Comfort and Fort Monroe. The museum showcases the unique purposes of the…
Campgrounds
The Colonies RV Travel Park & Country Store
The Colonies RV & Travel Park is at historic and scenic Fort Monroe National Monument. The Colonies offers RV and tent camping sites. The country…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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