About Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Located on the north bank of the Columbia River, in sight of snowy mountain peaks and a vibrant urban landscape, this park has a rich cultural past. From a frontier fur trading post, to a powerful military legacy, the magic of flight, and the origin of the American Pacific Northwest, history is shared at four unique sites. Discover stories of transition, settlement, conflict, and community.
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
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is located in a mild, temperate climate. However, in the case of severe weather, park alerts posted on the park's website will provide information about emergency closures.
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Oregon, Washington. 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.
Entrance Fees
Day use/entrance fees are required for visitors ages 16 and up to access reconstructed Fort Vancouver. Federal Interagency Passes are accepted. There is no day use/entrance fee for visitors accessing the Visitor Center, Pearson Air Museum, the Barclay House, and McLoughlin House.
Operating Hours
Standard operating hours for Vancouver, Washington facilities are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Activities
Getting There
From I-5, take the Mill Plain Boulevard exit (Exit 1-C) and head east. Turn south onto Fort Vancouver Way. At the traffic circle, go east on Evergreen Boulevard and follow signs to the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center. From I-205, go west on Highway 14 about six miles, then take I-5 north. From I-5, take the Mill Plain Boulevard exit (Exit 1-C) and head east. At the traffic circle, go east on Evergreen Boulevard and follow signs to the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center.
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.
Entrance Passes
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site offers an annual pass that covers entrance fees for 4 visitors ages 16 and up. Visitors ages 15 and under are free. This pass can be purchased at the gates of Fort Vancouver or at Recreation.gov.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
At-Home Archaeology and Museum Activities for Kids
Learn about archaeology and museums at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site with these fun activities for kids!
Birdwatching at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
In the midst of urban Vancouver, Washington, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, with its open green spaces and trees, is…
Women of the McLoughlin House (Self-Guided Outside Tour)
This short, self-guided walking tour of the McLoughlin House Unit of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, located in Oregon City,…
Level 1 Trails at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Learn about Level 1 walking trails at Fort Vancouver. Level 1 trails are wheelchair-accessible and can be walked in 15…
Level 2 Trails at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Learn about Level 2 walking trails at Fort Vancouver. Level 2 trails are wheelchair-accessible and can be walked in under…
Level 3 Trails at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Learn about Level 3 walking trails at Fort Vancouver. Level 3 trails and routes can be walked in 90 minutes…
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Bring Your Dog to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site offers several trails for dog walking, and a summer Bark Ranger program designed for visitors and their…
The Park Prescription Program at Fort Vancouver
Discover history and improve your health by walking Fort Vancouver National Historic Site's many trails!
Picnicking at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Enjoy a picnic on the grounds of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. There are several picnic areas in the park, which are…
Become a Junior Ranger at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Collect them all! Earn three Junior Ranger badges at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
Visit the Fort Vancouver Village
Learn about the working class of Fort Vancouver by taking a scenic walk to the Fort Vancouver Village.
Visit the Japanese Castaways' Memorial
Near the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center, remember three Japanese castaways who arrived at the Hudson's Bay Company's Fort Vancouver in the 1830s.
Visit the Fort Vancouver Garden
Take a walk through a piece of Fort Vancouver's history! With a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, catch a glimpse of…
Play at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
From our ample green spaces to our sunny meadows, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is the perfect place to play!
Visit Pearson Air Museum
Visit Pearson Air Museum and discover the history of aviation in Vancouver, Washington!
Self-Guided Tour: The Spruce Mill Trail
The Spruce Mill Trail is a Level 1 trail that connects two of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site's most iconic attractions: the…
Watch a Blacksmith Work at Fort Vancouver
At Fort Vancouver, you can watch a blacksmith work, just as they would have in the 1800s.
Experience the Fort Vancouver Kitchen
At the reconstructed Fort Vancouver, you can watch a cooking demonstration from the 1840s in the fort's Kitchen!
Showing 18 of 21 NPS Things to Do records available for Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
Visitor Centers
Fort Vancouver Visitor Center
Begin your visit by learning about all the park's venues through new exhibits and activities. Watch a short film about the site's history, peruse the…
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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