historic place · Chester County, Pennsylvania
Valley Forge National Historical Park
A National Park Service landscape commemorating the Continental Army's 1777–1778 encampment. The park spans portions of Chester and Montgomery counties, with part of its landscape in Tredyffrin and Schuylkill townships.
Before you go
- Parking & entrances
- The Lower Visitor Center lot has 397 spaces and restroom facilities. Wilson Road lot is popular and fills early on weekends; its bumpy dirt approach is not recommended for RVs, trailers or low-clearance vehicles.
- Hours
- Open every day, year-round, from 7 a.m. until 30 minutes after sunset.
- Trails & terrain
- The paved Joseph Plumb Martin Trail is 8.7 miles, including a 5-mile inner loop; it is hilly with limited shade. The 3-mile one-way River Trail is unpaved and mostly level.
- Restrooms
- NPS lists restrooms at the Lower Visitor Center lot.
- Accessibility
- NPS describes the Joseph Plumb Martin Trail as largely wheelchair accessible, with some steeper grades.
- Admission & fees
- There is no entrance fee.
- Dogs
- Dogs permitted
Leashes must be no longer than six feet. Dogs are welcome outdoors, not inside buildings; they are excluded from Grand Parade Trails April 1–September 15.
Field guide
The place in detail.
- Area
- About 3,500 acres
- Highlights
- historic landscapes · meadows · woodlands · monuments · walking and biking trails
Sources & checked dates
- Valley Forge National Historical ParkChecked Oct 3, 2026
- Operating Hours and Seasons: Valley Forge National Historical ParkChecked Oct 3, 2026
- Parking at Valley Forge National Historical ParkChecked Oct 3, 2026
- Hike, Bike, and Run at Valley ForgeChecked Oct 3, 2026
- Be a Valley Forge B.A.R.K. RangerChecked Oct 3, 2026