The people of the Continental Army were ordinary, like many of us, but they were thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Valley Forge National Historical Park commemorates more than the sacrifices and perseverance of the Revolutionary War generation -- it honors the ability of citizens and their leaders to pull together and overcome adversity during extraordinary times.
The Basics
Hours:
Park grounds open daily, year-round 6 am to 10 pm
Welcome Center 9 am to 5 pm daily
Washington's Headquarters January 1 to February 18 closed Mondays and Tuesdays, open 9 am to 5 pm all other days.
Washington Memorial Chapel open 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday, 1 pm to 5 pm Sunday
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Address:
1400 North Outer Line Drive
King of Prussia, PA 19406
From Philadelphia, New Jersey and points southeast, via I-76 Schuylkill Expressway west Take I-76 Schuylkill Expressway west to Exit 328A. Stay Right and merge onto US 422 west. Take Valley Forge exit onto Route 23 west. Turn right at exit ramp and merge to the center lane. Park entrance is straight through the first set of traffic lights (at intersection with N. Gulph Road)
From Baltimore, Wilmington, DE, and points southeast, via US 202 north Take US 202 north to US 422 west. US 422 west to Route 23 west (1.8 miles). Turn right at the exit ramp and merge to the center lane. Park entrance is straight ahead
From New York and points northeast, via the Pennsylvania Turnpike I-276 Pennsylvania Turnpike west to Exit 326. Exit 326 for Valley Forge. Turn Right at N. Gulph Road immediately after the tollbooth. Travel on N. Gulph Road (1.8 miles). Park entrance is on the left at the Route 23 traffic light
From Harrisburg and points west, via the Pennsylvania Turnpike I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike east to Exit 326. Exit 326 for Valley Forge. Turn Right at N. Gulph Road immediately after the tollbooth. Travel on N. Gulph Road (1.8 miles). Park entrance is on the left at the Route 23 traffic light
From Pottstown and Reading PA, and points northwest, via US 422 east Exit at Route 23 west. Turn right at the exit ramp and merge to the center lane. Park entrance is straight ahead
Climate
Winters at Valley Forge are cold and damp while spring and fall are cool. Summers are hot and humid. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended for outdoor recreation during the snowy wintery season.
There are 21 miles of authorized biking trails in the park. The paved, 6.6 mile Joseph Plumb Martin Trail on the south side of the park connects the key historic and interpretive sites. On the north side, two miles of the paved, regional Schuylkill River Trail run through the park, with connections to sites in Montbomery County and Philadelphia. There also are 12 miles of flat, unpaved biking trails.
The park contains 19.5 miles of designated, marked, hiking trails. The 6.6 mile Joseph Plumb Martin Trail connects the key historic and interpretive sites. The Horseshoe Trail begins near Washington's Headquarters and runs to the Appalachian Trail. Other hiking trails include such footpaths as the relatively flat River and Valley Creek trails, and the hilly trails on Mount Joy and Mount Misery. In addition, hiking is permitted in most open areas of the park. While hiking in the park please keep your pets on a leash at all times.
Seventeen miles of designated horse trails are available to riders. In addition, horseback riders may also cross most open fields to link up with other horse trail sections to complete circuit rides. Caution should be used when crossing open areas because of holes and other hazards. To prevent damage to fragile historic resources and unsafe encounters in busy visitor areas, horses are prohibited in picnic areas, the vicinity of historic buildings, and tour stops (historic zones). Horse trailers may be parked in one of the following areas: the horse trailer area of the main Welcome Center parking lot, the Pawlings Road parking lot, or along the south side of the Walnut Hill access road.
To ensure your safety, and to protect sensitive historic and natural resources in the park, you must abide by these common-sense regulations:
-Some former trails have been closed to public use. They were closed because they are unsafe and cannot be made safe, or because using the trails destroys natural or historic resources. If a trail is not shown on this map, it is closed and pulic use is not permitted. Please be a part of protecting your natural and cultural heritage by staying off closed trails.
-Trails are designated for certain uses, as shown on the map, in order to prevent resource damage. Using trails for undesignated uses damages resources and is prohibited.
Off-trail use by bicycles causes profound damage to cultural and natural resources and is prohibited.
Parking is permitted only in areas shown on the map. Parking on the grass damages cultural and natural resources and is prohibited.
The use of skates, in-line skates, skateboards, and roller skis endangers other trail users and is prohibited throughout the park.
Guided Tours
Museum and Film
Come enjoy exhibits containing Revolutionary War artifacts and the museum shop in the Welcome Center. An eighteen-minute film, "Valley Forge: A Winter Encampment," is shown every 30 minutes on the hour and half-hour, starting at 9:30, ending at 4:30.
Ranger Tours
From June through Labor Day, seven days a week (weather permitting), 40 minute ranger-led tours depart from the theater for the Muhlenberg Brigade following the 11:30 and 1:30 films.
Biking Tours
Visitors can also rent a hybrid bike and explore the Park on their own. Ranger-led bike tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays June through Labor Day, weather permitting. Bike rentals are available from the lower Welcome Center parking lot daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. June through Labor Day, weather permitting. Rentals start at $15 adults, $12 children, $49 family rate (2 adults and 2 children) for two hours.
Trolley Tours
Seven days a week June through Labor Day, 90 minute guided trolley tours depart the Welcome Center at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. For more information, call 610-783-7503.
Self-Guided Tours
Eighteen miles of trail, including six miles of paved multi-purpose trail, winds through the park, in addition to a ten-mile, self-guiding automobile tour. A free map of the tour route and cassette tapes ($10) and CDs ($12) of the tour are available at the Welcome Center.
Living History Interpreters
Living history interpreters are at the Muhlenberg Brigade from 11am-3pm on Saturdays and Sundays and Washington's Headquarters 9am-5pm everyday. Special soldier programs will be held at the Muhlenberg Brigade at 12:30pm and 2:30pm.
