Colonial National Historical Park Park

Address: P.O. Box 210, Yorktown, VA 23690 (administrative address varies by site)

Website: https://www.nps.gov/colo/

Hours: Park grounds open daily; visitor centers hours vary seasonally (typically 9am-5pm)

Admission: Free (park grounds). Some sites within the park, such as the Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum, have separate admission fees.

A United States National Park Service unit in southeastern Virginia that preserves key sites of early English colonization and the American Revolution, notably Jamestown (1607) and Yorktown (1781).

The park encompasses archaeological remains, battlefield landscapes and visitor facilities that interpret colonial-era settlement and the Revolutionary War. Interpretive exhibits, museum displays and trails explain the archaeological finds at Jamestown and the military history at Yorktown.

In addition to on-site interpretation, many visitors use the park’s roughly 23-mile Colonial Parkway to travel between the main sites and experience scenic river and woodland views. Guided programs, ranger talks and museum spaces at the park’s units provide further context for the 17th- and 18th-century events the park preserves.

The park preserves the location of the English colony established at Jamestown in 1607 and the Yorktown battlefield where allied American and French forces secured British surrender in 1781. Federal preservation efforts in the 20th century brought the separate sites under National Park Service management to protect and interpret these nationally significant places.

Located on Virginia’s Historic Peninsula, the park spans sites along the James and York rivers near the city of Williamsburg and the town of Yorktown.

• Colonial Parkway: Offers a roughly 23-mile scenic drive that connects the park’s main historic sites and provides river and woodland views.
• Important dates: Jamestown dates to 1607 and Yorktown is associated with the decisive 1781 siege in the American Revolutionary War.

What to See#

• Historic Jamestowne: Archaeological and preserved remains of the early English settlement established in 1607, with ongoing excavations and interpretive displays.
• Yorktown Battlefield: Site of the 1781 Siege of Yorktown where British forces surrendered; includes battlefield landscapes and interpretive trails.
• Colonial Parkway: A scenic, limited-access roadway of about 23 miles that links Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown, designed for sightseeing rather than fast travel.

The park’s sites are spread across coastal Virginia. Jamestown is roughly 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Williamsburg via Route 31/Route 60; Yorktown is about 10-15 miles (16-24 km) east of Williamsburg along the Colonial Parkway. The nearest airport with major service is Norfolk (ORF) or Richmond (RIC); car travel is the most convenient way to move between sites.

• Start at the Colonial Parkway or one of the visitor centers (Yorktown and Jamestown) to orient to the park's spread-out sites.
• Allow separate time for Jamestown and Yorktown-each deserves at least half a day; driving between them takes about 30-40 minutes via the Colonial Parkway.
• Explore the lesser-known battlefield trails around Yorktown for quiet reflections away from the main museums.