Visit
Today At Monticello
-
62°
Sunny
-
Sat
55°
/
38°
-
Sun
70°
/
49°
-
Mon
70°
/
55°
-
Tue
78°
/
55°
Gates are open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. First tour, 9 a.m.; last tour, 6:10 p.m.
Family Friendly Tour and Day Pass
These special guided tours of Thomas Jefferson's house are designed especially for families with children ages 6 to 11. The 35-minute tours feature hands-on opportunities in every room and provide a glimpse of what life was like for the children who lived at Monticello in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
- Guided Tour of Monticello
- Guided Slavery at Monticello Tours (April-October and weekends in February)
- Guided Gardens and Grounds Tours (April-October)
State of the Art Visitor Center
- Free Parking
- 4 Exhibitions
- 15-minute film Thomas Jefferson's World
- Griffin Discovery Room
- Monticello Museum Shop
Access to
- Shopping and café
- Crossroads exhibition in lower level of the main house
- Seasonal Mountaintop Activity Center
- African American Graveyard
- 50% off regular admission to Thomas Jefferson’s retreat, Poplar Forest, near Lynchburg, VA
Guidelines for Family Friendly Tours
Please arrive at Monticello at least 35 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time. This will enable you to park, receive your tickets, and ride the shuttle bus to the mountaintop.
The time listed on your reservation and tickets is the time that you are to be at the East Walk, the area directly in front of Monticello where the house tour groups are formed. Visitors are admitted to the house according to the times printed on their tickets. Except in rare cases, visitors can expect to begin their house tour within 10 minutes.
Please note that if you should arrive late for your reserved time, you will be assigned the next available time slot. On some days, this could mean a significant wait or, in the event all time slots are filled, issuance of a grounds ticket (no house tour).
Reservations and tickets are valid only on the date specified. There will be no refunds unless the tour is canceled by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation.
Other Guidelines
- Bags and Backpacks. No bags or backpacks exceeding 11" by 15" by 4" are allowed beyond the Shuttle Station.
- In the House. Eating, drinking, chewing gum, and using tobacco products are prohibited in the house. Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off. Still photography, filming, and video recording are prohibited. Visitors are urged not to touch or lean on walls or furnishings.
- On the Grounds. The West Lawn is open to visitors. Otherwise, visitors are asked to keep to the designated paths and trails while on the grounds.
- Photography. Still photography, filming, and video recording for personal use are permitted on the grounds of Monticello. No photography of any kind is allowed inside the house.
- Pets. Pets are allowed on the grounds if leashed. Pets (excluding certified service dogs) are not allowed in any buildings or on the shuttle buses. Visitors bringing pets are required to clean up after them.
- Smoking. Monticello is a smoke-free site.
- Visiting with Kids. Parents with toddlers are encouraged to use small strollers when touring the house. Parents of active or restless young children may be asked to take turns touring the house, as a courtesy to other visitors.
Discussion
Speaking as a tour guide at Monticello, these Family Friendly Tours are so much fun. I have had multi-generations on tours! I still can’t decide if the kids like it best or their parents or their grandparents! This is a very interactive tour packed with information for kids and for adults. There is something for everyone! The kids leave with a memento of their visit to Monticello. The adults leave with a very, very, sweet family memory…priceless!
On what must have been one of the hottest days of the summer, my family group toured with Marie yesterday. Our 4-yr-old was captivated by her presentation and our 2-yr-old even started listening before the tour was finished. Three generations of our family (including a visiting great-aunt & uncle) came away feeling that both our time and money had been well spent. Great job! We all left a little damp from perspiration but the smiles were even warmer than the weather. Thank you.