Start at the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center
Park, buy tickets, shop, eat, and enjoy three exhibitions, a kids discovery room and a powerful 15-minute introductory film at the Visitor Center.
Quick Guide to Visiting Monticello
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Monticello is a big, beautiful, thought-provoking place. Leave time to explore it. Most guests spend about 3.5 hours.
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Tours of the main house are a highlight of any visit to Monticello. But there’s much more to experience.
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A visit starts at the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center where you'll find exhibits on Jefferson and Monticello, an introductory film, a hands-on discovery room, food, shopping, and free parking for cars, buses and RVs.
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Our visually-rich introductory film, “Thomas Jefferson’s World,” describes Monticello’s central importance to Jefferson’s life and work, his consequential accomplishments and core ideas about human liberty, and explores Jefferson’s paradox as a slave owner.
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Explore the Wings of the House, including Monticello’s kitchens, cellars, and slave dwellings. Here you will also find exhibits on the life of Sally Hemings and the Getting Word oral history project featuring descendants of Monticello’s enslaved community.
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Explore Mulberry Row, where many enslaved individuals lived and worked, or take a guided Slavery at Monticello Tour (included with admission).
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The grounds are spectacular. Enjoy them on your own or take one of our seasonal, guided Gardens and Grounds Tours (included with admission).
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Visit Jefferson's gravestone in the Monticello Cemetery
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Visit the Burial Ground for Enslaved People at Monticello, a final resting place for more than forty of Monticello’s enslaved community. Jefferson enslaved more than four hundred African Americans at Monticello.
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Look for one-of-a-kind gifts at our Shops. The main Shop is in our visitor center, and there's a Farm Shop in the House's North Wing.
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Refuel at the Monticello Farm Table café at the visitor center.
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Enjoy the paths, elevated walks and spectacular views of the Saunders-Monticello Trail, Central Virginia's most popular park. Free.
Check out our Do's and Don'ts when visiting Monticello and our Visiting Frequently Asked Questions.
Note:
Tour Jefferson's House
A tour of the main house is the highlight of any visit. Check your tour options on our Tickets and Tours page.
Meet Thomas Jefferson
Meet Thomas Jefferson (as portrayed by veteran historical actor-interpreter Bill Barker) in person, most Tuesdays through Saturdays during regularly scheduled programming.
See our Film and Exhibitions
Explore exhibitions on the building of Monticello, the operation of the plantation and the legacy of the Declaration of Independence and enjoy our powerful 7-minute introductory film.
Explore the Grounds and Gardens
Explore Monticello's grounds on your own or take a seasonal, guided Gardens and Grounds Tour (which is included with admission).
Learn about Slavery at Monticello
We encourage all of our guests to explore the subject of Slavery at Monticello. Through our daily guided tours, exhibits, and an app, we strive to present an honest and inclusive look at one of the most difficult topics in American history.
Explore the Exhibits under and around the Main House.
Explore the exhibits under and around the main house, which focus on a variety of topics from cooking to travel to the legacy of slavery. And don't miss The Life of Sally Hemings exhibit in the South Wing.
Stop by the Monticello Cemetery
Walk or take a shuttle to Jefferson's grave and the cemetery, which is owned by the descendants of Thomas Jefferson and his wife, Martha.
Visit our Shops and Monticello Farm Table café
Refuel at the Monticello Farm Table café. Stop by one of our Shops for snacks, beverages, books or one-a-kinds gifts and mementos of your visit.
Make the Most of your Family Visit
With a family-friendly tour, a discovery room, a hands-on activity center, gifts and food (including a seasonal ice cream cart), there's plenty that will keep your youngest engaged at Monticello.
Walk the Monticello Trail
With native hardwood forest, deep ravines, elevated walks and spectacular views the Saunders-Monticello Trail is Central Virginia's most popular park.