The Thomas Jefferson Foundation is committed to providing superior service to all our guests. Please see below to learn about Monticello’s accessibility services and resources. For questions, please call (434) 984-9800, email accessibility@monticello.org, or speak with a staff member upon arrival.
See our Map of Monticello for Visitors for an overview of the site.
Visitor Center Accessibility
Monticello’s David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center has accessible parking, restrooms, family restrooms, and elevators.
Complimentary wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests are welcome to use mobility devices such as wheelchairs, rollators, or powered scooters. Two-wheeled scooters, powered or unpowered, including Segways, are not permitted.
The film Thomas Jefferson’s World plus audio/visual exhibits at the visitor center and on the mountaintop have open captions. Additional content, including audio narration and transcripts, is available via the Bloomberg Connects mobile experience.
Sound levels at the visitor center and on the mountaintop can change depending on guest visitation and other factors. Guests are welcome to bring noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs.
There may be periods of waiting for buses or tours. Guests are welcome to use headphones, a manipulative toy, or other equipment while waiting.
Service dogs and miniature horses, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are welcome at Monticello, including indoors and onboard shuttles.
Only leashed dogs are allowed on the grounds of Monticello; no other pets are permitted. Individual events, such as the July 4th Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony, may have additional restrictions. Please visit event webpages for specific details.
Mountaintop and Tour Accessibility
The historic house and grounds are located on a mountaintop three quarters of a mile from the visitor center. The mountaintop is accessible via shuttle bus or the Cemetery Trail walking path. This path is steeper than ADA requirements and has mixed surfaces of brick, asphalt, and crushed gravel. Monticello’s shuttle buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts. Please see the Map of Monticello for Visitors for more information.
The first floor of the house and the West Lawn are accessible via wheelchair ramps. Due to the width of some doorways, if a mobility device is wider than 30”, alternate routes or the use of one of our transport wheelchairs, may be suggested to move between rooms. The upper floors of the house are not ADA accessible.
Accessible restrooms can be found in the North Wing of the house. The cellar spaces and wings of the house can be accessed via wheelchair or other mobility devices. Please note that some pathways on the mountaintop are steeper than ADA requirements and have surfaces ranging from brick to crushed gravel.
The Otter Transcription Service is available for tours that enter the house, just ask a staff member when you arrive or contact us in advance by calling (434) 984-9800 or emailing accessibility@monticello.org.
To request American Sign Language interpretation during your visit, please contact us at least two weeks in advance by calling (434) 984-9800 or emailing accessibility@monticello.org.
Visually-descriptive tours and a touch basket that includes a tactile floorplan, replica architectural features, and artifacts are available upon request; please ask a staff member when you arrive. To contact us in advance, please call (434) 984-9800 or email accessibility@monticello.org.
School Programs Accessibility
Monticello's Education and Visitor Programs Department can adapt its curriculum-based programs to address the accessibility needs of all students. Please speak with a Reservations Associate about your group’s needs when scheduling your visit by contacting us at (434) 984-9800 or reservations@monticello.org.
Saunders-Monticello Trail Accessibility
The Saunders-Monticello trail is ADA accessible and has accessible parking. The rustic trails are not ADA compliant. Please refer to the Saunders-Monticello trail information on our website for more information.