- Can I take a guided tour?
- What is the Grounds Ticket?
- What outdoor programs and activities are available?
- Can I park by the main house?
- Is the shuttle the only option for getting to the mountaintop?
- If I leave Monticello, can I return the same day?
- Are animals allowed at Monticello?
- What food is available?
Can I take a guided tour?
Yes, we offer several guided tours of the Monticello house and grounds, including the Highlights Tour, the Behind-the-Scenes Tour, and the From Slavery to Freedom Tour.
Is there a Self-guided Tour?
No, the self-guided tour is no longer available on a regular basis. However, our Grounds Ticket is offered daily and you can explore the historic mountaintop's outdoor spaces and rooms under the main house. Our free mobile guide or Audio Tour provide additional information about numerous stops as well. The Grounds Ticket includes all outdoor offerings, and you are free to arrive any time during the day of your reservation.
What outdoor programs and activities are available?
Visitors can find outdoor exhibits and informative signs throughout the historic mountaintop.
Two guided tours are include with every ticket purchase. The Slavery at Monticello Tour focuses on the experiences of the enslaved people who lived and labored at Monticello. The seasonal Gardens & Grounds Tour explores Monticello’s restored gardens and discusses Jefferson’s lifelong interest in botany and the enslaved gardeners who maintained the landscape.
Guests can also Meet Thomas Jefferson (as portrayed by veteran historical actor-interpreter Bill Barker) most Tuesdays through Saturdays, year-round. During colder months or bad weather, this program meets indoors at the visitor center.
Families can visit our seasonal Mountaintop Activity Center to explore mystery objects and learn about the daily lives of the free and enslaved people who lived at Monticello. A mobile Scavenger Hunt for Families encourages guests to snap photos, test your knowledge, and share your thoughts to complete the challenges.
You can walk along Mulberry Row and learn about the enslaved people who lived and labored on the plantation through interpretive signage and virtual resources.
You can also explore the flower and vegetable gardens and take a scenic hike on the Saunders-Monticello Trail, which extends from the bottom of Route 53 and all the way up to the historic mountaintop.
Can I park by the main house?
No, all guests must park at the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center and take either take a complimentary shuttle bus or walking trail to the historic mountaintop.
Is the shuttle the only option for getting to the mountaintop?
No, it is not. Many guests enjoy taking a trail roughly half a mile from the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center parking area uphill to the house. Be sure to purchase your ticket(s) online first; a Monticello ticket is required to walk up this trail.
If I leave Monticello, can I return the same day?
Yes. Guests may leave the ticket area or the Monticello property and return the same day. Please keep your electronic or paper ticket with you to reenter at the visitor center.
Are animals allowed at Monticello?
Dogs are allowed on the grounds of Monticello, if leashed, except for certain special events and programs (check event webpages). Pets are not allowed inside any shuttle buses or buildings. You can purchase a Gardens and Grounds Pass to explore the historic mountaintop with a leashed dog.
Service animals are welcome at Monticello, which follows the U.S. Department of Justice’s ADA requirements for service animals. Guests are not allowed to bring emotional support animals into the Monticello house, in buildings, or shuttle buses.
What food is available?
The Monticello Café at our visitor center offers sandwiches, salads, snacks, baked goods, and drinks. See the full menu. The Farm Shop in the North Wing of the main house also carries a selection of pastries, sandwiches, salads, ice cream, snacks, and coffees and other drinks.