The Mariners’ Museum and Park is the best indoor day trip from Williamsburg on a rainy day, and its price is hard to beat. It calls itself America’s National Maritime Museum, and it sits at 100 Museum Drive in Newport News, with indoor galleries and the Explorers’ Theater alongside a 550-acre park. Its best-known section is the USS Monitor Center, which tells the story of the Civil War ironclad that fought the Virginia in 1862 and was later raised and conserved. Museum admission is listed at just $1 per person, and the park and its trail are free, which makes it one of the best bargains in the region. The Noland Trail is a five-mile loop around the 167-acre Mariners’ Lake, a popular walking and running route through woodland. A café called Column 15 and the Mariners’ Shop are on site, and parking is free. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the park and trail from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the museum closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. It suits families, naval history readers and walkers, and it pairs naturally with Fort Monroe.
How the visit works
Museum tickets can be bought online in advance or at the door, and members enter free. The museum opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and the park and Noland Trail open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking is free throughout the museum and park, with accessible parking near the museum entrance and the trail. Occasionally the museum and trail close for special events, so check the announcements on the museum’s site before you set out.
What to expect
Allow two to three hours for the galleries, including the Monitor Center, which is the highlight for most visitors, and extra time if you want to walk the Noland Trail. The trail circles Mariners’ Lake and passes through woodland, bridges and boardwalks, and it is gentle enough for most walkers. The museum collection covers ships, navigation, small craft and maritime art, and exhibits change through the year. Check the park map before you hike.
Making the most of it
It is about a 30 to 45 minute drive from Williamsburg depending on traffic, and it combines well with Fort Monroe in Hampton or the Yorktown sites. On a wet day, spend the morning in the galleries and eat in the café, and on a fine day walk the trail first. Families will find plenty to hold children’s attention, particularly the boats and the Monitor displays. Bring a light jacket for the air-conditioned galleries and comfortable shoes for the trail.
What to expect
The experience
Indoor maritime galleries and the USS Monitor Center, plus a 550-acre park with a five-mile lakeside trail.
Best time
A wet day for the galleries, or a fine morning for the Noland Trail.
How long
Two to three hours for the museum, and more with a walk on the trail.
Tips
Buy tickets online, park free, check for event closures and bring comfortable shoes if you plan to walk the trail.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families, naval history readers and walkers looking for a low-cost indoor option.
- Families
- Children enjoy the ships and boats and the open park.
- Couples
- A museum visit followed by a lakeside walk.
- Pair with
- Fort Monroe in Hampton for a full day of coastal history.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
How much is admission?+
Museum admission is listed at $1 per person, members enter free, and the park and Noland Trail are free.
What are the opening hours?+
The museum opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the park and trail from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The museum closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
What is the USS Monitor Center?+
It is the museum’s section on the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor, which fought the Virginia in 1862 and was later raised and conserved.
How long is the Noland Trail?+
The Noland Trail is five miles and circles the 167-acre Mariners’ Lake.
Is parking free?+
Yes. Parking is free throughout the museum and park.
