Yorktown Battlefield is where the American Revolution was effectively won. In the autumn of 1781, George Washington’s Continental Army and a French army under the Comte de Rochambeau, with a French fleet blocking the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, trapped Lord Cornwallis and his British army on the bluffs above the York River. After a siege of about three weeks, with allied artillery pounding the British lines and a famous night assault on two key redoubts, Cornwallis surrendered on 19 October 1781. Today the battlefield is part of Colonial National Historical Park, run by the National Park Service, and it is a peaceful, open landscape of earthworks, cannon and fields that rewards a slow visit. Start at the visitor center, which has exhibits, a short film and a view over the British lines, then follow the battlefield tour roads past the reconstructed redoubts, the allied siege lines, Surrender Field and the Moore House, where the terms of surrender were negotiated. In the historic village of Yorktown, the Nelson House belonged to a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the Victory Monument looks out over the river. This page links to the official National Park Service plan-your-visit page for Yorktown.
How to visit: the battlefield visitor center is at the eastern end of the Colonial Parkway, about 25 minutes from Colonial Williamsburg, with parking on site. The park district and the visitor center are open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, and the battlefield tour roads stay open until sunset. The park is closed on Thanksgiving, 26 November 2026, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The Moore House itself is closed, though its grounds are open, and the Nelson House opens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays as staffing permits. An entrance fee applies for adults; check the current fees with the National Park Service before you go.
What to expect: allow two to three hours. Watch the film and look at the exhibits, walk out to the British inner defense line beside the visitor center, then drive the tour roads, stopping at the redoubts, the allied artillery positions and Surrender Field. Self-guided audio driving tours are available for your phone if you want commentary in the car.
Making the most of it: spend the morning at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown for the big story, then come here in the afternoon to see the ground. Finish with a walk along the Yorktown waterfront and the Victory Monument at sunset.
What to expect
The experience
A visitor center with a film and exhibits, then a self-guided drive and short walks around the siege lines, redoubts and Surrender Field.
Best time
Afternoon, after the Yorktown museum, with time to finish at the riverfront around sunset.
How long
Two to three hours for the visitor center and the main tour road.
Tips
Check the opening days of the Nelson House before you go, download an audio tour for the drive, and remember the tour roads close at sunset.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History buffs, Revolution enthusiasts and anyone completing the Historic Triangle.
- Families
- Older children enjoy climbing on the earthworks and spotting the cannon; pair it with the museum’s musket firings for younger ones.
- Couples
- Drive the battlefield in the late afternoon and walk down to the Yorktown waterfront for the sunset over the York River.
- Pair with
- The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown in the morning, or the full-day Jamestown and Yorktown tour.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours, or a full Yorktown day with the museum.
Good questions
What are Yorktown Battlefield hours?+
The visitor center is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, and the battlefield tour roads are open until sunset. The park closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Is the Moore House open?+
The Moore House itself is closed, but its grounds are open to visitors. The Nelson House in Yorktown opens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays as staffing permits.
Is Yorktown Battlefield the same as the American Revolution Museum?+
No, the battlefield is a National Park Service site and the museum is run by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. They are a few minutes apart and charge separately.
How long does it take to see Yorktown Battlefield?+
Allow two to three hours for the visitor center and the main tour road. Add the second tour road and the village for a longer visit.
What happened at Yorktown?+
In October 1781 American and French forces besieged the British army under Cornwallis, who surrendered on 19 October. It was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War.
