Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown sit within a half-hour drive of each other, and together they tell the story of English America from its first fragile fort in 1607 to the surrender that ended the Revolution in 1781. Add Busch Gardens and its Christmas Town lights, and you have one of the most rewarding short breaks on the East Coast. Here is how to put a first trip together.
How many days
Three days is the sweet spot. Give one full day to Colonial Williamsburg, one to Jamestown and Yorktown, and one to Busch Gardens or a slower second day in the Historic Area. With two days, combine Colonial Williamsburg with the full-day Jamestown and Yorktown tour. With four or five days you can add Historic Jamestowne, the Art Museums and an evening at Christmas Town without rushing.
What to book ahead
Colonial Williamsburg admission is the essential purchase, because walking the streets is free but the buildings and programs need a ticket; book online and exchange your voucher at the Visitor Center. For Jamestown and Yorktown, the 7-day pass covers both Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and saves money over single tickets. The full-day Jamestown and Yorktown tour, which includes admissions and lunch, books up, as does the one-hour Patriots Tour, which is often marked as likely to sell out. For Busch Gardens, check the calendar first, because the park opens on select days outside summer and Christmas Town is a separately ticketed event.
Hours and closures in November and December 2026
Colonial Williamsburg is open every day of the year, with most trades and sites open from 9:00 to 17:00 and the Art Museums from 10:00 to 17:00. Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown open daily from 9:00 to 17:00 but close on Thanksgiving, 26 November, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, and Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown Battlefield close on the same three days. Christmas Town at Busch Gardens runs on select dates from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and Colonial Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination weekends fall on 5, 12 and 19 December.
Getting around
A car is the easiest way to see the whole triangle. The Colonial Parkway, a scenic, tree-lined road without commercial development, links Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown, and the drive from one end to the other takes about 40 minutes. In Colonial Williamsburg itself, park free at the Visitor Center and ride the complimentary shuttle bus, which stops around the Historic Area, at the Art Museums and at Merchants Square. If you would rather not drive, the full-day tour covers Jamestown and Yorktown, and Busch Gardens is a short rideshare from most hotels.
Day one: Colonial Williamsburg
Start with the Patriots Tour for context, then use your admission for the Governor’s Palace, the Capitol and the trade shops. Have dinner at Merchants Square and finish with the Whispers of Williamsburg ghost tour after dark.
Day two: Jamestown and Yorktown
Take the full-day guided tour, or drive yourself: Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne in the morning, then the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and the battlefield in the afternoon, ending at the Yorktown waterfront.
Day three: your choice
In the holiday season, spend the afternoon and evening at Christmas Town. Otherwise, return to the Historic Area for the Art Museums and the We Shall Overcome Black history tour, which adds essential depth to everything you have seen.
Practical tips
November days are mild but evenings are cold, and the riverside sites at Jamestown and Yorktown are windy, so pack layers. Wear comfortable walking shoes for the Historic Area. Hotel prices rise on Grand Illumination weekends and over Thanksgiving, so book early if your dates fall then.
