Yorktown Battlefield
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Location
Yorktown, Virginia
Managed by
National Park Service
Visitor center
Open daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; confirm before visiting
Driving tours
Two self-guided routes; entrance pass required
Yorktown Battlefield is part of Colonial National Historical Park and preserves the landscape of the 1781 siege that forced British General Charles Cornwallis to surrender. The result helped bring the American Revolutionary War to a close. The battlefield is more than a single historic view: its earthworks, redoubts, roads and fields help visitors trace the campaign across the ground itself.[1]
Begin at the Yorktown Visitor Center for maps, exhibits and the orientation film, then choose a driving route or check whether a ranger-led program is available. The NPS describes a six-stop Red Route focused on major siege sites; its Yorktown Guide App also offers two GPS-enabled driving tours. Check current conditions, access and fees with the park before setting out.[2][3]
Why visit Yorktown Battlefield?
Yorktown makes a pivotal Revolutionary War campaign tangible. Rather than viewing the surrender as an isolated event, visitors can follow the changing lines of the siege—from British defenses to allied batteries and the field where British troops laid down their arms. The visitor center’s exhibits add context on the siege and the Battle of the Capes, whose naval outcome helped set the campaign in motion.[4]
It also fits naturally into a visit to the Historic Triangle. Pair the battlefield with the historic town of Yorktown, Virginia, or plan a broader trip connecting Colonial Williamsburg and Historic Jamestowne.
Start here
Make the Yorktown Visitor Center your orientation point. Pick up a park brochure and route map, ask about that day’s programs and historic-site access, and consider watching the orientation film before heading out. The exhibits focus on the siege and the Battle of the Capes, and include Cornwallis’s campaign table and Washington’s campaign tents.[5]
The NPS Red Route starts in the visitor center parking lot and has six named stops. Follow the red-arrow signs, but keep the map handy: the route backtracks in places, so the stop letters do not always come in numerical order as you drive.[6]
What to see and do
Follow the Red Route
Use the six-stop auto tour to connect the British defenses, allied siege lines, redoubts and surrender site. Allow time to stop, read markers and walk at selected locations; the NPS lists a broad 30–120-minute duration.
Explore the visitor center
Get oriented with the park map, film and museum exhibits on the siege and the Battle of the Capes. Check the information board for current program times and historic-site access.
See Redoubts 9 and 10
These British defensive positions were captured in a nighttime assault by French and American troops on October 14, 1781. The NPS Red Route includes them as a stop.
Pause at Moore House
American, French and British officers met at Moore House on October 18, 1781, to settle surrender terms. The house is a key stop on the Red Route; check current building access before your visit.
Stand at Surrender Field
The Red Route ends at the field where most of Cornwallis’s army laid down its arms on October 19, 1781. It offers a place to reflect on the campaign’s outcome and the allied victory.
Look for a ranger program
The park lists siege-line walks and town tours among its ranger-led programs, with availability depending on staffing. Ask at the visitor center or check the NPS program page for that day’s schedule.
History and significance
By 1781, the war had lasted more than six years. In the summer and fall, Washington’s American troops and French forces under Comte de Rochambeau shifted south to trap Cornwallis’s British army at Yorktown. French naval forces helped block the British from the Chesapeake, while the allied army established siege lines around the town.[7]
The allies captured Redoubts 9 and 10 on October 14, bringing their siege lines closer to the British defenses. After negotiations at Moore House, Cornwallis’s army surrendered on October 19. The victory helped persuade the British Parliament to stop pursuing the war; the final peace treaty recognizing American independence was signed in 1783.[8]
Planning a visit
- Hours: The NPS lists the Yorktown Visitor Center as open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; battlefield tour roads are listed as open until sunset. Hours, closures and conditions can change, so confirm with the park before traveling.[9]
- Admission: The NPS fee page lists a standard pass at $15 per person for visitors age 16 and older, valid for seven days at Yorktown Battlefield and the NPS areas of Historic Jamestowne. Eligible park passes are accepted. Confirm current prices and pass details before your visit.[10]
- Driving tours: The park has two auto tours for private vehicles. NPS accessibility information describes the Battlefield Tour as 7 miles and the Allied Encampment Tour as 9 miles; the park’s getting-around page describes the combined tour roads as 16 miles. Check the visitor center for a current map and route information.[11][12]
- Tours and interpretation: Ranger-led siege-line walks and town tours are offered as staffing allows. Ask at the visitor center or check the NPS tours page for current schedules.[13]
- Accessibility: The visitor center has accessible restrooms, and wheelchairs are available there on a first-come basis. Battlefield tour stops have walkways, some with inclines; the Moore House is accessible only by steps. Review the NPS accessibility page for details relevant to your visit.[14]
- Getting around: The battlefield roads are best experienced by motor vehicle or bicycle, and NPS rules prohibit buses, motor homes and vehicles over five tons on the tour roads. The Yorktown Trolley serves the village but does not travel the battlefield tour roads; check its current seasonal service before relying on it.[15]
Nearby attractions
Yorktown, Virginia
Explore the historic town and waterfront beside the battlefield.
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
Continue your exploration of the Revolution at the museum in Yorktown.
Colonial Parkway
Take the scenic parkway linking Yorktown with Williamsburg and Jamestown.
Colonial Williamsburg
Visit the restored colonial capital as part of a Historic Triangle itinerary.
Historic Jamestowne
Visit the archaeological site associated with Virginia’s early English settlement.
References
- ↑ History of the Siege, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ Visitor Centers, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ Yorktown Guide App, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ Visitor Centers, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ Visitor Centers, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ Drive the Red Route of the Yorktown Battlefield Auto Tour, National Park Service, Colonial National Historical Park. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ History of the Siege, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ History of the Siege, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ Operating Hours & Seasons, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ Fees & Passes, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ Accessibility, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ Getting Around, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ Tours and Programs, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ Accessibility, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
- ↑ Getting Around, National Park Service, Yorktown Battlefield. Retrieved October 1, 2026.