Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail

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Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail

Virginia attraction guide

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VIRGINIA ATTRACTION

Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail

Follow the story of the American and French armies whose 1781 march through Virginia culminated in the Siege of Yorktown.

Trail length
About 680 miles across multiple states

Virginia story
The final campaign to Yorktown

Trail type
Historic roads, waterways, parks, and partner sites

Good place to start
Yorktown Battlefield

The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route is a network of historic roads and waterways tracing the 1781 march of George Washington’s Continental Army and the French army commanded by Comte de Rochambeau. The route stretches about 680 miles from Newport, Rhode Island, to Yorktown, Virginia; it is not one continuous hiking path, but a collection of places and landscapes that interpret the allied campaign.

In Virginia, the trail’s story leads through communities and historic sites toward Williamsburg and Yorktown, where the allied forces besieged the British army. There is no single entrance gate or visitor center: plan around a particular park, historic site, or route segment, and check that location’s current access and hours before setting out.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Plan a trip to Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail

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Why visit the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route?

This is a trail to explore through a series of stops rather than a single destination. Its appeal is the chance to connect the campaign’s big picture—the alliance and the march south—with specific Virginia places where armies moved, gathered, and fought. You can pair a short historic walk with a battlefield visit, or build a longer itinerary through Yorktown, Williamsburg, and other sites associated with the route.

The story also reaches beyond troop movements. The allied campaign depended on supplies, wagons, animals, waterways, workers, and carefully guarded plans. Following the route offers a way to consider how a military alliance operated across many communities—and why the French-American partnership mattered to the outcome at Yorktown.

Start here

For a focused first visit, begin at Yorktown Battlefield, where the campaign reached its decisive conclusion. For a broader day out, combine the battlefield with Yorktown, Virginia or Williamsburg, Virginia and use the National Park Service’s Virginia sites list to identify other places tied to the allied march.

If you are in Northern Virginia, the NPS lists Prince William Forest Park among participating trail locations. Its Crossing Trail is a half-mile loop along a historic roadbed that Washington’s and Rochambeau’s troops traveled on their way to Yorktown. Check park conditions and directions before visiting.

What to see and do

Walk the Crossing Trail

At Prince William Forest Park, follow the short loop through woods along part of the historic north-south road used by the allied troops. The route connects with Birch Bluff Trail; check current park guidance for conditions and access.

Explore Yorktown Battlefield

Visit the landscape of the Siege of Yorktown and explore how the American and French forces brought the campaign to its conclusion. Confirm current operating information with the site before you go.

Trace the campaign around Williamsburg

Use Williamsburg as a base for understanding the allied armies’ preparations before their final advance toward Yorktown. The NPS identifies the Williamsburg area as a key stop in Virginia’s campaign story.

Visit the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

Add museum exhibits and interpretation to a visit focused on the route and the Revolution. Check the museum’s official visitor information for current hours, admission, and programs.

Collect a trail passport stamp

The NPS lists several Virginia locations where visitors may find the trail’s Passport to Your National Parks stamp, including Prince William Forest Park and Colonial National Historical Park. Availability follows each participating site’s opening hours, so confirm before making a special trip.

History and significance

The route commemorates the 1781 movement of Washington’s Continental Army and Rochambeau’s French forces toward Yorktown. The NPS describes it as a network of historic roads and waterways extending across nine states and Washington, D.C., rather than a single uninterrupted trail. The march relied on coordinated logistics and secrecy as the allies changed their plans and shifted their focus to Virginia.

In September 1781, the allied armies entered Virginia and moved toward Williamsburg before advancing to Yorktown. With French naval support, American and French forces surrounded the British army; the siege ended with Cornwallis’s surrender on October 19, 1781. The victory helped secure American independence, and French troops remained in Virginia for months before beginning their return march in 1782.

Planning a visit

Think of the trail as a route-based history itinerary, not a continuous walking trail. Choose a specific segment or site, then use the NPS planning pages and interactive map to check directions and identify nearby stops. Historic routes pass through modern towns and roadways, and parking, pedestrian access, hours, and facilities vary by location.

For a short outdoor stop, the Crossing Trail at Prince William Forest Park is a half-mile loop. The NPS advises visitors to watch for tree stumps and slippery rocks, check for ticks, keep pets leashed, and leave natural and historic features undisturbed. Check the park’s current conditions before travel.

The NPS also lists Virginia sites where the trail’s passport stamp may be available. Stamps are typically offered during each participating site’s open hours; confirm current hours and accessibility directly with the location.

Nearby attractions

Yorktown Battlefield
Explore the battlefield at the campaign’s decisive conclusion.

Yorktown, Virginia
Visit the historic community at the center of the Virginia campaign.

Williamsburg, Virginia
Connect the march’s final preparations with the wider Revolutionary-era story.

American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
Add museum interpretation to a route-focused visit.

Prince William Forest Park
Walk the Crossing Trail, a short loop along a road used by the allied troops.

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References

External links

• Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail — National Park Service
• Plan Your Visit — National Park Service
• Virginia Nearby Attractions — National Park Service