While Pennsylvania doesn’t have any federally designated National Parks, Valley Forge is one of nearly 2 dozen sites in the state managed by the National Park Service. Within the park you’ll find 3,500 acres of meadows, monuments, trails, and woodlands. Nearly 2 million people visit Valley Forge every year. The park is located in King of Prussia, near the 4th largest mall in America!

What’s the difference between a National Park and National Historical Park?
A National Park preserves a large area with geological, ecological, or natural beauty. Alternatively, a National Historical Park’s focus is preserving a part of American history.

For those who may not know, Valley Forge became an important part of US history during the American Revolutionary War. George Washington and the Continental Army were stationed here for 6 months, where they endured the winter of 1777 – 1778. The area was chosen due to it being easily defendable as well as its proximity to Philadelphia, which was under the control of the British Army at the time. In addition to the harsh winter weather, soldiers stationed here also dealt with widespread illness and a serious lack of supplies. Despite these conditions they still managed to train and come out of it as a more unified group.

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Visitor Center

The Visitor Center at Valley Forge was originally built in 1976, and underwent a $12 million renovation project in 2021. It’s open daily from 9am – 5pm and only closes for three major holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. Inside you’ll find the Encampment Museum, information desks for the park and Montgomery County tourism, and the gift shop. I recommend starting your visit here, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the history of the park! You can tour the museum, grab a map of the park, and ask the friendly visitor center staff any questions you may have.

For those maybe wanting to be a little more active, in the Visitor Center parking lot you’ll find a bike rental stand. Keep in mind that rentals are only available during Visitor Center hours and are weather dependent. Adults have the option of regular pedal or e-bikes, and there are child bikes and trailers as well. All bike rentals includes a helmet and a bike lock, in case you want to enter any of the buildings inside the park during your ride.

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Encampment Tour

A major draw of the Valley Forge National Historical Park is the Encampment Tour. This 10-mile driving loops has 9 major stops, and the amount of time it takes depends on you! Just want to drive around without stopping? It’ll only take about 20 – 30 minutes. On the other hand if you explore most, or all, of the stops it will be closer to 2 – 3 hours (it took us about 2.5 hours last time). There is an audio tour you can purchase at the Visitor Center to accompany your self-guided outing (CD, MP4 or streaming on your phone) or a less detailed free cell phone guide.

Don’t want to drive yourself? You can opt to take a trolley tour instead, which is approximately 90 minutes long. There is also the option to ride a bike along the Encampment Trail, either by yourself or with a tour guide. Just be aware these guided tours must be reserved a week in advance!

The nine major tour stops are: the Visitor Center, Muhlenberg Brigade, National Memorial Arch, Wayne Statue, Washington’s Headquarters, Redoubt 3, Artillery Park, Von Steuben Statue, and Washington Memorial Chapel. It was brutally hot the day we did the Encampment Tour, so we didn’t make every stop. Nonetheless, below you’ll find my favorites of the ones we did!

Tour Stop Highlights

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Tips for Visiting Valley Forge

Like most National Park Service sites, it’s free to roam around the park – there is no entrance fee!
While you can buy some snacks and drinks at the Encampment store, there are no meal options for purchase within the park. But don’t worry, you’re free to bring your own food to eat in one of the three designated picnic areas which have tables and restrooms. The Betzwood Picnic Area even has grills for public use!
Keep an eye out for people on horseback, as there are 17 miles of trails for horseback riding! As a result, there’s a section of the Visitor Center parking lot designated for horse trailer parking.
There’s one section of the Encampment Tour drive where it kind of feels like you’ve gone off course and accidently left the park. But don’t worry! Just keep following the signs, they’re pretty easy to spot.
It can get pretty crowded during the peak warm weather months and when they’ve scheduled any special events. So be sure to check the park’s website for any alerts or events happening on the day of your visit.

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Other Nearby National Park Sites

Independence National Historical Park – 45 Minutes from Valley Forge.
Keep your trip through American history going with a drive into Center City Philadelphia. Here you can see the Liberty Bell, National Constitution Center, Independence Hall, and more!

Delaware Water Gap – 1 Hour & 45 Minutes from Valley Forge.
This 40-mile long recreation area along the Delaware River offers year-round recreational activities within the most densely populated area in the entire United States.

Gettysburg National Military Park – 2 Hours from Valley Forge.
Yes, I know saying 2 hours is ‘nearby’ is a stretch. But if you’re an American History enthusiast then a visit to Gettysburg is a must, as it’s the site of the major turning point of the Civil War.

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What’s your favorite stop along the Encampment Tour? Let me know in the comments!