Vanderbilt Mansion
National Historic Site

Welcome!

The page below contains basic information about Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. Visit our Expanded Web Site for more extensive information on trip-planning and historical information. The expanded Web Site also provides links to the related Hudson Valley tourism sites, Vanderbilt family sites, and other sites of interest.

Visitation: Highest in October, July, and August; lowest in January and February.

Location: Dutchess County in the Hudson River Valley of southeastern New York.

Mailing Address:

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
519 Albany Post Road
Hyde Park, NY 12538

Telephone:

(914) 229-9115

Operating Hours, Seasons:

Open seven days a week from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Days.
Grounds open 7 days year-round from 7:00am until sunset.

Climate, Recommended Clothing:

Summers generally warm and humid, winters cold and snowy.

Directions:

From the New York State Thruway (I-87): Exit 18 (New Paltz), take 299 east to 9W south, follow signs to Franklin D. Roosevelt Bridge. After bridge crossing follow overhead signs to Route 9 north. The park entrance will be about 7 miles on the left.

From the Taconic State Parkway:
Northbound vehicles: exit at Route 55 west (Poughkeepsie). Follow Route 55 west to Route 9 north. Located approximately 5 miles north on Route 9.
Southbound vehicles: exit at Red Hook onto Route 199 west. Take Route 308 from Route 199. Proceed to Route 9 south (left hand turn at light). Located approximately 12 miles from Rhinebeck on Route 9. (NOTE: commercial vehicles are not allowed on the parkway)

From New York City: Henry Hudson parkway (Route 9A) to the Sawmill River parkway to Taconic State Parkway. See Taconic State Parkway (northbound) directions above. OR - Proceed north on the Palisades Parkway to the New York State Thruway (I-87). See directions from New York State Thruway (I-87) above.

From Long Island: Proceed west on the Cross Bronx Expressway to the New York State Thruway (I-87) northbound. See directions from New York State Thruway (I-87) above. OR - cross the Throgs Neck Bridge, follow I-95 to the Hutchinson River Parkway north to I-684 to I-84 west. Take exit for Taconic State Parkway north. Follow directions from the Taconic State Parkway (northbound) above.

From New Jersey: Proceed north on the Garden State Parkway onto the New York State Thruway (I-87). See directions for New York State Thruway above.

From Connecticut: Take I-84 west to exit 13 to Taconic State Parkway north. Follow directions for the Taconic State Parkway (northbound) above.

From Massachusetts: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) to the Taconic State Parkway (south). See directions from Taconic State Parkway southbound above. OR: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) to the New York State Thruway (I-87) south. See directions from New York State Thruway above.

Entrance Fees:

Entrance to the park is free of charge.

Guided Tour Fees:

Admission to the tour of Vanderbilt Mansion is $8.00 for adults. Children under 17 are admitted free of charge. Golden Age cardholders receive a 50% discount on the guided tour - this does not apply to family members. Golden Eagle cardholders and their immediate family members are admitted free of charge. Golden Access Passport holders and bonafide educational groups are also admitted free of charge to Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site.

Visitors can purchase a combination pass to tours of the Vanderbilt Mansion, Home of FDR, FDR Library & Museum, and Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site at a reduced cost of $18.

Group rates:

Less than 25 people: $40 flat fee WITH CONFIRMED RESERVATION. Without confirmed reservations, the fee is $8 per person.

25 - 50 people: $100 flat fee WITH CONFIRMED RESERVATION. Without confirmed reservations, the fee is $8 per person.

Facilities and Opportunities:

Exhibits: The furnished home of Frederick Vanderbilt; Visitor Center with exhibits and bookstore. The grounds feature breathtaking views of the Hudson River and distant Catskill Mountains. The Formal Gardens, once abandoned, have been restored thanks to the help of the Frederick W. Vanderbilt Garden Association.

Trails, Walkways: Once arriving, all access is pedestrian. Walkways are unpaved and may have rough sections. Trails are for pedestrians only (no bicycles permitted). Trails are unpaved, and are generally wide and level. Some steep, wet, and rough trail sections can be found.

Programs/Activities: Regularly scheduled tours or self-guided tours, depending on visitation level. Talks by rangers are held on a regular basis. Programs vary, and include themes dealing with the lifestyle of the Vanderbilts and their contemporaries, industrial expansion, turn-of-the-century technology, and landscape architecture.

Lodging and Camping Facilities: None in park. A variety of hotels, motels, and camping sites are available in the area. For information call Dutchess County Tourism at 1-800 445-3131.

Food/Supplies: A wide variety of shopping, restaurants, and grocery stores are available in Hyde Park.

Accessibility/Special Needs: The Mansion and Visitor Center are accessible by wheelchair. Parking for buses and RVs is available. Handicapped parking is also available.

Basic Visit Recommendations:

Allow one to two hours to see the house and grounds. Fully exploring the house, grounds, and trails could take four to eight hours.

Reservations/Permits:

Group Reservations: The historic structures are at an advanced age and were designed for family living, not as public facilities. To minimize building stress, the maximum size of any group permitted to enter is 50 people. Larger groups will be admitted in two or more sections. School groups must have one chaperone for every ten students. These limitations require advance reservations for group visits of 10 people or more. This also helps us provide you with the best possible visit.

The site is a very popular tourist attraction in Hyde Park, especially during the fall foliage season. Advance group reservations are sometimes necessary months prior to your planned visit. Reservations are made by contacting us at (914) 229-9115, Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, eastern time.

Filming permits are arranged on an individual basis (based on the size of the project, whether a movie, commercial, etc. and how much park staff involvement is required.) For additional information concerning special uses or filming permits, call (914) 229-7770.

Climate, Recommended Clothing:

Summers are generally warm and humid, winters cold and snowy. Wear comfortable clothes. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended.