Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site is a national historic site run by the National Park Service in New York.

In the park service’s words

Visit the home of Eleanor Roosevelt. Here, Franklin and Eleanor entertained friends, the press, activists, and official state visitors in the relaxed atmosphere of Val-Kill. Explore the Roosevelt saga in the homes of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, the exhibits at the nation’s first Presidential Library, and over a thousand acres of gardens and trails.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Tour Val-Kill Cottage (30 Minutes): Everything you need to know about access to Eleanor Roosevelt's home and how to obtain your tickets. Tour days and times change seasonally, so check here for more information on planning your visit.
• Top Cottage Trail (1 to 2 Hours): This trail takes you to the highest point on the Hyde Park Trails. When you reach the summit, you will have made the same climb that kings and queens and a host of foreign leaders made during some of the most critical days of the 20th century. Top Cottage, FDR’s humble hilltop getaway hosted pivotal meetings that shape
• Stone Cottage Visitor Center (30 Minutes): Stone Cottage Visitor Center and Exhibit
• Explore the FDR Presidential Library Exhibits (1 to 3 Hours): The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is independently operated and maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration, a federal agency.
• View the Park Film: Rendezvous with History (20 Minutes): The park film runs daily at the Henry Wallace Visitor & Education Center. The 140-seat theater features a high-definition film written and produced by Tom Spain Productions. The twenty minute film, "Rendezvous with History," features interviews with two of the Roosevelt grandchildren, Curtis Roosevelt and Anna Eleanor
• Close to Home (20 Minutes): Eleanor Roosevelt: Close to Home is an overview of the inspirational life of Eleanor Roosevelt and highlights her dedication as champion of social justice and racial equality. The film, which won the United Nations Association Film Festival Award in 2013, introduces viewers to Val-Kill, the home of this extraordinary A
• Eleanor's Walk (1 Hour): Get to know Eleanor Roosevelt, wife, mother, and grandmother; Hyde Park neighbor, activist, and diplomat, as you hike the paths she walked daily for recreation and quiet contemplation. See the historic buildings that hosted family gatherings as well as powerful dialog among national leaders. Explore the woodland trails
• Farm Lane Trail (1 to 2 Hours): Roosevelt Farm Lane is part of the historic road network that connected the Roosevelt Home, Val-Kill, Top Cottage, the Home Farm, and FDR’s tree plantations. From the 19th century through 1945, the flat, fertile lands along the Albany Post Road and Violet Avenue were used for growing crops, while the rugged,rocky and w

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Mon Closed; Tue Closed; Wed 9:30AM - 4:00PM; Thu 9:30AM - 4:00PM; Fri 9:30AM - 4:00PM; Sat 9:30AM - 4:00PM; Sun 9:30AM - 4:00PM. Eleanor Roosevelt's Val-Kill Cottage is open in the summer and fall months by guided tour only. Tickets for tours are FREE, but tour spaces are limited and distributed in-person on a first come, first served basis due to the intimate size of Eleanor's home. The first tour starts at 9:30 AM. The last tour starts at 4:00 PM. Tours begin at the Stone Cottage Visitor Center. Tour times can vary depending on the season, special groups, or unforeseen circumstances.

Getting there

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (Val-Kill) is located in the town of Hyde Park, NY, approximately 5 miles north of Poughkeepsie along Route 9G, midway between New York City and Albany, about a 1.5 hour drive from either direction. Located on the east bank of the Hudson River, the park is easily reached by either the Taconic State Parkway or Route 9, and the New York State Thruway west of the Hudson River.

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

• Stone Cottage Visitor Center: Mon Closed; Tue Closed; Wed 9:00AM - 4:15PM; Thu 9:00AM - 4:15PM; Fri 9:00AM - 4:15PM; Sat 9:00AM - 4:15PM; Sun 9:00AM - 4:15PM. The Stone Cottage Visitor Center is where you will get your free ticket for the tour.

Weather

Spring: Temperatures usually range from 40°F to 70°F. Rain is not uncommon. Summer: Temperatures usually range from 70° F to 100° F. Humidity can be high throughout the summer months with periods of rain. Fall: Temperatures usually range from 40° F to 70° F. Peak leaf season is mid-October. Rain is not uncommon. Winter: Temperatures usually range from 30° F to 50°F. Ice, Freezing Rain and Snow are not uncommon.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Shenandoah, about 324 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

• National Park Service Data API: Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.