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National Historical Park · Delaware and Pennsylvania

First State National Historical Park

National Historical Park in Delaware and Pennsylvania. No entrance fee.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

TypeNational Historical Park
StateDelaware, Pennsylvania
Entrance feeNo entrance fee
CampgroundsNone
Nearest national parkShenandoah (174 mi)
Closest airportILG (11 mi)
Red, yellow, and green leaves lay on the grass in front of a colonial building.
Each fall, an 18th Century Market Fair is recreated to commemorate the original purpose of The Green. Photo: NPS Photo

First State National Historical Park is a national historical park run by the National Park Service in Delaware and Pennsylvania.

In the park service’s words

Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a distinct character that tolerated diversity in religion and national origin and valued independence.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Mon Closed; Tue Closed; Wed 10:00AM - 3:30PM; Thu 10:00AM - 3:30PM; Fri 10:00AM - 3:30PM; Sat 10:00AM - 3:30PM; Sun 1:30PM - 4:00PM. The New Castle Court House Museum is open Wednesday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Sunday 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tours are available at 10:00 a.m., 11:00a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. During tours, visitors are welcome to check out the waiting area to pick up information, ask questions, or get their passport stamped. The New Castle Court House Museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Getting there

First State National Historical Park is made up of six individual sites throughout Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania that explore early settlement through the ratification of the US Constitution. Please visit the individual pages for directions or hours of operation.

Airport City Drive to the park Straight-line miles Type
Wilmington Airport (ILG) Wilmington, DE No road route 11 Regional
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) Philadelphia, PA No road route 17 Large hub
Lancaster Airport (LNS) Lancaster, PA No road route 44 Regional

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

  • Sheriff's House Welcome Center: Mon Closed; Tue Closed; Wed Closed; Thu 9:00AM - 4:30PM; Fri 9:00AM - 4:30PM; Sat 9:00AM - 4:30PM; Sun Closed. The building is open Thursday-Saturday 9:00 AM-4:30 PM.

Weather

For details and information, visit, http://www.nps.gov/frst/index.htm.

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 174 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at First State National Historical Park?

No entrance fee.

Where is First State National Historical Park?

In Delaware, Pennsylvania. The closest airport with scheduled flights is Wilmington Airport, about 11 miles away.

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