Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Fort Necessity National Battlefield is a national battlefield run by the National Park Service in Pennsylvania.

In the park service’s words

The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal of French power from North America. The stage was set for the American Revolution.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Hike the Fort Necessity Trails (15 to 180 Minutes): Fort Necessity National Battlefield has five miles of hiking trails to explore. You can walk to the battlefield and back in 15 minutes, or hike for hours through forests and meadows.
• Fort Necessity Junior Ranger (60 to 120 Minutes): Come to the park, watch the movie, visit Fort Necessity, and complete the Junior Ranger Activity Book to earn a Fort Necessity Junior Ranger badge.
• Take a Self-guided Battlefield Tour (15 to 120 Minutes): Self-guided tours of Fort Necessity National Battlefield can be accessed using your mobile device.
• Watch Road of Necessity in the Visitor Center (20 Minutes): The twenty-minute orientation film Road of Necessity takes viewer along the path from Washington's first trip over the Alleghenies to the creation of the National Road.
• Historic Weapons Demonstrations (5 to 10 Minutes): Black powder weapons demonstrations are given daily throughout the summer at Fort Necessity as staffing permits.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, Sunrise to Sunset. Entrance to Fort Necessity National Battlefield is allowed from sunrise until sunset. The park visitor center and Mount Washington Tavern museum have specific hours. Please see the listing for each facility.

Getting there

The main unit of the park is located 11 miles east of Uniontown, Pennsylvania on U.S. Highway 40. The visitor center, reconstructed Fort Necessity, Mount Washington Tavern and picnic area are located in the main unit of the park.

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

• Fort Necessity/National Road Interpretive and Education Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The visitor center is open year-round under normal conditions.
• [Mount Washington Tavern](): Daily, 10:00AM - 4:00PM. Under normal conditions, this self-guided museum is open May 1 through October 31.

Weather

Weather varies considerably within each season. Be prepared with layered clothing. Precipitation is common throughout the year. Spring: Temperatures usually range from 25°F to 70°F. On average, May is the wettest month. Summer: Temperatures usually range from 50°F to 80°F. July is the warmest month. Fall: Temperatures usually range from 30°F to 70°F. Fall foliage is at its peak around mid-October. Winter: Temperatures range from 15°F to 40°F. January is the coldest month.

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 111 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

• National Park Service Data API: Fort Necessity National Battlefield (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.