Homestead National Historical Park: Fees, Hours, Camping and How to Get There

TypeNational Historical Park

StateNebraska

Entrance feeNo entrance fee

CampgroundsNone

Nearest national parkGateway Arch (372 mi)

Closest airportLNK (39 mi)

A historic cabin stands next to a concrete path that leads to a plow shaped visitor center — The Palmer Epard Cabin and Heritage Center at Sunset Photo: NPS Photo/Hunter Hendricks

Homestead National Historical Park is a national historical park run by the National Park Service in Nebraska.

In the park service’s words

The Homestead Act of 1862 transformed the world. Millions were invited to file claims including families, women, immigrants, and formerly enslaved people. Over 10 percent of the United States was homesteaded! The land, long inhabited by indigenous cultures, changed forever. Homesteaders created settlements and farms, drove industrial advancement, and built our nation chasing the American Dream.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

Walk Nature Trails at Homestead: Homestead National Historical Park offers over three miles of trails through the sweeping tallgrass prairie and quiet bur oak woodland for hiking, cross-country skiing, and nature study. Trail maps are available from either visitor center.
Earn your Junior Ranger Badge or Not-so Junior Ranger Pin: Any kid who visits has the chance to be a Homestead Junior Ranger. While visiting the park, stop at the Visitor Center to pick up a booklet filled with both creative and informative activities. As you explore the Park, complete your booklet!
Research Family History: Research the digitized homestead and genealogical records at Homestead National Historical Park.
Follow the Quilt Discovery Experience: Follow the trail to learn more about quilt making and the history of quilts and how they truly are documents of history, reflecting who we were as a nation and a people. While some quilts were packed as treasures in trunks, others were kept close at hand for daily use. They served a variety of purposes not only on the
Watch Land of Dreams Film (22 to 24 Minutes): Watch the 23-minute film Land of Dreams: Homesteading America
Discover More at the Homestead Education Center: The Homestead Education Center provides you the opportunity further your knowledge about homesteading through hands-on arts and crafts, living history demonstrations, real life science experiences, and exploring farm implements.
View Wildlife at the Prairie Plaza: Homestead's prairie plaza is the perfect spot to picnic and view wildlife.
Get Started at the Homestead Heritage Center (30 to 120 Minutes): This multipurpose facility brings the epic homestead story to life for visitors of all ages and demonstrates the true scope and importance of the Homestead Act of 1862.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, Sunrise to Sunset. Trails and park grounds are open from sunrise to sunset. Picnic areas are available at the Education Center and Heritage Center. There are a total of 3.0 miles of trails through the tallgrass prairie and woodland.

Getting there

The park is 4 miles west of Beatrice on State Highway 4. From the U.S. 77 and U.S. 136 intersection in downtown Beatrice take U.S. 136 approximately 1.2 miles west. Turn right onto Nebraska Highway 4 and follow the signs. After the road has curved west and you have traveled 4 miles, you will enter Homestead National Historical Park and see signs for the different buildings at the park.

Airport	City	Drive to the park	Straight-line miles	Type
Lincoln Airport (LNK)	Lincoln, NE	No road route	39	Regional
Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK)	Manhattan, KS	No road route	80	Regional
Eppley Airfield (OMA)	Omaha, NE	No road route	86	Large hub

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

Heritage Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. Homestead National Historical Park is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily except for closures. Trails and park grounds at Homestead National Historical Park are open from sunrise to sunset every day. Our Heritage and Education Centers have the same hours unless otherwise noted. Homestead NHP features a National Homesteading Museum, Land of Dreams Film, Eastern National Gift Shop, Palmer-Epard Homestead Cabin, restrooms, and access to 3 miles of trails across the tallgrass prairie and Burr Oak woodland.
Education Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. Homestead National Historical Park is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day of the year with the exception of closures on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Farm Implement Wing, Eastern National Gift Shop, Palmer-Epard Homestead Cabin, Restrooms, access to 3 miles of trails across the tallgrass prairie and Burr Oak woodland.

Weather

Homestead NHP's weather can vary quite a bit, even in a single day. In the summer, average daytime highs can exceed 80°F (27°C), only to drop 20 or more degrees when a thunderstorm rolls through. Winter lows fluctuate day to day and year to year, but average lows were measured at about 16°F (-9°C) for January and February over a 20-year period. Wind is common throughout the year.

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.