Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

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

In the park service’s words

Built by of one of the first families of wealth in America. Designed by one of the nation's preeminent architects. The Vanderbilt Mansion is a home built expressly for the aristocratic lifestyle.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Tour Vanderbilt Mansion: Everything you need to know about access to the Vanderbilt Mansion and how to obtain your tickets. Tour days and times change seasonally, so check here for more information on planning your visit.
• Explore Bard Rock (1 to 3 Hours): Bard Rock is a picnic area and one of the only places within the park that visitors can gain such proximity to the Hudson River. Historically, it was a river landing with “a large flat rock, which forms a natural wharf” capable of accommodating large sloops. From here, you can observe some of the natural features that
• Hudson River Art Trail: The Hudson River School Art Trail connects you with the places in nature that Thomas Cole and the Hudson River School artists made famous in their 19th-century landscape paintings. Cole founded this nation’s first major art movement, now known as the Hudson River School, and advocated for the preservation of the Americ
• Visit the Formal Gardens (1 to 2 Hours): The formal gardens at Hyde Park are typical of late Gilded Age garden design. Wealthy Americans traveling abroad were particularly influenced by British and European gardens in the Italian style, characterized by geometric patterning, axial spatial organization, and reliance on proportion and interconnection of parts b
• Vanderbilt Riverfront Trail (2 to 3 Hours): It all began here, on the banks of the Hudson River. For centuries, the river sustained the livelihood of Native Americans, European explorers and landowners, African American slaves, and the scions of American industry. These trails traverse time, taking you on a journey from the first waterfront settlements through t

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: $15 per person. The America the Beautiful pass covers it.

Hours: Daily, 10:00AM - 3:30PM. During the winter and spring months, tours of the Mansion are offered daily. The first tour usually starts at 10 AM with the last tour starting at 3:30 PM. Each tour's approximate length is 1 hour. Tour times are subject to change and have different schedules seasonally. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis in the Visitor Center where the tour guide begins the tour.

Getting there

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site 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

• [Pavilion Visitor Center](): Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The Visitor Center is open every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

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: Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.