Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
by the dawn's early light, a large red, white and blue banner? Whose broad stripes and bright stars... were so gallantly streaming...over Fort McHenry! The valiant defense of the fort during the Battle of Baltimore on September 13-14, 1814 inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that became the U.S. national anthem. The fort's history holds many other stories too, from the Civil War to WWII.
About under an hour from Baltimore, 1.5 hours from Washington and 2 hours from Philadelphia by car.
Alerts
- InformationNPS ↗We cannot mail out at this time
We do not mail Junior Ranger books; please download from site. Completed books may be submitted digitally. Junior Ranger badges may be mailed once per person per calendar year after completion. We do not mail completed books back.
- InformationPreservation Work Along Trails
Starting March 18, preservationists restoring the bronze state plaques along the entrance road, and the War of 1812 commemorative markers in the Orpheus Grove. Some of these areas may be temporarily closed while work is in progress.
- InformationBaltimore Area Traffic Advisory
Traffic in the Baltimore area has increased considerably in recent months due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge which connected the Baltimore beltway. Please check the latest traffic conditions to plan your travel accordingly.
- InformationMotorized Recreational Scooters Not Permitted in Park
For the safety and protection of visitors and park resources, motorized scooters are not permitted within the park. Any vehicles (scooters, bicycles, etc.) that are part of a ride-share program may not be left behind for pick up inside the park
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Per PersonAccess to the historic zone (where the star fort is located) requires an entrance fee. | $15 | |
| Non-commercial GroupsThere is no group rate for the entrance fee. All groups must pay $15 per adult. Children in the groups are free, however, they must be accompanied by an adult in the historic zone. Interagency passes are allowed to be used to assist with group entry fees. | $15 | |
| Commercial tours · by vehicle capacity | ||
| Per PersonAll commercial groups wishing to visitor Fort McHenry NM&HS must first obtain a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA). Groups with an active CUA are subject to the same $15 per person fee to enter the historic zone, however their employees conducting business (tour guides, bus drivers, etc.) are not subject to the entrance fee. Interagency passes may be used to assist with fee payment. | $15 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkThe Fort McHenry Annual Pass covers the pass holder plus three adults to enter the Fort McHenry NM & HS Historic Zone for 12 months. The pass is both available at the park visitor center, or a digital version is available on recreation.gov. | $45 | |
The majority of the 43-acre park is free. However, the historic zone (location of the star fort and outer battery, designated by a wooden fence) requires an entrance fee of $15 per adult (16 and older). An annual pass is available for $45 and covers the pass holder plus 3 adults. Interagency passes are accepted in the park and can cover the pass holder plus 3 adults.
Hours
| Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine | Daily · 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Nov 26, 2026Thanksgiving | Closed |
| Dec 25, 2026Christmas | Closed |
| Jan 1, 2027New Year's Day | Closed |
When to go
July draws the most visits here and December the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education CenterPassport stamp
The Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center is open daily from 9:00 am - 4:45 pm. Inside the visitor center is an introductory museum, a movie (plays every 30 minutes), the park bookstore, restrooms, and water bottle filling station. The visitor center and museum are free to visit.
Explore
Things to do
- Fort McHenry's Defenders45-60 Minutes
On this program we'll explore the generations of defenders of Fort McHenry, from those who protected Baltimore and inspired the writing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the War of 1812, to the U.S. soldiers who preserved the Union during the…
Opens on the Park Service site - Flag Change Programs10-15 Minutes
Join the park for its morning or evening flag change programs!
Opens on the Park Service site - War in the Chesapeake30-45 Minutes
This free 45-minute ranger program focuses on the Chesapeake Campaign of the War of 1812. Follow a dramatic story of devastating British raids and the American response, culminating in Baltimore at North Point, Hampstead Hill and Fort McHenry.
Opens on the Park Service site - American Anthem: 250 Years at the Home of the Brave45 Minutes
Join a ranger for a 45-minute walking program exploring Fort McHenry’s history of service, community, and defense, from the Revolutionary War to the present day.
Opens on the Park Service site - Ranger's Choice Programs25-45 Minutes
Daily programs being offered at Fort McHenry NM&HS!
Opens on the Park Service site - Fort McHenry Movie12-12 Minutes
Fort McHenry's introductory film is one of the most popular activities at the park.
Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 12Hide
- Fife and Drum Music Demonstration10-15 Minutes
Music played an important role in the daily lives of soldiers garrisoned at Fort McHenry. A soldier's entire day would revolve around the sounds of fifes and drums.
Opens on the Park Service site - Battle of Baltimore45-60 Minutes
This 45–60-minute, ranger-led walk guides visitors from the Chesapeake Map to the Historic Star Fort. Along the way, visitors will hear about how the fort withstood a 25-hour storm of rockets and exploding shells, blocking the British fleet from…
Opens on the Park Service site - Weapons Demonstration10-15 Minutes
Learn about the weapons of the War of 1812 from the park's living historians! *Please note that these programs may include firing demonstrations, but firings are not guaranteed. **Programs are weather dependent.
Opens on the Park Service site - Fort McHenry Park Gift Shop
An overview of the Fort McHenry park gift shop.
Opens on the Park Service site - Living History at Fort McHenry
Learn about how to experience living history at Fort McHenry.
Opens on the Park Service site - Flag Talk20-30 Minutes
Join rangers in a program about the American flag.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- Evening Flag Change10/1404:00 PM · runs through Jun 1Program takes place on the parade ground inside the Star Fort
- Morning Flag Change10/1410:00 AM · runs through Jun 1Program takes place on the parade ground inside the Star Fort
- Ranger's Choice Programs10/1411:15 AM · runs through May 28 · freeAll Rangers Choice Programs meet outside the park visitor center on the concrete map of the Chesapeake Bay.
News
- Temporary Closure Order Public Notice for Sail250 Airshow ↗2026-06-23
This public notice details the temporary closures to be implemented for visitor safety during the Sail250 Baltimore Airshow events taking place on June 26-28, 2026.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
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Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for the Mid-Atlantic
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Canoeing and kayaking in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Skiing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
Temperatures and weather in the spring and fall months tend to be mild. Ice, snow, and freezing temperatures can occur during winter. Extreme heat can occur during the summer months. Inclement weather may impact park hours of operation year round. Refer to the park alerts or call ahead to confirm operating hours.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Fort McHenry?
Entrance is $15 per person on foot or bike. Access to the historic zone (where the star fort is located) requires an entrance fee.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Fort McHenry?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Fort McHenry-only annual pass is $45.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Fort McHenry takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Fort McHenry free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Fort McHenry?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Fort McHenry. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Fort McHenry?
Standard hours are 9:00AM - 5:00PM, every day. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at Fort McHenry right now?
4 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: We cannot mail out at this time; Preservation Work Along Trails; and more.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Fort McHenry?
283,027 recreation visits in 2025, number 155 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Fort McHenry?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
When was Fort McHenry established?
1776. It covers about 0.1 square miles.
Source: Wikipedia
What is the weather like at Fort McHenry?
Temperatures and weather in the spring and fall months tend to be mild. Ice, snow, and freezing temperatures can occur during winter.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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