John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
JFK’s parents never expected that their second son would grow up to be president. Yet in his birthplace home he learned values that inspired a life in public service. His mother, Rose Kennedy, recreated her family’s first home to share her memories of those early years with visitors. We commemorate not only his early life, but the ideas and principles he left behind.
About under an hour from Boston, 1 hours from Providence and 2 hours from Hartford by car.
Alerts
- InformationTours by appointment unavailable on certain dates in November - January
Tours by appointment are not available on the following dates: November: 6-13, 25-27 December: 24-25, 31 January: 1-8
- InformationLimited landscape accessibility on Mondays and Tuesdays
Until further notice, the landscape will have limited accessibility on Mondays and Tuesdays due to a painting project. Visitors will not be able to access the side or back of the building. The site is regularly closed on these days.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Hours
| Operating Hours | Varies by day ▾
|
Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow |
|
| Oct 28, 2026 to May 28, 2027Closed October 2025 through May 2026 | Closed |
When to go
October draws the most visits here and February the fewest, averaged over 2022 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Visitor CenterPassport stamp
The John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site visitor center is located in the basement of the historic home. During the open season, it provides visitor information, a park film, restrooms, and a gift shop. The visitor center is wheelchair accessible via an outside lift.
No campgrounds, no webcams or events in Park Service data. What is here comes from the official page. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the Park Service publishes the data.
Explore
Things to do
- Watch "The Shaping of a President, The First Home of John F. Kennedy"13 Minutes
Watch "The Shaping of a President, The First Home of John F. Kennedy," the site film for John Fitzgerald Kennedy NHS. The film explains the historical significance of the site and provides an understanding of the formative influences that shaped the…
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
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 New England
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
Weather & climate
Typical New England Weather: Warm, humid summers and cold winters. Any available outdoor programs take place rain or shine but may be modified or canceled due to high heat index.
Questions people ask
Does John Fitzgerald Kennedy charge an entrance fee?
No. John Fitzgerald Kennedy is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at John Fitzgerald Kennedy?
Standard hours are 10:00AM - 5:00PM on Sunday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and it is closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
Is anything closed at John Fitzgerald Kennedy right now?
2 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Tours by appointment unavailable on certain dates in November - January; Limited landscape accessibility on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Source: Alerts
How busy is John Fitzgerald Kennedy?
9,664 recreation visits in 2025, number 352 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at John Fitzgerald Kennedy?
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
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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