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National Battlefield

Fort Necessity National Battlefield

  • Northeast

Plan a Fort Necessity trip

About Fort Necessity

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.

Region
Northeast
State
Pennsylvania
Designation
National Battlefield
Entrance fee
None listed
  • Trail data for this park is still being added.
  • Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Fort Necessity.

Entrance fees

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.

Hours

Mon
Sunrise to Sunset
Tue
Sunrise to Sunset
Wed
Sunrise to Sunset
Thu
Sunrise to Sunset
Fri
Sunrise to Sunset
Sat
Sunrise to Sunset
Sun
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.

Weather and when to go

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.

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.

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address
3 Washington Parkway, Farmington, PA 15437
Official site
nps.gov/fone

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Fort Necessity

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

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Things to do in Fort Necessity

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

  • Hike the Fort Necessity Trails

    Front-Country Hiking · about 1.2 hours

    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 meado…

  • Take a Self-guided Battlefield Tour

    Self-Guided Tours - Walking · about 50 min

    Self-guided tours of Fort Necessity National Battlefield can be accessed using your mobile device.

  • Watch Road of Necessity in the Visitor Center

    Park Film · about 20 min

    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

    Historic Weapons Demonstration · about 15 min

    Black powder weapons demonstrations are given daily throughout the summer at Fort Necessity as staffing permits.

What to pack for Fort Necessity

Gear & Essentials

Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:

The basics

Worth having in the car whatever the park.

For this trip

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