National Historic Site
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
- Northeast
About Eleanor Roosevelt
Visit the home of Eleanor Roosevelt. Here, Franklin and Eleanor entertained friends, the press, activists, and official state visitors in the relaxed atmosphere of Val-Kill. Explore the Roosevelt saga in the homes of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, the exhibits at the nation’s first Presidential Library, and over a thousand acres of gardens and trails.
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- Northeast
- State
- New York
- Designation
- National Historic Site
- 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 Eleanor Roosevelt.
Entrance fees
The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.
Hours
Val-Kill Cottage Tours
- Mon
- Closed
- Tue
- Closed
- Wed
- 9:30AM - 4:00PM
- Thu
- 9:30AM - 4:00PM
- Fri
- 9:30AM - 4:00PM
- Sat
- 9:30AM - 4:00PM
- Sun
- 9:30AM - 4:00PM
Eleanor Roosevelt's Val-Kill Cottage is open in the summer and fall months by guided tour only. Tickets for tours are FREE, but tour spaces are limited and distributed in-person on a first come, first served basis due to the intimate size of Eleanor's home. The first tour starts at 9:30 AM. The last tour starts at 4:00 PM. Tours begin at the Stone Cottage Visitor Center. Tour times can vary depending on the season, special groups, or unforeseen circumstances.
Weather and when to go
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.
Getting there
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site (Val-Kill) 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.
Contact the park
- Address
- 54 Valkill Park Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538
- Phone
- (845) 229-9422
- Official site
- nps.gov/elro
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 Eleanor Roosevelt
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.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
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Things to do in Eleanor Roosevelt
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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Tour Val-Kill Cottage
Everything you need to know about access to Eleanor Roosevelt's home and how to obtain your tickets. Tour days and times change seasonally, so check here for more information on p…
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Top Cottage Trail
This trail takes you to the highest point on the Hyde Park Trails. When you reach the summit, you will have made the same climb that kings and queens and a host of foreign leaders…
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Stone Cottage Visitor Center
Stone Cottage Visitor Center and Exhibit
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Explore the FDR Presidential Library Exhibits
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is independently operated and maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration, a federal agency.
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View the Park Film: Rendezvous with History
The park film runs daily at the Henry Wallace Visitor & Education Center. The 140-seat theater features a high-definition film written and produced by Tom Spain Productions. The t…
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Close to Home
Eleanor Roosevelt: Close to Home is an overview of the inspirational life of Eleanor Roosevelt and highlights her dedication as champion of social justice and racial equality. The…
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Eleanor's Walk
Get to know Eleanor Roosevelt—wife, mother, and grandmother; Hyde Park neighbor, activist, and diplomat—as you hike the paths she walked daily for recreation and quiet contemplati…
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Farm Lane Trail
Roosevelt Farm Lane is part of the historic road network that connected the Roosevelt Home, Val-Kill, Top Cottage, the Home Farm, and FDR’s tree plantations. From the 19th century…
What to pack for Eleanor Roosevelt
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
Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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