Booking choice: The Valley Forge half-day tour, from $149 per person. Check dates Tour details
The trolley is the park's own guided tour, run by The Encampment Store in partnership with the National Park Service. It suits visitors who have reached the park and want a guide for the loop without driving it themselves.
This guide has the 2026 schedule, the prices, how booking works, accessibility, and how the trolley compares with the guided tours that start in Philadelphia.
The quick answer
The trolley tour lasts 90 minutes and leaves from the Visitor Center at Valley Forge. Tickets cost $24 for adults, $22 for students, seniors aged 62 and over and military, and $14 for children 11 and under. Reserve by phone on 610-624-5010 and pick up at The Encampment Store at least 30 minutes before. It runs from March to December, mostly at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM. It is not sold on GetYourGuide; if you are coming from Philadelphia, the half-day guided tour includes the van as well as the guide.
How long is the Valley Forge trolley tour?
90 minutes, starting and ending at the Visitor Center.
The trolley follows the Encampment Tour route and makes two extended stops: Muhlenberg's Brigade (stop 2), where you walk among the rebuilt huts, and Washington's Headquarters (stop 5), whose house and surrounding area are closed for restoration until 2027, so ask at the store how that stop runs for now. The guide talks you through the arch, the statues and the redoubts in between. Watch the free 19-minute film before you board and the tour makes even more sense.
How much is the Valley Forge trolley tour in 2026?
$24 for adults, $22 for students, seniors 62 and over and military, and $14 for children 11 and under.
These are the 2026 prices published by the National Park Service. The park itself stays free, so the trolley ticket is the only cost of the day if you arrive by car.
| Ticket | 2026 price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $24 |
| Students, seniors 62+, military | $22 |
| Children 11 and under | $14 |
When does the Valley Forge trolley run in 2026?
From March to December. Daily in summer, weekends in spring and autumn, and daily again from 26 to 31 December.
The National Park Service schedule for 2026:
| Dates | Days | Departures |
|---|---|---|
| 14 to 15 March | Start-up weekend | 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM |
| 21 March to 7 June | Weekends, plus 3 April and Memorial Day (25 May) | 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM |
| 8 June to 7 September | Daily | 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM |
| 3 to 5 July | Daily (4 July first come, first served) | 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:30 PM |
| 12 September to 31 October | Weekends, plus 12 October | 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM |
| 1 to 22 November | Weekends (weather permitting), plus 11 November | 12 PM, 2 PM |
| 27 to 29 November | Thanksgiving weekend | 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM |
| 26 to 31 December | Daily | 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM |
No trolley on your date? The half-day guided tour runs from Philadelphia, rain or shine.
Check dates for the Valley Forge half-day tourHow do you book the Valley Forge trolley tour?
By phone. Call The Encampment Store on 610-624-5010, then collect your tickets at the store in the Visitor Center.
- Reserve ahead: recommended, though walk-ups can ride if seats are left.
- Arrive early: the park asks you to be at the Visitor Center at least 30 minutes before departure.
- Claim your tickets: reserved tickets nobody has picked up are released five minutes before the tour.
- Holidays: on 4 July the tours run first come, first served.
The trolley is not on GetYourGuide or other booking sites, because the park's partner sells it directly.
Is the Valley Forge trolley wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The trolley takes up to two wheelchairs, and all the Encampment Tour stops are wheelchair accessible.
The National Park Service notes two points for visitors with limited mobility. At Muhlenberg's Brigade the group moves over uneven ground, and at Washington's Headquarters (closed for restoration until 2027) it takes a few minutes to walk from the trolley to the headquarters area. Pets are not allowed on board; service animals are.
Trolley or guided tour from Philadelphia: which is better?
The trolley if you have a car and a date on the schedule. The guided tour if you are staying in Philadelphia, because it adds the round trip.
Both show you the same core sights. The difference is everything around them.
| Trolley | Half-day tour | Private tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starts | Visitor Center | 48 N 12th St, Philadelphia | Anywhere in Philadelphia |
| Length | 90 minutes | 4 hours 30 minutes | About 4 hours |
| Transport | Your own | Van, round trip | Private car, parking included |
| Runs | Set dates, March to December | Year-round, rain or shine | Your date |
| Price | $24 adults | From $149 per person | From $745 per group |
| Booking | Phone, 610-624-5010 | Online, free cancellation up to 24 hours before | Online, free cancellation up to 24 hours before |
Guide, van and the same huts and monuments, from Philadelphia and back. Guests rate it 5.0 from 64 reviews.
Explore the Valley Forge half-day tour Tour detailsWhat if the trolley is not running on your date?
Drive the Encampment Tour yourself with the free cell phone guide, or join a guided tour, which runs outside the trolley season too.
From January to mid-March and on most weekdays in spring and autumn there is no trolley. The loop road is open every day from 7 AM, so you can drive it with the free brochure map and dial 484-396-1018 for the stop-by-stop commentary. The Encampment Store also sells an Audio Tour to stream, download or play on CD.
For a live guide on any date, the private tour goes when you choose. The how-long guide has the loop stop by stop.
Pick your own date and pickup point with the private tour, for up to six people.
Check dates for the private Valley Forge tourFrequently asked questions
Do you need reservations for the Valley Forge trolley?
They are strongly recommended but not required. Call 610-624-5010, and arrive at the Visitor Center at least 30 minutes before the tour.
Does the Valley Forge trolley run in winter?
From 26 to 31 December only, with tours at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM each day. The next season starts in March.
Can you get off the trolley at Washington's Headquarters?
Yes. The Washington's Headquarters area and Muhlenberg's Brigade are the two extended stops where everyone gets off. The house and its surrounding area are closed for restoration until 2027, so ask at The Encampment Store how that stop runs for now.
Is the trolley tour on GetYourGuide?
No. The Encampment Store sells it by phone. GetYourGuide sells the guided tours from Philadelphia, which include transport.
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Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Valley Forge Half-Day Tour from Philadelphia
- Round-trip transport from Philadelphia
- Tour guide
- Donation to Valley Forge National Historical Park
Valley Forge Private Driving Tour
- Private local guide
- Pickup and drop-off in Philadelphia
- All parking fees
