You can complete a Valley Forge tour in as little as two hours, although we would recommend leaving a full day or so if you’re interested in really exploring the history of the park. Valley Forge National Park was founded to preserve the site of the Continental Army’s encampment from December 1777 to June 1778, one of the most significant turning points in the American Revolution. During their six-month stay in frigid Valley Forge, General George Washington transformed his army from a piecemeal coalition of militias to a properly trained and organized fighting force in the European tradition.
He also defeated a potential coup in the Continental Congress, obtained intelligence to help plan the next year’s maneuvers, and vaccinated his entire army against smallpox, all while keeping spirits high during a dark period of the war. It was one of Washington’s finest leadership moments and one that will live forever in American history.
Driving from stop to stop on a Valley Forge tour will only take about two hours. However, we do recommend taking some time to explore the attractions at the park. These include preserved earthworks and fortifications built to protect the encampment, recreated log cabins like the ones used by the soldiers, and a carefully restored colonial house used as Washington’s headquarters during his six-month stay at Valley Forge.
There are also more recent places of interest, including the Washington Memorial Chapel and National Memorial Arch, dedicated to the soldiers of the Continental Army. If you take time to fully explore these sites, you can easily spend a full day wandering through the park, especially if you also take a tour with the park rangers.
To make the most of your trip, check out our Valley Forge Self-Guided Driving Tour.
Want all of our tours? Upgrade to Action+:
- An annual subscription offers access to over 160+ tours.
- Unlimited use throughout the year.
- Includes free access to new tours as they are released.
