National Park Service

The Washington/Rochambeau path is visible along the Crossing Trail.

The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary War Route is the Yorktown Campaign trail followed by the allied forces of George Washington and French General Rochambeau in 1780-1783. The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R) refers to the series of campsites, the pathways traveled, the activities and events along the way, and the social, military, political, and economic consequences of the French troops under French General (and Count) Jean-Baptist de Rochambeau as they landed in Newport RI, wintered over there, marched to join Washington's Continental Army units outside New York City, explored options for an attack there, then marched together to Yorktown VA where they trapped, (with critical support from a French fleet under Admiral de Grasse) besieged, and accepted the surrender of a British army under Cornwallis, then marched north to Boston MA, where they embarked for further battles in the Caribbean.

The route begins in Newport, Rhode Island and ends in Yorktown, Virginia. The soldiers, camp followers and many animals walked, sailed, and came on baggage wagons more than 600 miles to defeat British General Cornwallis in the last definitive battle of the American Revolution.

The Crossing Trail is the only portion that passes through the Prince William Forest Park, located by the Telegraph Pavilion.

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