Group Planning

Looking for a ranger guided field trip?

Check our field trip page for information. 

 

A group of visitors waving from the wetlands bridge

NPS

See below for how to plan your group visit.

 

Getting Started with Group Planning

Enhance your visit and contribute to a respectful and meaningful experience at the memorial. 

Split up large groups

• For large groups (150 individuals or more) or groups arriving on multiple buses, break into smaller groups and rotate through the various points of interest.  
  • For example, half of your group can go through the Visitor Center while the other half experience the Memorial Plaza. Groups may switch by bus or by walking the .7-mile trail that connects the Memorial Plaza and Visitor Center. 

Allow time for movement

Plan the additional time needed for bathroom breaks and to move your group from place to place during your visit. 

Getting around

Depending on mobility, groups can either walk or drive to and from the Visitor Center and Memorial Plaza.

Walking

• Western Overlook Trail

  • .7-mile trail connecting the Learning Center and restroom facilities (Visitor Center Complex) to the Wall of Names

• Allée Trail
  • 1.2-mile trail connecting the Visitor Center to the Memorial Plaza

Driving

• The Visitor Center and Memorial Plaza are located approximately 1.2 miles apart on Ring Road.

Drop off and Parking

Pick Up and Drop Off

• Use designated pick up and drop off areas to load and unload your group. Avoid parking in these areas to allow space for other groups and minimize traffic noise.

Parking

• Park buses in designated oversize parking areas. Oversize parking is available at the Visitor Center, Memorial Plaza, and Tower of Voices. Avoid parking in designated motorcycle or handicapped parking areas.

Check in at the Visitor Center

• On arrival at the Visitor Center, please provide the park ranger at the front desk with the total number of buses and visitors in your group.  

Leave only footprints

Flight 93 National Memorial is a trash-free site. Please respect the memorial by taking trash with you and participate in the Leave No Trace program. 

Accessibility

• All parking lots have accessible parking. Wheelchairs are available to borrow at both the Visitor Center Complex and the Memorial Plaza on a first come first served basis. Please do not take wheelchairs on the trails.  
• Ubi-Duo technology is available at the Visitor Center front desk for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing. This device allows for two-way, typed conversation for immediate viewing by both parties.
• The National Park Services provides ASL interpretation for any ranger program, upon advanced request. Please contact us to make arrangements at least one week in advance.

Bring food and water

• Bring enough food and drinks to last for the duration of your visit. 
• Potable water is not available at Flight 93 National Memorial. Bottled water is available for purchase in the bookstore. 
• The bookstore offers a very limited number of snack items for purchase.  
• The closest restaurants that can accommodate large groups are located over 15 miles away either in Somerset or Bedford. 
• There are a small number of picnic tables located in the grassy area next the oversized parking area the Visitor Center. Please respect the memorial by taking trash with you. 

 

A group of students visiting the Memorial Plaza

NPS/ C. Fields

A Place of Respect

Please help maintain the solemnity of our national memorial by following these guidelines:

• Do not climb on the walls at the Memorial Plaza.

• Please walk and avoid horseplay.

• Respect other visitors by lowering your voice inside the Visitor Center and at the Memorial Plaza.

• Do not load or unload groups in handicapped parking areas.

• Take turns viewing the exhibits and visiting the bookstore to avoid overcrowding. Student groups in the bookstore should limit the number of people to 20 at one time and always with a chaperone.

• Photography is not permitted inside the Visitor Center due to copyright law. Photography is encouraged elsewhere in the memorial.

• Please stay on designated pathways. Do not pick wildflowers or disturb any wildlife you may encounter.

 

Ranger Recommendations for Your Visit

On a schedule? Select the drop-down panels below to see our rangers' recommendations on how to best spend time at the memorial based on your group's schedule.

Visit for 30 Minutes

For a 30-minute visit, our rangers recommend: 

• Visit the Memorial Plaza. Buses can use the designated pick-up/drop-off zone to unload in the Memorial Plaza parking lot and groups can walk the .25-mile paved walkway overlooking the crash site to the Wall of Names.

Visit for 1 hour

For a 1-hour visit, our rangers recommend: 

• Start at the Visitor Center. Buses can use the designated pick-up/drop-off zone to unload in the Visitor Center parking lot. There are no restrooms available inside the Visitor Center. Restrooms are conveniently located near the pick-up/drop-off zone in the building closest to the flagpole. Please allow at least 30 minutes to view the exhibits and visit the bookstore.

• If time allows, drive to the Memorial Plaza or walk the .7-mile Western Overlook Trail to the Wall of Names.

Visit for 2 hours

For a two-hour visit, our rangers recommend: 

• Start at the Visitor Center. Buses can use the designated pick-up/drop-off zone to unload in the Visitor Center parking lot. There are no restrooms available inside the Visitor Center. Restrooms are conveniently located near the pick-up/drop-off zone in the building closest to the flagpole. Please allow at least 30 minutes to view the exhibits and visit the bookstore.

• After the Visitor Center, drive to the Memorial Plaza or walk the .7-mile Western Overlook Trail to the Wall of Names.

• Conclude by driving to the Tower of Voices.  

Visit for 3+ hours

For a three-hour visit, our rangers recommend: 

• Start at the Visitor Center. Buses can use the designated pick-up/drop-off zone to unload in the Visitor Center parking lot. There are no restrooms available inside the Visitor Center. Restrooms are conveniently located near the pick-up/drop-off zone in the building closest to the flagpole. Please allow at least 30 minutes to view the exhibits and visit the bookstore.

• After the Visitor Center, drive to the Memorial Plaza or walk the .7-mile Western Overlook Trail to the Wall of Names.

• Conclude by driving to the Tower of Voices. 

• Consider attending a ranger-led program. Check the park calendar for scheduled events. Groups may also download the NPS app to access a self-guided tour of the memorial.  

 

MORE GROUP PLANNING RESOURCES

Directions

Things To Do

Places To Go

Accessibility