NPS/Tim Ervin Group Visits to Fort McHenryThe information below will assist large groups looking to visit Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. Select the tabs that best describe your group and follow the instructions and/or links to plan out your visit to the park.PLEASE NOTE: Reservations or confirmations from the park are not necessary to visit. These resources help large groups plan visits to the park. Groups are not provided any services that the park does not offer such as private programs, access to the park outside of park hours, fee rate changes, etc. Additional information on group visits to Fort McHenry are available on the park's Group Visits FAQ page. Groups that Visit Fort McHenry Please use the sections below that best describe your group planning to visit the park to plan your visit.
Commercial Use Authorizations:Commercial Tour Groups and Travel companies may be required to obtain a Commercial Use Authroization (CUA) in order to conduct their business within the park. CUAs should be obtained prior to visiting the park. For more information on CUAs and how to obtain them, please visit the park's Commercial Use Authorization page.Fees:If the group plans to enter the park's Historic Zone (where the historic star fort structure is located) they are subject the park's entrance fee of $15 per adult (age 16 and older). Paying entrance fees ahead of time on recreation.gov is the most efficient way to enter the park. Visit the park's fees and passes page for more information on entrance fees.Cashless Policy: Fort McHenry NM&HS is a cashless park. This means the park can only accept debit, credit, or other electronic forms of payment for entrance fees. CHECKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS A FORM OF PAYMENT. For more information on cashless policies, pleas visit the park's cashless policy FAQ. When You Arrive:Upon arriving to the park, buses will need to drop groups off at the visitor center before parking. Bus parking is available only in designated parking spaces. If all of the spaces are occupied, buses must park outside of the park.Group leaders should check in at the front desk of the park visitor center before beginning their visit. Please visit the park's When You Arrive page for details on how to do this. How to Visit:Most groups spend 2-3 hours at Fort McHenry. The majority of the site is self-guided. Please note: ranger programs will not be offered on demand. To fully get the most out of the group's visit to the park, visit the links below to assist with your planning.Fees:If the group plans to enter the park's Historic Zone (where the historic star fort structure is located) they are subject the park's entrance fee of $15 per adult (age 16 and older). Paying entrance fees ahead of time on recreation.gov is the most efficient way to enter the park. Visit the park's fees and passes page for more information on entrance fees.Cashless Policy: Fort McHenry NM&HS is a cashless park. This means the park can only accept debit, credit, or other electronic forms of payment for entrance fees. CHECKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS A FORM OF PAYMENT. For more information on cashless policies, pleas visit the park's cashless policy FAQ. When You Arrive:Upon arriving to the park, buses will need to drop groups off at the visitor center before parking. Bus parking is available only in designated parking spaces. If all of the spaces are occupied, buses must park outside of the park.Group leaders should check in at the front desk of the park visitor center before beginning their visit. Please visit the park's When You Arrive page for details on how to do this. How to Visit:Most groups spend 2-3 hours at Fort McHenry. The majority of the site is self-guided. Please note: ranger programs will not be offered on demand. To fully get the most out of the group's visit to the park, visit the links below to assist with your planning.Fees:Military America The Beautiful Passes:U.S. active duty and veteran military groups qualify for free America The Beautiful passes that get the passholder and 3 additional adults (4 people total) into the park's fee area for free. Large U.S. military and primarily veteran groups will have their fees waived based on this entry criteria. If individuals in this group would like to sign up for this pass while on site, they are welcome to do so at the park visitor center. Groups should have CAC or Veteran IDs ready to get the passes. Visit the park's fees and passes page for more information on passes.Fees Not Covered by Military Passes:If the group has a ratio of military members : non-military members that is larger than a 1:3 ratio, they are subject the park's entrance fee of $15 per adult (age 16 and older). For example, if a group has 100 visitors, 15 of which are active duty or veterans, 60 members of the group will have their entrance fee waived, and 40 members will have to pay entrance. Paying entrance fees ahead of time on recreation.gov is the most efficient way to enter the park. Visit the park's fees and passes page for more information on entrance fees.Cashless Policy: Fort McHenry NM&HS is a cashless park. This means the park can only accept debit, credit, or other electronic forms of payment for entrance fees. CHECKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS A FORM OF PAYMENT. For more information on cashless policies, pleas visit the park's cashless policy FAQ. When You Arrive:Upon arriving to the park, buses will need to drop groups off at the visitor center before parking. Bus parking is available only in designated parking spaces. If all of the spaces are occupied, buses must park outside of the park.Group leaders should check in at the front desk of the park visitor center before beginning their visit. Please visit the park's When You Arrive page for details on how to do this. How to Visit:Most groups spend 2-3 hours at Fort McHenry. The majority of the site is self-guided. Please note: ranger programs will not be offered on demand. To fully get the most out of the group's visit to the park, visit the links below to assist with your planning.Ceremonies:If a military group plans to conduct a ceremony in the park, it may require a Special Park Use Permit. Please visit the park's permits page for more information.
Field trips to Fort McHenry NM&HS have different requirments and specifications on how to visit depending on types of schools and age of students. Please visit the park's Field Trip Planning page to best plan a school group visit to the park.
Planning Your Visit
Link to information to help groups leaders and chaperones create a good experience for their group. 
School Groups and Field Trips
This is information tailored to school groups regarding fees and chaperone/student ratio. 
Academic Fee Waiver
Quick information on academic fee waivers and how a school group can get one. 
When You Arrive
Information regarding what you can and should do when you arrive at Fort McHenry. |
Last updated: May 24, 2026