Permits & Reservations

 

Group Reservations

Reservations for families and other small groups are generally not required for Fort Pulaski. All large groups, commercial groups, and school groups of any size should make reservations. Some large groups may have to be split-up between park locations to ensure building and structure capacities are not exceeded. Reservations are required for groups requesting Park Ranger led programs.

 

Group Types

The type of group determines what to select on Microsoft Bookings and what fees are charged. 

Please read the options below to help you decide what kind of group you are making reservations for.

Commercial

A Commercial Tour Group is defined as a group which consists of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure/recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service.  
 
What this means: Any group organized by a company, tour guide, travel agency, or anyone that makes a profit from arranging visits for a group. Companies that arrange visits for educational groups are considered commercial. 
 
Fees: Admission fees apply to all commercial groups, including those for educational visits. Fee waivers are not available for commercial groups. National Park Passes are not valid for entry. 

Adults (16 and older) - $10 
Children (15 and younger) - Free 
Bus driver and tour guide - Free 

Ranger programs: All groups can reserve a Ranger program via Bookings. 

Fort Talks (30 mins) for all group sizes 
Guided Fort Tour (45 mins) for groups 35 people or less 

 
Ranger programs have a fee of $54 per ranger. One ranger can only be guaranteed per group. We are unable to split groups up to allow for Guided Fort Tours for groups larger than 35 persons. 

 
Admission fees and Ranger program fees are payable at entry. Credit/debit card only. Fees cannot be paid in advance due to National Park Service regulations or by phone.  

When making a reservation on Microsoft Bookings, please only select the options that start with the word “commercial”.  

Educational

Educational groups are those whose visits are conducted for non-commercial educational purposes by schools and other academic institutions. Reservations must be made by a school official, either by teachers or other school staff.

Fees: Admission and Ranger program fees are waived for educational groups.

To qualify as an educational group:

• Visits must be tied to curriculum. For example, a history class is learning about the Civil War, or a photography class is learning to photograph wildlife. 
• Schools must arrange their own transportation. For example, a school official contacted a charter bus company to provide transportation for a field trip. 

Non-educational groups:

• Visit that do not tie to curriculum. 
• Group visit is arranged by a tour company. Commercial rates apply. 
• Schools that pay a tour company to arrange field trips for set prices. Commercial rates apply.

For groups with students 16 and older, a fee waiver must be filled out and submitted. A link to the form will be sent after reservation is booked through Microsoft Bookings. Fee waivers are only available if reservation is made, at least two weeks in advance.

Ranger Programs: Self-guided visits are available every day of the week. Park Ranger programs are available only on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. 

Types of Programs:

• Fort Talk (30 mins), for groups of all sizes. 
• Guided Fort Tour (45 mins), only for groups with 35 persons are less, including teachers and chaperones. 

Only one park ranger can be guaranteed per group. If staffing allows, it may be possible to split groups into smaller ones. Staffing levels will not be known until day of visit. Groups of over 35 cannot be split to allow for Guided Fort Tours. 

When selecting a visit on Microsoft Bookings, please select Self-Guided Visit for self-guided visits, Guided Fort Tours for a tour of the fort with a Park Ranger, and Fort Talks for 30 minute talks about the history of Fort Pulaski. If you select a Guided Fort Tour and your group size is over 35 persons, it will be changed to a Fort Talk. 
 

Military

Groups consisting of Active Duty members of the United States Armed Forces, arranged for educational or recreational visits. No one under the age of 14 are allowed on the tour.

Fees: No admission fees when CAC card is presented at park entrance. 

Ranger Programs: Self-guided visits are available every day of the week. We offer a Military Staff Rides (45 mins) which focus on Construction, Strategy, and Artillery on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

When you go to Microsoft Bookings to make your reservation, please select Military Staff Ride for guided programs and Self-guided for self-guided visits.

Other

Groups not arranged by commercial tour companies, not including school groups. 

Groups that arranged their own itinerary and hired a driver for transportation only. There cannot be a tour guide. 

Types of non-commercial groups:

• scouts
• clubs
• churches
• family reunion
• Road Scholar

Fees: Standard admission fees apply. National Park Passes are accepted for entry. 

Adults (16 and older)- $10
Children (15 and younger)- Free

Ranger Programs: Non-commercial groups may reserve a private Ranger program. 

Fort Talk (30 min) for all group sizes.
Guided Fort Tour (45 min) for groups with 35 persons or less.

A fee of $54 per Park Ranger will apply for programs. Only one Park Ranger can be guaranteed per program. Fees payable at entry to the park. Due to National Park Service regulations, we cannot take advance payment or payment over phone. Credit/debit cards only. 

Groups are also allowed to join one of our public Park Ranger programs. Please inquire at the Visit Center when you arrive at the park. 

 

Self-guided visits are available every day of the week. Ranger led programs are Monday and Thursday to Saturday at 9:30 AM and 12:30 PM. Fort Talks (30 minutes) consist of a general overview of Fort history for any group size. (For all groups of 36 or more including teachers and chaperones). Fort Tours (45 minutes) consist of a walking tour inside the fort, highlighting fort construction, Civil War battle and Emancipation (35 people maximum).

To make a reservation, please schedule a date and time for your visit using Microsoft Bookings.

Reservations need to be made at least two weeks in advance of date of visit. Reservations are accepted on a first come first served basis. Additional requirements are required to fully confirm reservation. Please follow the instructions in the email sent after selecting a time through Bookings. This email is not automatic. Please allow for at least three days for it to be sent. If email is not recieved, please check your junk folder for emails from [e-mail].

Some educational or scientific institutions may be eligible for an academic fee waiver. Link to fee waiver forms will be included in the instructional email sent after booking.

Please email us about any questions about reservations.

 

A musical performance inside historic Fort Pulaski.

NPS Photo

Permits

A Special Park Use Permit is required to conduct certain special events and activities at Fort Pulaski National Monument. However, no activity can interfere with the daily operation of the park or with the visiting public. A special park use is defined as a short-term activity that takes place in a park area, and that:

• Provides a benefit to an individual, group, or organization rather than the public at large;
• Requires written authorization and some degree of management control from the Park Service in order to protect park assets and the public interest;
• Is not prohibited by law or regulation;
• Is not initiated, sponsored, or conducted by the Park Service;
• Is not managed under a concession contract, a recreation activity for which the National Park Service charges a fee, or a lease.

Each request to permit a special park use or to renew authorization of an existing use will be reviewed and evaluated by the park superintendent.

Permit cost recovery fees, location fees, liability insurance, and performance bond requirements will be imposed, consistent with applicable statutory authorities and regulations. All costs incurred by the National Park Service in writing the permit, monitoring, providing protection services, restoring park areas, or otherwise supporting a special park use will be billed to the permittee.

Permit applications must be submitted at least one month (30 days) in advance of the requested activity dates. Applications will not be accepted for activities occurring more than a year (365 days) out.

To apply for a Special Use Permit, review and send the form below to [e-mail].

Application for a Special Use Permit (PDF)

 

Casemate arches inside historic Fort Pulaski.

NPS Photo

Filming

In most cases, permits and fees are not required for filming, still photography, or audio recording at Fort Pulaski National Monument that involves eight or fewer individuals. Individuals and groups conducting filming, still photography, or audio recording are subject to entrance and/or recreation fees that may apply in park areas even when a permit is not required.

In order to avoid permit and fee requirements, the filming, still photography, or audio recording must meet all of the following conditions:

• Occurs in areas open to the public;
• Uses hand-carried equipment only;
• Does not require exclusive use of a site;
• Does not adversely impact park resources, values, or other visitors; and
• Is not likely to result in additional administrative costs for the National Park Service.

Permits and fees are never required for filming, still photography, or audio recording that is associated with an activity or event that has been authorized under a written instrument (e.g., permit or agreement), such as a wedding, sporting event, demonstration or other activity.

All filming, still photography, and audio recording is treated the same under the new law. It does not matter whether it is commercial, non-commercial, for content creation, by a student, or conducted by media or for news gathering.

When a filming, still photography, or audio recording permit is required, the National Park Service will charge location fees and fees to recover its costs to administer the permit, including application fees.

Individuals and groups conducting filming, still photography, or audio recording remain subject to all other laws and regulations applicable to visitors to park areas, including those requiring permits for certain activities (e.g., special events or demonstrations) and those prohibiting disturbance or other negative impacts to natural or cultural resources.

 

Commercial Use Authorizations

For information on how to obtain a Commercial Use Authorization.

Contact Information

Information requests, application packages, and other forms should be submitted to:

Fort Pulaski National Monument
Attn: Special Use Permit Coordinator
41 Cockspur Island Road
Savannah, GA 31410
e-mail us