Tours and Tickets to Experience Fort Sumter National Monument
38 results
What are people saying about Fort Sumter National Monument
Fort Sumter National Monument
Fort Sumter National Monument is a must for history buffs and Civil War enthusiasts.
Book early to guarantee entry—tours sell out far in advance.
Fort Sumter is accessible only by boat.
Both forts are located on islands—dress in layers if visiting during cool weather.
Fort Sumter does not require an entrance fee, but Fort Moultrie does.
Tours to Fort Sumter typically last 2.5 hours. Plan to spend roughly 30 minutes in the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center.
Most of Fort Sumter is accessible to wheelchair users.
People Also Ask
There are plenty of ways to experience the Fort Sumter National Monument. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:
Tickets to Fort Sumter National Monument cost US$40 for adults and US$26 for kids 4–11; kids 3 and under visit for free. Visits include round-trip ferry transportation from the Fort Sumter Visitors Center in downtown Charleston or Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, entrance to the historic fort, and an introduction to the site by a Forest Ranger.
Fort Sumter tours take about two hours, including one hour on the historic boat for the round-trip cruise to the fort and one hour to explore the fort. Evening tours that include a sunset cruise, barbecue dinner on board, and an hour to explore the fort take about three hours.
Fort Sumter can only be reached by boat, so all visitors must purchase a ticket that includes a narrated cruise to the fort and an introduction by Forest Rangers upon arrival. Afterwards, you have about an hour to explore on your own before reboarding the boat for the return trip to your departure point.
Fort Sumter is open daily all year round, except for on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Book the first or last tour of the day to watch the flag raising and lowering ceremonies and avoid the crowded midday hours. Alternatively, book the evening tour for sunset views and a dinner cruise.
Yes, boat tours departing from the Visitors Center in downtown Charleston are accessible to wheelchairs. Fort Sumter is fully accessible, including the parade ground and all floors of Battery Huger via an elevator. There are also accessible restrooms at the site.