Let me start by saying that one day is not really enough time to visit Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, and Yorktown. You do need at least two days to get the full experience, but three are recommended. As you make your plan, consider the driving time between sites, which can be up to 40 minutes.
4 hours if you want the full experience; 2 hours if you just want to see the Visitors' Center and drive the battlefields without reading the historical markers. over a year ago. over a year ago. There is a movie, museum and an hour walking tour with a ranger near the battlefield.
Jamestown is the beginning of America. We recommend you plan at least two hours for your visit, but many visitors end up staying longer when they see how much history is actually here. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as the Historic site is about three-quarters of a mile long.
These tours are generally conducted daily at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. April through the end of October. Tours begin at the Tercentennial Monument behind the Visitor Center. Check the National Park Visitor Center information desk for current status of tours.
As a local resident, your free admission includes general admission to Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, including daytime special events and special exhibitions. Separate ticketed programs do not qualify for free admission.
I would liked to have visited Historic Jamestown but the Settlement is definitely worth a visit. Jamestown settlement is run by the state of Virginia who also run the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. The national park owns historic jamestowne and the Yorktown battlefield.
Single-day Ticket: Adult, $44.99 Child, $24.99. Multiday Ticket: Adult, $54.99 Child, $29.99. Annual Pass: Adult, $74.99 Child, $41.99. Art Museums Single-day Ticket: Adult, $14.99 Child, $8.99.
Open year-round 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Christmas and New Year's days. Outdoor living-history areas open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In 2021, save on a value-priced combination ticket with the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown: $28.90 adults, $14.45 ages 6-12.
While you do not need a ticket to walk around the city, guests must purchase a ticket to enter buildings, participate in events, go on tours, and explore other areas of the historic grounds.
Colonial Williamsburg is open 365 days a year. Most Historic Trades and Sites are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours, check out Evening Programs, which run well into the night. The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Restaurant and store hours vary.
If you only have time for one site, definitely choose Colonial Williamsburg. There are enough things to do there for at least 2 - 3 days. We went to both Historic Jamestown and Jamestown Settlement last week and much prefered Historic Jamestown.
Colonial Williamsburg is mostly pedestrianized which makes it a pleasant place to walk through day or night. You can stroll along any of the streets for free and see the houses, shops, historically significant buildings with occasional re-enactments happening as you walk along.
The town is most famous as the site of the siege and subsequent surrender of General Charles Cornwallis to General George Washington and the French Fleet during the American Revolutionary War on October 19, 1781. Although the war would last for another year, this British defeat at Yorktown effectively ended the war.
Historic Yorktown is OpenYorktown Beach is now open to sunbathing, swimming, and recreation. Social distancing must be practiced. Group sports, tents, and alcohol are prohibited. We encourage beach-goers to visit during non-peak hours to avoid crowds.
You can do both Jamestown sites in one full day, but I would recommend at least two days in Colonial Williamsburg. Both Yorktown sites can be done in one day, but we could have easily spent more time at both the museum and battlefield.
Plan for 3-4 hours to fully appreciate the Museum.
Distance from Jamestown, VA to Williamsburg, VAThere are 5.66 miles from Jamestown to Williamsburg in northeast direction and 9 miles (14.48 kilometers) by car, following the VA 31 route. Jamestown and Williamsburg are 23 minutes far apart, if you drive non-stop .
Drive to Historic Jamestowne on the Colonial Parkway, just next door to Jamestown Settlement.
- Visit the reconstructed Glasshouse of 1608.
- Take a 3- or 5-mile wilderness loop drive.
- Meet with a park ranger at the Visitor Center and take a guided tour.
- Tour the Nathalie P.
By the early 20th century, the isthmus connecting the landform to Glasshouse Point had eroded, making it a proper island. Today, most of the island is a part of Colonial National Historical Park, including Historic Jamestown.
“The starving time†was the winter of 1609-1610, when food shortages, fractured leadership, and a siege by Powhatan Indian warriors killed two of every three colonists at James Fort.
In 1699, the colonial capital was moved to what is today Williamsburg, Virginia; Jamestown ceased to exist as a settlement, and
remains today only as an archaeological site, Jamestown Rediscovery.
Jamestown, Virginia.
| Jamestown, Virginia Jamestowne, Williamsburg |
|---|
| Founded by | Virginia Company of London |
| Named for | James I |
Two of the major causes of the failure of Jamestown were disease and famine. Within eight months after the departure of Captain Smith, most of the settlers died from disease and by January of 1608, only 38 settlers remained (History Alive Text). The most likely cause of these deaths were malaria.
Jamestown is where the first English settlement was established. Colonial Williamsburg is where the American Revolution first started. And Yorktown is where the British surrendered. All three are living history museums with re-enactments, people dressed in period costumes, etc.
Free Things to Do in Williamsburg VA
- Concerts at Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown.
- York River State Park.
- The College of William & Mary.
- Williamsburg Botanical Garden.
- Concerts at Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown.
- York River State Park.
