Monticello - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Monticello
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Monticello and its many historical rooms, gadgets, furniture, buildings, and artifacts tell us a lot about Thomas Jefferson, the president who built it and lived there.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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  • Debe K
    Ohio47 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful tours
    Debated the $42 vs $92 tour. 3 floors, harden tour n slave tour!! Spent the money for 2/$92 each. Extremely worth the price! Shuttle service every 5 minutes. Savanna was so informative on the house tour!! First floor was his inventions plus his bedroom. Before his time in this home! Second floor was bedrooms and how TJ made the house warmer and not look like a multi level home. Then the kids floor was level 3. We ended the tour of the house in basement! Wear good shoes and watch how much you carry! Lots of stairs ( no restrooms or elevator in home). Hat n sunglasses for garden tour. Slave tour comfortable shoes! Grave site is a walk. Cemetery is still used today! Shuttle can pick u up and take one to visitor center. Allow a minimum of 4-5 hours for here to see everything! Historical and fascinating!
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 31, 2023
  • debbiek928
    Louisville, Kentucky18 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Handicap accessible issues.
    Beautiful house and property. The Thomas Jefferson reenactment was excellent and the highlight of the visit. Unfortunately the grounds are not very handicap accessible. My friend in a wheelchair missed most of his presentation due to not being able to maneuver over the gravel walkways. She tried to cut across the grass and got stuck there too.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 6, 2023
  • TheCarrs52601
    Norfolk, Virginia608 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Take the highlights tour
    I loved my visit to Monticello, it was all so very interesting! This is our first time in Charlottesville, I’m being a tourist while my husband is working. I was not at all uncomfortable going to Monticello alone. I took the 45 highlights tour of the house so I got to see downstairs including the entryway, his daughters office, his study, bedchamber, parlor, dining room. Peggy was the guide and she was very knowledgeable and shared lots of interesting facts as she showed us the various rooms. Once I paid $42 for the highlights tour I was able to take the gardens tour & enslaved people tour (with Elliott) , both for no additional cost. Highly recommend visiting Monticello whether you like Thomas Jefferson or not, you can walk or ride the shuttle up to the house, the guides share lots of interesting information, there’s a theater with a short movie which I’m glad the ticket lady recommended before catching the shuttle for background info. I expected to be at Monticello for an hour or so but ended up spending almost 4 hours there so it was a great way to spend the day! They now allow pictures which I enjoyed taking!
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written June 6, 2023
  • Valerievl1
    Delmar, Maryland14 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not as obnoxous as I was concerned it may be
    I have wanted to visit Monticello for quite some time. I read several reviews that made me concerned that I would be subjected to the current trend of "wokeness". The tour guide did a fair job of answering questions and providing information. I had to laugh to myself when at the end of the tour, she magnanimously stated that she would leave it up to us to decide how we felt about Thomas Jefferson. The weather was beautiful and the grounds were lovely. How much time you need really depends on how interested you are in history. We took the basic tour of the first floor. Admission included other tours that were free of charge, such as a slavery tour and garden tour. We chose not to do those but wandered about the grounds. Rather than take the tram, we walked the trail to the home up and back. Pleasant walk.
    Visited May 2023
    Written June 10, 2023
  • Browndebi
    Charlotte, North Carolina38 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Monticello visit
    We visited Monticello in June and it was wonderful. The weather was perfect and the amount of people visiting that day was perfect for taking your time going through the exhibits. We were there on a Friday. I thought the cost was a bit high for a self guided tour but everything is expensive these days. The exhibits were well presented. We walked back down to the parking lot instead of taking the shuttle. It was a relatively short walk on a beautiful day.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 18, 2023
  • Gone Coastal
    Surfside Beach, South Carolina65 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    It's Jefferson's world
    They have done a great job of setting up the historical center and shuttles. Walk the paths to see beautiful scenery and the gardens. I've seen many pictures of nearly everything here but to see it in person and hear the stories is still impressive. We did not do a tour group because they seemed too large and I prefer to go at my own pace. We stayed at a KOA in our RV nearby very nice place and just a few minutes away. Monroe and Wilson homes are within a few miles and could easily get 2 of them in one day. Highly recommend visiting if you are in the area.
    Visited July 2023
    Written July 10, 2023
  • Sabrina
    Downey, California49 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visiting Monticello
    Took the the two hour drive from D.C. to come visit Monticello during our trip. It was well worth it. We did the behind the scenes tour, and that was well worth it too. We got to see all three floors of the home, as well as have access to another tour after on Mulberry Road. With out tickets you could also go up and down from the visitor center if you’d like. The behind the scenes tour took about 2 and 1/2 hours, and they do ask you to arrive 30 minutes prior before your tour start time which I do recommend. We arrived 20 minutes prior and still felt a little rushed. You arrive and can park down by the visitor center, then you take a shuttle up to the house. It was quick, just a 2 minute shuttle and the wait for them was not long at all. Overall, it was a great experience with lots to see and learn, and such a beautiful home as well.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 16, 2023
  • James H
    Collegeville, Pennsylvania52 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Learning history
    A nice property and thank goodness they have a shuttle. It was very hot and an uphill walk to the mansion. Tours are organized very well and our guide (I'm going to say Grace) was very knowledgeable. They take you through the first floor. Groups should probably be a little smaller to fit everyone comfortably. When the tour is over, you are free to walk the property. The grave site is a short downhill walk and there is a shuttle stop there to take you back to the visitor center. There is a museum there as well as a cafe and a gift shop. Parking was free and is slightly uphill to the visitor center.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written July 19, 2023
  • Jerry J
    Lubbock, Texas23 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Upstaged by the Stories of the Enslaved, but Worthwhile
    My title alone may get me canceled by some, but my aim is an objective review of the estate of one of America’s pivotal designers. Thomas Jefferson is one of the most fascinating & influential people in American history. His story & estate are immaculate in nearly every aspect & I agree that the significant role of the enslaved must be told as part of it. My lone, but substantial, frustration with the Monticello experience is that the story of the enslaved now stands in front of the story of Thomas Jefferson. Please don’t take me wrong, it is beautifully and tastefully done & Monticello is still an absolute must see, I just found myself frustrated continually having to view everything through slavery’s dark lens obscuring the fact that America might still be subservient to England without Jefferson’s impactful actions. I hope that commenters on this post will strive to be objective.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written July 22, 2023
  • borgmaul
    129 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Monticello February 2023
    Monticello has been on my bucket list for about 20 years. It was FANSASTIC and I can not wait to go back. Our time there was 1 day, could have easily stayed for 2 to 3 days. Lots to see. Don't rush it, take you time and enjoy.
    Visited February 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 25, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles7,235 reviews
Excellent
5,544
Very good
1,256
Average
280
Poor
88
Terrible
67

Stephen H
Severna Park, MD37 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
This is our third visit to Monticello, the first under Covid19 regulations. They have reduce the number of visitors and for most part eliminated guided tours. You can get a guided tour, however, it is limited to 5 and a flat cost of $350. We went through the self guided tour. Which involved walking through most of the downstairs rooms and if you wanted some information you could read about items in each room on your smart phone. This was probably one of the worst implementation of a self guided tour I have seen. Since they kept the same pricing as when they gave guided tours I would at least expected some type of audio tour or more signage in each room. The only saving grace is they had several of the staff placed around the house and were more then willing to answer all your questions. Outside in a tent they had a actor who was playing Thomas Jefferson. He was excellent and really made the visit worthwhile. My understanding is they will have actors playing other historical figures in Jefferson's life throughout the summer. While I was disappointed with the tour Monticello is so important to our country it was still well worth seeing.
Written July 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jandkbach
Fallston, MD64 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
When I came onto this site to write my review, I almost thought that my husband had already done so when I saw the review by hodgek. We were hugely disappointed by the way that the breadth and depth of Thomas Jefferson's contributions to America and the world were minimized and even overlooked, totally overshadowed by the fact that he had been a slave owner,... We were hoping to get here before revisionist history took hold. With respect to history, we have to have an understanding of the culture of the time no matter how sinful it may be seen in today's culture. Enslavement played a role in development of many nations and acknowledgement is appropriate, but the emphasis begins in the film which was updated in 2020.

The property is beautifully kept but we felt the tour of a few small rooms was lacking for the price paid. The COVID adjustments keeps people generally spaced apart but wearing masks while walking on trails outside not around people is a bit much. Also, I recommended that they make the "no bag/pocketbook" rule more evident on their website. At the time we visited (7/13/2020) this information was buried in the FAQ.
Written July 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

abc43
Portsmouth, VA32 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
We drove 2.5 hours to visit Monticello. We were not pleased after that time to be turned away at the gate because we had not purchased tickets online in advance. They said they were sold out for the day, and they were turning away many other people also. I had read their website in detail before our trip, and nowhere did it say that tickets must be purchased in advance. While I applaud their safety measures for visitors and staff during the time of COVID, they should provide explicit information on their website about tickets and the number of people allowed in per day. For tickets that cost $29 per person, they can take the time to provide better information.
Written July 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gracie R
Mystic, CT148 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Solo
Beautiful sunny day! Paid $30 or $27, i can’t remember online for a ticket. I get there and an employee sees lightening. They shuttle all of us off mountain, i was only there for 35 minutes. Employees say severe weather coming. We have to shuttle everyone down and you need to wait under cover until severe weather passes. I’ve been waiting 2 hours. It’s rained, thundered, high winds, and we have to wait a half hour after they get notice it’s ok to go back up. BUYER beware- no refunds. I feel bad for the families that probably spent well over $150-$200 for entry and now they can’t finish the tour. I would rate this 5 stars but unfortunately i didn’t get to more than 35 minutes of anything and I’ve been waiting for several hours.
Written July 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MarshaC624
Fredericksburg, TX20 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
Beautiful property and packed full of history. The docents really know their stuff. I recommend visiting when Thomas Jefferson is at home. The gentleman portraying him is amazing and did not break character at all, no matter what questions he was asked. It is clear he has a passion and his portrayal really pulls you in. I would also recommend doing the "behind the scenes" tour if you can afford the time (1-1/2 hours) and cost ($85). The groups are small (15 people max) and tickets sell out fast but it is so worth it to be able to see all 3 floors and learn much more of the personal histories of those who lived at Monticello.
Written September 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NotALostWanderer
Washington DC919 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
Our tour guide for the kids' tour did a really nice job of entertaining & engaging the young ones in our group. It was definitely worth waiting for. We've been to Monticello a few times, and this was the best tour we've had. Liked the addition of a cafe with ice cream on the hot summer day we visited. We spent some extra time exploring the grounds which are worth seeing on their own, with unique specimens that are clearly tended to with love & care.
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

414luvtravels
Milwaukee, WI30 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
Tickets to Monticello are a little expensive, but our visit was a highlight of our trip to the Charlottesville area. I definitely recommend this as a stop if you are visiting Charlottesville and are interested in American history. There are numerous tours to pick from with varying price tags. We did not buy our ticket in advance and instead went to the ticket desk. Granted it was a "slow" day in November, but we had no problem getting a ticket for a tour that started within an hour of our arrival. The extra time allowed us to see the museum (an engraved copy of the Declaration of Independence is currently on display), visit the gift shop, and take the shuttle to the top of the hill for our tour. Our tour was given by an extremely knowledgeable docent. We learned so much about Jefferson and his life at Monticello. We were able to wander the grounds, see the slave area, and even have an outdoor lunch. You can tailor your trip and tour to spend as little or as much time as you want. It's a stunning property and if the weather had been warmer, we would have lingered even longer.
Written December 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Scott S
Sudbury, MA14 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
I loved visiting Monticello but why am I giving it a 1 star? This one star is solely attributed to the Highlights tour we took when we visited. Read this review if you are at all planning to take one of the available tours.

The tour itself and our docent (Danna) were a terrible disappointment. We purchased our tickets in advance and was extremely excited to see this national treasure. We were 500 miles from home and we were in awe of this building we heard so much about. We started with an explanation of the history of how Jefferson ended up at this site. This was about 5 minutes. Prior to our docent finishing, we were briskly rushed into the building. There was a women with a two-way radio motioned to our docent to enter the building. The only concern by the person with the radio was to get people moving.

Once in the building all the information provided could have been for any planation building in the South. The fact that Jefferson lived there was greatly deemphasized. What clearly was emphasized was that he was a slave owner. For every room we visited the information we were given focused on the fact that Jefferson owned slaves and all that entailed. Each room was filled with so many unique Jefferson items and the rooms were filled with potential stories but they were not mentioned. I completely understand that slave ownership happened at Monticello but this was so emphasized that very little information about the man and the building was provided.

My recommendation would be to do a self tour of the inside of the building if that is available. Do not rely on any docent with their own agenda to guide you through. Our docent insisted on injecting her beliefs and how our country still has so much work to do to overcome the past. And this was not the only commentary on this subject and other subjects that were given. This was not what we signed up for. Danna was not a person who should have been doing tours.

If I am ever able to visit again (550 miles from my home) I would absolutely not waste my time with the guided tours. I would research if there was any smart phone guided tour that focused on Jefferson and his amazing contributions with respect to Monticello. If not, there are plenty of books that I have read that speaks of his achievements regarding Monticello. I was fortunate to have read about Monticello prior to walking through it and would recommend that to others.

Lastly, keep in mind if you do take the tour that you are not provided headsets to hear the docent. For the very high priced cost, you would expect they would have provided headsets to hear the docent (assuming it was information worthwhile to hear).
Written April 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bob C
Huntington, NY115 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Having last visited Monticello many years ago as a kid, I was eager to revisit as a grown-up with a very different perspective. A former President, ambassador and innovator, he was also a slave owner, as were many of his colleagues at that time.

The grounds are well maintained and the visitor's center is nice. The café offers a small sampling of farm to table sandwiches, soups and baked goods. In summer, however, I imagine it could be a mob scene. Off season it was quiet and intimate - you felt you were living the history. The narrated small tours are very engaging, the guides are very knowledgeable, and they present the full unvarnished version of who Jefferson was, and what he contributed. He died broke on July 4th, the same day as John Adams, with whom he rebuilt their often contentious relationship later in life.
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tracy M
Wexford, PA194 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
This was my third visit to Monticello. COVID-19 protocols caused them to reduce the number of visitors and the tours available. Nonetheless, it was a highly informative and inspirational 3-4 hours. We were still able to take our time walking through the Jefferson's home on on our own. My favorite rooms are the dining room and the tea room!!! Since my last trip there, the Sally Hemings quarters have been opened and transparency regarding the life of enslaved people at Monticello significantly improved. We really appreciated the care all of the presenters gave to using the term "enslaved people" instead of the word "slaves".
Written November 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Monticello - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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