Majority of this review is on the Behind The Scenes Tour; but even if you only tour the first floor of the home, be prepared to spend the day here. There is so much to see and do that it can be tough to fit it all in within Monticello’s operating hours.

When first researching ticket options, I was taken back by the price for the Behind The Scenes Tour; but it was worth every penny. Aside from the appeal of getting to explore the 2nd and 3rd floors of the home, this tour is also close to 2 hours long and very detailed and rich in stories of Jefferson and the home’s history. Additionally, Monticello is owned by a private non-profit and does not receive government funding to operate; which also justifies the price of admission.

Our docent, Edward Brooks, was incredibly knowledgeable about the architecture, Jefferson’s complex life, and the family whom he shared his home with. Mr. Brooks was good to point out interesting facts about each room and often had grand stories about some of the smallest details within the house. He also did a great job of interweaving the story of Jefferson’s life throughout the tour, like a fluid story, as we explored the property. The tour was much more interactive than we were expecting as he would often ask us questions and encouraged group participation. One of my favorite parts of this tour was in the conversation room where we discussed a variety of topics on Jefferson and Monticello including the history of the home after Jeffersons’s death.

A few additional things to note:
- The ticket agents do a great job of setting you up for success on your visit.
- The museum is also worth exploring. We stopped here after our tour; and still managed to learn something new. The first floor is about the construction and alterations made to the home during Jefferson’s life. The second floor offers artifacts found on the property and stories/facts of Jefferson’s travels abroad and his home life at Monticello.
- The cafe has delicious food and the price is very fair.
- Gift shop offers a lot of really nice gifts, decor, furniture, and an extensive library of books for sale. Definitely worth a look.

We went on a rainy Saturday in January and the place was still fairly busy. Buy tickets in advance online. Highly recommend the Behind the scenes tour. Plenty of parking at the visitor center. Gift shop and cafe are located there. Do not wait until you arrive at Monticello to eat. Nothing at the top of the hill except small gift/drink shop. (Peanuts too, they seem to be sold everywhere)
Tram takes you to the top. Tickets and bag check occurs before you depart You can walk also. 2 min ride Staff will give instructions for tours. Restrooms are not avail during the tours.
Plan for 3-4 hrs in total for grounds and tour. Plenty of history at this place. Walking paths are everywhere. Tram back to center or enjoy the stroll
Thanks for the visit TJ!

Visited on a Saturday, had reservations for the 2:00 tour.
You will need timed reservations otherwise no entry to the house. They will not even let you walk from the visitors center to the house if you have not purchased tickets.
Being this was between Christmas & New Years, attracted a lot of people, shuttle buses were packed. Overall this is a very good tour. The view from the front of the house is amazing, as the house was built at the top of a mountain.
Jefferson had borrowed lots of ideas in the construction of the house. Well worth the time.