Monticello
Charlottesville, VA
Thomas Jefferson’s hilltop house and plantation, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with gardens and the Mulberry Row exhibits on slavery. Timed tickets; park at the visitor center at the foot of the hill and ride the shuttle up.
Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's country house near Charlottesville, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, inscribed together with the University of Virginia. Jefferson designed and reworked the house over more than 40 years; it is regarded as a masterpiece of American neoclassicism, with a red-brick facade and a four-columned portico. A weatherproof passage runs beneath the house, linking the main house to the side wings. The plantation covered about 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres). Mulberry Row was its working and commercial hub, where free and enslaved people lived and worked. Reconstructed cabins and workshops stand there, along with the exhibit on Sally Hemings and a memorial to the enslaved.
All timed tours begin at the East Lawn. Park at the visitor center at the foot of the hill; a shuttle takes you up from there. The grounds also include a vegetable garden of just over 8,000 sq m (2 acres), and the visitor center has a shop with snacks. Book your time slot in advance.
- Nearest town
- Charlottesville, VA
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 38.0086, -78.4532
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and October. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Lake Monticello Owners Association CampgroundCampsite8 mi from Monticello
- Charlottesville KOA HolidayMotorhome stopover8 mi from MonticelloMotorhomes
- Misty Mountain Camp ResortCampsite16 mi from MonticelloTentsCaravans
- Small Country CampgroundCampsite20 mi from Monticello
- Loft Mountain CampgroundCampsite20 mi from MonticelloTentsCaravansDrinking waterToiletsDogs allowed
- Waynesboro 340 N CampgroundMotorhome stopover23 mi from MonticelloMotorhomes
All campsites in Virginia · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Monticello?
Monticello is in Charlottesville, VA, at GPS 38.0086, -78.4532. It is about 24 mi from Waynesboro.
Can you camp near Monticello?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Lake Monticello Owners Association Campground, about 8 mi away; within 25 mi there are 8 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Monticello?
Monticello is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Jefferson and Madison country: Montpelier to the Peaks of Otter.
What is there to see near Monticello?
Places worth a stop nearby: James Madison’s Montpelier (21 mi), Humpback Rocks (24 mi), Staunton Historic Downtown (35 mi) and Big Meadows, Shenandoah (36 mi).
When is the best time to visit Monticello?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)