Entrance - Per Person
$10.00Fort Moultrie charges a per person entrance fee for adults. Anyone 16 years old or older is considered an adult.
SC
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
Hours
Open daily · 9:00AM - 4:30PM
Entrance Fee
$10.00
Entrance - Per Person
Trailie
Build your Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park itinerary
Tell Trailie your dates, pace, and interests — get a day-by-day Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie at a glance
- Best time
- March–May, October–November
- Trip length
- 1–2 days
- Don't miss
- Main Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie highlights — see Things to Do for current listings
- Nearby city
- Charleston, SC
Explore this park
About Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to preserve slavery, construction on a new fort, Fort Sumter, proceeded. The Confederacy fired on the US garrison of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861 opening the Civil War, which redefined American freedom.
Weather Information
Mild winters. Hot and humid during the summer.
Entrance Fees
Operating Hours
Fort Moultrie
Fort Moultrie represents the entire history of static seacoast defenses in the United States, from the American Revolution through World War II. The site includes a visitor center with museum exhibits. The Fort Moultrie Visitor Center is open daily 9:00 am-4:30 pm. The fort itself is open until 4:30 pm all year. There is an entrance fee for the park.
- Monday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Tuesday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Wednesday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Thursday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Friday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Saturday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Sunday9:00AM - 4:30PM
Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square
The Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square, 340 Concord Street, Charleston, is the primary departure point for ferry boats to Fort Sumter. This visitor education center is free. There is a fee for the concession-operated ferry to Fort Sumter.
- Monday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Tuesday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Wednesday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Thursday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Friday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Saturday8:30AM - 4:30PM
- Sunday8:30AM - 4:30PM
Entrance Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$35.00The Fort Moultrie Annual Park Pass provides entry into Fort Moultrie for the pass holder and 3 other adults. The pass is valid for a year from the date of purchase. Each Fort Moultrie Annual Park Pass may have 2 separate passholders.
Common questions
Planning Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics.
Reservation rules vary by season and activity for Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie. Check the Permits tab on this page and Recreation.gov before you travel — campground, tour, or backcountry permits may apply even without park-wide timed entry.
See Permits tab →
