Entrance - Private Vehicle
$20.00Valid seven (7) consecutive days.
Located in VA.
Prince William Forest Park is an oasis, a respite of quiet and calm. In 1936, Chopawamsic Recreation Area opened its gates to house children's 'relief' camps during the Great Depression. Renamed Prince William Forest Park in 1948, these fragrant woods and trickling streams have welcomed generations of campers, hikers,…
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Open daily · Sunrise to Sunset
$20.00
Entrance - Private Vehicle
Trailie
Tell Trailie your dates, pace, and interests — get a day-by-day Prince William Forest Park plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Explore this park
Prince William Forest Park is an oasis, a respite of quiet and calm. In 1936, Chopawamsic Recreation Area opened its gates to house children's 'relief' camps during the Great Depression. Renamed Prince William Forest Park in 1948, these fragrant woods and trickling streams have welcomed generations of campers, hikers, bikers and nature lovers. Discover Northern Virginia's best kept secret!
Prince William Forest Park experiences all four seasons.
and fall are generally comfortable with precipitation possible.
can be hot and humid with average temperatures in the high 80s and with sudden thunderstorms possible.
can be cold with average temperatures
July and August are the hottest months. in the winter of 41 degrees with variable precipitation. The main park roads can close due to snowy conditions, though cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing are permitted.
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$20.00Valid seven (7) consecutive days.
Entrance - Motorcycle
$15.00Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Entrance - Per Person
$10.00Valid seven (7) consecutive days.
Prince William Forest Park Operating Hours
The trails at Prince William Forest Park are open every day from sunrise to sunset for recreation use. The visitor center is open every day of the week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Winter hours vary. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Annual Entrance - Park
$35.00The Prince William Forest Park annual pass provides unlimited entry to the park for one year through the month of purchase (example - a pass purchased on January 1, 2022 will be valid through January 31, 2023). The pass covers admission for the passholder (who must be present) and all individuals in a single vehicle, or for the passholder and three adults who walk into the park. The pass can be purchased at the visitor center or entrance station (when in operation).
Common questions
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts for live updates.
Reservation rules vary by season and activity for Prince William Forest Park. See Overview on this page for fees, timed entry, and campground details before you travel.