Trailie
Tell Trailie your dates, pace, and interests — get a day-by-day Thomas Edison National Historical Park plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Explore this park
Today, the brick buildings on Main Street in West Orange, NJ seem quiet, betraying little evidence of the research, development, and innovation of their heyday. Visitors can step back in time to Thomas Edison’s home and laboratory, when machines were run by belts and pulleys and music was played on phonographs. Discover where America’s greatest inventor changed our world forever.
Source: National Park Service (as of Nov 10, 2026). Official Thomas Edison National Historical Park page on nps.gov
Spring and
weather can be cool, while summer is usually warm and humid.
is frequently snowy and cold.
It is recommended that visitors dress for the weather. Visitors may need jackets or rain gear as they will be walking between buildings as they tour the park during inclement weather. Please keep any rain gear/umbrellas with you during your visit.
Entrance - Per Person
$15.00Children 15 and under free of charge. Visitors may pay the fee on the day of their visit at the visitor center, or may choose to pay it online via Recreation.gov. Visitors to Glenmont and the Edison home must also pay this entrance fee. Credit or debt card payments only.
Entrance - Education/Academic Groups
$10.00THIS GUIDED WALKING TOUR IS FOR Elementary, Middle, and College Groups to learn about Thomas Edison’s West Orange Laboratory as a working invention factory where ideas became products, and those products became industries we all enjoy today.
Laboratory Complex
All visitors must go to the Laboratory Complex first to obtain their entry pass and Glenmont Grounds pass. (Glenmont is currently only open on Saturday and Sunday)
Annual Entrance - Park
$45.00Valid ONLY at Thomas Edison National Historical Park for 12 months from the date of purchase. Permits the cardholder and 3 adult guests' entrance (16 years and older, children 15 and younger are free). Includes Laboratory Complex and Glenmont Estate. All visitors must begin their visit at the Laboratory Complex. Please note: this does not guarantee entry into the mansion at Glenmont.
Common questions
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts and Permits for live updates.
TrailVerse lists 4 reservation types on the Permits tab, including Thomas Edison National Historical Park Tours and Adult and Commercial Group Tour: The Life and Times of Thomas Edison. Recreation.gov listings can change seasonally — confirm current rules before you set dates.
