Ford's Theatre tickets cost $5 online, or free same day
Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC has no park entrance fee, but every visitor needs a timed ticket, whatever their age. Tickets booked ahead on the Ford's Theatre Society website cost $5 each. That fee goes to the Society, the park's official partner. A small number of free same day tickets are handed out at the box office from 8:30 am, first come, first served.
Ford's Theatre ticket facts for 2026
| Park entrance fee | None |
|---|---|
| Advance ticket, Ford's Theatre Society website | $5 per ticket |
| Advance ticket, group of 20 or more | $4.50 per ticket |
| Same day ticket at the box office | Free, from 8:30 am, while they last |
| Most same day tickets per person | 4 |
| Who needs a ticket | Every visitor, of any age |
| America the Beautiful pass | Does not cover the $5 fee |
| Closed | Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day |
| Family of 4, advance tickets | $20 |
|---|---|
| Group of 20, advance tickets | $90 |
| Family of 4, same day tickets | Free |
The $5 is a reservation fee, not an entrance fee. It is not waived on park fee free days, and park passes cannot be used to pay it. Sources: National Park Service, Ford's Theatre fees and passes; Ford's Theatre, historic site visit guidelines; Ford's Theatre, plan your visit; National Park Service Data API, fees and passes for every park (pulled September 26, 2026).
Other tickets and park fees near Washington, DC
Planning more than one stop? Here is what each one charges in 2026.
| Frederick Douglass National Historic Site | $1 online, free on site |
|---|---|
| Independence National Historical Park | $1 to reserve, free before 10 am |
| Lincoln Memorial | $1 online, free same day |
| Washington Monument | $1 online, free same day |
| Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park | $20 per car |
| Colonial National Historical Park | $15 per person |
| Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine | $15 per person |
| Prince William Forest Park | $20 per car |
What this price covers
What the park says: While there is no park entrance fee, timed reservations are needed because space is limited. The reservation carries a small fee that helps the Ford's Theatre Society. Free same day tickets may be available at the box office while they last.
What the ticket covers: A self guided visit to the museum, the Petersen House where Lincoln died, and the Aftermath exhibits. Because Ford's is a working theatre, some parts may be closed on some days, and some time slots do not include the theatre.
About same day tickets: The box office starts handing them out at 8:30 am. Each person can get up to 4. In the busy season, March to June, they often run out by 9 am.
Which option is best for you? If you can get there early outside the busy season, same day tickets cost nothing. If you need a set time or are coming in spring, the $5 ticket holds your place.
What changes your price
- When you book. Advance tickets cost $5 each. Same day box office tickets are free.
- How many people. Every visitor needs a ticket, so a family of 4 pays $20 ahead.
- Group size. Groups of 20 or more pay $4.50 a ticket.
Ways to pay less
- Want to pay nothing? Be at the box office when it opens at 8:30 am for free same day tickets.
- Visiting March to June? Book ahead. Same day tickets often run out by 9 am in the busy school season.
- Book at least a day before your visit, as the park advises.
- Check which parts your time slot includes. The theatre itself is not part of every ticket.
How we got these numbers
Every price on this page comes from the official pages listed in the sources: the National Park Service page for this site, the park service fee data we pulled on September 26, 2026, and the page of the group that sells the tickets. We checked them on September 26 and 27, 2026. Where we show a total, we only add up those prices. We do not add our own guesses. Prices can change, so check before you go.
Common questions
Is Ford's Theatre free?
There is no entrance fee. Advance tickets cost $5 each, and same day tickets at the box office are free.
How much are Ford's Theatre tickets?
$5 each online, $4.50 each for groups of 20 or more, or free same day at the box office.
What time do free Ford's Theatre tickets come out?
8:30 am at the box office, first come, first served.
Does the America the Beautiful pass cover Ford's Theatre?
No. Park passes cannot be used for the $5 fee.
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Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain, cropped.