Frederick Douglass House tickets cost $1 online, or free on site
Tours of Cedar Hill, the Washington, DC home of Frederick Douglass, are free. You need a ticket for the guided house tour. Booking ahead on Recreation.gov adds a $1 reservation fee per ticket, which is not refunded. Free tickets may be available at the visitor center on the day, if there is space. The visitor center itself needs no ticket.
Frederick Douglass House ticket facts for 2026
| Entrance fee | None |
|---|---|
| Guided house tour ticket | Free |
| Reservation fee, Recreation.gov | $1 per ticket, not refunded |
| Walk up tickets at the visitor center | Free, only if space is left |
| Visitor center, film and grounds | Free, no ticket needed |
| How far ahead you can book | Up to 6 months, until midnight the day before |
| Groups of more than 10 | Must book ahead |
| Tours offered | All year |
| Family of 4, booked ahead | $4 |
|---|---|
| Group of 12, booked ahead | $12 |
| Family of 4, walk up | Free |
Everyone must pick up their tour tickets at the visitor center before the tour. Tours start on time at the front door of the house. Sources: National Park Service, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site; Recreation.gov, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site tours; 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.
| Ford's Theatre National Historic Site | $5 online, free same day |
|---|---|
| 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: To tour the home, book ahead online. Same day tickets may be available at the visitor center desk. Tours often fill up. Tickets are not needed to visit the visitor center.
About the tour: The guided tour covers the upper and lower floors of the home, which is furnished with objects that belonged to Douglass and his family. Douglass lived at Cedar Hill from 1877 until his death in 1895.
About the fee: The tickets are free. The $1 is a reservation service fee on each ticket booked through Recreation.gov, and it is not refunded if you cancel.
Which option is best for you? If you can be flexible, a walk up ticket costs nothing. If you need a set time, the $1 ticket holds your place.
What changes your price
- When you book. Booking ahead costs $1 a ticket. Walk up tickets are free if space is left.
- How many people. The $1 fee is per ticket.
- Group size. Groups of more than 10 must book ahead.
Ways to pay less
- Want to pay nothing? Try a walk up ticket at the visitor center, best on a quiet weekday.
- Going on a weekend, a holiday or in summer? Pay the $1 and book. Tours often fill up.
- Book up to 6 months ahead, until midnight the night before.
- The film, exhibits and grounds are free with no ticket, even if the tours are full.
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 the Frederick Douglass House free?
Yes. Tours are free. Booking ahead online costs $1 per ticket.
Do you need a ticket for the Frederick Douglass House?
Yes, for the guided house tour. The visitor center and grounds need no ticket.
How far ahead can you book?
Up to 6 months, until midnight the day before your tour.
Is the $1 fee refunded?
No. The reservation fee is not refunded.
Related tickets and park fees
Photo: Walter Smalling for the Historic American Buildings Survey, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain, cropped.