Accessibility Information

Parking

Designated, accessible parking spaces are available at the front of the east and west visitor parking lots on each side of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, which are owned and maintained by the National Park Service, and at the front of Mount Vernon's overflow parking lot. Transportation is not provided between the parking lots and the main entrance to the estate. For visitors with limited mobility, we suggest taking advantage of the curbside drop-off area on the traffic circle and nearby benches.

Wheelchair Use & Availability

The Ford Orientation Center, Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center and Mount Vernon Inn complex are wheelchair accessible. Although the 18th-century pathways in the historic area can be uneven, there is an accessible path linking the Mansion, Ford Orientation Center, and the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center. Only the first floor of the Mansion is wheelchair accessible. Accessible paths are highlighted on our estate map. Please note, it is a 0.3 mile distance from the admission counter to the Mansion.

Standard, non-motorized wheelchairs and wheeled walkers are available free of charge inside the Ford Orientation Center on a first-come, first-served basis.

Resources for Self-Guided Visits

Mount Vernon accommodates guests with special needs. Small handheld devices are available on-demand to provide tour content for guests who are blind or have low vision, and guests who are deaf or hard of hearing. Through the use of GPS hotspots and infrared emitters located around the estate, these devices automatically provide audio description services, assistive listening or text captioning for guests as they explore the Ford Orientation Center, the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center, and the Historic Area—including the Mansion, Slave Quarters, North Lane, South Lane, Bowling Green, Tomb, and Slave Memorial. Devices can be checked out for free in the Ford Orientation Center. For more information, or to make arrangements for group use of these devices, please contact us at accessibility@mountvernon.org, or call 703.780.2000 and ask for the Department of History Interpretation. Alternate format guest maps are also available upon request at the Ford Orientation Center.

Reserve a Device

Visiting the Mansion and Historic Area

In addition to the devices and resources described above, ASL tours of the Mansion and other primary learning sites can be arranged with one week advance notice. To request an ASL interpreter, please contact us at accessibility@mountvernon.org, or call 703.780.2000 and ask for the Department of History Interpretation.

A shuttle (with lift) runs continuously between the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center and the Pioneer Farm (April – October).

Visiting our Modern Facilities

The Ford Orientation Center, Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center, and the Mount Vernon Inn Complex are fully accessible for guests with wheelchairs and walkers. In addition to the devices and resources described above, captioning is available for all narrated video.

Service Animals

Mount Vernon is dog-friendly, and certified service animals or service animals-in-training are welcome.

Questions & Comments

For additional information, please feel free to contact us at accessibility@mountvernon.org, or call 703.780.2000 and ask for the Department of History Interpretation.