Fort McHenry with kids
What the visit costs a family
Two adults and three children: $30, and only if the adults want the inside of the fort. Nobody under 16 pays at all, and the free half of the park does not care how many of you there are. If there are four adults, the $45 annual pass covering the holder plus three adults for twelve months is cheaper than four single tickets on the day.
How the day tends to go
Grounds first. Forty-three acres of open space by the water, gates open at 7:00 a.m., and nothing to buy for the first two hours. The visitor center and the film are free and indoors, which is the standard rescue when the weather or the mood turns. Then the star fort if the adults want it.
What works
- Under-16s are free everywhere, including inside the star fort
- Open ground and a waterfront, so children are not being shushed indoors
- The visitor center and the film are free and under cover
- An early arrival is possible: grounds open at 7:00 a.m.
Worth knowing
- Restrooms, gift shop and visitor center close 15 minutes before the park
- The paid area is one enclosure — there is no separate children's attraction
- The original flag is in Washington, so manage expectations before you arrive
- No bookable tour includes admission; you buy at the gate
Check the restroom timing against your own schedule before you settle in for a late afternoon. On a summer weekday they close at 4:45 p.m., not 5:00.
Before you promise them a flag
The original Star-Spangled Banner is not here. It is in Washington, at a free museum, and a child who has been told otherwise on the drive over will let you know about it. The full story, and what to say instead, is on where the flag actually is. Timings for the rest of the day are on how long to spend.
Something short on the water
The Inner Harbor sightseeing cruise runs 45 minutes, which is about the right length with children, and names the fort as a sight seen from the water. None of it includes entry to the star fort. That is a National Park Service ticket, sold at the gate and nowhere else.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fort McHenry good for kids?
It is 43 acres of open waterfront with a free visitor center and film, and anyone under 16 pays nothing anywhere in the park, including inside the star fort.
Do children have to pay to get into Fort McHenry?
No. The $15 entrance fee applies to adults aged 16 and over only. Under-16s are free throughout the park.
What time should we arrive with children?
The grounds open at 7:00 a.m. in the summer season and the registers selling fort entry open at 9:00 a.m. Restrooms and the visitor center close 15 minutes before the park.