How to Plan a Visit to Independence Hall

Independence Hall is the red brick landmark on Chestnut Street where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were both signed. If you are planning a first visit, here is what you need to know before you go.

What are the hours and ticket rules?

Independence Hall opens with a free open house from 9 am to 10:30 am. No tickets are required for that early window. From 10 am to 4 pm, guided tours run every 20 minutes and require tickets. A final expanded tour to the second floor begins at 4:20 pm; that tour also requires tickets and is not accessible. All of this is listed on the park's official visiting page [1].

Tickets are free, but there is a $1.00 per ticket handling fee. Interagency passes do not cover this fee, and reservations are final with no refunds under any circumstances [1][2].

How do I get tickets?

Reserve through Recreation.gov. You can print tickets in advance or show them on a mobile device for scanning at entry [1]. Individual visitors and commercial tour operators must use Recreation.gov. Teachers and non-profit education groups should start with the park's Plan a Field Trip page for help [1].

Where is the entrance and what does security involve?

Independence Hall is on Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th Streets. The GPS address is 520 Chestnut Street. Entrance is through a security screening area on the south side of the building. Use the stairs or the accessibility ramp on 5th Street, between Chestnut and Walnut Streets [1].

All visitors and belongings are screened to enter Independence Square. That includes items in pockets, bags, medical devices, and underneath strollers and wheelchairs. Belongings pass through an x-ray machine or visual inspection. No firearms, knives, explosives, or other weapons are permitted. No open containers of food or drink are allowed, such as an open tray of fries or a disposable coffee cup. Bottles with screw-on lids are permitted [1].

Visitors walk through a metal detector. Anyone who cannot pass through or who alarms the detector will undergo additional screening with a hand-held metal detector or a pat-down by a same gender security officer [1].

Is Independence Hall accessible?

The first floor is accessible for people with mobility impairments. An audio description tour is available on request. For visitors with hearing impairments, the "Birthplace of a Nation" pamphlet provides written information about the rooms on the tour, and assistive listening devices are available. American Sign Language interpretation can be arranged by request: reserve tickets first, then call the park at least 14 days before your visit [1].

What else is nearby?

Independence National Historical Park includes several sites within short walking distance. On Independence Square you can visit the Great Essentials Exhibit in the West Wing, Congress Hall, Old City Hall, and the Museum of the American Philosophical Society [1]. The park also manages Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, and Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site [1].

Some nearby sites charge fees. The Benjamin Franklin Museum charges an interpretive fee: $7.50 for adults, $5 for seniors 65+ and children ages 6 through 17, free for children age 5 and under. The National Constitution Center, a partner of the park, also charges admission [2].

Quick comparison: when to go and what to expect

Option	Time	Tickets	Best for
Open house	9 am to 10:30 am	None required	Early risers and flexible schedules
Standard guided tour	10 am to 4 pm, every 20 minutes	Required, $1 handling fee	First-time visitors who want the full guided experience
Expanded second-floor tour	4:20 pm	Required, $1 handling fee, not accessible	Return visitors and those wanting a deeper look

[1] https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/independencehall.htm [2] https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/fees.htm

How should I plan my day?

Start by deciding whether you want the open house or a guided tour. If you want a guided tour, reserve on Recreation.gov before your trip and arrive early for security. Remember that open food and drink cannot go through screening, so finish or store them before you line up. If you need accessibility services or an ASL interpreter, arrange those details well ahead of time [1].

For more context on the neighborhood, see our guide to accessible history walks in Old City at /heritage-walks/elderly-friendly-history-walks/. If you are building a longer day around the park, our practical guide to Reading Terminal Market at /taste-of-philly/reading-terminal-market-guide/ is a useful lunch stop, and our overview of Philadelphia's public art at /local-culture/public-art-walking-tour/ can help you extend the walk beyond Independence Square.

What should I check before I go?

Hours and operations can change. Check the park's current hours and current operations pages before your visit. All guided tours must be reserved through Recreation.gov, and fees are final. If you are planning around a federal recreation pass, note that America the Beautiful passes do not apply to the Independence Hall reservation fee, and Independence National Historical Park does not issue those passes [2].

With tickets reserved, security rules understood, and a plan for the surrounding sites, a first visit to Independence Hall can be straightforward and rewarding.