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Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in South Carolina[4]. NPS lists a per person entrance fee of $10 at Fort Moultrie[5], and a separate concession-operated ferry fee for Fort Sumter[6].
Entrance fees and passes
Fees as listed by the National Park Service. Fees change, so confirm on the park's official fees page before you go.
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[8].
Entrance fee payment is cashless (card or mobile payment)[9].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[10] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[10] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[10] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[10] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[10] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[10] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[10] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[10] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[10] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
At Fort Moultrie, NPS lists the visitor center hours as 9:00 am-4:30 pm every day, and the fort stays open until 4:30 pm all year[11]. Both sites list closures on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day[11][6]. Ferries to Fort Sumter leave from the Liberty Square visitor center in Charleston[6]. NPS describes mild winters and hot, humid summers[12]. In 2025 the busiest month was July with 97,029 recreation visits, and the quietest was January with 38,413[1].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 38,413 |
| February | 49,684 |
| March | 86,140 |
| April | 86,831 |
| May | 78,774 |
| June | 85,855 |
| July | 97,029 |
| August | 73,013 |
| September | 47,837 |
| October | 46,938 |
| November | 55,982 |
| December | 68,162 |
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less, in the places where they are permitted. Pets are kept out of public buildings and designated swimming beaches, and service animals are excepted[13]. Each park can close more areas to pets, so check the official page[13].
Before you go
- Fort Moultrie entrance fees are cashless, so bring a card or mobile payment[9].
- The Fort Moultrie Annual Park Pass costs $35[7].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass for entrance[8].
- Entry to the Liberty Square visitor center for Fort Sumter is free, but the ferry has a fee[6].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm on the official NPS park page before you go.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee?
- NPS lists $10 per person at Fort Moultrie, and anyone 16 or older counts as an adult[5].
- Does the park accept the America the Beautiful pass?
- Yes, NPS says the park accepts it for entrance[8]. NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80[10].
- What time does Fort Moultrie close?
- At Fort Moultrie, NPS lists the visitor center as open 9:00 am-4:30 pm every day, and the fort as open until 4:30 pm all year[11].
- When is the busiest month?
- In 2025 the busiest month was July with 97,029 recreation visits[1].
Facts and sources
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 349,492, 2022: 385,472, 2023: 411,744, 2024: 384,308, 2025: 814,658. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Visitor centers listed by NPS: 2 (Fort Moultrie Visitor Center, Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square). National Park Service
- Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Historical Park) in South Carolina. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $10. National Park Service
- Operating hours, Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square: The Fort Sumter Visitor Center at Liberty Square, 340 Concord Street, Charleston, is the primary departure point for ferry boats to Fort Sumter. This visitor education center is free. There is... National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $35. National Park Service
- Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- Entrance fees at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park are cashless (cards or mobile payment, no cash) according to NPS. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- Operating hours, Fort Moultrie: Fort Moultrie represents the entire history of static seacoast defenses in the United States, from the American Revolution through World War II. The site includes a visitor center with museum exhibits. The Fort Moultrie... National Park Service
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park. National Park Service
- National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15