Is there an entrance fee at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park?

NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee. Parking is separate and paid through the City of New Bedford.

NPS notes that the park has no parking areas of its own. You can use paid parking on the street or in garages through the city.

Where pets are allowed, the national NPS pet rule requires a leash no longer than six feet or a crate. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, and the park may close more areas.

Are the park grounds open year-round?

NPS says the park grounds remain open year-round, while Visitor Center hours vary by season.

All parks › New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on National Park Service data. Published by Humblebee.

Entrance fee: None^[1]
Busiest month (2025): August^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 16,089^[3]
Visitor centers: 1^[4]

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is a National Park System unit in Massachusetts^[5]. NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee, though paid street and garage parking is available through the City of New Bedford^[1]^[6].

Entrance fees and passes

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park^[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

NPS lists a Visitor Center and Garden, and says its hours change with the season^[7]. The park grounds stay open all year, according to NPS^[7]. In 2025 the busiest month was August with 3,143 recreation visits^[2]. NPS counted 0 visits in October 2025 and 490 in November^[2]. NPS describes summer temperatures from 56°F to 83°F and winter temperatures from 20°F to 45°F, with occasional snow^[8]. Check the official park page for current Visitor Center hours before you go^[7].

Recreation visits counted by the National Park Service in each month of 2025. The busiest month, August, is highlighted^[2].

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	520
February	491
March	1,521
April	986
May	1,595
June	2,044
July	2,592
August	3,143
September	1,397
October	0
November	490
December	1,310

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	10,487
2022^[3]	13,570
2023^[3]	17,034
2024^[3]	18,330
2025^[3]	16,089

Pets and dogs

Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet where they are allowed^[9]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, and service animals are excepted^[9]. Each park can close more areas to pets, so check with the park^[9]. NPS marks pets as permitted on both of its listed things to do, the Nathan & Polly Johnson Virtual Tour and the Become a New Bedford Junior Ranger activity^[10].

Before you go

NPS lists no entrance fee here^[1].
The park has no designated parking areas, so plan for paid street or garage parking^[6].
NPS lists a Junior Ranger Program, a bookstore and a park store among the activities^[11].
Hours vary by season, so confirm on the official park page before your trip^[7].

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park?: NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee^[1]. Parking is separate and paid through the City of New Bedford^[6].
Where do you park?: NPS notes that the park has no parking areas of its own^[6]. You can use paid parking on the street or in garages through the city^[6].
What is the busiest month?: In 2025 the busiest month was August with 3,143 recreation visits^[2].
Are dogs allowed?: Where pets are allowed, the national NPS pet rule requires a leash no longer than six feet or a crate^[9]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, and the park may close more areas^[9].
Are the park grounds open year-round?: NPS says the park grounds remain open year-round, while Visitor Center hours vary by season^[7].

Facts and sources

NPS lists New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park as a fee-free park: there is no entrance fee. National Park Service
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 10,487, 2022: 13,570, 2023: 17,034, 2024: 18,330, 2025: 16,089. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Visitor centers listed by NPS: 1 (Visitor Center & Park Garden). National Park Service
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Historical Park) in Massachusetts. National Park Service
Parking or transportation fee note from NPS: While the park does not have designated parking areas, paid street and garage parking are available through the City of New Bedford. National Park Service
Operating hours, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park: Welcome to New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park! The Visitor Center and Garden provide a distinctive urban park experience. Operating hours vary seasonally and may differ from those of... National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for New Bedford Whaling 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
NPS lists 2 things to do at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park: Nathan & Polly Johnson Virtual Tour, Become a New Bedford Junior Ranger. Pets permitted on 2 of them (Nathan & Polly Johnson Virtual Tour, Become a New Bedford Junior Ranger). National Park Service
Activities NPS lists for New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park: Junior Ranger Program, Shopping, Bookstore and Park Store. National Park Service

Fees and hours are what NPS lists in its data at the snapshot date. They change: tell readers to confirm on the official park page before a trip. Visits are NPS recreation visits (counted entries, not unique people). Use them only for this park's own months and years, never to rank parks. Campground list and site counts come from NPS and Recreation.gov records. Count fields can differ slightly between the two. The pet rule is the national baseline (36 CFR 2.15). The park may close more areas to pets. Do not claim specific trails allow dogs unless a fact says so.