How to Visit the FDR House Hyde Park, New York
Did you know you could visit the home of FDR just a few hours outside of New York City?
Honestly, I didn’t until recently. But once I found out I knew I had to make the day trip! I love to visit historical sites whenever I can. Anyone else with me on that?
If you are thinking about visiting the Franklin D. Roosevelt House in Hyde Park, keep reading. I’ll cover everything you need to know to make the most of your FDR House Hyde Park day trip!
By the way, here are two other posts you might want to check out:
How to Visit the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay, New York
8 Historic Sites in NYC + My Favorite Dessert Spot Near Each One
Everything You Need to Know to Plan Your FDR House Hyde Park Day Trip
Basics
Before we go any further, let’s discuss the basics.
The sites we are focusing on in this post are the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site and Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Springwood is the actual name of the FDR Home. The National Parks Service runs this site and you can take a ranger-led tour of the home.
The FDR Presidential Library & Museum are on the same grounds as Springwood. The National Archives (not National Parks Service) runs the library and museum. You can take a self-guided tour of the museum. The library is really just a research space and isn’t open on the weekends.
You will need to purchase two separate tickets- 1 for the house and 1 for the museum. We will go into more detail in the Cost section later in this post.
History
Franklin D. Roosevelt served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933-1945. His time in office spanned the Great Depression and WWII. FDR is the only US president elected to four terms. Many people consider him one of the greatest presidents in American history.
FDR served as a member of the New York Senate, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and Governor of New York before becomming president.
Franklin D. Roosevelt married Eleanor Roosevelt in 1905. She’s known as the “First Lady of the World” was a prominent political figure and activist. Eleanor Roosevelt became a United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly in 1945. ER was a prolific writer and throughout her life, she wrote 27 books and 8,000 columns.
Location
The FDR House and Museum are located in Hyde Park, New York:
4097 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park, NY 12538
How to Get Here
The FDR House in Hyde Park is about 90 miles outside of midtown Manhattan. If you are traveling here from the city without a car, the best route is to take a Hudson Line Metro-North train to Poughkeepsie. Get on this train at Grand Central or Harlem 125. (Plan your route here.) You can purchase your tickets at the station or with the MTA eTix app.
If you arrive by train, you will reach the Poughkeepsie station, which is about 5 miles from the FDR House in Hyde Park. At this point, you could take an Uber or Lyft the rest of the way. Or, if you visit from Monday-Saturday you could take a bus operated by Dutchess County. The bus costs $1.25 one way and runs 6 minutes after the hour from 8:06 am to 7:06 pm.
For those of you with a car, getting here is very easy. It’s about an hour and a 45-minute drive from Manhattan. Plus, the FDR House has a large and free parking lot. Since I don’t have a car, I would normally have taken the train for this day trip. But, I happened to check Auto Slash and found a great last-minute deal on a rental car. So you might want to check that, too! Having the car was really nice because I could easily add a few stops in Hyde Park and Poughkeepsie to my day trip.
Cost
You can purchase a joint ticket to tour the FDR Home and to visit the Presidential Library + Museum for $20. This ticket is valid for two consecutive days. Children 15 years and younger are free.
If you plan to visit during a National Parks free day, just know that the museum will still cost $10 since it is operated by the National Archives, not the National Parks Service. Also, if you have an America The Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreations Lands Pass you will get into the house for free but will still have to pay the $10 for the museum.
You can purchase your tickets and sign up for a house tour in person. You cannot purchase these online.
Hours
The FDR House is generally open year-round, 7-days a week except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. The house can only be accessed from a tour and these are offered seasonally (check the website for current tour hours).
The FDR House will be closed from April 1, 2020- at least October 31, 2020 for major renovations. You can still visit the grounds and museum during this time, but house tours won’t be offered.
The FDR Presidential Library and Museum is open daily:
- November – March: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- April – October: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day
The FDR Presidental Library research room is open Monday-Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
What to Expect
When you arrive at the FDR House Hyde Park you will see a large visitor’s center. Purchase your tickets for the house and museum (or just the museum if the house is closed) inside the visitor’s center.
Before or after your tour, explore the museum, walk the grounds, or watch the film A Rendezvous With History in the visitor center. (I actually thought this was a pretty great introduction to the day!).
When it’s time for your tour to start, you’ll gather with your guide and about 50-other people in the visitor’s center. You’ll then spend the next hour learning about FDR, ER, and touring the house.
Should you still visit while the house is closed? Absolutely! Honestly, I spent most of my time at the museum anyways! You can still walk the grounds to see the house and there are some other fascinating sites nearby that you can add to your day trip (more on that later!)
Good to Know
- Backpacks are not allowed in the house.
- You can take pictures (but the flash has to be off).
- House tours do sell out and can only be purchased in person. Arrive early to secure your spot.
- From April 1, 2020 – October 31, 2020, the house will be closed for renovations. You can still walk the grounds and tour the museum which is well worth the trip!
What to do at the FDR House Hyde Park
The main things to explore at the FDR House Hyde Park historic site are Springwood (the FDR House) and the FDR Presidential Library and Museum. But, there are a few other sites including FDR’s Top Cottage, Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kill, and the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site.
With just a 1-day trip, I would recommend focusing on Springwood and the FDR Presidential Library and Museum. But, since Springwood will be closed for a few months in 2020, you could replace this with a visit to one of the other sites!
Springwood
Springwood is FDR’s home and one of the main reasons visitors travel to this site. You can take a ranger-led tour of the house to see where FDR was born and lived throughout his adult life. Tours are available on a first-come-first-serve basis and can only be scheduled in person at the visitor’s center. From April 1-October 31, 2020 the house will be closed for renovations.
FDR Presidential Library & Museum
In addition to Springwood, the Presidential Library & Museum is a major draw for this historic site. The museum is filled with artifacts and exhibits explaining the 12 years of FDR’s presidency. Honestly, I spent most of my time in the museum and I think it is well worth the visit even while the house is closed.
Val-Kill
Val-Kill was Eleanor Roosevelt’s retreat and the house she lived in after FDR passed away. This is the only National Historic Site dedicated to a first lady. You can take a guided tour of Val-Kill to learn more about the fascinating life of ER.
Top Cottage
This was FDR’s retreat and a place he could escape the crowds who often surrounded him at Springwood. Also, unlike Springwood, this house was wheelchair accessible and he could be more independent in this home. The house is open for tours Monday-Friday during the summer season.
Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
This 54-room mansion was owned by Frederick William Vanderbilt and his wife Louise Holmes Anthony. This was established as a national historic site to serve as a place to discuss the lifestyles of the rich and famous of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Gravesites
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt are buried in the rosegarden just outside Springwood. You can visit and pay your respects while you tour the grounds.
What to do in Hyde Park
After visiting the FDR house and other historic sites in Hyde Park, here are a few other things to check out:
- The Culinary Institute of America– Visitors are welcome to tour the campus of this private college that specializes in a culinary and pastry arts education. You can take a student-led tour Monday-Friday. You can also dine at one of the CIA’s restaurants.
- Hyde Park Brewing Company– This is a small craft brewery and restaurant near the FDR house. Stop here for a quick and easy meal before visiting the house or museum!
What to do in Poughkeepsie
If you want to explore Poughkeepsie a bit, here are a few suggestions:
- Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park– This unique park is a 1.28-mile bridge that crosses the Hudson River. This park was made from a restored 1889 railroad bridge. Take a nice walk over the bridge to enjoy some views over the water.
- Locust Grove– If you want to tour another historic home, visit Locust Grove, an Italianate mansion with sprawling grounds. The painter and inventor Samuel F. B. Morse built this as his summer home in 1850.
- The Crafted Kup– When you need a pick-me-up, don’t skip The Crafted Kup. This is a large cafe with a long menu. The highlight for me? The latte flight!
- Cocina Oaxaquena– For delicious and authentic Mexican food, check out Cocina Oaxaquena. The menu has plenty of Oaxacan dishes plus classics from other parts of Mexico.
I hope my post helped as you plan your day trip to the FDR House Hyde Park site!
If you are looking for more New York post, check these out:
12 Hours in Beacon: How to Plan the Perfect Day Trip from NYC
How to Visit the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay, New York
How to Score Cheap Broadway Tickets
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