Rapidan Camp Tours
Visitors to Shenandoah National Park, located in the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, can visit Rapidan Camp, President Herbert Hoover's rustic and beautiful summer vacation home. President and First Lady Hoover established Rapidan Camp as a summer retreat during his administration (1929 to 1933). The camp features three original buildings including the President's Cabin, the Prime Ministers Cabin and The Creel.
The Presidents Cabin, also known as the Brown House, has been restored to its 1929 appearance with original and period furniture and is an excellent reflection of not only its era, but also of President Hoover. The Prime Minister's Cabin includes an exhibit that offers visitors insight into the Hoovers' lives and their time at Rapidan Camp, as well as President Hoover's Depression-era presidency. Learn more about the history of President and Mrs. Hoovers Rapidan Camp, a National Historic Landmark.
Access to Rapidan Camp involves traveling in a Park-operated van on a seven mile unpaved administrative road. For this reason, visitors must join a Ranger-guided program to travel to the site. Ranger-guided programs to Rapidan Camp are offered Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays each week between late-May and late-October. A Ranger-guided tour of Rapidan Camp includes time inside both the Brown House and the Prime Minister's Cabin, as well as time exploring the grounds and gardens within the Historic Landmark.
Advance Reservations . Tour space is limited. Rapidan Camp tours are available by reservation only. First-come, first-served tickets are not available at the Park.
Visitors may book a reservation up to 6 months in advance and up to 4 hours before the tour.
Van Ride. The van ride to Rapidan Camp is approximately 30 minutes each way.
Van Seating. Seating is limited. Some vans offer wheelchair space (see below).
Tour Length. The total tour time (included travel) is 2.5 hours.
Accessibility. These popular programs require some walking and standing on level ground during the tour. Visitors with mobility concerns should book the 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. tour for easier entry into and exit from the van. Both Rapidan Camp and the van for the 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. tour can accommodate a wheelchair. Visitors may book up to two wheelchair spaces on the van through the Accessible Wheelchair ONLY Tour. Wheelchair spaces are part of the same van tour as the Historic Rapidan Camp Tour offered at the same time.
Rapidan Camp Hiking Option. Visitors may also choose to hike to Rapidan Camp without a reservation by hiking the 4-mile round-trip Mill Prong Trail that begins at Milam Gap (mile 52.4 on Skyline Drive). Hikers may download a map of the trail and the area from the park website. There is no guarantee that hikers will be able to tour the buildings, but a Park volunteer may be available to provide access to the Prime Minister's Cabin and the Brown House during certain times of the year. Check at the Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center (mile 51 on Skyline Drive) for more information on hiking to Rapidan Camp.
Visitors to Shenandoah National Park, located in the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, can visit Rapidan Camp, President Herbert Hoover's rustic and beautiful summer vacation home. President and First Lady Hoover established Rapidan Camp as a summer retreat during his administration (1929 to 1933). The camp features three original buildings including the President's Cabin, the Prime Ministers Cabin and The Creel.
The Presidents Cabin, also known as the Brown House, has been restored to its 1929 appearance with original and period furniture and is an excellent reflection of not only its era, but also of President Hoover. The Prime Minister's Cabin includes an exhibit that offers visitors insight into the Hoovers' lives and their time at Rapidan Camp, as well as President Hoover's Depression-era presidency. Learn more about the history of President and Mrs. Hoovers Rapidan Camp, a National Historic Landmark.
Access to Rapidan Camp involves traveling in a Park-operated van on a seven mile unpaved administrative road. For this reason, visitors must join a Ranger-guided program to travel to the site. Ranger-guided programs to Rapidan Camp are offered Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays each week between late-May and late-October. A Ranger-guided tour of Rapidan Camp includes time inside both the Brown House and the Prime Minister's Cabin, as well as time exploring the grounds and gardens within the Historic Landmark.
Advance Reservations . Tour space is limited. Rapidan Camp tours are available by reservation only. First-come, first-served tickets are not available at the Park.
Visitors may book a reservation up to 6 months in advance and up to 4 hours before the tour.
Van Ride. The van ride to Rapidan Camp is approximately 30 minutes each way.
Van Seating. Seating is limited. Some vans offer wheelchair space (see below).
Tour Length. The total tour time (included travel) is 2.5 hours.
Accessibility. These popular programs require some walking and standing on level ground during the tour. Visitors with mobility concerns should book the 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. tour for easier entry into and exit from the van. Both Rapidan Camp and the van for the 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. tour can accommodate a wheelchair. Visitors may book up to two wheelchair spaces on the van through the Accessible Wheelchair ONLY Tour. Wheelchair spaces are part of the same van tour as the Historic Rapidan Camp Tour offered at the same time.
Rapidan Camp Hiking Option. Visitors may also choose to hike to Rapidan Camp without a reservation by hiking the 4-mile round-trip Mill Prong Trail that begins at Milam Gap (mile 52.4 on Skyline Drive). Hikers may download a map of the trail and the area from the park website. There is no guarantee that hikers will be able to tour the buildings, but a Park volunteer may be available to provide access to the Prime Minister's Cabin and the Brown House during certain times of the year. Check at the Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center (mile 51 on Skyline Drive) for more information on hiking to Rapidan Camp.
Need to Know
All tours begin and end at the Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center (mile 51 on Skyline Drive). Reservation holders should meet at the Byrd Visitor Center flagpole at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the tour. The Ranger will confirm attendance at that time. Late arrival may result in forfeiting your seats on the tour. No refunds for late arrivals.
Travel to Rapidan Camp is by van. Once at the site, participants must stay with the Ranger for the entire tour. The tour will take approximately 2.5 hours.
Wheelchairs can be accommodated on many tours; participants must supply their own wheelchair and reserve a tour slot through the Accessible Wheelchair ONLY Tour. For visitors with any mobility concerns, the 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. tours are recommended.
There is a $30 fee per vehicle to enter the park. The pass issued is valid for seven days.
Unleaded fuel is available 24/7 at Big Meadows Wayside (milepost 51.2).
Electric Vehicle charging stations are only available at Skyland Lodge (milepost 41.7)
Cell phone reception is very limited throughout the park.
Booking Windows
No specific booking information available at this time. Please continue to monitor this page for status updates on ticket releases.
Changes and Cancellations
No refunds once tour starts. See Facility Rates for fees.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
3655 Luray VA 22835
Phone Number
540-999-3500 x3283
