Things to Do in Yorktown, VA: A Local's Guide

The best things to do in Yorktown, VA are walking the Yorktown Battlefield, spending a few hours at the American Revolution Museum, and taking an evening stroll down the Riverwalk to the beach. Yorktown is where the British surrendered on October 19, 1781, and the town still feels like a small riverfront village built around that history. Whether you are visiting for a weekend or getting ready to move here, this guide covers the history, the waterfront, the food, and the free things locals do on a Saturday.

Explore the Yorktown Battlefield

The Yorktown Battlefield is part of Colonial National Historical Park and is the main reason most people visit.

Start at the Visitor Center

The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has an orientation film, museum exhibits, and a bookstore. There is an admission fee to enter the battlefield, so check current prices with the park before you go.

Drive the Tour Roads

The battlefield and encampment tour roads take you past the siege lines and the camps where American and French armies waited out the siege. The grounds and tour roads are open seven days a week until sunset. Stop at the Moore House, where the terms of surrender were negotiated. The house itself is closed, but you can walk the grounds.

Visit the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown tells the full story of the Revolution, from the first protests to the founding of the new nation. Plan on three to four hours.

Indoor Galleries and Film

The museum has 22,000 square feet of exhibition galleries with period artifacts, dioramas, and an experiential theater that recreates the Siege of Yorktown. The film “Liberty Fever” plays throughout the day. This is the best rainy-day option in town.

Things to Do in Yorktown With Kids

Outside, the Continental Army encampment shows daily soldier life with drills and demonstrations of 18th-century medicine. The Revolution-era farm lets kids help tend crops and play period games. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Walk Riverwalk Landing and Yorktown Beach

Riverwalk Landing is the heart of the waterfront. The mile-long Riverwalk follows the York River past shops, restaurants, and the town marina.

Riverwalk Landing

The marina has about 1,200 feet of docks, so the waterfront is busy with boats on summer weekends. In summer and fall, Riverwalk Landing hosts Thursday evening concerts. Bring a chair and get there early for a spot near the stage.

Yorktown Beach

A string of public beaches begins just east of Riverwalk Landing. The water is calm, which makes it a good spot for kids and for launching a kayak or paddleboard.

Shop Yorktown Market Days

Yorktown Market Days sets up along the Riverwalk on Saturdays with local produce, baked goods, seafood, and crafts. Throughout the year, the market runs themed weekends, such as a Go Green and Garden market, a fall festival in October, and winter markets after the main season ends. Check the York County events calendar for this year’s dates.

Get Out on the York River

Sail on the Schooner Alliance

The Schooner Alliance offers daily sails out of Yorktown through the summer season. A sunset sail is one of the most popular things to do in Yorktown for couples, so book ahead on summer weekends.

Visit the Watermen’s Museum

The Watermen’s Museum covers the lives of Chesapeake Bay watermen from before the colonists arrived to today. It has boat models and a working boatbuilding shed. It is small, so it pairs well with an afternoon at the beach.

Eat and Shop on Main Street and Water Street

Yorktown’s restaurants sit close together, so you can walk from the beach to dinner.

Water Street Grille for seafood and brick-oven pizza on the river
Carrot Tree Kitchens for baked goods and sandwiches
Yorktown Pub for a casual riverfront meal
Larry’s Yorktown for frozen lemonade and a pub menu

On Main Street, the Yorktown Bookshop sells used and rare books, and the Gallery at York Hall, Black Dog Gallery, and On the Hill Gallery show local art.

Free Things to Do in Yorktown

You can fill a full day in Yorktown without buying a ticket.

Walk the Riverwalk and swim at Yorktown Beach
Ride the free Yorktown trolley around the historic village
Browse Market Days on a Saturday morning
Catch a Thursday concert at Riverwalk Landing in summer or fall
Walk Main Street and visit the art galleries

How to Spend a Day in Yorktown

Start at the Battlefield visitor center at 9 a.m. and drive the tour roads before it gets hot. Head to the American Revolution Museum for lunch and the afternoon. Finish with dinner on Water Street, a walk on the Riverwalk, and sunset over the York River.

Thinking About Living in Yorktown?

A weekend visit is how a lot of people decide to move here. Yorktown sits in York County between Williamsburg and Newport News, with the Coleman Bridge connecting it to Gloucester across the river. Naval Weapons Station Yorktown is in the county, and the bases across Hampton Roads are within commuting distance.

If you are planning a move, our Yorktown movers work out of our office in Hayes, just across the Coleman Bridge. We handle local moves around York County, long-distance moves as a North American Van Lines agent, and military moves for families on orders. For more on the area, see our guides to things to do in Williamsburg and the PCS moving guide for Hampton Roads.

FAQs About Things to Do in Yorktown, VA

Is Yorktown, VA worth visiting?

Yes. Yorktown is where the Revolutionary War’s last major battle ended, and the Battlefield, museum, and waterfront are all close together.

How much time do you need in Yorktown?

One full day covers the main sights. Add a second day if you want a sail or a beach day.

What is free to do in Yorktown?

The Riverwalk, Yorktown Beach, the trolley, Market Days, and the summer concerts are all free.

Does Yorktown have a beach?

Yes. Public beaches start just east of Riverwalk Landing on the York River.

What can you do in Yorktown when it rains?

Visit the American Revolution Museum galleries, the Battlefield visitor center, or the Watermen’s Museum.

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