Stopped here after going to FDR’s museum, and library. Purchased tickets to tour the house as this is the only way to see inside. Well worth the $10! Great guide was full of facts, history and knowledge. There is a wonderful loop trail you should hike if you have the time. Visitors center had an interesting family tree display that tied everyone together in the family.

A very peaceful and tranquil place that's great for spending the day, walking around the park, and having a picnic. The mansion tour was excellent, worth the $10 per person (or free if you have the annual pass). The guide was very clear, understandable, and knowledgeable. Oh and also had a hint of entertainment, enough to get a chuckle out of us here and there.

If you like historic architecture and interior design, tours are offered with a guide about every hour except 12pm (confirm with the visitors center), and runs about 45 minutes. The first and second floor as well as the basement are open for viewing. Beautiful grounds and a great view across the Hudson River.

Really wonderful family activity. You walk the beautiful grounds for free or you can pay an additional $10 for the tour of inside the mansion. Our guide, was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the house and we really enjoyed our tour. We went on a weekday and didn’t have to wait to get tickets which was nice. Overall I would recommend this for a fun historical outing!

Very beautiful grounds to walk, the view of the Hudson river valley is awesome. We got there on a Tuesday and they were not giving tours of the home, only Thursday- Sunday due to staffing. The rangers were very knowledgeable of the property. We walked the gardens and I'm sure in the spring time, they are beautiful, still are mid August, but some areas have been replanted and the roses are pretty much done for the season.

Beautiful gardens! Such a nice place for an afternoon walk. The gardens are so pretty and picturesque. It's peaceful and quiet...you can visit the gardens or sit by the overlook for gorgeous views of the Hudson river. You don't visit with the goat along the way to the mansion and gardens. You need to purchase $10 tix for a one hour tour of the mansion - purchase ahead of time they do sell out. The gardens and overlook are free to explore.

A really beautiful national park site. It's free to get into the grounds and park and there's plenty of space to walk around and view the gardens. For $10 (per adult) you can take a tour of the historic mansion guided by a park ranger. The hour long tour takes you onto the first two floors and the basement of the mansion. You will likely have to take stairs to go up and down (the elevator was out of service when we visited due to lightning strikes and apparently it's hard to get repair people for an old elevator).

Very nice place! Only 2 hours drive from the city. Currently the 2nd floor is closed to the public due to COVID but they plan to (hopefully) report soon. The estate also has beautiful pictures gardens and amazing vista to Hudson River. Recommended!

Amazing! It is a very peaceful and calm place, which is great for spending the day, walking in the park. The castle tour was excellent with a fantastic guide, well done, Eric was very clear, understandable, knowledgeable and professional. It's also fun, enough to make us laugh here and there. It was a very flashy castle, full of European charm, I mean marble/stone like gold.. really impressive…

The first floor audio tour is now open! You listen via your phone, and the rooms are amazing. I downloaded the audios ahead of time in case there was poor cell reception. Audio tour must be booked in advance, $10/person. Gardens are peaceful, but lots of steep steps and no handrails. Great views of the Hudson.

Very nice park, but you must see the Mansion. They are running tours every 30 min until 5pm and it is only $10 per person for almost an hour long tour. The inside of the mansion is beautiful and it is still in its original state.

A great stop to. A “quaint” home for the Gilded Age. Having been to some other Vanderbilt homes, the retreat feel is evident. Essentially the same as the day Fredrerick passed away. A $10 tour pass gets you in the door. The tour is quite informative and a great pace. You’re free to explore the floor before the guide gives you some information, lasting about an hour. The gardens are magnificent. You could easily spend a day walking the expansive grounds.

I love this area upstate. As a kid my family would vacation in the Catskills and I was married in New Paltz however I was not really familiar with Hyde Park. So glad I am now! This mansion is on several acres of beautiful public land. You have to pay to go in the mansion. Military people and family members are allowed at no cost. The surrounding area is a park with picnickers and dog walkers etc. Beautiful and serene.

We did part of the Vanderbilt Mansion loop, on a gloomy fall day, and we didn't see many others on the trail. We took our dogs and they really enjoyed the scents and scenery. We didn't do the mansion tour, so we can't comment on that. However, we would definitely recommend it for a nice light hike with your pups!

Magnificent grounds, gardens, pathways and Hudson River views. All the buildings on the property are also quite impressive. Tickets are required for tours of the mansion, purchased first come first served at the visitor's center. National Park passes are accepted. Tour days are limited. Grounds are open daily however

AMAZING!! Let me say it again... AMAZING. Do not pass this up! Gorgeous views, rich history, beautiful gardens... list goes on and on. Small children may have a short attention span on tour. It's about 45 mins and very informational. You can freely walk around the floor in which your guide is on. **This National Site is FREE with a National Park Pass***

Beautiful mansion along the banks of the Hudson river. The views are gorgeous and the Mansion is Tastefully done the park rangers are available to give tours you need to pre purchase your ticket ahead of time on recreation.gov volunteers and Rangers are extremely helpful and knowledgeable worthwhile trip if you are in the Hudson Valley area.

Loved the mansion tour and walked around the grounds! It's a beautiful property with something for everyone. We saw many people hanging out and reading or just taking in the views. The self-guided garden tour was my favorite! The flowers were stunning!

My wife and I visited to walk through the gardens, which had much in bloom even in September. The gradens are immaculately maintained by an army of volunteers, and you can park and walk through them for free. Hard to beat on a pleasant day!

I wish I was a Vanderbilt and lived the life they did! We visited a bunch of mansions in the area today and this was my second face compared to the FDR home. Our tour guide Sharon was great! She had a lot of extra side stories about the Vanderbilts that really made the tour unique. The house is well kept and a great look into how the rich lives back in the day. Definitely a place to check out when you are in the area.

Was only able to walk the grounds and not go inside the mansion but it was beautiful. Great view of the Hudson River. There are formal gardens that shouldn’t be missed.

Visited in April 2022 from Toronto - many of the historic sites I wanted to visit had not yet opened for the season so I was glad to find Vanderbuilt offering tours. Would recommend buying tickets in advance! I didn't and the timing that I initially wanted was already sold out, so I had to go with an alternative timing. The building is one which does not appear as opulent as you might have expected on the outside (the guide explained the story behind that), but the interior was much more impressive than the exterior. The park range was excellent, I enjoyed his sense of humour and he gave a great tour - I wished that it was longer! Well worth a visit. And make sure to budget extra time to walk around the grounds.

Really what maked it so good was the tour guide we had (Erik)! So nice and knowledgeable. If you're in the area, definitely stop by. The tour is usd10 per 15 yrs and older, and lasts 40 mins. Walking in the gardens is free! Bathrooms are at the Pavillion, where you buy the tickets. Note: no A/C

Excellent place to walk, over 250 acres of green yard with trees 🌳 The mansion it's nice inside but nothing incredible I actually prefer the outside area. Anyway if you want the price is $10 kids go for free.

Very informative tour and the history of this place is interesting. Amazing architecture! If you have the America the beautiful pass this is free with that pass

Great grounds to walk around--large fields to play in, and gardens to walk around, also a hike path along the Hudson. All that is free. To go in the house you need to buy a ticket for a specific time (buy your ticket early!). A National Parks Pass covers the tour. The tour was informative and interesting.

They have scheduled tours and depending on when you get there, you may have to wait for your assigned time. The grounds are beautiful and you can definitely take a stroll in the Italian garden while waiting for your tour. The tour wasn’t as good as the Breakers because they don’t allow you in each of the rooms at all. They have a rope across the entrance to each room which really limits your ability to view each room.

Very beautiful museum grounds and inside. The tour guide park ranger so funny and informative as well. They have done nice job in telling the story of Vanderbilt family in an interesting way. The mansion is gorgeous and you get chance to explore without them rushing you and same for grounds you have lot of free time to explore without people bothering or rushing you. We found it quiet and nice spot compared to most mansions in Newport for example. It’s beautiful serene spot with nice views.

The tour was so interesting and informative! I really liked our guide, he seemed our a cool dude. The gentleman in the visitor center was also helpful and genial. The grounds here are the real spectacle though. They are absolutely gorgeous, even in the winter when the gardens are empty and the leaves bare.

A worthwhile visit. Recommend the tour of the mansion. Styled inside with European items to create the impression of old money and lineage, it’s a window to the gilded age and the 400 club.

It was an absolutely amazing time, you can walk around the gardens for free and if you want a tour, it's only $10 per guest unless you're under 15 or have a national park pass (otherwise it's free), and it was truly incredible; when you walk through the doors you feel as though you're stepping through time, and our tour guide was so kind and answered any questions to the best of her abilities

The guided tour was amazing! They really make the history of the place come alive! The grounds are sublime with ancient trees. You must meet the 190+ year old Ginko tree!

$10 mansion tour fee for a 45-minute tour. If you only have a short time frame just get out of the car and walk around the mansion and grounds. Definitely sparks the imagination of what the gilded age lifestyle must have been like. That is, for a handful of people among millions.

Touring the mansion, and walking through the beautiful extensive, grounds of this national park, are a great way to spend a pleasant afternoon. Although the mansion is not as ornate and extensive as some of the other Vanderbilt mansions, our tour guide did a wonderful job of explaining the history and background of the Vanderbilts and the property.

We have a wonderful couple of hours walking around the estate. To bad the tours were all sold out. I was told it doesn't happen often. Weekends can get busy, especially in the fall on the weekends. Advanced reservations not available. Definitely going back to visit inside the mansion next year when the beautiful gardens are in bloom.

Beautiful gardens & view of the Hudson Valley. The Vanderbilt Mansion is jaw-dropping! Original furniture and amazing tapestries! Limestone, marble, and exquisite artist carvings make this majestic "country home" of the Gilded Age a MUST SEE on anyone's bucket list! Our tour guide was extremely informative & helpful! I recommend this site as well as the Home of FDR down the road.

What wonderful grounds! While the mansion is a primary attraction, the grounds and the garden are excellent! To go inside, reservation is needed and you should get it ahead of time. Most of the time, the "day of" slots are taken so plan ahead. This is well worth the visit and spend a couple of hours here. There are trails to the Hudson River and the views are fantastic!

It was definitely a cool place, but we didn't have time to do the tour so we're not able to go inside. The gardens were very beautiful. No gift shop so we were not able to get a magnet.

Well preserved mansion and interesting story. Fredrick wasn't your typical over the top spender and it was nice to see that at least one of the Vanderbilts believed in saving money instead of just blowing it all. Even during the Victorian Era.

What an Amazing day my cousins and I had here. The sprawling property was just incredible , we felt like we were back in Tuscany. And the gardens and the Mansion were just so majestic. Make sure you dress properly,(footwear) there is alot to take in.

Very nice place, different from other Vanderbilt places. On the tour inside, only first floor was open for visit, because of pandemic. Ranger was very helpful and provided lots of information.

When the gardens are in full bloom and the fountain is running,it's a truly magical place. A great place for a picnic, to sit on the green and read or paint, or just enjoy

I have mobility issues. The staff was very accommodating and provided a wheelchair for the accessible lift entrance and elevator. The Ranger who assisted me was very pleasant, and knowledgeable about the home, the family, and the surrounding area. Our Guide was also knowledgeable, and his presentation was very informative. It was a beautiful, but chilly day. Thank you.