The Retreat
Group Tours
Bring your group for a unique and inspiring experience at Poplar Forest. Explore Jefferson’s retreat house and learn about the lives and experiences of those who lived in the plantation’s enslaved community. We offer a variety of customizable tour options so you can tailor your visit to the specific interests of your group. Contact us for additional details on what options are available at the time of your tour.
Group Tour Details
Groups of 10 or more people can schedule a group tour more than 24 hours in advance. Standard admission rates apply. Groups of 20 persons or more receive the group admission rate:
Adults
$21
Seniors (65+)
$18
College Students / Teens (12–18)
$12
Youth (6–11)
$6
Looking to bring a student group to Poplar Forest? Our school tour programs offer active learning for grades 2-12.
Learn MoreGroup tour leaders and bus drivers receive complimentary tickets with groups of 20 or more. Rates are subject to change without notice. Please note: if your group has dropped below 20 on the day of the tour, the full admission rate will be charged ($23 for adults and $20 for seniors 65+).
The guided house tour takes approximately 45 minutes. An additional 30-35 minutes should be added to your tour time for the self-guided tour of the grounds, slave quarter site and exhibit areas, if desired. We suggest at least two hours be scheduled for the entire visit to allow for disembarking and boarding the bus, use of restroom facilities, the tour, and time for to visit the Museum Shop for gifts and souvenirs.
Combo Tickets to the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA are not valid for group admission to either Poplar Forest or the D-Day Memorial. To schedule a group visit at the Memorial please contact their Director of Site Operations, Sandra Parece, at (540) 587-3619 or by email at sparece@dday.org.
For groups under 10 who wish to secure a docent separate from our regular tour times (10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. subject to docent availability) must book a private tour. Private tours for groups of any size are available for $40 for adults (age 18+) and $25 for youth (ages 6-17) by scheduling at least 24 hours in advance. These tours guarantee a personal tour for only your group with a docent. If you would like to schedule a private tour, please email Grace Lefcourt, Visitor Services and Volunteer Coordinator, at  grace@poplarforest.org.
Group Tours Policy and Information Sheet
Download NowReady to schedule your group tour?
Simply provide us with some basic information below and a staff member will contact you. If interested in booking a school group, please contact Kathy Kramer directly at kathy@poplarforest.org or 434.525.0519.
Group Tour Directions
Upon arrival, buses may proceed to the turnaround in front of the museum shop/visitor center for visitor disembarking. After unloading, bus drivers will be directed to move the bus to the lower Bus/RV parking lot. Should the tour group be running late or need additional directions, please call the Museum Shop at 434.534.8120. Written directions to both our main entrance (1776 Poplar Forest Parkway) and our service entrance (687 Poplar Forest Dr.) can be found here.