Two animals are tied to a wooden frame in the interior of a large adobe structure.

National Historic Site

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

visit on nps.gov

Info

In the 1840s the Arkansas River was the border between territory claimed by the United States and Mexico. Located along the river, Bent's Fort was an adobe trading post on the Santa Fe Trail, where traders, trappers, travelers, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes came together in peaceful terms for trade. Today, a reconstructed fort allows visitors to explore the front line of Westward Expansion.

Park Photos

Two animals are tied to a wooden frame in the interior of a large adobe structure.
1 of 10

Horse and Mule in the Plaza

Credit: NPS Photo

Two animals are tied to a wooden frame in the interior of a large adobe structure.
Bent's Old Fort with shortgrass prairie in foreground and blue sky and clouds above
Wooden boxes and buffalo furs are scattered around a plaza inside an adobe fortification.
Bent's Old Fort with shortgrass prairie, tepee and wagon in foreground and blue sky & clouds above
bundles of glass trade beads tied together hang from a wooden rafter
An adobe fort with lights under a starry sky
Bent's Old Fort in background with wagon in front; fall yellow cottonwood leaves in foreground
A Conestoga wagon and a solar race car stand on a road with a large adobe fort in the background
A row of saddles are arrayed along a wooden beam near an adobe building
A wooden counter is in the foreground of a trade room, with sales items on display in the background

Activities

Arts and Culture
Craft Demonstrations
Cultural Demonstrations
Guided Tours
Self-Guided Tours - Walking
Living History
Junior Ranger Program
Museum Exhibits
Bookstore and Park Store
Biking
Road Biking
Hiking
Wildlife Watching
Birdwatching
Park Film
Shopping
Gift Shop and Souvenirs

Passes

Operating Hours

The park grounds are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on New Year's Day, the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr, Washington's Birthday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. During the off-season [October-March annually], the grounds are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except for the holidays listed above. Access into the reconstructed fort on a separate schedule—see the event calendar for hours of operation on scheduled plaza access days.

DayHours
Friday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Monday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Sunday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Tuesday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Saturday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Thursday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Wednesday
9:00AM - 4:00PM

Weather info

Summer temperatures are often in the high 90s and low 100s. Weather is generally fair in the fall and spring. Winter temperatures can be below freezing. Most of the fort is unheated and does not have modern cooling systems, so dress accordingly.

Events