Nemours Estate is a 1910 Gilded Age mansion and 200-acre French-style garden in Wilmington, Delaware, built by Alfred I. duPont. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning a visit — part of my wider Philadelphia area travel guides.
This guide was last checked in August 2026. Note: Nemours Estate is seasonal — it closes for the winter after 30 December and reopens 1 April. It isn’t open year-round the way some historic house museums, such as the Riordan Mansion in Flagstaff and Belmont Mansion in Nashville are.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | 1 April–30 December, Tues–Sun, 10am–5pm (last entry 4pm). Closed Mondays and 31 December–31 March. |
| Ticket prices | Estate Day Pass: $23 adult, $21 senior/student/military/teacher, $10 child (6–16), free under 6. Garden-only pass from $12. |
| Address | 1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803 (entrance on the Nemours Children’s Hospital campus) |
| Nearest transport / parking | On-site parking; no public transit route is listed on the official site. |
| Typical time needed | Around 2 to 3 hours. |
Nemours Estate opening hours: when to visit
Nemours Estate is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm, from 1 April to 30 December, with last entry at 4pm. It is closed on Mondays, and closed entirely from 31 December through 31 March each year.
The Mansion and Chauffeur’s Garage close at 4.30pm, slightly earlier than the grounds. The Gift Shop, in the Laundry Building, is open 11am to 4.30pm.
5 great things to do in Philadelphia
- 🥖 Taste the best of Philly on a food tour – including historic Reading Market.
- 🏛️ Get to know Philadelphia’s heritage sites – on a guided walking tour.
- 🍻 Go on a pub crawl – but learn the history between beers.
- 🎨 Let a guide show you Philadelphia’s best murals and street art – including Magic Gardens.
- 🌙 Discover Philly’s dark side – on an adults-only night tour.
Nemours Estate ticket prices: how much do entry fees cost?
The 2026 Estate Day Pass, covering the Mansion, Chauffeur’s Garage, gardens and grounds, costs $23 for adults, $21 for seniors (62+), students, military and teachers, $10 for children aged 6–16, and is free for children 5 and under and disabled veterans. A “Deux” pass for 2 adults costs $40, and a family pass for 2 adults plus up to 4 children costs $43.
A cheaper Garden Day Pass, covering only the gardens and grounds, costs $12 for adults, $10 for concessions, and $5 for children. ACCESS and Museums for All EBT cardholders can buy discounted tickets at the Ticket House on the day of their visit.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026. Check the official site for current details or to buy tickets online.
Nemours Estate is not part of any bundled regional attraction pass. It is, however, one of several duPont family estates clustered in the nearby “Chateau Country” area of the Brandywine Valley, alongside Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library and Hagley Museum, each ticketed separately.
How to get to Nemours Estate: transport guide
The entrance to Nemours Estate is located on the campus of Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware; visitors should follow signposts for “Nemours Estate” once on site. The official site does not list a public transport route, so driving is the main way to arrive.
The nearest major airport is Philadelphia International, roughly a 30 to 40-minute drive away.
Parking at Nemours Estate
On-site parking is available at the entrance, though the official site does not state a parking fee. Parking lots cannot accommodate buses, so group tours arrive by other arrangement.
How long to spend at Nemours Estate
Most visitors spend around 2 to 3 hours exploring the Mansion, Chauffeur’s Garage and Gardens. Since the experience is largely self-guided, with Estate guides stationed around the property to answer questions, the pace is flexible.
Comfortable walking shoes are strongly encouraged, since the grounds cover 200 acres, though transport for guests who need it is available on request.
Accessibility at Nemours Estate
The Mansion is ADA-accessible, as are the paved roads running through the property. The gardens and grounds themselves are not listed as ADA-accessible, given their scale and varied terrain.
Strollers are permitted in the Gardens but not inside the Mansion, and baby-changing facilities and breastfeeding areas are available in the Mansion. Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are welcome; pets are not.
Inside Nemours Estate: what to see
The 47,000-square-foot Mansion, built in 1910 by architects Carrère and Hastings in just 18 months, holds 77 rooms of art, furniture and period technology, along with the stories of the household staff who ran it. Visits are self-guided, with guides on hand throughout to answer questions.
The 200-acre Gardens were modelled on the gardens at the Palace of Versailles, with fountains, mazes, towers and monuments set across formal grounds and woodland trails. The Chauffeur’s Garage, built in 1914, displays the duPont family’s vintage car collection, including Rolls-Royces and Cadillacs.
Regular programming includes guided Mansion tours, “Behind the Ropes” tours into areas not normally open to the public, and evening “Third Thursday” events with live music, food trucks, beer and wine. Current listings are on the official events page.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arriving soon after the 10am opening allows more time before the Mansion’s earlier 4.30pm closing. |
| Crowds | Weekends and Third Thursday evening events tend to be busiest; a weekday visit is generally quieter. |
| Layout | The estate covers 200 acres, so comfortable walking shoes make the visit easier. |
| Entry process | Reservations aren’t required; tickets can be bought online in advance or on arrival. |
| On-site logistics | Picnics are encouraged on the grounds, but bring a blanket, as picnic tables are limited. |
Frequently asked questions about Nemours Estate
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Nemours Estate open year-round? | No, it’s open 1 April to 30 December, Tuesday to Sunday, and closed through the winter months. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Nemours Estate? | No, reservations aren’t required, though tickets can be bought online ahead of a visit. |
| Is Nemours Estate wheelchair accessible? | The Mansion and paved roads are ADA-accessible; the gardens and grounds are not. |
| Are dogs allowed at Nemours Estate? | Pets aren’t permitted, but trained service animals are welcome. |
| Is there a gift shop at Nemours Estate? | Yes, in the Laundry Building next to the Mansion, open 11am to 4.30pm. |
Things to do near Nemours Estate
- Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library: Another duPont family estate with an extensive Americana collection, about a 15-minute drive away.
- Hagley Museum and Library: The duPont family’s original powder mill site and early home, roughly a 20-minute drive away.
- Longwood Gardens: A large public garden originally developed by the duPont family, about a 30-minute drive away.
- Philadelphia Museum of Art: A major art museum, roughly a 40-minute drive away.
- Museum of the American Revolution: A history museum in Philadelphia’s Old City, about a 40-minute drive away.
- Penn Museum: An archaeology and anthropology museum at the University of Pennsylvania, roughly a 40-minute drive away.
Alternative attractions to visit
- Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia: A major art collection displayed in a purpose-built mansion setting, roughly a 40-minute drive away.
- Rodin Museum, Philadelphia: A smaller museum built around a formal garden, about a 40-minute drive away.
- Dumbarton Oaks, Washington DC: A historic estate with formal gardens and a research library, roughly a 2-hour drive away.
More Philadelphia area attraction guides
Other Philadelphia area travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Tips and practical information for visiting the Liberty Bell Center.
- Nip over the border to the Battleship New Jersey.
- Practical guide to visiting the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia.
- What to expect at the Independence Seaport Museum.
- State parks near Philadelphia: Visitor guides to Marsh Creek State Park, Neshaminy State Park and Benjamin Rush State Park.
