The John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site is the birthplace and childhood home of President John F. Kennedy, in Brookline, Massachusetts. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in July 2026. New exhibits have just been installed in the visitor center for the 2026 season, and it’s worth knowing that guided tours run only during set morning and afternoon windows, with self-guided visits limited to the hours in between.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Thu–Sun, 10am–5pm, through 30 October 2026; closed Mon–Wed |
| Ticket prices | Free; all tours are free of charge |
| Address | 83 Beals Street, Brookline, MA 02446 |
| Nearest transport/parking | MBTA Green Line (C to Coolidge Corner or B to Babcock Street); free 2-hour parking on Beals Street |
| Typical time needed | 45 minutes–1 hour |
The John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site opening hours
The John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site reopened for the 2026 season on 29 May, the anniversary of JFK’s birth, and remains open through 30 October 2026. During the season, it’s open Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, and closed Monday to Wednesday.
Guided tours of JFK’s birthplace run on the hour and half-hour from 10am to 11:30am and 1pm to 3:30pm; self-guided visits aren’t available during these windows. Between 12pm and 1pm, and 4pm and 5pm, only self-guided visits are offered. Outside the regular season, from November to late May, tours can sometimes be arranged by appointment on Wednesdays and Fridays, with at least two weeks’ notice; weekend tours aren’t available off-season.
5 great Boston experiences to book
- ⚾ See why Boston has America’s most beloved baseball ground on a Fenway Park tour.
- 🚶 Get a history crash course on a small group walking tour along the Freedom Trail.
- 🌅 See the skyline from the water on a sunset harbour cruise.
- 🎓 Hear the stories behind America’s oldest university on a campus walking tour of Harvard University.
- 🍩 Indulge in Boston’s best donuts on a sweet treats walking tour.
The John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site ticket prices
There is no charge to visit the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site. All guided and self-guided tours are free.
Groups of five or more should reserve a guided tour in advance; smaller groups and individuals are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis.
As a fee-free NPS site, it’s not part of paid citywide passes such as Go City Boston or Boston CityPASS.
Opening hours and fee information were checked on the official John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site pages and last updated in July 2026.
Why book the Go City Boston Pass?
- 🏛️ 45+ Top Attractions: Enjoy admission to Boston’s most iconic sites, including the Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, and the View Boston observation deck.
- 🚌 CityView Trolley Tour: Get your bearings and travel between major landmarks with an included hop-on hop-off trolley ticket that covers the city’s historic districts.
- 👣 Freedom Trail & History: Step back into the American Revolution with guided walking tours of the Freedom Trail and entry to the Paul Revere House and Old State House.
- 💰 Exceptional Value: Save up to 50% compared to purchasing individual gate tickets, making it the most cost-effective way to see the city’s premier highlights.
- 📱 Total Digital Convenience: Simply scan your pass from your smartphone for entry and use the included digital guidebook to plan your custom itinerary on the go.
How to get to the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
By subway, take the MBTA Green Line C branch to Coolidge Corner, then walk four blocks north on Harvard Street and turn right onto Beals Street. Alternatively, take the B branch to Babcock Street, walk four blocks south, turn right onto Manchester Street, left onto Stedman Street, then take the right fork onto Beals Street.
MBTA Bus 66 stops at the corner of Shailer and Harvard Streets, about a block from the site. By car from the east or west, follow I-90/Massachusetts Turnpike to the Allston/Brighton exit, merge onto Cambridge Street, then turn left onto Harvard Street after about a mile and left onto Beals Street.
Parking at the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
Free, two-hour street parking is available directly on Beals Street. No dedicated visitor parking lot is provided on site.
How long to spend at the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
Most visitors spend 45 minutes to an hour at the site, including a guided or self-guided tour of the birthplace home.
Accessibility at the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
The Visitor Center, in the home’s basement, is fully wheelchair accessible via an exterior lift at the rear of the house, with an accessible restroom and seating available.
The first and second floors of the historic house are not wheelchair accessible. The first floor is reached by six exterior porch steps or 13 interior basement stairs, and the second floor by a further 15 steep, narrow stairs; walkers aren’t permitted upstairs. Visitors unable to manage the stairs can watch online virtual tours of both floors, narrated by rangers, on the park website or NPS app.
Inside the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site: what to see
The birthplace home was recreated by Rose Kennedy, who worked with the National Park Service to reflect her own memories of the family’s early years there.
The dining room displays the fine china and silver Rose Kennedy received as a wedding gift.
The nursery displays the Kennedy children’s christening gown alongside the shared bassinet in which all the Kennedy children slept.
Rose Kennedy’s own memories shape the presentation throughout the house, since she worked directly with the National Park Service to recreate the rooms as she remembered them.
The new 2026 exhibits in the visitor center are recently installed displays intended to enhance the overall visitor experience, according to the National Park Service.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive during a guided-tour window if you want a ranger-led visit, since self-guided time is limited. |
| Crowds | The site is small, so guided-tour slots can fill on weekends; arriving early helps. |
| Layout | Begin in the basement Visitor Center before following the tour route through the house. |
| Entry process | Groups of five or more should reserve ahead; smaller parties can just show up. |
| On-site logistics | Free street parking on Beals Street is limited to two hours, so plan your visit accordingly. |
Frequently asked questions about the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site free to visit? | Yes, all tours, guided and self-guided, are free of charge. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | Only groups of five or more need to reserve; individuals and smaller groups can just arrive. |
| Is the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site open on Mondays? | No, it’s closed Monday to Wednesday during the regular season; it opens Thursday to Sunday. |
| Is the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site wheelchair accessible? | The basement Visitor Center is accessible, but the house’s upper floors involve stairs. |
| Can you visit any time of day? | No, guided tours run at set times, and self-guided visits are limited to specific windows in between. |
Things to do near the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
The Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, the home and office of the landscape architect, is about a mile away.
Olmsted Park, part of Boston’s Emerald Necklace, is a short walk away.
Coolidge Corner, a shopping and dining district, is about a 10-minute walk away.
Brookline Village, with restaurants and MBTA connections, is about a 15-minute walk away.
Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, is about a 15-minute drive away.
What to visit tomorrow
The John Adams National Historical Site in Quincy, the birthplace of two US presidents, is about 30 minutes away.
The Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site in Cambridge, once used by George Washington, is about 20 minutes away.
The Paul Revere House in Boston’s North End, the colonial-era home of the American patriot, is about 20 minutes away.
The House of the Seven Gables in Salem, a 17th-century mansion tied to Nathaniel Hawthorne, is about 45 minutes away.
The Old Manse in Concord, home to both Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne, is about 40 minutes away.
More Boston travel
Other Boston travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Review of the JFK Presidential Library and Museum.
- Tackle the key sites on the Freedom Trail: The Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, Paul Revere House and the Old North Church.
- Use the Boston CityPass to visit the New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, Franklin Park Zoo and View Boston observation deck.
- Go back in time at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum.
- What you need to know about the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.
