Last Updated: 4/22/23

Things To Do in Colonial Williamsburg After 3 P.M.

Sometimes you only have the end of the day for all the best things to do in Colonial Williamsburg. I’d been dreaming of Colonial Williamsburg ever since I realized that the Williamsburg, VA in American Girl Doll Felicity’s story was real.

But sometimes (often) living in northern Minnesota isn’t the most advantageous home base for a travel blogger. An early season snowstorm delayed my flight and I rolled into Richmond International Airport about 20 hours behind schedule. What was meant to be a full day of exploring Colonial Williamsburg in November 2018 turned into a very abbreviated late afternoon/early evening visit.

By the time we arrived at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, the afternoon shadows were long. With most Colonial Williamsburg attractions closing in just over an hour, our kind cashier made it clear she didn’t think there were many things to do; she made our passes good for the next day as well.

However, we found plenty of things to do in Colonial Williamsburg during our late afternoon and early evening visit. If you’ve found yourself with only a partial day in Colonial Williamsburg, don’t despair! This Colonial Williamsburg guide will help you make the best of a late afternoon and/or after dark visit! 

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Introduction to Colonial Williamsburg

Maybe you’re not familiar with Colonial Williamsburg and you’re wondering why you should visit in morning, afternoon, evening, or any other time.

Before we do a deep dive into the best things to do at Colonial Williamsburg, let talk a little bit about its history, where it is, and why it’s worth visiting. 

What is Colonial Williamsburg?

Colonial Williamsburg strives to recreate the mid 18th century prior to the American Revolution. When you walk down the cobblestones of Colonial Williamsburg, you’ve returned to a time when England still ruled over the American colonies.

You often see Colonial Williamsburg described as a “theme park.” The description works on a literal level. After all, it is a park with an 18th century Virginia theme. But to be clear, Colonial Williamsburg is a far cry from the other big tourist draw to Williamsburg, VA: Busch Gardens.

You’ll also see it billed as a “living history museum.” This description doesn’t quite take in the vast scope of Colonial Williamsburg, which covers several city blocks and include shops, squares, restaurants, and taverns.

It reminded me most of the historical park Old Fort William outside Thunder Bay, Ontario. While Old Fort William is significantly smaller than Colonial Williamsburg, it uses the same immersive method of to scale period buildings and historical interpreters in period dress to tell the story of a particular moment in history.

Despite the ocean separating the colonies from the crown, London might feel surprisingly close during your time at Colonial Williamsburg. It’s not uncommon for as soldiers wearing British red coats to march down the streets. Peep in shop windows to find the “latest” London wares.

A Brief History of Colonial Williamsburg

In 1699, Williamsburg became the capitol of the Virginia colony. It continued in that role until 1780, when the capitol moved further inland to its present location in Richmond. Yep, that means it was the capitol of Virginia for the majority of the American Revolutionary War. 

By the early 20th century, Williamsburg was essentially a college town, centered around the College of William and Mary. However, many of the Colonial Era buildings remained. Rev. Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, rector of Williamsburg’s Bruton Parish Church, had spearheaded the restoration of the 18th century church in the early 1900s and was inspired to continue his restoration efforts around town.

With financial support from the Rockefeller family, Goodwin basically restored the entire Colonial capitol town. More than 700 buildings that had been built after 1790 were demolished in the process. The Governor’s Palace and Capitol Building were completely reconstructed. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited in 1934, he declared the Duke of Gloucester Street, “the most historic avenue in all of America.”

The immersive elements in Colonial Williamsburg began with tavern wait staff dressed in 18th century clothing. Soon after, historic reenactors began interpreting Colonial crafts. Colonial Williamsburg has continued to expand and adapt its historical interpretation in its nearly 100 years of operations to include stories of America’s founding fathers, Black Americans, American Indians, and more.

Is it worth visiting Colonial Williamsburg as an adult?

Open as a tourist attraction since the 1930s, there’s no denying that Colonial Williamsburg has commercializing history down to a tee. That doesn’t mean it isn’t cool. The moment you step off the shuttle bus from the very modern visitor center, you really do feel like you’ve stepped into Colonial America.

If you enjoy immersive experiences and don’t get too hung up on details, I think anyone with the right mindset can have a great time at Colonial Williamsburg, regardless of age. Granted I’m pretty skilled at suspending my disbelief and I have zero issue visiting tourist attraction designed with children in mind. (I see you Wizarding World of Harry Potter.) I also love a good street scene museum exhibit like in Cincinnati or Grand Rapids, MI.

While Colonial Williamsburg does suffer from some common theme park trappings like seriously underwhelming food offerings, over all it does an excellent job of capturing a moment in time without feeling contrived or folksy. That said, it just doesn’t have the same organic feel as walking the Freedom Trail in Boston.

While I prefer when historic buildings blend in with modern architecture, if you’re looking to simulate time travel, you can’t do much better than a visit to Colonial Williamsburg.

How much time do you need in Colonial Williamsburg?

Definitely more time than we had!

If our travels had gone to plan, we would have arrived Colonial Williamsburg in the 9 o’clock hour and attended the “Welcome to Williamsburg” 10 a.m. orientation on the Courthouse steps. From there, we probably would have visited the historic trades and sites, grabbed lunch in a tavern, done some shopping, and toured the museums and Governor’s Palace.

Overall, if you’re an adult with a passive interest in Colonial history, I’d say you’ll run out of things to do in Colonial Williamsburg after about 5-6 hours.

If you have all day to experience Colonial Williamsburg, I’d probably recommend taking a little break from the historic park in the mid-afternoon (maybe head to Huntington Beach outside Newport News?) and then return after dark for a ghost tour.

A Quick Guide to Colonial Williamsburg

Where is Colonial Williamsburg?

You’ll find Colonial Williamsburg not far from the Atlantic Ocean on the spit of land between the James and York Rivers. This area was extremely significant in American history. You’ll sometime hear Colonial Williamsburg referred to as part of the “Historic Triangle.” The other two points of the historic triangle are Yorktown and Jamestown. 

The historic park is the best-known attraction in the small town of about 15,000 residents. In addition to Colonial Williamsburg, “non-Colonial” Williamsburg hosts the College of William and Mary, a golf course, and Busch Gardens.

While you could technically visit Colonial Williamsburg as a day trip from Washington DC, it would be a very long day of driving. Believe it or not, I actually think it would be easier to dovetail a visit to Colonial Williamsburg into a Coastal Carolinas road trip or a trip to the Outer Banks. However, I really think it works best as a day trip from a closer locale like Richmond, VA, which is where we spent the rest of our long weekend.

Getting To Colonial Williamsburg

If you’re going to visit Colonial Williamsburg, you’re going to need a car. There’s essentially no public transportation that takes you directly to Colonial Williamsburg except for some poky buses. While you won’t need a car during your actual visit to Colonial Williamsburg, there’s really no way to get yourself to the Visitor Center without one.

If you’re flying in, the most convenient airport is the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. From there, you can grab a rental car and make an easy 25-minute drive up to Colonial Williamsburg.

However, if you’re planning to do more during your visit than the Historic Triangle (Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown) you may prefer to fly into Richmond International Airport, about a 45-minute drive west of Colonial Williamsburg.

Drivetimes to Colonial Williamsburg

Newport News, VA to Colonial Williamsburg: 25 minutes
Richmond, VA to Colonial Williamsburg: 45 minutes
Norfolk, VA to Colonial Williamsburg: 1 hour
Washington DC to Colonial Williamsburg: 2.5 hours
Durham, NC to Colonial Williamsburg: 3 hours

Getting Around Colonial Williamsburg

Once you’ve reach the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, you can depend on the Colonial Williamsburg shuttle to get around the park. This free shuttle bus runs approximately every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. every day.

The shuttle makes 8 stops starting at the Visitor Center and runs in a clockwise circle stopping at the Capitol, Tavern, Market House, Williamsburg Lodge, Museums, Merchant Square, and Governor’s Palace.

Once you’re in Colonial Williamsburg proper, the park is extremely walkable. You could also use a bike to get to further flung points of interest.

Colonial Williamsburg Hours

Colonial Williamsburg is open every day of the year. As always, it’s best to double check operating hours right before your visit.

Tickets available in Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center: 8:45 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Colonial Williamsburg Historic Trades and Sites: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Colonial Williamsburg Shops: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (but can vary)

Colonial Williamsburg Museums: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Colonial Williamsburg Taverns: Varies, but dinner service usually concludes at 8 p.m.

Colonial Williamsburg Shuttle: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Free Visitor Center Parking: 8:45 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Colonial Williamsburg Tickets

An adult single day ticket costs $49.99, while kids ages 6-12 get in for $29.99. If you’ll be in the area multiple days, you’ll save with the three-day ticket for $59.99 for adults and $33.99 for kids 6-12.

Colonial Williamsburg offers all sorts of different ticket promotions including discounts for Williamsburg and Virginia residents, annual passes, and ticket packages that include admission to both Colonial Williamsburg and nearby Busch Gardens.

If you’re just interested in seeing the art museums at Colonial Williamsburg, a discounted ticket is available for just museum admission.

If you opt to stay on site at one of the Colonial Williamsburg Inns, you’ll receive free admission for the length of your stay.

Things To Do in Colonial Williamsburg in the Late Afternoon/Evening

Don’t write off Colonial Williamsburg just because you’re arriving late in the day. There are still plenty of things to do in Colonial Williamsburg in the late afternoon and evening. Here’s a round-up of the best things to do in Colonial Williamsburg even with a late start.

Check out Colonial Williamsburg historic sites . . . fast

Chances are, if you’re showing up to Colonial Williamsburg this late, things went off the rails at some point today. So, take my next piece of advice with a grain of salt. If you want to make the most of your afternoon visit, do a little research beforehand to prioritize 2 or 3 historic sites you really want to see before they close at 5 p.m.

Colonial Williamsburg operates its historic trade sites on a rotating schedule, so it’s best to have 4-5 sites you’re interested in seeing since they likely won’t all be open during your visit. Open trades have a flag flying in front.

The late afternoon is an excellent time to explore the Governor’s Palace. Guided tours of the Governor’s Palace run every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. After 4 p.m. you can wander through the Palace at your own pace until the building closes at 5 p.m.

Other historic sites to check out include the Capitol, Courthouse, and the African American Religion Exhibit. We got lured into R. Charlston’s Coffeehouse by a very proactive reenactor who promised hot chocolate and coffee on the last 15-minute tour of the day. While the hot chocolate was tasty, I would have preferred to have checked out a different historic site such as the nearby Capitol in our dwindling time.

Catch the last Fife and Drum march of the day

Even if you arrive in the late afternoon, chances are, you’re not too late to catch one of the most iconic things to do in Colonial Williamsburg. A couple times a day, a military style band dressed in 18th century red and blue British uniforms processes eastward down the Duke of Gloucester Street playing fifes and drums. Most days, the last Fife and Drum march starts at 4:40 p.m.

Buy your ginger cakes from Raleigh Tavern Bakery by 5 p.m.

To be fair, my friend Sarah didn’t have much interest in Colonial Williamsburg, but came along because she’s a kind, obliging friend. The one thing she had heard about and wanted to try was a ginger cake from the Raleigh Tavern Bakery. As soon as our tour of R. Charlston’s Coffeehouse concluded, right at 5 p.m., natch, we burst out the coffeehouse door and sprinted the half a block to the bakery.

When we arrive, the bakery staff looked pained and sadly informed us they’d just powered down their Point of Sale program. Wow, way to ruin the 18th century vibe, am I right? Moral of the story: to score a Colonial Williamsburg ginger cake, arrive at the bakery no later than 4:58 p.m.

Pro tip: If you miss out on ginger cakes, they are occasionally available in Colonial Williamsburg’s online store.

Do some shopping

While Colonial Williamsburg historic sites and shops shutter up at 5 p.m. sharp, the actual gift shops – you know, where you can buy replica 18th century china and assorted other colonial souvenirs – stay open until 6 p.m.

John Greenhow Store or the Market House right off the Duke of Gloucester Street are your most charming shopping options. In the Merchants Square on the far west end of the park, you’ll find Everything Williamsburg as well as the home décor shop, Brick & Vine. Williamsburg Revolutions Shop in the Visitor Center is also open until 6 p.m.

Tour the Colonial Williamsburg Art Museums

If you’d prefer to do something a little more culturally significant during the 5 o’clock hour at Colonial Williamsburg, consider checking out one or both of the historic park’s well reviewed art museums. Located on the park’s west end near Merchants Square, you can tour either Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum or the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum.

The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum houses more than 7000 examples of 18th, 19th, and 20th century folk art. In the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, you’ll find fine art and decorative artifacts from 1670-1840 Britain and America. Special exhibits rotate in and out of each museum throughout the year.

Walk around the grounds

Probably the best thing to do at Colonial Williamsburg in the late afternoon is to walk the grounds. The meticulously restored 18th century landscape of Colonial Williamsburg is truly a site to be seen. Even if you can’t go inside them, take some time marvel over the park’s Georgian architecture.

With few visitors milling around in the streets, it’s actually easier to imagine yourself magically transported back to Colonial times at this time of day. In the Market Square near the Courthouse, you can pose in the stockade. Pop over to the Governor’s Palace to do the hedge maze.

Go to the spa

This definitely isn’t the most colonial thing to do in Williamsburg, but after nearly 24 hours of travel delays and headaches, I could have used a spa appointment during my visit! The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg is located in between the Williamsburg Lodge and Williamsburg Inn, just south of the Duke of Gloucester Street. They offer massage, nail care, body treatment, skincare, and salon service until 6 p.m. every day.

Eat at a tavern

Three of Colonial Williamsburg’s taverns – Chowning’s, King’s Arms, and Christiana Campbell’s – are open for dinner from 4 – 8 p.m. most days of the week. (Check Colonial Williamsburg’s website for dining availability in realtime.)  If you don’t have a reservation, period reenactors provide entertainment outside the taverns while you wait for an open table.

We opted for Chowning’s Tavern, a busy pub style restaurant. As we perused and commented on the menu, the lady at the table next to us leaned over to tell us the Brunswick Stew was really good. Based on her recommendation, we ended up with the Beef Trencher, the Brunswick Stew and a punch bowl.

We really enjoyed the busy atmosphere of the tavern and got a kick out of playing a colonial dice game while we waited for our food. While I definitely would have been sad not to dine in a Colonial Williamsburg tavern, our meal wasn’t especially good.

I’ve watched enough Townsends to suspect that the food wasn’t particularly historically accurate. If you opt to dine in a tavern, know that you’re paying for the experience rather than an exceptional meal.

Go on a ghost tour

As you might expect, Colonial Williamsburg offers nightly ghost tours. In addition to “Haunted Williamsburg,” the park also has a “junior” ghost story experience for kids 4 and up. There are also multiple other ghost tour companies in Williamsburg not associated with historic park.

Our ghost tour was definitely the highlight of our visit. Even in the dark, the hour-long tour help us see a little more Colonial Williamsburg as we stopped at the James Geddy house, trekked around the Market Square, to the back side of the Randolph House, past the Prentis Store and ending at the Prentis House.

I can’t say either Sarah or I suffered much of a fright on the tour. The tour of course ended with the oft-used ghost tour trope about making sure not to leave any unfinished business behind us when we die.

Check out evening programs

In addition to nightly ghost tours, Colonial Williamsburg usually offers a cadre of other evening programs. Open to the public, these events include historical reenactments, concerts, light shows, and more. You need to purchase a ticket for all evening programs. You can swing into the Lumber House Ticket Office until 8:30 p.m. to snag those tickets.

Check out these other things to do in Colonial Williamsburg during your visit

My Best Tips For Visiting Colonial Williamsburg Late 

Don’t buy an admission ticket

If you’re arriving to Colonial Williamsburg as late as I was, you can probably get away with not buying an admission ticket. Your admission ticket just allows you inside the historic sites, museums, and lets you attend tours and other daytime programming.

Although this isn’t abundantly clear on their website, you don’t need an admission ticket to walk around Colonial Williamsburg or dine in the taverns. All evening programs are open to the public and require their own ticket.

During our whirlwind visit, we only went inside two historic sites and at one, the apothecary shop, we didn’t even stay for their presentation. Which means – yes, you’re absolutely correct – I paid $50 to have “free” hot chocolate in R. Charlston’s Coffeehouse. Had I realized this beforehand, I would have happily skipped the coffeehouse and spent the rapidly dwindling daylight exploring the rest of Colonial Williamsburg.

If you decide to skip going inside Colonial Williamsburg historic sites, head for the free public parking lots near the Art Museum and Merchants Square. This puts you in a perfect position to navigate the park without utilizing the Visitor Center shuttle bus.

Make a dinner reservation

As you might expect, when all the historic sites close down at 5 p.m. everyone left in the park suddenly thinks it’s a great time to grab dinner at one of the taverns. If you want to avoid waiting for a table, make a reservation ahead of time using the Colonial Williamsburg website.

Consider packing your own food

I know I just told you how to snag a dinner reservation, but I’ll echo the oft-mentioned sentiment that you should plan to bring your own food to Colonial Williamsburg. While we both enjoyed the experience of dining in Chowning’s Tavern, the menu made the food sound so exciting and lovely and when it arrived, it was . . . fine. If you want to save some $$ during your visit, packing your own food is easy place to start.

Don’t use the shuttle

While the free parking and shuttle bus at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center are convenient, if you’re pressed for time, don’t stand around waiting for the shuttle. Instead, park in one of the three free lots near the art museums on the park’s west end. This will shoot you right into the park and helps you make the most of your limited time.

Where To Stay in Colonial Williamsburg

Your Colonial Williamsburg experience doesn’t have to end just because you’re ready for bed.

You can actually spend the night in several buildings in Colonial Williamsburg. Accommodations range from small single room dwellings to tavern rooms. If you prefer more standard lodging, check out the Williamsburg Lodge or the Woodlands Hotel & Suites right on the edge of the park.

Other budget friendly, but further afield options include the Hampton Inn & Suites Richmond Rd and the Club Wyndham Kingsgate. Both are located within three miles of the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center.

For a more intimate experience, consider staying in one of the town’s numerous bed and breakfasts suc