No, we did not pay a state park fee. When you get to the attraction, there is free parking near the Visitor's Center. We had made reservations on line, so when you go in, there is an information booth to show you where the will call window is to pick up the tickets.
How much does it cost to go to Hearst Castle?
There is an $8.00 per ticket registration fee to reserve tickets. Changes to tour date or time can be made in advance for a service fee of $8.00 per ticket. Cancelled reservations will be assessed a $7.00 cancellation fee. Hearst Castle Tour times and hours vary by season, with most scheduled from 9:00am.
What is included in my Tickets for the Hearst Castle tour?
Your tickets for daytime tours also include admission to the Hearst Castle Theater film “ Hearst Castle – Building the Dream. ” (For the Evening Tours, movie tickets can be purchased separately at a discounted price.)
How far in advance can I reserve tickets for Hearst Castle?
Reserve tickets online up to 60 days in advance to tour Hearst Castle, a museum unlike any other in the USA — and one that's not to be missed.
What is the purpose of the Hearst Castle?
Hearst Castle is the only art museum operated by California State Parks and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. In conceiving his San Simeon estate, William Randolph Hearst and architect Julia Morgan created a unique showplace where old and new works of art were commingled to amuse ]
Can you go to Hearst Castle for free?
Entry is Free. The Museum is free. You can purchase food, including beef from the Hearst Ranch, and gifts, including replicas of artifacts from the Castle, and tickets for the bus tours to take you to the top of the hill to see Hearst Castle.
How much does Hearst Castle cost?
Reserve online now or call Hearst Castle Reservations at 1-800-444-4445. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance....Ticket Pricing.ToursAdultChildren (Ages 5-12)Accessibly Designed Evening Tour$41.00$20.00Accessibly Designed Holiday Twilight Tour$35.00$17.0010 more rows
Do you have to take a tour at Hearst Castle?
Although everyone is saying you can only explore the gift shop without a tour purchased, you are however allowed to explore outside the castle (including the two pools) unsupervised and without a tour guide. You do however need to purchase a tour to get a seat on the bus that takes you up the road to the castle.
How long does Hearst Castle tour take?
The Grand Rooms Tour is 60 minutes long and includes approximately 140 steps, both up and down, and 2/3-mile walk. An Accessibly Designed Grand Rooms Tour is also available for those who may have difficulty standing and walking for extended periods of time. It is wheelchair accessible.
Can you take pictures at Hearst Castle?
Personal photography is permitted inside and outside the buildings for personal enjoyment. Tripods are not allowed but monopods may be used. Flash photography is permitted outside only. Commercial photography or filming at Hearst Castle requires a film permit and the prior approval of the Museum Director.
Can you spend the night at Hearst Castle?
You can't stay overnight at Hearst Castle, but you can bunk down at Hearst's Hacienda near King City and the tiny town of Jolon. That's a bit of a drive from the castle.
Is San Simeon worth visiting?
Is San Simeon Worth Visiting? Absolutely yes! If you just drive on Highway 1 and you don't know about San Simeon you might just miss it because it is such a small place.
Why is the Hearst Castle closed?
The former estate of media magnate William Randolph Hearst had been closed to visitors for more than two years due to COVID-19 precautions and a $13.7 million project to repair about half of the storm-damaged access road that connects the Visitor Center to the hilltop.
Can you go inside Hurst castle?
Henry VIII's Tudor castle is now open for visitors to explore daily with refreshments available from outside the castle entrance. The castle's Victorian east and west wings remain closed, whilst English Heritage's conservation and repair project is ongoing, with the entrance fee reduced accordingly.
Which tour is best at Hearst Castle?
Grand Rooms TourGrand Rooms Tour – This 60 minute tour includes all the grand social rooms of Casa Grande (the largest house at Hearst Castle), including the Assembly Room, Dining Room (Refectory), Billiard Room, and Private Theater. This is the most popular tour and is recommended for first-time visitors.
Can you swim in the Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle?
Following the two-year closure of Hearst Castle, only members of The Foundation at Hearst Castle and their guests may swim in the Neptune Pool. A handful of vital fundraising experiences are scheduled for 2022, limited to 40 guests each, so make your reservation today.
Is San Simeon open?
COVID-19. San Simeon is open and excited to welcome visitors back to our coastal getaway.
How much is the Hearst family worth today?
Today, Hearst Communications generates annual revenues of around $11.5 billion (£8.5bn), and the Hearst family is worth $21 billion (£15.4bn) according to Forbes, making them the 12th richest family in America.
How much is the Hearst estate worth?
$63.1 millionAuction of legendary Hearst Estate in L.A. ends with final price of $63.1 million.
Who owns Hearst Castle?
Hearst himself spent time at the castle throughout its nearly 30-year construction, from 1919 until 1947. He died in 1951. It was first open to the public in 1958, and 700,000 people visit annually. It's now owned and operated by the California State Park system.
Why is Hearst Castle temporarily closed?
The 127-acre estate of media magnate William Randolph Hearst was originally designed by architect Julia Morgan over 100 years ago and has been shut down since March 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The attraction then remained closed after a storm caused damage to its access road in January of 2021.
What to do at Hearst Castle?
Hearst Castle also offers a variety of options for group tours and school tours.
How many people can you accommodate on a private tour of Hearst Castle?
Enjoy a private guided tour. This private tour can accommodate up to 6 people for a maximum of 4 hours. This tour may access any of the areas of the estate available to the public on the other tours. Private tours are offered during our normal daytime tour operation; however there is limited availability during some time periods. Visitors provide their own transportation from the Hearst Castle Visitor Center to the hilltop estate and return. The ]
Where to see William Randolph Hearst?
Explore the upper floors of Casa Grande—the formal name for the main house—and ascend its winding staircases to see how media mogul William Randolph Hearst and his esteemed guests lived at the Castle. Explore Upstairs Suites Tour.
Is the Hearst Castle tour wheelchair accessible?
This tour is wheelchair accessible and is also designed for visitors who have difficult y climbing up and down stairs, or who cannot stand or walk for lengths of time. The Accessibly Designed Grand Rooms Tour visits the estate’s most opulent social gathering rooms to reveal what it was like to be a guest at The Enchanted Hill—known today as Hearst Castle. TOUR RESERVATION, CHANGE AND CANCELLATION POLICY Reservations can be made, changed or cancelled online at ]
Tips for visiting Hearst Castle with kids
Are you thinking of a tour of Hearst Castle on the Central California coast? It's one of the most popular California State Parks.
Make Reservations in Advance
Reservations are recommended at Hearst Castle. You'll pay an extra $8 per ticket for online reservations, which is annoying. However, Hearst Castle is located in a rural area on the Central California Coast. We didn't want to drive there and not get a tour, or wait for a long time, so we chose the sure thing and we don't regret it.
How much time do you need?
We spent about three hours at Hearst Castle. I would have liked to stay longer. My 11-year-old thought we stayed too long. Plan for a minimum of two hours, which will not allow much time for the visitor center or exploring the grounds.
The Visitor Center
Hearst Castle has a large visitor center where you will park, pick up your tickets and catch the bus up to Hearst Castle. You'll find museum exhibits, a movie, food court and gift shop.
The Tour
There are several tours of Hearst Castle. The official website recommends the Grand Rooms Tour for first-timers, so that's the tour we took. Other tours will take you through other parts of the house, and you can book them back-to-back if you'd like.
Where to Eat
The visitor center has a small food court, Chief's Galley Cafe, which serves a diverse array of international cuisine that worked for the diabetic, the vegetarian, and the kid who only eats cheeseburgers in my family. It was convenient, with ample portions. It features local beef from Hearst Ranch. Entrees were about $10-15 each.
Nearby
Be sure to see the elephant seal colony about five miles north of Hearst Castle, either before or after your visit. Hundreds of elephant seals hang out on the beach year-round and visitors can safely see them from a boardwalk above the beach. We did this before our tour, and it was a highlight of the trip for me.
How many rooms are there in Hearst Castle?
Built between 1919 and 1947 by publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, this 165-room estate is an iconic destination, something lifted from a fairy tale. Visiting Hearst Castle with kids is a great way to give them a glimpse into a bygone era without boring them.
What is the largest house in Hearst Castle?
There are many choices of tours depending on your interests, including a tour of the Grand Rooms of Casa Grande, which is the largest house at Hearst Castle. That tour is really a must-see. Other options include the Cottages and Kitchen, a tour for anyone interested in architecture called Designing The Dream and another called the Art of San Simeon. There are also tours specifically for those who use wheelchairs or have trouble climbing stairs.
What is the most elaborate private home in California?
It’s like you’ve entered another world. Hearst Castle is one of the most elaborate private homes ever built in California.
How much back can you get on a restaurant card?
Plus, earn up to $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants with your card within the first 3 months of membership.
Where is the Hearst Memorial Beach?
After your tour, or even beforehand depending on your tour time, you can experience the California coastlines. At the base of the driveway of Hearst Castle sits William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach. The ships that brought workers and supplies during the construction of the castle docked there.
Is the Hearst Castle food bad?
The Hearst Castle Visitor Center has a cafe, coffee and snack bar, and a barbecue area during the summer. The food isn’t bad. It’s not inexpensive but the quality and choices are family-friendly. Another option: Bring a picnic lunch in a cooler and enjoy a meal before or after you leave. There are some scenic locations along the route, including the beach and pier directly across from the Hearst Castle driveway.
Is it okay to eat at Hearst Castle?
So bringing snacks to keep the kids settled isn’ t an option.
Who visited Hearst Castle?
They talk about sending for dishes from the San Francisco house when British Prime Minister Winston Churchill visited Hearst Castle, explain why there are still price stickers on the catsup and mustard on the dining table, and mention the celebrities who visited. George Rose/Getty Images.
How long is a Hearst Castle tour?
What to Expect on a Hearst Castle Tour. All Hearst Castle tours spend about an hour at the house, but that turns into a little more than two hours when you include the bus trip up and down the hill.
When did William Randolph Hearst leave his castle?
Seven decades after its owner William Randolph Hearst left his California castle for the last time in 1947, it continues to fascinate visitors continues to fascinate visitors. Today it's a state park and the only way to see the house and grounds is on a guided tour.
Can you visit Hearst Castle in a wheelchair?
Brochures are available in most common languages and in Braille. You can visit Hearst Castle in a wheelchair, but you need to call at least ten days in advance to reserve one.
How much time do you need at Hearst Castle?
You’ll spend approximately two hours at the Castle, including the bus journey up and back and the hour-long tour. You’ll need approximately 45 minutes longer if you want to see the movie in the Visitor Center.
What is the best way to go to Hearst Castle?
The Visitor Center and a trip to the mountaintop to view Hearst Castle are the two major things to do at Hearst Castle. Stop at the Visitor Center, which has a modest display area on William Randolph Hearst and Hearst Castle, as well as a casual restaurant, café, and gift shop (all of which are free).
Is it worthwhile to pay a visit to Hearst Castle?
The journey to Hearst Castle is well worth it. Yes, it’s garish, tacky, large, and definitely not the greatest example of American design; nevertheless, it’s a fantastic location with fantastic views. One trip should enough.
Is it possible to stroll around Hearst Castle without taking a tour?
The visitor center is the only thing you can view without taking a tour. You’re taking a risk if you don’t schedule a castle tour in advance, since each day is different.
Is it possible to swim at Hearst Castle?
The renowned ponds of Hearst Castle are available for swimming. It will only set you back $1,250. The 104-foot-long Neptune Pool in San Simeon’s Hearst Castle. On a hot summer evening, imagine cooling down in one of Hearst Castle’s beautiful pools.
What is the distance between Solvang and Hearst Castle?
It would take approximately two hours to travel from Solvang to Hearst Castle. A severe rain/wind storm would be the only thing that would force Hearst Castle to shut. Aside from that, it would be a fantastic time to explore the region. Nojoqui Falls Park, with its simple walk up to a beautiful cascade, is one of my favorite locations in the Solvang region.
Is it possible to snap photographs at Hearst Castle?
Only outdoor flash photography is allowed. Commercial photography and filmmaking at Hearst Castle need a film permit and the Museum Director’s prior permission.
