National historic site

Manzanar National Historic Site

About six miles south on US 395

A National Park Service site preserving the landscape and personal histories of the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans.

The place

About Manzanar National Historic Site

Manzanar National Historic Site is on the west side of U.S. 395, about six miles south of Independence. It preserves and interprets one of ten sites where the U.S. government incarcerated Japanese immigrants and Japanese American citizens during World War II. This is a place for careful learning and remembrance, not a quick scenic photo stop.

The grounds and 3.2-mile self-guided driving route are open daily from sunrise to sunset. The visitor center currently opens Friday through Monday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and closes Tuesday through Thursday and December 25. Block 14’s reconstructed barracks, latrine, mess hall, and related exhibits are open daily 9 a.m.–4:15 p.m. There is no entrance fee.

The visitor center offers a ranger desk, exhibits, bookstore, restrooms, a Junior Ranger path, and the 22-minute film Remembering Manzanar every half hour. The National Park Service currently says ranger-led tours are unavailable because of staffing, but the site is designed for self-guided visits. The auto tour reaches gardens, the cemetery monument, orchards, concrete slabs, and other features.

Accessibility is detailed but not uniform. The visitor center, exhibits, theater, restrooms, and many Block 14 spaces are wheelchair accessible, with captioning, audio description, tactile maps, listening stations, and a loaner wheelchair. Sandy approaches limit access at the mess hall and cemetery monument. Amenities are limited: bring drinking water, carry out trash, and prepare for sun, heat, wind, smoke, or changing road conditions.

What stands out

Voices and primary history

The visitor-center exhibits and film center the experiences of people incarcerated at Manzanar.

Block 14

Reconstructed barracks, a latrine, and the mess hall make daily life and institutional control tangible.

Landscape-scale interpretation

The 3.2-mile route reaches gardens, orchards, foundations, the cemetery, and reconstructed features.

Detailed access tools

Captioning, audio description, tactile maps, hardened paths, ramps, and listening stations support multiple ways of learning.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in a Carson & Colorado Railway trip

Manzanar is the most important broader destination near the railway and deserves at least 90 minutes, often two to three hours. Pairing it with the Eastern California Museum also connects two distinct collections and landscapes without treating No. 18’s ride as the day’s only reason to stop in Independence.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • GroundsDaily sunrise–sunset, subject to current closures and conditions.
  • Visitor centerFriday–Monday 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; closed Tuesday–Thursday and December 25.
  • Block 14Daily 9 a.m.–4:15 p.m.; reconstructed barracks, latrine, mess hall, and interpretive spaces.
  • AdmissionFree; no entrance pass required.
  • Time neededAllow at least 90 minutes; two to three hours supports the film, exhibits, Block 14, and driving tour.
  • ToursNo ranger-led public tours are currently available. Use the self-guided options and ask at the ranger desk when open.
  • AccessibilityStrong visitor-center and Block 14 access, captioning, audio description, tactile maps, and loaner wheelchair; some sandy approaches remain limited.
  • BringDrinking water, sun and weather protection, and a plan to carry out trash; the cemetery vault toilet has no handwashing station.

Return to Independence

Add Eastern California Museum

Connect Manzanar’s landscape with the county museum’s personal photographs, objects, research collection, and free admission.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

Is Manzanar open every day?

The grounds are open daily sunrise to sunset and Block 14 is open daily 9 a.m.–4:15 p.m., but the visitor center currently closes Tuesday through Thursday.

Does Manzanar charge admission?

No. The National Park Service does not charge an entrance fee or require a pass here.

Are ranger-led tours available?

Not currently. The park says staffing prevents public ranger-led tours, but the site has extensive self-guided options.

How long is the driving tour?

The well-maintained dirt tour road is 3.2 miles. Most vehicles, including large motorhomes and buses, can use it under normal conditions.

Is Manzanar wheelchair accessible?

Many major visitor areas are accessible and the park publishes detailed supports, but sandy approaches limit the mess hall and cemetery monument routes.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-14. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.