Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg National Military Park
5
09:00 - 17:00
Monday
09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
09:00 - 17:00
Thursday
09:00 - 17:00
Friday
09:00 - 17:00
Saturday
09:00 - 17:00
Sunday
09:00 - 17:00
About
The Battle of Gettysburg, a turning point in the Civil War, was the Union victory that ended General Robert E. Lee's second and most ambitious invasion of the North. Often referred to as the "High Water Mark of the Rebellion," Gettysburg was the Civil War's bloodiest battle and was also the inspiration for President Abraham Lincoln's immortal "Gettysburg Address."
Duration: More than 3 hours
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- Bill BBel Air, Maryland8,194 contributionsMajestic statuary spread across the natural fieldsThe park was impressive not just because of the statuary representing many states but also because of the combination of natural, rustic, and memorial scenes. There was a formal cemetery, but also monuments to far flung locations from Maine to Minnesota. I was particularly attracted to the green patina on many of the cannons. The statuary was well spaced, not cluttered, so the majesty of the rolling hills and rocky outcroppings were visible.Visited April 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 31 March 2023
- Ken FHigh Point, North Carolina197 contributionsGreat way to spend a day or two!Took the museum tour, watched the cyclorama display, and took a two hour guided tour (driver in your car). An absolutely great experience and seriously recommend the museum and show before the tour. Do get a personal guide in your vehicle, it is well worth the cost. This is a great trip for all ages! Fascinating to think what our country might look like today if the battle of Gettysburg happened differently!Visited March 2023Written 1 April 2023
- charlDBNGoshen, Indiana100 contributionsJust uterrly outstandingAfter visiting numerous National Militaty battlefield, this one certainly came across as the grendaddy of all parks. It is well organized and easy to follow the various tours though we did particiapte in a bus tour we drove along from site to site. The visitor center museum is very good and time consuming. I really appreciated the segment on the aftermath of the battle. This was well worth the trip..Visited March 2023Written 7 April 2023
- Sheila B6 contributionsWonderful visit with a personal guideBrilliant place to visit if you're interested in American Civil War history. Thanks to the recommendations on this site we hired a personal guide, Bill Thomas, who drove our car round the battlefield and gave us an amazing talk and insight into the battle. I don't think the visit would have been half as good if we'd attempted it ourselves, the area is so huge and there are so many different aspects to the three day battle. We had a three hour tour and that was barely time enough to fit it all in.Visited April 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 21 April 2023
- NJTRAVELER4097St. Petersburg, Russia138 contributionsEveryone should seeWe were passing by on the way home from the Shanksville Memorial and decided to stop. We didn’t have much time so we did a couple stops on the auto tour. This is something everyone should see. We will return to see more. Makes you proud to be an American!Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 22 April 2023
- Maria718Amherst, Massachusetts117 contributionsIt’s an amazing park. Take 2 daysWhat an incredible experience! The park is right there where people drive through to go to school, work, in the store. The visitor center was very helpful and friendly. I bought the guided tour with the CDs so that I can drive through it. and know what I was looking at. That was very informative and it is it definitely a keepsake item. It’s better to take two days for this amazing look back into history. The town is very nice as well and the restaurants are pretty friendly as well.Visited April 2023Travelled with familyWritten 23 April 2023
- gibson737Ottawa, Canada373 contributionsInspiringA beautiful tribute to such an important time in American history. The battlefields, visitor's center and graveyard are all must sees. The various monuments throughout the site add to the story of this event. Emotional, sad, and yet inspiring.Visited April 2023Written 24 April 2023
- yazdragonfly426 contributionsLarge and beautifulAs most National parks, this is a self driving tour so you go at your pace. We went on a very cold April morning so it was nice being in a warm car. The park has a very odd layout as it surrounds private homes and businesses. It’s best to go to the visitor center for a map and a few instructions. Most parks are one entrance/exit but this one has you crossing roads and highways, so it can get confusing. You must keep in mind that many young men died here so the trip at times becomes solemn when reading the monument dedications. But it is a beautifully preserved part of our great country’s history.Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 May 2023
- 🥳 🎉 🥳 Keep Life Simple 🥳🎉🥳Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania92,849 contributionsFantasticThe Gettysburg battlefield is fantastic for everyone. What's nice is you can drive through it with monuments and plaques explaining what happens. You can also purchase a tour for your phone or take a tour bus. It's your choice pay or free . You can stop almost everywhere along the route.I enjoyed doing it at my pace. Give yourself time and don't be on a schedule to enjoy.Visited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 25 May 2023
- Arlene HNorthport, New York151 contributionsA must see if you are in the areaWe were guests at a wedding in the area and decided on our free day to stop in the visitor center… WOW. The Film Cyclorama & Museum was a true treat. An inter generational experience. History and art surrounded us . Impressive and educational exhibit. A true American gemVisited June 2023Travelled with familyWritten 11 June 2023
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5.0
8,469 reviews
Excellent
7,605
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738
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100
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21
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5
Pittsburgh Patty
Hollywood, FL94 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
I highly recommend hiring a Licensed Battlefield Guide. The Guide will cost $95 for 3 hours. They drive your car around the battlefield providing great input and direction for everything you need to know. They'll also interject with some of their own personal knowlege and experiences. My many questions were answered. Three hours is a perfect amount of time as all the knowlege can become overwhelming. I can't wait to go back.
Written 29 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simon O
3 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
We spent about an hour or two exploring around the museum which was very interesting. The Cyclorama was especially cool, and we felt like we could have spent hours looking at it. For us, the most amazing part of the Military Park was the tour. Our tour guide, Ed, was spectacular. He was incredibly knowledgeable, and interesting to listen to. I don't know if I could think of any question to ask him about the Battle of Gettysburg that he would not know the answer to. He went into loads of detail, and gave us a great sense of the battle. This tour was the start of a Civil War trip across the country for us, and we all considered it the best tour of the entire trip.
Written 17 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lorin G
Saint Louis, MO2,033 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
I can't say enough good things about this park. We hired a National Park Service guide to take us on the tour. His name was John, and he brought the park to life with his narration of every thing that happened during the three-day battle. I highly recommend hiring a guide to do this. It is well worth the money.
Written 13 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kim sto
Lebanon, IN39 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
This place was full of history, beauty, back story. Our visit was truly amazing. I highly recommend this place when you visit
Written 6 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joanne S
Fort Mill, SC429 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
We'd planned a short time in the visitors center and an extended time on the auto tour, but the boys (4 of them aged 8-12) loved the museum and cyclorama...3 hours worth. We still had a great time outside, too. At dinner tonight, everyone talked about what they learned today. It was a lot!
So well done...
So well done...
Written 1 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff W
16 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Visiting the park was the goal of our trip and it did not disappoint. The care with which the park is preserved and maintained is wonderful. There is a surreal feeling to walking these grounds.
Written 27 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D-Tektn
California, MO545 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I visited Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. The film presentation “A New Birth of Freedom” was very well done. Then I got to view the Gettysburg Cyclorama. A painting that was so realistic and moving, I felt I was there. That was crazy! The museum was also interesting. Then I did the 24 mile driving tour. It was mind boggling to think how big of an area this 3 day (July 1-3, 1863) Civil War battle was and the fact it was the largest loss of life on American soil then and now. Some soldiers were identified and some not, so the cemetery has numbered graves for those who were not identified and that was really sad. On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave his historic Gettysburg address in the cemetery as a dedication. Some of you may remember those famous words, and some may not, so here we go. “Fourscore and seven years ago our father brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Beautiful words and still true today!
Written 23 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paweł Bor
New York City, NY1,610 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
A place worth visiting when you're in Pennsylvania. It's very close to Philadelphia (approximately 1.5 hour drive). Strongly recommend
Written 20 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sskroll
Orlando, FL1,031 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Wow!! So much to see and no way we were going to do it in a day but we gave it our best shot. Will be going back next time we are in the area. The museum was very interesting and maps for the park were very informative. Staff was very helpful. Museum had clean bathrooms and there was plenty of parking.
Written 16 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emala
Wheaton, IL171 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
A visit to the National Park Museum before you tour the actual park is an absolute must! It is fantastic! Allow at least two hours to do it justice.
Written 13 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LoveTravel812513
North Las Vegas, NV14 contributions
How long would you allow for touring the museum?
Lorin G
Saint Louis, MO2,033 contributions
If it is just the museum building allow and hour, but to tour the park would be an additional 3 to 4 hours.
Do you issue military passes?
NJTRAVELER4097
St. Petersburg, Russia138 contributions
Free
can I get a Senior Pass at visitor center
NJTRAVELER4097
St. Petersburg, Russia138 contributions
Don’t know
Can you walk the fields and sit and enjoy the views and history or are you required to stay on the sidewalks and trails?
Lorin G
Saint Louis, MO2,033 contributions
You can walk the entire park and visit the monuments on foot. However, we hired a National Park Service Historian and Guide to show us the park. It was money well spent. The service is available at the museum and bookstore building.
Shanie
5 contributions
Hi! We will be going in late June with a 13 & 16 year old, and we'd like to hire a licensed Battlefield guide to give us a private tour. How long would you recommend for a private tour? Any recommendations on guides who would be great with teens (who love history)? And is it possible to get enough time at the national park and visit Seminary Ridge Museum in the same day? Thank you!
Lorin G
Saint Louis, MO2,033 contributions
Give yourselves 3 hours minimum with the guide. Our guide's name was John, and he was excellent. I drove our vehicle to he could do all of the talking and directing. He had offered to drive, but we wanted to let him be at his best and not be distracted by driving.
Mrs.Bacon
Morristown, TN259 contributions
We are wanting to do the private tour of the battlefield in 2 weeks. I have a 14 month old and 3 year old. What length of your would you suggest for these ages? I think as long as they can get out of the car they will be ok. I saw the tours range from 2 hours to 8 hours in length.
Mrs.Bacon
Morristown, TN259 contributions
Answering this in case anyone else needs to know. We did do a private tour. My in laws were with us and my husband and they wanted to hear the history. I watched the kids while the others listened to the tour. My kids did fine running around on the grass outside during the tour.
can i unhitch my travel trailer and leave it in rv parking lot while i drive through battlefield
Lorin G
Saint Louis, MO2,033 contributions
Why not call the park office and ask if this is allowed?
bonjour j'ai 1h30 devant moi demain. je suis le seul passionné d'histoire de la famille. Que dois-je prioriser? Cyclorama et musée OU visite du champ de bataille? Merci!
Martin
formabel
Saint-Nicolas - Québec25 contributions
Si vous pouvez vous le permettre. Ayez recours à un guide qui maximisera votre 1h30.
Christina B
26 contributions
I was wondering how much it cost to do the audio tour in your own car on your own? Where do you buy the audio tour?
skywarn6118
Michigan97 contributions
The audio tour on cd cost $29.99 at the national park visitor center. It includes a guide booklet. If you have the capability of GPS on your cellphone, you can download a Gettysburg Auto Tour app for $9.99 that activates automatically at certain locations with both audio and visual files. Just make sure you download it via WiFi before using. The app explains this well in the instructions at the App Store! Very easy to use!
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Frequently Asked Questions about Gettysburg National Military Park
- Hotels near Gettysburg National Military Park:
- (1.55 km) Baladerry Inn
- (1.26 km) Best Western Gettysburg
- (0.83 km) Comfort Suites Gettysburg
- (0.99 km) Artillery Ridge Campground
- (1.63 km) Brickhouse Inn Bed & Breakfast
- Restaurants near Gettysburg National Military Park:
- (0.31 km) Refreshment Saloon
- (1.73 km) Mr. G's Ice Cream
- (1.53 km) Sunset Ice Cream Parlor
- (1.51 km) Hunt's Battlefield Fries & Cafe'
- (1.31 km) Appalachian Brewing Company - Gettysburg Battlefield
- Attractions near Gettysburg National Military Park:
- (0.13 km) Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center
- (0.18 km) GettysBike Tours
- (0.37 km) Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides
- (0.95 km) State of Pennsylvania Monument
- (1.08 km) National Riding Stables