Overview of Gettysburg
Gettysburg National Military Park was established in 1895 as a way to preserve the famous battlegrounds of the Civil War. Veterans were federally appointed to help oversee the development of the park and to establish/mark battle lines for both armies.
Getting to Gettysburg NMP
Gettysburg National Military Park is located in the small town of Gettysburg in South Central Pennsylvania. It is about 90 minutes North of Washington, D.C, and 2 hours West of Philadelphia. The closest airports are Harrisburg (35 miles), BWI (55 miles), or Dulles (62 miles).
Fees & Cancellation Stamp
There is no fee to enter the building or drive around the grounds. However, if you wish to see the film, cyclorama, and museum it will cost $18.75 per adult (13+) while kids ages 6-12 are $12.75. Seniors, veterans, and AAA are $17.75. Just a visit to the museum costs $12.75 and $10.75, respectively. Children under 5 and active duty military are free.
Cancellation stamps can be found at the information desk in the visitor center, and also in the park bookstore.
Time Required
If you live 1-2 hours away and just want to do a day trip, one day is fine. Just make sure to come back for a more in depth visit, or to check out their constantly changing ranger programs.
If you are coming from out of town I strongly recommend spending at least 2 days so you can fully experience all the park has to offer. If you plan on adding the Eisenhower house, add another half day.
Gettysburg NMP Visitor Center & Museum
The Visitor Center has a rather large attached museum. If you are a Civil War buff and want to read most of the signs, plan to spend about 2 hours here. Walking through reading about half the signs and looking at the displays will still require at least an hour.
If you pay to see the film and cyclorama, that is behind the ticket counter. The cyclorama is 377 foot (in circumference) oil painting with light and sound effects and includes a voice over explanation. I recommend starting with the film, move on to the cyclorama, and then end with the museum, before heading out into the park.
There is a sizeable bookstore with all kinds of souvenirs, books, clothing, and National Park items. Lastly, If you didn’t pack food, have no fear. There is a cafeteria-style dining area to get items like sandwiches, chips, snacks, beverages, etc.
Gettysburg NMP Driving Tour
There are 16 stops on the self-guided auto tour. It starts at McPherson Ridge and goes up around the Northern part of Gettysburg, then goes South on the West side, then up through the Eastern part where it ends at the National Cemetery.
Click here for a map of the tour stops. Notable stops are the Pennsylvania Monument, Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, and the National Cemetery. Unfortunately, as of April 2022, Little Round Top and Devil’s Den are closed for repairs with a finishing date of 2023 or later.
Gettysburg National Cemetery
In my opinion, the best time to go to the cemetery is when the Christmas wreaths are out. However, that’s obviously not possible if you visit on your July vacation. It’s still a beautiful cemetery and definitely worth spending at least a half hour walking around the grounds.
If you have the time, consider visiting the 5 major areas of the cemetery:
1) The Entrance
2) The Battle
3) The Battle’s Aftermath and Creation of the Cemetery
4) The Cemetery
5) The Dedication of the Cemetery, the Gettysburg Address, and the Soldiers’ National Monument
Click here for a map and description of each stop.
Living History Program
Gettysburg is well-known for their living history programs. They begin each year in mid-May and run through October. Visitor’s can explore the camps they set up, talk with the historians, and watch as they demonstrate some of the period tools and firearms. Click here for the 2022 Living History schedule.
Ranger Talks
One of the things I love most about Gettysburg is their large variety of ranger talks. They vary from battlefield hikes, cemetery hikes, guided walks through downtown, to lectures in the theatre, and a few different children’s programs. Most of the talks are only on the weekends throughout spring, but will expand during the summer months.
They also do a winter lecture series, which is really nice considering most parks do not do any ranger talks during the slower winter months.
Points of Interest
These are my top 5 favorite places to visit in Gettysburg, and I visit each of them every time I go, it never gets old!
No. 5: Pennsylvania Monument
No. 4: Little Round Top
No. 3: Devil’s Den
No. 2: Visitor Center Museum
No. 1: National Cemetery
Honorable Mention: Eisenhower House & Farm.
The Eisenhower House is its own National Park site. However, Gettysburg does provide a shuttle for a small fee. Visit the Eisenhower NHS page to read its personal review.
Know before you go
If you are going in June, July, or August, get there bright and early if you want a decent parking spot and to avoid crowds. The parking is pretty expansive, but it can be quite a walk if you get there after it fills up.
The food in the Visitor Center is fine, but I suggest venturing out into the town of Gettysburg; there are a ton of delicious restaurants. I have eaten at Gettysburg Eddie’s and The Ugly Mug Cafe. Both were delicious! I’m working on getting to more restaurants to recommend. Places that are very popular but I haven’t tried are Blue & Grey Bar and Grill, The Gettysburger Company, and Dobbin House Tavern.
Last updated: April 7, 2023
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