Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg National Military Park
5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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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- Marc CFort Lauderdale, Florida3,487 contributions“Get To Gettysburg”There is really not much to say; that hasn’t already been said, or written. I’ve been here numerous times; but not since 2018. It still seems surreal that so much conflict, death, and suffering had taken place in this beautiful sprawling landscape. There is no way to see all of it in one visit, and maybe not even during a lifetime of visits. The numerous individual monuments are all very beautiful and unique in their own ways. There are numerous great ways to travel through the park, including bicycle, by foot, etc. This was also the first time that my newest three rescue rabbits traveled there with me, and they enjoyed it too. I look forward to me next visit there. A top rating of two rabbit ears up!! ( ( ( -.-) o_(“)(“)Visited September 2023Travelled soloWritten October 4, 2023
- ChiefNavyD'Iberville, Mississippi7 contributionsAmazing placeIf you have never done the tour, please do! So much history to explore. Our favorite was learning about the dog Sally that was faithful and loyal to The men she served with. We did an audio tour for our car and it was well worth the $10.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten October 7, 2023
- sskrollOrlando, Florida1,103 contributionsGreat ExperienceWow!! 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.Visited August 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten October 16, 2023
- Joanne SFort Mill, South Carolina407 contributionsA wonderful, moving placeWe'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...Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten November 1, 2023
- Skip GSaint Louis, Missouri1,942 contributionsSuperb Guided TourI 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.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten November 13, 2023
- Simon O3 contributionsAmazing Tour and MuseumWe 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.Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten November 17, 2023
- macsterlingVienna, Virginia1,487 contributionsA must see. Very interesting and well done.This is a must see. Whether you like history, parks, the outdoors this place can accommodate. We did the Auto tour…very nice as we good move around at our on pace and spend time and focus on what we liked and were interested in. I would even go back again just to enjoy the site.Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten April 7, 2024
- MACLondon, United Kingdom153 contributionsOutstanding day outAll I can say is WOW! As a British person, the civil war didn’t affect me and I only had a limited understanding what the war was about. So, in summary, if you want both an amazing day out and you want to learn about the civil war, this is the place to be. To start with, there is a fantastic visitor centre with a museum that would grace any major capital city in the world. The facility is sprawling with a basic ‘I-max’ theatre where the battle of Gettysburg is played out. The staff are all friendly and knowledgeable. Really, this is a great day out. Highly recommended.Visited May 2024Travelled with friendsWritten May 9, 2024
- John NAnderson, South Carolina45 contributionsHero WalkHow can you not be honored to walk where heroes (on both sides) died? It was an honor to walk where they gave their lives. The topographical features were well marked, memorials were oriented towards the direction of the fighting, and fences were erected as they were during the battle.Visited May 2024Travelled with friendsWritten May 12, 2024
- Diane KVenice, Florida4,579 contributionsCyclorama was interestingWe did the package with the movie, cyclorama and museum. We enjoyed the movie and cyclorama. It was interesting hearing the history behind the cyclorama. In the museum there was a very large group of teenage students (over 100 or so) who were loud and running around. It really hurt the experience of viewing the museum artifacts. Perhaps going on the weekend would be better. Afterwards we took a walk outside over to the cemetery - about 1.5 miles.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten May 13, 2024
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cubana1952
Shirley, NY180 contributions
May 2022
We spent the day here and I would recommend that if you only have a day that you purchase the combination ticket that gives you admission to the museum, the movie and cyclorama and the 2 hour guided bus tour. It was well worth the money and gave you a very good idea of the events of the battle of Gettysburg. The museum was impressive and we actually went back to it later in the day because in the morning when we first went in there were many school groups there and it was very loud and distracting. The 2 hour tour was great, the tour guides are very knowledgeable and were able to make history come alive.
Written May 14, 2022
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.
fssutton1
Charleston, SC889 contributions
Oct 2021
I would recommend that the first thing you do is go to the visitor center, pay the fee and see the film, then you will be allowed to enter the cyclometer (sp) and then visit the museum. After that, begin (at some point)the auto/bike tour of the battlefields. This is very extensive and there are over 1000 monuments. If you do not do anything else go to Little Big Top and the Devils Den and get out of the car and take it all in. It will take all of the previous exposures and whatever you learned/did not learn/retain in school to grasp what actually occurred. You can drive the auto route without paying but you will miss all of the data you get by visiting the visitor center
Written October 22, 2021
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.
sloomis31
Bristol, WI1,031 contributions
Aug 2021
If you have ever visited a Civil War battlefield you have probably seen park service signs, a few open fields, and a monument or two. Then you try to place yourself in the moment over 150 years ago. A trip to Gettysburg is similar except you have upwards of 10 different areas (Devils Den, Culps Hill, Little Round Top, etc.), over 1,400 monuments, and an entire town that was literally in the middle of the fighting. Even the most amateur Civil War historian needs 3 days here to see everything. Tip - Believe what they say and start your tour at the Visitors Center. The museum is incredible with all sorts of artifacts and movies that describe the three days of the battle. The movie tells the history of the Civil War and explains how crucial Gettysburg was to deciding the conflict. Then go to the cyclorama, but be sure to move to the 12 o'clock position as you enter. That gives you the best view of Picket's charge. The gift shop has a huge selection of books to choose from.
TIP - We did our own self-driving car tour using the HereStory App narrated by Stephen Lang. Downloading it from the app store is cheaper than buying it in the bookstore, but you don't get the maps and accompanying book. It worked well, but you should really listen to it first so you know what to expect and where to turn once you get out on these hallowed grounds.
TIP - We did our own self-driving car tour using the HereStory App narrated by Stephen Lang. Downloading it from the app store is cheaper than buying it in the bookstore, but you don't get the maps and accompanying book. It worked well, but you should really listen to it first so you know what to expect and where to turn once you get out on these hallowed grounds.
Written August 28, 2021
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.
Fred B
128 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
Wife and I drove an hour from our hotel to Gettysburg to see this park.
The visitor center is spacious and cool and had some of the cleanest restrooms we have seen.
After getting the maps for the tour we walked through the exhibits which are free to see. If you want access to the Civil War Museum or the Cyclorama or any thing else, you have to pay for it. We found that disappointing.
The auto tour is fairly easy to follow as it is marked with auto tour stars along the route.
It took us a little over two hours to drive the route we did. Because of the heat, we were not able to get out and walk the trails.
NOTE- there are over a thousand monuments and markers in the park dedicated to every unit involved in the battle. If you want the immersive experience, plan on being there all day.
The visitor center is spacious and cool and had some of the cleanest restrooms we have seen.
After getting the maps for the tour we walked through the exhibits which are free to see. If you want access to the Civil War Museum or the Cyclorama or any thing else, you have to pay for it. We found that disappointing.
The auto tour is fairly easy to follow as it is marked with auto tour stars along the route.
It took us a little over two hours to drive the route we did. Because of the heat, we were not able to get out and walk the trails.
NOTE- there are over a thousand monuments and markers in the park dedicated to every unit involved in the battle. If you want the immersive experience, plan on being there all day.
Written July 6, 2021
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.
nature-seer
Pennsylvania100 contributions
Aug 2020
I'm always emotional touring the battlefield. It puts into perspective how many people fought and died, not just here but in all the battles of the Civil War, for causes they believed in. Whether you side more closely with Northern or Southern ideals, one must not forget the sacrifices that these brave men, and women, made in defense of their way of life and freedom as they saw it. We had gotten so divided as a nation that the country literally took up arms against itself and tried to tear itself apart. Brother fought brother and father fought son, and the bloodiest combat took place right here.
Let's be clear that to tour the battlefield and read every marker, monument and memorial would take months. Any tour you choose is going to hit the highlights.
There are of course numerous tours to take you around the battlefield, but I think this last trip has been the most rewarding in recent history. I normally follow the Auto Tour, but this time I wanted to do with an updated guide. There are two CD's/DVDs for sale in the Visitors Center gift shop, each one costing $30.00, and only one of which is available for Android. However, I was able to find one on Google Play, simply called the Gettysburg Battlefield (and found by searching for Gettysburg Battlefield Auto Tour) for $7.00. It guides you through all the tour stops, plus provides background information between stops on lesser known aspects of the battle. Additionally, each stop has a Learn More button for even deeper information. Unlike earlier versions of the "official" tour I have used, this one also includes Devil's Den, which was also the site of fierce fighting throughout the battle. I was able to find sections of the field I had not visited in years, and are very key places of the fighting.
Also be aware that you will start at the Visitors Center, then go back through the Visitors Center to get to stops 13 and 14, and pass it again to get to stops 15 and 16 to end the tour. This is the first time in a long time I was able to follow the entire route, and it was confusing for a while.
Let's be clear that to tour the battlefield and read every marker, monument and memorial would take months. Any tour you choose is going to hit the highlights.
There are of course numerous tours to take you around the battlefield, but I think this last trip has been the most rewarding in recent history. I normally follow the Auto Tour, but this time I wanted to do with an updated guide. There are two CD's/DVDs for sale in the Visitors Center gift shop, each one costing $30.00, and only one of which is available for Android. However, I was able to find one on Google Play, simply called the Gettysburg Battlefield (and found by searching for Gettysburg Battlefield Auto Tour) for $7.00. It guides you through all the tour stops, plus provides background information between stops on lesser known aspects of the battle. Additionally, each stop has a Learn More button for even deeper information. Unlike earlier versions of the "official" tour I have used, this one also includes Devil's Den, which was also the site of fierce fighting throughout the battle. I was able to find sections of the field I had not visited in years, and are very key places of the fighting.
Also be aware that you will start at the Visitors Center, then go back through the Visitors Center to get to stops 13 and 14, and pass it again to get to stops 15 and 16 to end the tour. This is the first time in a long time I was able to follow the entire route, and it was confusing for a while.
Written August 7, 2020
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.
HayTravels16
Belle Vernon, PA51 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
We toured the museum, which includes an amazing introductory video about The Civil War and The Battle of Gettysburg. The cyclorama is also a must-see. The rest of the museum is extremely detailed and touching. We downloaded the app to do the auto tour of the battlefields, and it was a great experience. The “medium” tour was very long, and I would recommend dedicating at least 4-5 hours for it. Great monuments, great upkeep of the park, and wonderful information provided by the auto tour and the historical signs at the park.
Written October 6, 2020
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.
R7853FWsusanr
Amherst, VA125 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
My husband and I came to Gettysburg for my daughter’s birthday. We also brought her young children. We were very impressed with Pennsylvania’s COVID regulations and the security at the park enforced them quite well so we felt very safe. The movie and Cyclerama was a perfect way to start. We then proceeded into the battlefield. We purchased the guide from the gift shop and were able to download an app and had a tour guide in the car as we went following the Auto Tour. The battlefield is amazing. The monuments are beautiful and I came away having learned a lot I did not know about the battle and the impact of Gettysburg on the Civil War. I highly recommend it, especially for history buffs out there and families with children.
Written October 5, 2020
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.
Steve
McKinney, TX13 contributions
Sept 2020
The Battle for Gettysburg is well remembered here. The museum is full of artifacts and information, although the video exhibits were out of service for COVID precautions. The movie was a good summary of the battle. After the movie, an escalator takes you upstairs to the cyclorama, which is a stunning 360 degree oil painting of Pickett's charge. The story is effectively told through narration, sound and lights. It us 377 feet long, 42 feet high, and weighs12.5 tons. It is a sight to behold.
Written September 7, 2020
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.
ldjs
Fort Lee, NJ840 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Really amazing experience for everyone interested in American and military history.
We took a 3 hour tour with licensed guide, very informative, gives a detailed perspective of the battle and the war and in particular of battlefield snd monuments.
There are bus tours, horseback tours, self guided tours and more.
We saw two re-enactments on a Saturday tour.
I would recommend visiting Museum prior to the tour to be knowledgeable of basics prior to very detailed overview.
Licensed guides are quite passionate and knowledgeable, and I would suggest to tour with the guide for sure.
They offer an option of driving in the car with you or you can follow their car.
There are really breathtaking views on the tour and the guides can tailor the route to your interests as there is a lot to see.
The park is expansive, well maintained and with good signage.
Highly recommend a visit.
We took a 3 hour tour with licensed guide, very informative, gives a detailed perspective of the battle and the war and in particular of battlefield snd monuments.
There are bus tours, horseback tours, self guided tours and more.
We saw two re-enactments on a Saturday tour.
I would recommend visiting Museum prior to the tour to be knowledgeable of basics prior to very detailed overview.
Licensed guides are quite passionate and knowledgeable, and I would suggest to tour with the guide for sure.
They offer an option of driving in the car with you or you can follow their car.
There are really breathtaking views on the tour and the guides can tailor the route to your interests as there is a lot to see.
The park is expansive, well maintained and with good signage.
Highly recommend a visit.
Written July 31, 2022
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.
BobH22
Fishersville, VA235 contributions
Sept 2020
We purchased the car app/tour for $30. You can drive on your own at your own pace. Enjoyed the excellent audio that came with the app, the postings along the way, and the well maintained Battlefield exhibits and facilities. Very impressive! We spent over three hours on the car tour. You could spend more or less depending on your pace, if you stop to read exhibits, etc. The information presented was very informative and insightful relative to what actual happened and the sequence of events that took place during the three day battle. Several stories of human interest are also provided which further adds to an excellent presentation.
Written September 6, 2020
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.
How long would you allow for touring the museum?
Written January 20, 2024
If it is just the museum building allow and hour, but to tour the park would be an additional 3 to 4 hours.
Written January 21, 2024
Can you walk the fields and sit and enjoy the views and history or are you required to stay on the sidewalks and trails?
Written August 12, 2022
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.
Written January 21, 2024
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!
Written April 9, 2022
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.
Written January 21, 2024
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.
Written March 3, 2022
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.
Written March 2, 2024
can i unhitch my travel trailer and leave it in rv parking lot while i drive through battlefield
Written January 4, 2020
Why not call the park office and ask if this is allowed?
Written January 21, 2024
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
Written July 27, 2019
Si vous pouvez vous le permettre. Ayez recours à un guide qui maximisera votre 1h30.
Written July 27, 2019
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