Cowpens National Battlefield park info menu

COWPENS NB

PARK INFO

DIRECTIONS	MAP TO PARK	MAP OF PARK
BIKING	CLIMATE	CURRENT WEATHER
EMERGENCIES/FIRST AID	FEES	FOOD
GARBAGE/TRASH	HORSES	LOOP ROAD
PARKING	PETS	PICNICS
PLEASE READ	RESERVATIONS/PERMITS	RESTROOMS
SPECIAL PARKING	THINGS TO DO	TIME REQUIRED
TRAILS	VISITATION	VISITOR CENTER
WATER
MAIN MENU	CONTACT THE PARK	Home

DIRECTIONS:

From Greenville, take I-85 Bus. North to Exit 83. Turn left onto Highway 110. Drive eight miles to the intersection of highways 110 and 11. Turn right. Entrance is 1/4 mile on the right.

From Charlotte, take I-85 South to Exit 92. Turn right at stop light onto Highway 11. The park entrance is about 10 miles on the left.

From Asheville, take I-26 East to Exit 5. Turn left onto Highway 11. Park is about 20 miles on the right.

From Columbia, take I-26 West to Exit 19B onto I-85 Bus. Take I-85 Bus. North to exit 83. Turn left onto Highway 110. Drive eight miles to the intersection of highways 110 and 11. Turn right. Entrance is 1/4 mile on the right.

From Augusta, take I-20 (towards Columbia) to Hwy 121. Take Hwy 121 to I-26. Take I-26 West to Exit 19B onto I-85 Bus. Take I-85 Bus. North to exit 83. Turn left onto Highway 110. Drive eight miles to the intersection of highways 110 and 11. Turn right. Entrance is 1/4 mile on the right.

VISITATION: Lowest in December and February; highest in July, October, and January. Annual visitation 2004, 208566.

TIME REQUIRED: A minimum of two hours is suggested for the Visitor Center, battlefield trail, and auto loop road. Length of stay for other activities will vary according to our interest.

VISITOR CENTER:

Fiber optic map program is a self-start program and takes approximately 13 minutes,

Daybreak at the Cowpens is shown on the hour from 9:00 - 4:00 daily.

Museum with authentic Revolutionary War weapons and full size reproduction of a British 3-pounder "Grasshopper" cannon.

Book store is operated by Eastern National.

RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:

Reservations for school groups and other educational groups should be made at least two weeks in advance of the visit.

Picnic shelter reservations begin each year on January 2nd. Summer weekends are busy, and shelter reservations fill up quickly.

Other Special Use permits may be issued by the park superintendent. A four week time period is required for those, and some special use permits require a fee.

Call (864)461-2828 for more information.

CURRENT WEATHER AT COWPENS NB:

Forecasts from National Weather Service, Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

Zone Forecast
Short Term Forecast

CNN weather and forecasts for Gaffney SC
Weather

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PLEASE READ:

Cowpens National Battlefield is a protected area. All plants and animals in the park are fully protected. Regulations prohibit picking and digging of plants, hunting, and metal detecting.

Regulations are to protect you and to protect the park. Park regulations exist for your safety and for the protections of natural and cultural resources. Please obey all park rules and regulations.

LOOP ROAD: The auto loop road is a 3.8 loop which travel the perimeter of the battlefield and includes wayside exhibits, overlooks with short trails to the historic Green River Road, the battlefield, the circa 1828 Robert Scruggs log cabin, and access to the picnic area. The loop road is a favorite local exercise walking route. Loop road closes to vehicular traffic at 4:30 p.m.

WALKING TRAILS

Walking trail: One and one-half mile self-guided loop trail around and through the battlefield. The 1856 Washington Light Infantry Monument is located along the battlefield trail. Trail begins behind park Visitor Center and brings you back to the same point. Historic Green River Road was the centerline of battle for both patriot and British units, is part of the walking trail today, and exists today only in the park. Bicycles or tricycles are not allowed on the paved walking trail.

Nature trail: Two mile trail loop from the picnic area.

Trail

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Shelter PICNICS:

The picnic area is on the auto tour road 1.5 miles from the Visitor Center.
Restrooms are provided in the picnic area.
The picnic area closes at 4:30 p.m.
A picnic shelter is available. Group reservations must be made in advance and require a fee. Call (864)461-2828 for information.
An environmental trail extends southward from the picnic area.
picnic

Parking PARKING:

Regular parking, handicapped parking, and special parking for buses or campers is provided at the Visitor Center.
Parking is provided east of the park for those on foot or on bicycles after dawn and before dark and before the main gate is open.
Parking is provided at the Picnic Area.
Parking is provided at the Scruggs House turnoff from the Loop Road.
Parking is provided at the battlefield turnoff from the Loop Road.
It is not permissible to park on the shoulders of the Loop Road. Use designated parking areas only.
All vehicles must be outside the park by 5 p.m.

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Bus SPECIAL PARKING:

Handicapped parking spaces are conveniently located immediately in front of the Visitor Center.
There are designated spaces for buses and camper trailers at the Visitor Center parking area.
All vehicles must be outside the main park by 5 p.m.
Trailer

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Info
CONTACT COWPENS NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD:

Write: Cowpens National Battlefield, Post Office Box 308, Chesnee, SC 29323

Call: (864)461-2828

Fax:: (864)461-7795 or (864)461-7077

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MAP OF PARK:

Adobe Acrobat version from NPS site. Will "zoom" in for closer view.
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) for use with this and other NPS maps.
Schematic map of the Battle of Cowpens (129k) from University of Texas site.

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Pets PETS:

Pets are permissible but must be on a leash at all times. The leash must not exceed 6 feet in length.
Pets are not permitted in the Visitor Center.
Guide dogs for the visually impaired are allowed in the Visitor Center.

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BIKING:

Biking is permissible on the entrance road and on the auto loop road.
Biking is permissible on the washed gravel "Green River Road".
Biking is not permissible on any paved trails.
Bike racks are provided at the front of the Visitor Center. Bikers will be well advised to lock bikes left in this rack. Cowpens NB assumes no responsibility for bikes stored in this bike rack.
Biking

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Restrms RESTROOMS:

Restrooms are provided at the Visitor Center.
Restrooms are also provided at the picnic area.
Restrooms are handicapped accessible.
Diaper changing tables are provided.
Toddler safety seats are also provided.

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EMERGENCIES/FIRST AID:

A first aid kit is kept at the Visitor Center.
In the event of a serious emergency:

if you have a cellular phone, dial 911 first, then have someone notify the ranger on duty at the Visitor Center.
otherwise, have someone notify the ranger on duty at the Visitor Center

Emergency

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Water WATER

A water fountain is available at the Visitor Center.
A water fountain is available at the Picnic Area.

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GARBAGE/TRASH

Garbage/trash containers are conveniently located at the Visitor Center and at the Picnic Area.
Our park staff is often complimented on how clean our park is kept. Please help by placing your refuse and that misplaced by others in the provided containers. Your help is truly appreciated.
Garbage

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Fees FEES

There is no admission fee
There is a charge for Daybreak at the Cowpens; a presentation shown on the hour 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.: $1.00 for adults and .50 for children ages 6-12; organized groups: .50.
Donations are accepted at Visitor Center.
There are no fees charged at the park for which the Golden Eagle, Golden Age, or Golden Access Passports would be needed.

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FOOD
Food/supplies: There are no food concessions within the park. There are numerous restaurants in nearby Chesnee, Gaffney and Spartanburg SC. Food

THINGS TO DO:

View the fiber-optic map program in the Visitor Center (13 mins, free)
Visit the museum area of the Visitor Center (cannon, weapons, portraits) *
Watch the movie Daybreak at Cowpens, 22 minutes, $1 adults, $0.50 children

Walk the battlefield trail, well-marked, level, easy walking, about 45 minutes. Do it again each time you read a new account of the battle in one of the books in our bookstore. The battlefield is open and lends itself to visualizing what took place there at daybreak, 17 January 1781. [Click on image for larger view ** ]

Military enthusiasts will find continued interest in studying the tactics of the battle, considered to be the "tactical masterpiece" of the Revolutionary War, and the only example of "double envelopment" to take place on the continent.

Visit the historic Robert Scruggs House. Doors are open on sunny days, weather and staff permitting. [Click on image for full-size view ** ]

** Pictures by park visitor Carroll Hayden
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Walk, jog, bicycle, or drive the loop road.
Plan a family or group picnic in our picnic area.
Watch for our birds, often less shy in early a.m.
Come to our special events. See events schedule.
Come to the Cowpens Battle Anniversary Celebration on/near 17 January and our Independence Day observance (see events schedule. Both have very full agendas of activities of interest to all ages.
* Except when Daybreak at Cowpens is playing, normally the first 25 minutes of each hour, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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http://www.nps.gov/cowp/parkinfo.htm; Last Updated: 3/9/2006 4:24 PM; COWP Webmistress