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Gettysburg National Military Park is open year-round and there is no fee for entrance to the park, National Cemetery, or park buildings. Park grounds and roads are open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM from November 1 through March 31. The Gettysburg National Cemetery is open at dawn and closes at sunset. Park buildings are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, & New Years Day. There are many options available in planning your visit to the park and the following information will provide you with numerous choices for visiting park buildings and the battlefield. Plan to spend at least four hours at the park, though an entire day is more desirable. Visitor Center & Cyclorama CenterThe National Park Service Visitor Center is located between the Taneytown Road (State Rt. 134) and Steinwehr Avenue (Bus. Rt. 15), approximately one mile south of Gettysburg. Visitors traveling on U.S. Route 15 should follow park signs which direct them to the visitor center. Visitors traveling west on State Rt. 30 should exit onto U.S. Route 15 South and follow the park signs. If approaching Gettysburg on State Rt. 30 traveling east, visitors should proceed into town until reaching Washington Street (third traffic light) and turn right. Proceed approximately one mile on Washington Street (passing through two more lights) and the visitor center will be on the right. Visitor Center- 97 Taneytown Road. Open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Cyclorama Center- Adjacent to the Visitor Center. Open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. (Closed from November 20, 2005 to April 1, 2006.) We recommend that you begin your visit at the National Park Service Visitor Center and start with the "Electric Map", the park orientation program on the battle. The Electric Map is an audio-visual presentation on a giant relief map of the battlefield, and provides the visitor with a brief overview of the three days of the battle. It also describes the major combatants. The map presentation is thirty minutes in length.
The center also contains a vast museum that features the George Rosensteel Collection of original artifacts, uniforms and weapons of the Civil War. The Eastern National Park and Monument book store is also located here. After the Visitor Center, you may wish to visit the adjacent Cyclorama Center, which contains exhibits and art displays.
For additional information on park buildings, picnic areas, rest rooms, McMillan Woods Youth Group Campground, and other park facilities check our Park Facilities page. Bus Group Reservations: Special reservations are available for bus groups for many park programs and should be made in advance. Visit the Reservation System page for more information and fees.
Touring the ParkThe park contains more than 26 miles of paved roads, open for touring by private vehicle. Park visitors should begin their tour at the National Park Service Visitor Center. Visitors may tour the park on their own with the use of a self-guiding park map, hire a Licensed Battlefield Guide for a personal touch, or use one of the commercially available audio tours: Self-Guided Tour: The Gettysburg National Military Park Brochure is available at the National Park Service Visitor Center or at the Cyclorama Center at the park. The brochure has a tour map of the park, brief description of the battle and a brief history of the park. The map coincides with park tour route signs and wayside exhibits so that you can take a self-guided tour, one stop at a time. Audio programs are available at specified stops. The length of the tour is at your own pace but plan to spend at least 2 hours on the field. FREE-one brochure per family, please. Licensed Battlefield Guide Service: Battlefield Guides are available to give you or your group a personal tour of the park in the comfort of your own vehicle. Widely known for their knowledge and courtesy, the guides are self-employed ladies and gentlemen tested and licensed by the National Park Service. Your guide can customize a tour to your special needs and desires. Tours last two hours in length. The guides are assigned to personal vehicles from the Visitor Center desk on a first come, first served basis beginning at 8:00 AM each day. For those visitors without vehicles, there is a bus tour of the battlefield with a guide on board available, which starts from the Gettysburg NMP Visitor Center:
Guides may be reserved in advance for organized bus groups by calling (717) 334-4474 or toll free at 1-877-438-8929. A guide may also be reserved for individuals in cars by calling (717) 334-4474 or toll free at 1-877-438-8929 and must be made seven days prior to your visit. A car reservation for 1-6 people is $60 per vehicle.
For additional information about the Licensed Battlefield Guide service at Gettysburg, visit their web site at www.gettysburgtourguides.org. Auto Tape Tours: Audio-cassette tours are also available for purchase. The tape tours are self-guiding, take you to the important areas of the battlefield, and describe the battle action. There are maps available for some tapes or you can use the park brochure as a guide. Cassette tours can be purchased and/or rented at many local businesses, and may be taken through the park at your leisure. Plan to spend at least two hours on your tour with an audio tape. Approximate costs range from $10 to $15. For information on the commercial tape and bus tours, call the Gettysburg Travel and Convention Center at (717) 334-6274.
Eisenhower National Historic SiteAdjacent to Gettysburg National Military Park is Eisenhower National Historic Site, a complex of three farms owned by President and Mrs. Eisenhower. Purchased in the 1950's, the Eisenhowers planned for a quiet farming life in Adams County, when politics and a presidential nomination changed those plans. The farm became the Eisenhower's refuge from Washington and was a retirement home until transferred to the National Park Service in 1979. The home and immediate grounds are open to the public by shuttle bus from the Gettysburg National Park Visitor Center. For more information, visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site web site.
Special Events and ProgramsVarious special events take place throughout the year. Annual events include a Memorial Day ceremony in the National Cemetery, special activities on the battle anniversary (July 1-3), ceremonies on the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address (November 19) and Remembrance Day (closest Saturday to November 19). Ranger conducted programs, evening campfire programs, and "battle walks" are held through the summer months usually from mid-June to mid-August with special battle walks scheduled for the battle anniversary days, July 1-3. For a complete list of park events, check our Park Events page or call (717) 334-1124 for further information. Group Reservations and PermitsReservations for organized tour groups, though not required, are recommended for access to the Electric Map, Cyclorama, and for reservations for licensed battlefield guides. For information and reservations, group leaders should call (717) 334-4474. McMillan Woods Youth Campground, located on West Confederate Avenue in the park is open to youth groups including Scouts, Explorers, and organized adventure camps. See our web page on Campground Information & Reservations for more information, or call (717) 334-1124, extension 423. Student Education Programs- Reservations are required for Student Education Programs, offered by the park to school groups that visit Gettysburg. For information on Student Education Programs call (717) 334-1124, ext. 420 or visit our Gettysburg National Military Park Teacher's Guide. Special Group Activities and Film Permits- Any special group activity held within the park, including film and video by companies or broadcasters, must have a permit issued to the organization by the park. For information on permits call (717) 334-1124, ext. 464 or visit our informational page on Park Permits. Scout Groups- Boy and Girl Scout troops do not require permits to visit the park and walk park trails. The "Gettysburg Heritage Trail Guide" is available from the York-Adams Area Boy Scout Council. Look under "Activities" for more information. Gettysburg Area Attractions & ToursInformation on Gettysburg area attractions, lodging, restaurants, camping, and tours is available through the Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, phone (717) 334-6274. Tours of downtown Gettysburg are now being offered seasonally by Main Street Gettysburg. Visit their site at www.mainstreetgettysburg.org for more information. Current Warnings and ConditionsDue to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, security at Federal facilities has been increased, and that includes Gettysburg National Military Park. We ask for your understanding and cooperation as we implement new security standards. The Visitor and Cyclorama Centers at Gettysburg National Military Park are Federal facilities. For public safety reasons back packs, day packs, large handbags, packages, large containers and large parcels are not permitted in the park Visitor Center or Cyclorama Center buildings. All persons entering are subject to search. All purses are subject to inspection by Park Rangers on duty at all sites, including Eisenhower National Historic Site. It is to the visitor's benefit to leave such items locked in the trunk of their vehicle while visiting park buildings and we thank you in advance for your cooperation. The possession of weapons is prohibited throughout the park. Summers can be extremely hot and humid, with occasional severe thunderstorms. Fall and spring are pleasant with cool temperatures and brisk winds, so visitors should dress accordingly. Winter weather occasionally forces the closure of some park roads and buildings depending on severity.
In natural areas such as Gettysburg National Military Park, caution must be maintained while walking through tall grasses and brush. Lyme Disease can be transmitted to humans after contact with an infected deer tick, a smaller species of tick common in Pennsylvania. Visitors who prefer to walk in such areas should be aware of this danger and be certain to examine their clothing for these parasites. revised July 18, 2006 National Park Service
Author: John Heiser |
