Last updated: June 4, 2022
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Plan Like a Park Ranger: 10 Tips for Visiting Manassas
NPS
Planning a visit to Manassas National Battlefield Park? Check out this list of tips of how to make the most of your visit to the Battlefield!
There is no admission fee to visit Manassas National Battlefield Park. Instead, plan to purchase a souvenir or book in the park’s store at the Henry Hill Visitor Center. A percentage of every purchase returns back to the park to benefit future park projects.
The Henry Hill Visitor Center includes a museum, an exhibit on artillery, an electronic map program on the First Battle of Manassas, and the park store. The park’s orientation film, An End of Innocence, plays on the hour from 9am-4pm. The Henry Hill walking tour, focused on First Manassas departs here daily at 11:00am and 2:00pm. A Second Manassas orientation talk takes place here at 1:00pm and 3:00pm daily.
Begin your exploration of the Second Battle of Manassas at the Brawner Farm Interpretive Center. Here you will find a 10 minute electronic map which provides the story and troop movements of Second Manassas. Three rooms of exhibits provide information on the campaign and some of the personalities of Second Manassas, the civilian experience and the current Brawner farmhouse.
Check out the Visitor Centers page for more information.
The park offers a wide range of daily ranger led walking tours that take you to different areas of the park that saw significant battle action in either the First or Second Battle of Manassas. Tours are free and no advanced reservation is required. For a full list of summer 2022 tour offerings, check out the guided tours page of our website.
The park has over 40 miles of trails for you to explore. Before embarking on your adventure, head to the hiking page on our website, or stop by the Henry Hill Visitor Center to pick up a copy of the trail map and talk to park rangers and volunteers to see which trail will best suit your hiking plans!
The park has a 12 stop self-guided driving tour, which takes you to important places of the park that saw battle action during both battles of Manassas. Each of the stops has a parking lot and signage to explain the importance of that particular location in the battle story. Additionally, some stops include smaller loop trails for you to explore more of the story of the battles of Manassas. A CD-tour guide is available for purchase in the park’s store. Don’t have a CD player in your car? You can download a free battlefield app for either the first or second battle, produced by the American Battlefield Trust.
Check out our history and culture page to begin your exploration of the Battles of First and Second Manassas. On this page you will find links to descriptions of both battles as well as places and people that are part of the bigger Manassas story.
On a busy day, parking at the Henry Hill Visitor Center can be at a premium. Each of the 12 stops on the park’s self-guided driving tour has a parking lot from which you can begin your exploration of the battlefield.
Check out our parking page to learn more about each of the parking lots in the park to see which one best suits your visit! Be sure to park in designated areas, not along roadsides or on vegetation.
Check out our parking page to learn more about each of the parking lots in the park to see which one best suits your visit! Be sure to park in designated areas, not along roadsides or on vegetation.
Stop by the Henry Hill Visitor Center to learn more about Manassas’ junior ranger program and to pick up your activity booklet to complete during your visit to the park!
Manassas National Battlefield Park has approximately 21 miles of designated trails for horseback riding, making it one of the best equine riding areas in the region. Check out our Horseback riding page to learn more about trails and access.
Stop by the Henry Hill Visitor Center to pick up a copy of the equestrian trail guide.
Stop by the Henry Hill Visitor Center to pick up a copy of the equestrian trail guide.
Manassas National Battlefield Park is home to a variety of different ticks. Check out this link to learn more about tick safety before embarking on your hike.