Planning a Gettysburg Trip

[WW2280]

I am planning a trip to Gettysburg. It will be my fiancé and I. She supports my obsession with the civil war and is excited! We are from MS so of course we don't mind warm weather but we are wondering when is the best time to go? We want to stay close so where is the best places to stay? What are must do's and dont's? Any input is welcome!

 

[infomanpa]

I am planning a trip to Gettysburg. It will be my fiancé and I. She supports my obsession with the civil war and is excited! We are from MS so of course we don't mind warm weather but we are wondering when is the best time to go? We want to stay close so where is the best places to stay? What are must do's and dont's? Any input is welcome!

I like going in spring or fall.

Since many others with the same questions have also asked for input on visiting there, you might want to do a search on this site and hopefully find many of their excellent recommendations.

 

[Doc_Ralph]

I like going in spring or fall.

Since many others with the same questions have also asked for input on visiting there, you might want to do a search on this site and hopefully find many of their excellent recommendations.

I agree that the fall and spring are the best times to go. Winter there is the possibility of cold and snow. An advantage is without leaves on the trees the topography is more apparent. Summer is the worse and of course that is the time we always go. Hot, hot, hot!

As for places to stay I can vouch for The Blue Sky motel with a pool OR the Farnesworth Inn with ghosts.

I won't say I have a favorite spot on the battlefield but I do feel a closeness to the Round Tops, Devils Den and the Slaughter Pen area.

When you do come make sure you check out the suttlers & Dobbins (sp?) Inn for good food. Bring your money and help the Yankee folks economy!

Have fun up there which for me would include a battlefield horse back ride.

YHS,
Doc Ralph

 

[Andrew]

People will have many recommendations, so I'll mention just 2 things. First, Hotel Gettysburg is a great place to stay and it's right in the middle of town. Second, the cheesesteaks at Hunt's Battlefield Fries are terrific.

 

[bayonet]

Stay at the Cashtown Inn or the Farnsworth House if you want a nice experience.

 

[KianGaf]

People will have many recommendations, so I'll mention just 2 things. First, Hotel Gettysburg is a great place to stay and it's right in the middle of town. Second, the cheesesteaks at Hunt's Battlefield Fries are terrific.

Yeah its a perfect hotel to stay in. I'm not sure about parking though as I got a cab from Harrisburg. I liked the blue and Gray across the street for lunch and the Lincoln diner behind the hotel near the railroad tracks for breakfast. The museum is extensive so allow plenty of time to study the displays.

 

[WW2280]

What about staying in Chambersburg?

 

[Doc_Ralph]

Yeah its a perfect hotel to stay in. I'm not sure about parking though as I got a cab from Harrisburg. I liked the blue and Gray across the street for lunch and the Lincoln dinner behind the hotel near the railroad tracks for breakfast. The museum is extensive so allow plenty of time to study the displays.

Hotel Gettysburg has self parking but there is a surcharge for it.

 

[mwalker6043]

There are several levels of hotels, motels and B&Bs if you stay in Gettysburg to suite your taste and budget. Several have indoor pools. Prices go up and down due to events in town, National Holidays, Civil War related anniversaries (July 1-3 and Nov. 19), apple festivals (First 2-3 weekends in Oct.) and college events (late May and Oct.).
2nd Weekend of July is Bike Week (just a heads up)
Spring and Fall are the best times to be on the battlefields anywhere. Leaves peak mid-October in Gettysburg.
There is more to Gettysburg than just the obvious the Civil War battle. There is WWI, WWII history and a former Presidential Residence.

When you go to Gettysburg go to the Visitor Center see the cyclorama and recommend getting a licensed guide tour (2 - 3 hours).
There are also town guides to learn the history of the town and get the civilian experience, "Reluctant Witness" is my recommendation.
Horseback Battlefield Tours - seasonal
Ghost Tours if you are into that.
The Park has daily free Ranger-Led programs from May to October.
You can spend several days in town and not see everything here is to see.
There are several other museums in and around town,

• Adams County Historical Society Beyond the Battle is a must.
• WWII museum just west of the battlefield.
• Gettysburg Museum of History
• Jennie Wade House
• Schriver House
• President Eisenhower National Historic Site.

Food- I try to patronize local places before big chain restaurants, especially in the off seasons. I can get McDonalds anywhere.
Breakfast if not hotel provided - Lincoln Diner, Federal Point Grill or Gettysburg Family Restaurant.
Lunch/ Dinner - Hunt's Battlefield Fries, Li's Chinese Buffet, ABC, O'Rourke's, Tommy's Pizza, Gary Owen, Montezuma's, Blue & Gray, The Pub, Four Score, Sweney's Tavern, Mr. G's Ice Cream and Gettysburg Eddies. No shortage of good food in and around town.
Drinks - Reliance Mine Saloon (no food), ABC, Four Score, Battlefield Brewworks and Mason Dixon Distillery.
Dining with a Historic Atmosphere - Farnsworth House and Dobbin House Tavern (plan ahead!!)
Fine Dining - Sign of the Buck and Hoof, Fin & Fowl

Nearby within an hour or so
Monocacy, Antietam, Harper's Ferry & South Mountain Battlefields

 

[USS ALASKA]

What about staying in Chambersburg?

Hanover is closer at about 30 minutes while Chambersburg is about 45 and York an hour.

What are must do's and dont's?

DON'T spray paint anything...

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[MRB1863]

I agree that Spring and Fall are the better times of the year comfort-wise. However sometimes the rainy weather is unpredictable in Spring. But then there is plenty of indoor activity available such as the Visitor's Center, Heritage Center, Various museum style venues and shops and of course restaurants and pubs. I've heard that Hunt's has been sold and Scott is now retiring. He has built a fine shop there vending his Cheesesteaks and Fries among other menu items. (Wishing him well in his upcoming retirement.) Dobbin House and Farnsworth are notable for their fare as well. We always stay at the 1863 Inn on Baltimore. We love the location and the facility and service are great and parking is plentiful and free! Ask for a Loyalty Card. They are free and offer a considerable discount on the rates there. Mr. G's Ice Cream is a block or two down the street on Baltimore, the Farnsworth across from there and Steinwehr Ave is across from the Inn. Steinwehr reminds me in a way of a Boardwalk in town with its various shops in a row offering a colorful array of goods.
The do's and don'ts...don't dig up and graves, steal monuments or cannons, or burn buildings. More seriously though...be careful when touring some battlefield areas that are off the beaten trail. Ticks and snakes are apt to be present. Use a good tick repellant and watch where you step and place your hands in rocky areas and you'll be fine. We have visited Gettysburg innumerable times without incident.
Suggest you do some internet researching to familiarize yourselves with points of interest to you before your trip.
Above all take plenty of photos!!! Share some with us, too!
You surely will have a great time.

 

[JPChurch]

The first week of December is great. The town is vacant. You'll have everything to yourself. No tree foliage blocking panoramic views. Hotels are cheap and easily booked.

 

[Chattahooch33]

I am planning a trip to Gettysburg. It will be my fiancé and I. She supports my obsession with the civil war and is excited! We are from MS so of course we don't mind warm weather but we are wondering when is the best time to go? We want to stay close so where is the best places to stay? What are must do's and dont's? Any input is welcome!

We just got back two weeks ago. As a fellow deep south Gettysburg traveler, I have a few suggestions.

• We stayed at the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg for half the time, then moved over to the Quality Inn. Both are close enough to the battlefield to just walk out of your room and start touring. If I had to pick one it'd be the Quality Inn because it is so close.
• Get a licensed guide. It may seem pricey but it is worth every penny. We have done it twice (Ralph Siegel & Eric Lindblade) and if you tell them what you want to see they can personalize a tour or they can do overviews.
• We ate at Blue & Gray Cafe, Gettysburger, Appalachian Brewing, O'Rourke's, and La Bella Italia. All of these places were excellent.
• Go to the Gettysburg Heritage Center for their book store. They pretty much have every Savas Beatie book and pretty much any other you can think of. Also go to For the Historian which is also an excellent book store.
• Try not to stick to the trails too much. I bought Laino's map book and brought with me Gottfried's map book and we walked the route of each of Longstreet's brigades one by one. It was like 15 miles but worth the time. We also walked the entire first day.

Have fun, you will want to go back as going there just increases your interest to go home and read more... then you want to go back to see first hand what you read. Its a vicious cycle.

Also Antietam, Harpers Ferry, and South Mountain is close by...

 

[USS ALASKA]

I've heard that Hunt's has been sold and Scott is now retiring.

Gettysburg Staple, Hunt’s Battlefield Fries and Cafe, Seeks New Ownership - Gettysburg Connection

After more than two decades of serving made-to-order meals in the heart of Gettysburg, Scott Hunt, the owner of Hunt’s Battlefield Fries and Cafe, is looking to pass the torch as he plans to retire at the season’s end. Located at 61 Steinwehr Ave., the beloved local eatery has been a fixture in...

gettysburgconnection.org

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[WW2280]

There are several levels of hotels, motels and B&Bs if you stay in Gettysburg to suite your taste and budget. Several have indoor pools. Prices go up and down due to events in town, National Holidays, Civil War related anniversaries (July 1-3 and Nov. 19), apple festivals (First 2-3 weekends in Oct.) and college events (late May and Oct.).
2nd Weekend of July is Bike Week (just a heads up)
Spring and Fall are the best times to be on the battlefields anywhere. Leaves peak mid-October in Gettysburg.
There is more to Gettysburg than just the obvious the Civil War battle. There is WWI, WWII history and a former Presidential Residence.

When you go to Gettysburg go to the Visitor Center see the cyclorama and recommend getting a licensed guide tour (2 - 3 hours).
There are also town guides to learn the history of the town and get the civilian experience, "Reluctant Witness" is my recommendation.
Horseback Battlefield Tours - seasonal
Ghost Tours if you are into that.
The Park has daily free Ranger-Led programs from May to October.
You can spend several days in town and not see everything here is to see.
There are several other museums in and around town,

• Adams County Historical Society Beyond the Battle is a must.
• WWII museum just west of the battlefield.
• Gettysburg Museum of History
• Jennie Wade House
• Schriver House
• President Eisenhower National Historic Site.

Food- I try to patronize local places before big chain restaurants, especially in the off seasons. I can get McDonalds anywhere.
Breakfast if not hotel provided - Lincoln Diner, Federal Point Grill or Gettysburg Family Restaurant.
Lunch/ Dinner - Hunt's Battlefield Fries, Li's Chinese Buffet, ABC, O'Rourke's, Tommy's Pizza, Gary Owen, Montezuma's, Blue & Gray, The Pub, Four Score, Sweney's Tavern, Mr. G's Ice Cream and Gettysburg Eddies. No shortage of good food in and around town.
Drinks - Reliance Mine Saloon (no food), ABC, Four Score, Battlefield Brewworks and Mason Dixon Distillery.
Dining with a Historic Atmosphere - Farnsworth House and Dobbin House Tavern (plan ahead!!)
Fine Dining - Sign of the Buck and Hoof, Fin & Fowl

Nearby within an hour or so
Monocacy, Antietam, Harper's Ferry & South Mountain Battlefields

I see you had an ancestor killed at the Sherfy farm. I did too. Mine was in Barksdales brigade. Thank you for your input!

 

[DC1221]

Stay ON the battlefield!

NPS has two historic farm houses renovated and available to stay. Two consecutive night minimum. Keep an eye on the website below for when the future dates later in 2025 become available for reservation.

Gettysburg National Military Park - Camping | Pennsylvania | Recreation.gov

Reserve camping, permits & activities at Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania. 3 campgrounds. Book official reservations on Recreation.gov.

www.recreation.gov

Food: Coffee at Presidents. Lunch at Food 101.

 

[mwalker6043]

Stay ON the battlefield!

NPS has two historic farm houses renovated and available to stay. Two consecutive night minimum. Keep an eye on the website below for when the future dates later in 2025 become available for reservation.

Gettysburg National Military Park - Camping | Pennsylvania | Recreation.gov

Reserve camping, permits & activities at Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania. 3 campgrounds. Book official reservations on Recreation.gov.

www.recreation.gov

Food: Coffee at Presidents. Lunch at Food 101.

From what I have heard, 3 houses when they get the Rose house done.

 

[Dusty]

What about staying in Chambersburg?

Lots of motels there and some new ones too, off Walker Road, right near the 81-30 exit and close by. Many places to eat, especially on Norland Avenue. And it's only a 35 minute drive to Gettysburg depending on traffic. Personally I would say Fall on a week day is a wonderful time. Or a weekend if you please. And yes, try to get reservations at the Dobbin House. The gift shop is nice there too and the Tavern under the restaurant is also very nice with a nice menu. The visitors center and museum are top notch.

 

[infomanpa]

I agree that the fall and spring are the best times to go. Winter there is the possibility of cold and snow. An advantage is without leaves on the trees the topography is more apparent. Summer is the worse and of course that is the time we always go. Hot, hot, hot!

..and hotel rates are way more expensive in the summer, especially on weekends.

 

[WW2280]

Stay ON the battlefield!

NPS has two historic farm houses renovated and available to stay. Two consecutive night minimum. Keep an eye on the website below for when the future dates later in 2025 become available for reservation.

Gettysburg National Military Park - Camping | Pennsylvania | Recreation.gov

Reserve camping, permits & activities at Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania. 3 campgrounds. Book official reservations on Recreation.gov.

www.recreation.gov

Food: Coffee at Presidents. Lunch at Food 101.

I checked them out already and they appear to me rented for like the next several several months!