Camping at Gettysburg?

[O. A. Williams]

Is it possible to camp, or spend the night there? I know it closes to cars at 10:00 pm (I believe), but can foot traffic still go into the park? Are there groups that go to camp?
I think it would be quite...haunting....to spend the night with our lost soldiers.

 

[cash]

You're not allowed on the battlefield after closing. The law enforcement rangers [the ones who carry the guns] will arrest you if they catch you.

 

[O. A. Williams]

Good to know. I've read some things online of various groups camping at Gettysburg, and I read a recent haunt story that was by a man who fell asleep at Devil's Den and awoke at 3 a.m.

 

[cash]

Good to know. I've read some things online of various groups camping at Gettysburg, and I read a recent haunt story that was by a man who fell asleep at Devil's Den and awoke at 3 a.m.

There is no camping allowed on the battlefield with the exception of living history encampments that are specifically authorized and supervised. There are campgrounds in the area surrounding the battlefield.

 

[ole]

If you find a campground, make reservations. It can get pretty crowded around there.

 

[Poor Private]

I know several people who have spent the night there. They didn't set a fire, they didn't make a "camp", they didn't sing or do any of the camp things. they just hunkered down. With the thousands of acres, no formal fencing, and with public roads running through the battle field, it's tuff for those guys to patrol the whole battle field, so I bet there are a bunch of guys and gals who never got caught.

 

[rhettbutler1865]

Last time I was there, I almost did sneak in; and if it hadn't been late November, I would have...

 

[MRB1863]

Don't get caught...they are lurking and watching you! Not the Rangers to worry about....woooooo

 

[Boopsie]

....or the ghosts.....

 

[unicornforge]

Since the town was part of the fighting, wouldn't sleeping in one of the hotels count as sleeping on the "battlefield"? Or does only the fighting outside of town count?

 

[dlavin]

I always thought they had cameras set up to watch parts of the battlefield for stuff like this because I have to imagine many many people try and do this. maybe they even patrol civil war forums...

 

[E_just_E]

If you want to camp on the battlefield legally, camp there. Part of the battlefield, but private campground and not part of the NPS. Also, this one, was part of Ewell's camp, albeit not part of the battlefield.