Suggestions on Gettysburg/VA trip

[O. A. Williams]

Hello all,
My wife and I would like to begin planning a trip to Gettysburg and would also like to visit a few more battlefields while we are "out east". I'd especially like to visit Chancellorsville and/or Fredericksburg while in the area, and I understand this will likely mean that we will have to rent a car and stay in different hotels, which we are open to doing.

We would be flying in by plane and we would like to keep it down to a four night stay "in the area" allowing for a 5th night strictly for travel if needed. We would likely spend two days at Gettysburg seeing all the sites (Unless you think 1 day is enough?), but would not want to spend more than 1 day at any other battlefields.

My questions are as follows:

1) What months are the best time to go?
...with concern for weather (not cold, NOT RAINY, and not too scorching hot)? Fall is out for me, but we can make spring or summer work. We'd also like to avoid huge crowds, so probably wouldn't go during the actual anniversary of Gettysburg in July.

2) Is my idea of getting a rental car and spending four nights practical?

3) Would it be simple to get around, to, from, and between Virginia Battlefields and Gettysburg?

4) Any "must visit" restaurants or hotels in the areas? (not as important)

Any tips you can give me would be most appreciated as we begin planning this trip. Really, I'm open to any and all suggestions, but this will be our first trip to these areas.

Thank you.

 

[lupaglupa]

I do think you will want two days in Gettysburg - there is a LOT to see and if you have to rush your way through you will regret it!

 

[JeffFromSyracuse]

1) Depending where you're coming in from, your best bests are to fly into Dulles or BWI. Dulles is about 80 miles from Gettysburg and 40 from Fredericksburg - BWI is closer to Gettysburg.

2) April - early June is good. June starts to get real humid. July and August are **** shoots in terms of heat.

3) Four or five days can work. The Wilderness and Chancellorsville are right next to each other, with Fred and Spots each about 10 miles away. This can be covered in 2-3 days, depending how much walking you plan.

4) Gettysburg and Fredericksburg are about 3 hours apart on a good day, and if you stay west of DC on the drive (and you should! - take Route 15), you're not that far from Antietam and Harpers Ferry and drive right past Monocacy - all very worth the visit.

 

[James N.]

I've made the kind of mistake you're about to make on several previous occasions - the idea of spending only FOUR days, two of them correctly spent at Gettysburg, and even THINKING about including Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville is patently ridiculous. Do either Gettysburg OR Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania but NOT both! It takes an entire day to get from Gettysburg to Fredericksburg, especially considering the D.C. area traffic, essentially time wasted. Far better to confine your insufficient time to the immediate Gettysburg area, instead visiting one or more of the following as time allows: Antietam, Harper's Ferry, or Monocacy. I see you've been a member here since 2015, so you should be at least aware of if not familiar with the many threads about all three to help you with ideas.

 

[lupaglupa]

A lot depends on what type of tourist you are. @JeffFromSyracuse gives a great outline of how you could see all of the locations in your timeframe. And James N. is right that you have a very ambitious agenda. I can totally understand if you are coming from far away and have so much you want to see that it makes sense to try and see it all at once. That works if you are the sort of tourist who is content to get a short walk through at some sites and to skip the exhibits in the museum at others. But of you are the sort of tourist who looks at every display in depth and wants to immerse yourself in each place you visit, then I would suggest you pare down your list. Either approach is just fine, but knowing what you want before you make your plans is very helpful.

 

[O. A. Williams]

I've made the kind of mistake you're about to make on several previous occasions - the idea of spending only FOUR days, two of them correctly spent at Gettysburg, and even THINKING about including Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville is patently ridiculous. Do either Gettysburg OR Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania but NOT both! It takes an entire day to get from Gettysburg to Fredericksburg, especially considering the D.C. area traffic, essentially time wasted. Far better to confine your insufficient time to the immediate Gettysburg area, instead visiting one or more of the following as time allows: Antietam, Harper's Ferry, or Monocacy. I see you've been a member here since 2015, so you should be at least aware of if not familiar with the many threads about all three to help you with ideas.

Thank you for the firm and truthful reply. While I have been a member since 2015, I rarely post and mostly browse. When I see trip posts, I mostly enjoy the pictures and wish I was there. I'd like to see it all! I am unfamiliar with the area outside D.C.

Thanks to all for the great replies. After talking with a friend and reading this and other posts, I think I'm going to focus on Gettysburg for two days, and then try to visit Antietam. (Antietam should be easier to get to from Gettysburg than Fredericksburg or Chancellorsville, correct?) If it would matter, we are willing to switch hotels to maximize visits without worrying about two-way same day travel. If Antietam takes two days we will have to try to make it work.
Other battlefields will have to wait.


Everyone in agreement that anytime between April-June is a good time to go? Anyone have "favorite" months to be there?
Thanks again all, I really appreciate the suggestions.

 

[JeffFromSyracuse]

Thank you for the firm and truthful reply. While I have been a member since 2015, I rarely post and mostly browse. When I see trip posts, I mostly enjoy the pictures and wish I was there. I'd like to see it all! I am unfamiliar with the area outside D.C.

Thanks to all for the great replies. After talking with a friend and reading this and other posts, I think I'm going to focus on Gettysburg for two days, and then try to visit Antietam. (Antietam should be easier to get to from Gettysburg than Fredericksburg or Chancellorsville, correct?) If it would matter, we are willing to switch hotels to maximize visits without worrying about two-way same day travel. If Antietam takes two days we will have to try to make it work.
Other battlefields will have to wait.

Everyone in agreement that anytime between April-June is a good time to go? Anyone have "favorite" months to be there?
Thanks again all, I really appreciate the suggestions.

Antietam is easy to get to from Gettysburg. About 50 miles and it will take you right past the South Mountain battlefields as well. Stopping at Monocacy would also add only about 15 miles to the trip.

I like Gettysburg when it really starts to get green, so late April / early May. Especially since we seem to be having an early spring up here this year.

 

[J C J Barefoot]

I'd go in late May early June. I agree with James N. You are planning too much for the time allowed. The drive from Gettysburg to FB can get real ugly and eat up time. If a round trip flight is not needed you could fly into Harrisburg which is an hour from GB and less busy than Dulles which is an hour an forty minutes. I would recommend as follows:
Day one and two at Gettysburg. Try to follow the chronology of the battle with the morning getting to the visitor center early —don't get bogged down there—then get on the NE side of town where the opening began , the seminary, Barlow knoll, Oak Hill. Mid-day get to Culps Hill and Cemetary Hill and the Cemetary. If you can make the steps up the observation tower at Culps it's well worth it. Day two if you want to have a great experience get to the top of Little Round Top early in the morning before the crowds and have your coffee sitting up there looking over the battlefield. It's special and will give you a great orientation. Getting to the Devil's Den, the lines of the 20th​ Maine and all that area is 2-3 hours. Then get down to the Union Lines in the center of the field for the afternoon. Go up in the PA Monument. If there is any time left you might go to Confederate Avenue and see the attack from the VA and North Carolina monuments.
I've had very good stays at the Courtyard Marriott on the west side of town. Clean, quiet, ten minutes from everything. Also the Bike Tour guides are great. I did the one day tour in 2015 and like it so much I went back for a two day tour in 2017.

Day three to Antietam ( about an hour drive). See Dunkard Church, and all area surrounding, get up in the observation tower. See the Burnside Bridge from both sides.The walk up to the Georgia side is steep. If the visitor center is open when you first get there they do a good job. You can spend 6-7 hours minimum there. Consider driving from there to Harpers Ferry to spend the night.
Day Four plan A- Harpers Ferry is historically interesting and you can take it all in in about 2 hours. From there you can drive to Fredrick MD only 24 minutes away and visit The National Museum of Civil War Medicine. It's very good plan on a minimum of an hour and half.
Day Four Plan B- If you flew into Dulles instead of Harrisburg hit Harpers ferry in the morning on your way back toward the airport. Then drive to Mannassas getting there early afternoon to spend the rest of the day at Bull Run. Hotels are all over—and close to the Battlefield. The airport is super close.
Hope these ideas help you use the time well. You're in for a great trip.

 

[infomanpa]

A lot of good answers to your questions. I just want to add that if you are going this year, you probably don't have to worry about huge crowds anywhere or at any time, due to the lingering pandemic effects on travel. Also, if you are taking the trouble to fly out to see a Gettysburg, you should definitely include Antietam, since it's not very far. Finally, only you can decide how much time to spend based on your interest. For some one good day at Gettysburg will satisfy, for others, they need a week. I have visited there a couple dozen times and I will never get enough.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

Hello, I don't want to start another thread for this, as my plans are close to this post.
I have been to GB before so I'm just going there for one day to walk Pickett's charge and dine at the Dobbin's house or Farnsworth and the next day leaving for Fredericksburg. Once there I plan to do the following:
Monday May 24

GB to Fredericksburg 2 hours 128 miles Via US 15 South avoid DC

Stay in Fredericksburg Arbnb May 24-25

Fredericksburg Visitors Center 1 mile from Arbnb

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Nat Military Park

Sunken Road

Chancellorsville Battlefield

Spotsylvania Battlefield

Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield/District

Wilderness battlefield

Slaughter Pen Farm

Ellwood Manor Stonewall Jacksons arm grave


Tuesday June 25

Fredericksburg to Richmond 1 hour 60 miles

Stay in Richmond 25-26

Chimborazo Visitor Center

American Civil War Museum

Hollywood Cemetery 2 hours

Tredegar Iron Works/Nat Park Museum 1 hour

Richmond National Battlefield Fort Harrison 2 hours

AP Hill Statue Laburnum Ave and Hermitage Rd


Wednesday May 27

Petersburg 25 minutes

Eastern Flank Visitor Center Crater

Siege Museum

Epps Plantation at City Point

Blandford Church Centre Hill

Drive to Appomattox 1.37 hours

Appomattox

High Bridge

American Civil War Museum

Pamplin Park

Stay in Appomattox (Lynchburg)

I will be back in the area for the Civil War Muster in October and will visit Antietam, Manassas and Harpers Ferry then. I can also put some of the things from this itinerary that I can't fit in on that trip.
When I was in GB last summer the Visitor's Center was closed. It looks like they are are closed at the battlefields around Fredericksburg also. After Appomattox I am heading south to see my kids in the Knoxville area. I'm really hoping to find more museums and visitor centers open. I did a virtual tour of the Confederate White House last month so that is off the list.
Thanks in advance for your help. And let me know if I've left out something important!

 

[hoosier]

If you want to avoid huge crowds, you want to avoid Gettysburg not only during the weekend that is the actual anniversary of the battle, but the following weekend as well.

The following weekend is Bike Week, when large numbers of motorcyclists converge on Gettysburg. I'm not sure if the town is as crowded during Bike Week as it is during the anniversary, but it will be crowded enough to make it very difficult to move around.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

If you want to avoid huge crowds, you want to avoid Gettysburg not only during the weekend that is the actual anniversary of the battle, but the following weekend as well.

The following weekend is Bike Week, when large numbers of motorcyclists converge on Gettysburg. I'm not sure if the town is as crowded during Bike Week as it is during the anniversary, but it will be crowded enough to make it very difficult to move around.

The first time I saw it last year there was almost no one there because of the pandemic. But I also missed out on the visitors center because it was closed. It's a short drive from Baltimore where I fly to so I can see going there for short visits many times. But not on the major event weekends. Thanks

 

[James N.]

Hello, I don't want to start another thread for this, as my plans are close to this post.
I have been to GB before so I'm just going there for one day to walk Pickett's charge and dine at the Dobbin's house or Farnsworth and the next day leaving for Fredericksburg. Once there I plan to do the following:
Monday May 24

GB to Fredericksburg 2 hours 128 miles Via US 15 South avoid DC

Stay in Fredericksburg Arbnb May 24-25

Fredericksburg Visitors Center 1 mile from Arbnb

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Nat Military Park

Sunken Road

Chancellorsville Battlefield

Spotsylvania Battlefield

Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield/District

Wilderness battlefield

Slaughter Pen Farm

Ellwood Manor Stonewall Jacksons arm grave


Tuesday June 25

Fredericksburg to Richmond 1 hour 60 miles

Stay in Richmond 25-26

Chimborazo Visitor Center

American Civil War Museum

Hollywood Cemetery 2 hours

Tredegar Iron Works/Nat Park Museum 1 hour

Richmond National Battlefield Fort Harrison 2 hours

AP Hill Statue Laburnum Ave and Hermitage Rd


Wednesday May 27

Petersburg 25 minutes

Eastern Flank Visitor Center Crater

Siege Museum

Epps Plantation at City Point

Blandford Church Centre Hill

Drive to Appomattox 1.37 hours

Appomattox

High Bridge

American Civil War Museum

Pamplin Park

Stay in Appomattox (Lynchburg)

I will be back in the area for the Civil War Muster in October and will visit Antietam, Manassas and Harpers Ferry then. I can also put some of the things from this itinerary that I can't fit in on that trip.
When I was in GB last summer the Visitor's Center was closed. It looks like they are are closed at the battlefields around Fredericksburg also. After Appomattox I am heading south to see my kids in the Knoxville area. I'm really hoping to find more museums and visitor centers open. I did a virtual tour of the Confederate White House last month so that is off the list.
Thanks in advance for your help. And let me know if I've left out something important!

I'm afraid you will find you will need two or even three days to accomplish all you want to see just on day one. When we visited there back in April, 2018 we took all morning at Fredericksburg proper and half the afternoon at Salem Church and Chancellorsville and still didn't see everything. We totally bypassed Chatham and Jackson's Flank March through the Wilderness, plus the Lacy House where his arm is buried and decided not to even attempt Wilderness-Spotsylvania. If you attempt to follow your schedule I'm afraid your trip will be nothing but one mad dash. Each location - Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania; Richmond; Petersburg-Appomattox - easily deserve the amount of time you've allotted for your entire trip!

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

I'm afraid you will find you will need two or even three days to accomplish all you want to see just on day one. When we visited there back in April, 2018 we took all morning at Fredericksburg proper and half the afternoon at Salem Church and Chancellorsville and still didn't see everything. We totally bypassed Chatham and Jackson's Flank March through the Wilderness, plus the Lacy House where his arm is buried and decided not to even attempt Wilderness-Spotsylvania. If you attempt to follow your schedule I'm afraid your trip will be nothing but one mad dash. Each location - Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania; Richmond; Petersburg-Appomattox - easily deserve the amount of time you've allotted for your entire trip!

Thanks for the advice. You are right. I'm coming back in October for the Muster so I'll do what I can in May and pickup where I left off then. My list might be good for people trying to plan a trip themselves. I travel to TN a couple times year so can go back on any of those trips too. When the grandkids there get a little older we plan to explore the sites like Chattanooga/Chickamauga and Shiloh. They moved to the perfect place in the middle of it all! And I love seeing them as much as I can.

 

[James N.]

Thanks for the advice. You are right. I'm coming back in October for the Muster so I'll do what I can in May and pickup where I left off then. My list might be good for people trying to plan a trip themselves. I travel to TN a couple times year so can go back on any of those trips too. When the grandkids there get a little older we plan to explore the sites like Chattanooga/Chickamauga and Shiloh. They moved to the perfect place in the middle of it all! And I love seeing them as much as I can.

I can understand wanting to return to Gettysburg to see the Visitor Center and dine at the Farnsworth House, but considering the time wasted getting away from there to the next destination it would be far better to eliminate that whole detour and apply the time toward one of your other destinations. For later, I hope you hadn't planned to visit both Chick-Chatt AND Shiloh on the same trip; although both sites are in Tennessee there's NO quick direct route between the two and it would involve a lot of aimless driving between them. Better to save Shiloh for later and combine it with a visit to Corinth instead!

 

[reading48]

Since you have been to the Burg and just want to walk Picketts charge...Antietam is an Hour away...Harpers ferry is 18 miles away from Antietam. Charles Town and the Kennedy Farm where John Brown was hung and the farm is where he stayed over night is all in that area...Good luck on trying to get all that in in just a short time..
We stayed in Fredericksburg seven days and didn't get to see all we wanted...
Just my two cents worth...

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

I can understand wanting to return to Gettysburg to see the Visitor Center and dine at the Farnsworth House, but considering the time wasted getting away from there to the next destination it would be far better to eliminate that whole detour and apply the time toward one of your other destinations. For later, I hope you hadn't planned to visit both Chick-Chatt AND Shiloh on the same trip; although both sites are in Tennessee there's NO quick direct route between the two and it would involve a lot of aimless driving between them. Better to save Shiloh for later and combine it with a visit to Corinth instead!

Since you have been to the Burg and just want to walk Picketts charge...Antietam is an Hour away...Harpers ferry is 18 miles away from Antietam. Charles Town and the Kennedy Farm where John Brown was hung and the farm is where he stayed over night is all in that area...Good luck on trying to get all that in in just a short time..
We stayed in Fredericksburg seven days and didn't get to see all we wanted...
Just my two cents worth...

My flight was rescheduled by Southwest to be earlier in the day so I would be able to pick up my car and be on the road by 11. I am going to Antietam and Harper's Ferry during the October Muster. I could go straight to Fredericksburg but I was not able to see the Visitor's Center at GB last year. So I don't know if it is a don't miss.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

Since you have been to the Burg and just want to walk Picketts charge...Antietam is an Hour away...Harpers ferry is 18 miles away from Antietam. Charles Town and the Kennedy Farm where John Brown was hung and the farm is where he stayed over night is all in that area...Good luck on trying to get all that in in just a short time..
We stayed in Fredericksburg seven days and didn't get to see all we wanted...
Just my two cents worth...

My flight was rescheduled by Southwest to be earlier in the day so I would be able to pick up my car and be on the road by 11 from Baltimore. I am going to Antietam and Harper's Ferry during the October Muster. I could go straight to Fredericksburg but I was not able to see the Visitor's Center at GB last year. So I don't know if it is a don't miss.
If I did the 2 hour drive straight to Fredericksburg and skipped GB on this trip it would be midafternoon. What would be some good things to do for the half day? I can easily rearrange my accomodations.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

I can understand wanting to return to Gettysburg to see the Visitor Center and dine at the Farnsworth House, but considering the time wasted getting away from there to the next destination it would be far better to eliminate that whole detour and apply the time toward one of your other destinations. For later, I hope you hadn't planned to visit both Chick-Chatt AND Shiloh on the same trip; although both sites are in Tennessee there's NO quick direct route between the two and it would involve a lot of aimless driving between them. Better to save Shiloh for later and combine it with a visit to Corinth instead!

That's a great idea. I would do Shiloh and CC in different trips. I have a friend in Arkansas that might want to do Shiloh.
I'm considering eliminating GB in this trip because there is so much to see on the other places. That was a great idea. GB is kind of like home though. It's so friendly and a always more to discover. The food is great at Dobbins house too. But I bet it will be on the agenda for some group conference or other outing another time.

 

[reading48]

That's great advise that James said..... Shiloh is another battlefield that takes more than a day to explore....
Sorry to say just because of my on experiences you have too much on your plate and too short of time to do it in