"How long do you need to visit Gettysburg?" Topic

Hi Guys,

Thinking of visiting Gettysburg next year. I live on the Pacific Coast of Australia so this would be a once only lifetime trip. I'm pretty fit for my age, but would be hiring a car.

I appreciate this is a 'how long is a piece of string' type question, but how long many days on average do most folks take to 'do' Gettysburg? Say I wanted to walk the main fields for Day 1, say from Herr Ridge to Mcpherson ridge then up to Oak Ridge; and then for Day 2 and 3 from Little Round Top right along Cemetery Ridge and round to Culps Hill.

I'd also want to spend time checking out memorials and any decent museums in the vicinity.

Can you even walk around these areas? [Might be a stupid question but in the UK you can pretty much walk anywhere whereas in Australia only in National Parks and even then there are conditions]

How many days stay at Gettysburg would you recommend.

As a supplementary question, is there anything for my wife to visit? (if her interest in the ACW is quickly quenched)

Thanks for any advice…

I went a long time ago spent 3 days gave me plenty of time and saw most everything

I've only ever been to Gettysburg on day trips, so I can't speak to anything but the battle field itself (as opposed to the town and attractions). I am an independent traveler but having a tour guide at Gettysburg made all the difference in the world. I was there with a guide book and it was great, but when I returned for my second trip I had a tour guide. Learned so much, sparked my imagination, and left me with memories I still cherish. It has been a while, but I believe the park has official tour guides. Your Google Fu may vary. My two cents.

I have been three times for a few hours each time. I suggest at least three days to walk around and see everything.

A guide would be helpful it is a big place.

The town of Gettysburg is very scenic and has many little shops and museums and might interest the wife. The actual National Park Museum is very large and my wife liked it a lot. It is also beautiful and well done.

We took a bus tour which gives you a nice overview and then drove around and looked at parts we wanted to see again.

In WWI Gettysburg was a Tank Training Camp run by some guy named Eisenhower. During the Interwar period the USMC used to force march from Washington, D.C. to Gettysburg. In WWII it was a POW camp.

After the war Eisenhower bought property there and lived there after he was President in the 1950s. His old house is also a museum now but I did not get to see it.

Also check out the Cyclorama Painting, very cool.

link

Have a good time and report back what you liked and did not like.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek
Bunker Talk blog

Thank you all very much gentlemen! 3 days seems to be the consensus which makes sense looking at maps and such. Will definitely be starting off with a guided tour of some sort too!

I would second/third the use of a guide.
We hired one to actually drive our car which made the tour very good indeed.
You don't say whether or not you are taking a partner, family , friend of wife.
Three days might be a bit too much for them?

i would recommend walking Pickett's charge and visiting the re done round top specifically. Good ice cream shop in the town. The soldier shop might be a good visit too.

I hope you enjoy the visit and take too many photos!

martin

Another answer to this question would be "It depends on how much money you are willing to spend. They don't call that town "Greedysburg", for nothing ya know…"

I've been there for one day many times. But I'd agree with the consensus--three, possibly four days. Good luck!

Hi

I have been lucky enough to visit Gettysburg three times since 1986 (from the UK). If you are 'into' the ACW then I would also suggest 3 days as a minimum to have a good look around. I would also second/forth a 2/3 hour tour with a guide from the visitor centre (pre booked) to orientate yourself and as Martin said above, they can drive your car for you (presuming you wil have a car). I would also check out the National Park website for any closures for when you intend going, when I was there last August Little Round Top was closed for work being done there which I think was due to last a couple of years. Walking 'Picketts' charge with my 17 year old son, also last August (who has had to put up with my interest in the ACW since he was born), was a lifetime highlight for me. If there is any particular part of the field you are interested in then I would suggest you go there very early, I was at Oak Hill around about 6.30am last year but still not entirely on my own! I'm sure you will have awonderful time.

And Antietam is only about 2 hours or so drive away……

Cheers Paul

It was just mentioned but if you dedicate too much time, places like Antietam are close, like 45 miles I believe.

The the park rangers can be incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, in my experience. They will take the time to answer questions and go deep. I have been going since the 60s and today the park is better staffed and organized than ever. My advice, use the tours, take at least two days, go to Antietam, be prepared to spend money. But worth it.

For me this is the most complete battlefield experience a person can ever have.

By yourself: Two days, minimum.

With a woman: 1 hour, max.

When you are there, plan lunch at the Dobbin House in town. The building is from around 1774 and the bar/restaurant downstairs is excellent.

My wife went along with it – once.

Been there many times, sister moved with almost a bike ride but haven't got out in a decade.
But would suggest 3 days, especially if it's a first and likely only trip.

I went a long time ago. I understand there is much more to see now than when I went. 3 days required at least. Safe journey. Lots of other sites nearby by car – Petersburg, Fredericksburg, Harpers Ferry, Antietam etc.

3 days would be great. Suggest day 1 guided tour to get the lay of the place. After that free style to see what you want to focus on. As with any vacation planning YouTube is your friend. Use it during planning. You may well find new options that you have not considered. Check Gettysburg toy soldier shop. If you are so inclined, there is a horseback option that I would suggest you give a try.

Three days to do a really thorough job of it. You could do it in two if you had to. One day is possible, of course, but you will miss a lot of great stuff. A licensed guide will help enormously.

When are you planning to come? Little Round Top is currently under renovations and is not open to the public. They plan to have it open by Spring 2024.

Do the road circuit first to get yourself orientated. I did that on a bus with an official guide. I would be surprised if your wife didn't enjoy that, even if she doesn't want to walk the battlefield. The town is pretty nice to wander around. If all else fails, the Gettysburg Outlet Shoppes aren't too far away.

Lee stayed 4 days, but I think by the 4th day he felt he had overstayed.

Donlowry:

But Lee was there on the 0th Anniversary Events, there were thousands of visitors, and the roads were jammed up. Plus I heard he wasn't feeling well.

Just a rumor…

How long you need depends on how much you want to do there. Last time my son and I went we spent 4-5 hours. For what we were looking for on that trip 4-5 hours was more than adequate. Gettysburg is a battlefield where one day can be more than enough and two full days can be not nearly enough. How much time you'd need depends on what you want to do. In addition to the battlefield sites there is also the town.

We were there for three days. Stayed at the Federal Inn in Gettysburg.

I was there last June, participated in the 160th reenactment and stayed in Gettysburg for two (or three?) days after. I stayed 3 nights at the Federal Pointe Inn and it was nice but rather pricey. If you're there during "the busy season," that is, end of June beginning of July you can expect some price gouging, but I think there's cheaper places to stay.
As someone said to me, "Planning a trip to Gettysburg is like scheduling a college semester." A good place to start is the visitor center – you can easily spend 6 hours there just visiting the museum. I drove and walked around a lot on my last day – got "lost" at the base of Big Round Top. I think I walked all the way around the Big Round Top, took about 45 minutes. I had 1/2 bottle of water and began to hear thunder. The whole experience had a weird Rip Van Winkle vibe to it. The Rose Farm was closed off – it's also an actual working horse farm, so I don't I how much of it is ever really open. Little Round Top was closed, too, but I got to see the Peach Field, the Wheatfield and Devil's Den. Didn't make it to Cemetery or Culp's Hills.
I was in pretty weak shape after 3 days at the reenactment, so be rested before you go. I'd say give yourself 4 or 5 days if this is a once in a lifetime trip. I'd love to go back, but can't say whether that will happen or not.
Oh yeah, take some insect repellent. I picked up a couple ticks but was able to catch them crawling up the back of my neck before they could dig in. They say light colored clothing helps.

the national park has many of their ranger walks online.

Sitting through them may take some off the list or identify where you want to spend more time.

YouTube link

For a taste but there are many more of them.

I just spent 4 days there in September, and was there for 2 1/2 days last November.

If its a once in a lifetime trip, I would do 4 days minimum. There is plenty of retail businesses as well as nice restaurants in downtown Gettysburg also that can keep your wife busy.

Have fun!

Kim

I have heard frequently that you need at least 3 days. Strangely, this is how long Lee spent there.

Wow, thanks chaps for scads of great advice. Hadn't connected that Antietam is so close by, hmmm…Yes very impressed with what I've seen so far, remotely, of the Park Rangers and their information.

we were there 2 days and really needed more

Curious. For those who said they needed more time, if you had an extra day what would you have done. If two what would you have done. Likewise if you had spent one less day in Gettysburg what would you have cut out that you would have missed, and what would you have cut out that would not have had a major impact on your stay? Having been to Gettysburg a number of times over close to 50 years my views are probably going to be different than someone who has only been once or twice.

I think it depends on how much you know about the whole thing beforehand. It you have got lodging and meals organized and you are well read, have studied maps, identified any special areas of interest, manage your walking time efficiently, it will all go smoother. Take your time, but plan it wisely.

Before going I would study the battlefield tour roads a little so you're familiar with those. I'm assuming you're familiar with the battle itself. The Ranger Battle Walks are free and very informative. If you're familiar with the battle I think you will learn a lot more than with a general tour. I would check out those and the times before you get there so if there is an area of the battlefield you're especially interested in, you can get to that area for when they start. Years ago I did Chamberlain's fight at Little Round Top and Pickett's Charge, where we actually walked across the field from the Virginia Monument to the Angle, stopping often for people who might have difficulty walking across fields without stopping.

I would start with the Museum and Visitor Center. A lunch at the Dobbin House Tavern should be your one expensive meal out. There's some souvenir shops walking down Steinwehr Ave towards town, though not as many as there used to be. Up the other direction, away from town, is the Gettysburg Heritage Center. I mention that because it has a great book store.

I would recommend "The U.S. Army War College guide to the Battle of Gettysburg." Take it with you, I found it helpful.

link

We stayed at The Federal Point Inn.

link

Have been there at least 30 times. I like taking route 30 through Chambersburg. It will bring you into the first day field. Fun especially in October when road side stands are loaded with apples. Leaves are turning and scenic as well. If you smoke a pipe, stop at Boswell's shop in Chambersburg. Great blends and makes excellent pipes at a reasonable price. Even makes a minieball pipe. Based on an original.

I've had the good fortune to do living history there and stay behind the Pennsylvania monument.

It's a beautiful field. Make sure to take in the cavalry battle park. Drive around the side roads in town and out.

Antietam and Harpers Ferry are close as well.

How long you stay is really up to the individual going and how much they want to see in the park and the museums.

Garryowen Irish Pub Has good food.

Enjoy your trip.

If you go during tick season, keep your eyes open especially in wooded areas.