Gettysburg National Military Park Reviews

What an amazing place ! The museum and film narrated by Morgan Freeman are both a must. So much information and it really gave a look into the events before, during and after the battle. It is hard to imagine !
We also did the self driving tour of the battlefields using the audiotour app by the National Park Service. I had a little trouble with it at first but eventually got it.
What an inspiring day!

This trip was a bit of a splurge for me and my husband. We are both fans of learning history and we wanted to do something special.

As a tour guide myself, I am sometimes hesitant to spend a lot of money on tours. (There are plenty of not-so-great tour guides out there.) That being said, we really wanted to immerse ourselves in the experience so we booked a 5-hour car tour. (I did request the best guide in the company!).

We met Paul at the visitor’s center and headed out on our journey. Either the host taking our reservations granted my request of best guide, or they only hire the best. Paul was incredibly Knowledgeable about every aspect of the battle and explained things in such a way that not only made sense but were so memorable that we referenced what we learned for the rest of the trip. I learned more in a short time with Paul than any history class I’ve ever attended. He never once sounded like he was telling us something from a script or rote memorization. Everything was very conversational.

We got a great overview of the three-day battle in our five-hours. Next time we do a car tour, we’ll probably focus an hour or two on a smaller section (ie: just Day One or just Culp’s Hill).

Great tour for the money!

Learned a lot about the battles at Gettysburg and it was well worth the time and money to have a tour bus with a knowledgeable driver.

Hadn't been here since I was a kid and didn't remember anything but the cyclorama - still here and doing well.

The whole site is overwhelming. Movie and cyclorama are a good place the start; museum could take a whole day. Driving tour a necessity. I would suggest getting a downloadable tour - maybe one you pay nominally for. We tried to use the perk's free downloadable audio tour and it didn't work so we just followed the map and signs and read the plaques and paragraphs in the brochure, which probably don't have the detail of the others.

If you are a Civil War buff you already know - you need to spend days in the area. But even just a routine American history buff - or a routine American - should visit.

The Licensed Battlefield Guides had been highly recommended to us, and we were so glad we took that advice. We took a four hour tour with Jim H. and could easily have gone much longer.

Jim was a phenomenal guide. He not only is extremely knowledge, but obviously has great awe and respect for the people involved in these battles. He took us through the battles day by day, explaining what was known and not known to the generals, what could be seen or not seen based on where you stood and the topology, the types of cannons, rifles, etc., that were used in different places and the capabilities of each, and so much more. Jim also has a great memory - he recited not only the Gettysburg address but also quoted some of the officers’ orders and even from a soldier’s last letter home. The tour was excellent, definitely the highlight of our visit to Gettysburg.

Great place to visit. Every should come here at least once. It is massive. You could spend numerous days here. We got tickets for the museum, cyclorama, and film. Worth it, especially when you have kids. It explains what you're actually there to look at and what happened. We visited the 2nd of July and I heard it could get really crowded close to the 4th, but was not bad when we were there.

So many monuments and memorials, fantastic views, and much larger that you are probably imaginining.

Get the audio tour so you'll know what you're seeing. If you're a history buff, this is for you. It's a part of American history about which we should all learn, and besides, it's beautiful!

There are so many MONUMENTS! Clearly this place means so much to so many, and it's easy to see why. I think everyone should go here. It's the best preserved battlefield that I've ever seen. If people experience this, we'd never have another war. It's war in all its horror.

Excellent park that is preserving a sad part of American history that should be learned from rather than repeating history later. Area of the park is huge! The auto audio tour is a good way to see it.

I highly recommend hiring a Licensed Battlefield Guide. The Guide will cost $95 for 3 hours. They drive your car around the battlefield providing great input and direction for everything you need to know. They'll also interject with some of their own personal knowlege and experiences. My many questions were answered. Three hours is a perfect amount of time as all the knowlege can become overwhelming. I can't wait to go back.

This is an outstanding driving tour of the park. You will need the NPS app on your phone to download the audio for the tour. Be sure you have taken a large dosage of a chill pill for the tour as well because it is going to be packed. However, we found everyone respectful and you will have the opportunity to drive around to the 16 or so designated locations to hear the audio about the battle. There is parking in most spots (some more than others) and there will be an opportunity to get out and take pictures. Well worth going through it. We will recommend you start at the visitor center and watch the movie and talk to a Ranger (Holbrook) to get a clear picture of the three battle so when you head out on your tour you will have a better understanding of what took place.

We spent about an hour or two exploring around the museum which was very interesting. The Cyclorama was especially cool, and we felt like we could have spent hours looking at it. For us, the most amazing part of the Military Park was the tour. Our tour guide, Ed, was spectacular. He was incredibly knowledgeable, and interesting to listen to. I don't know if I could think of any question to ask him about the Battle of Gettysburg that he would not know the answer to. He went into loads of detail, and gave us a great sense of the battle. This tour was the start of a Civil War trip across the country for us, and we all considered it the best tour of the entire trip.

We started at the museum, doing the film and "cyclorama", then moving on to the exhibits. The film is predictable and blah; the cyclorama is unexciting; but the museum is well structured, informative and fascinating. We left 2 1/2 hours for the museum (not including film and cyclorama), and it was not nearly enough.

We took the two-hour battlefield bus tour. I would recommend this. The next day we came back and did a more complete tour via car, using the Park Service audio app (basically a recording of a tour one guide gave, plus driving instructions).

Both tours take you forward in time through the battle, from Heth's encounter with Buford to Pickett's charge. The bus tour gave us the highlights, and the car tour then filled in the gaps. We added Devil's Den at the end (not part of the Park Service tour, but very worthwhile), and ended up spending 4 hours that day.

The battlefield is too large to tour without a car. (Maybe unless you are a strong cyclist.)

The rangers in the museum were helpful. The cafe gave us a good meal. We will return and visit again.

Such a fun place to visit. We enjoyed riding through the park, reading the monuments and imagining what it would have been like to have been a part in the Battle of Gettysburg.

As most National parks, this is a self driving tour so you go at your pace. We went on a very cold April morning so it was nice being in a warm car. The park has a very odd layout as it surrounds private homes and businesses. It’s best to go to the visitor center for a map and a few instructions. Most parks are one entrance/exit but this one has you crossing roads and highways, so it can get confusing. You must keep in mind that many young men died here so the trip at times becomes solemn when reading the monument dedications. But it is a beautifully preserved part of our great country’s history.

This park is incredible and a must see! The auto trip was well marked and you can stop to see the monuments. Details of the battle were provided at many of the markers. Expect to spend several hours and you will only be able to see a small portion of the 1,300 + markers, monuments and statues. We drove the route ourselves rather than taking the bus tour. This allowed us to stop where we wanted to.

The “Film, Cyclorama, and Museum Experience” is well with the trip!
A bit on the pricey side for what should be a national park ( tax payer) funded exhibit.

There is really not much to say; that hasn’t already been said, or written. I’ve been here numerous times; but not since 2018. It still seems surreal that so much conflict, death, and suffering had taken place in this beautiful sprawling landscape. There is no way to see all of it in one visit, and maybe not even during a lifetime of visits. The numerous individual monuments are all very beautiful and unique in their own ways. There are numerous great ways to travel through the park, including bicycle, by foot, etc. This was also the first time that my newest three rescue rabbits traveled there with me, and they enjoyed it too. I look forward to me next visit there. A top rating of two rabbit ears up!!
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I'm a very frequent visitor to the battleground. We have been waiting for the Little Round top/Devils Den renovation to be opened. It was well worth the wait. What an absolutely fabulous job was done. It makes the entire area easier to access firstly. They installed pathways that are wider, and made to look like the color of local dirt, made of concrete. The way they have made areas more accessible actually made it look like they moved monuments, which they didn't. The fishhook area that was held by Chamberlains men, as well as others, has a clear paved panther, new walls, and breastworks, it's stunning. Overall it's looking more like how it was. It gives greater perspective. The Devils Den area has new walkways as well - my only concern was they paved the road near the witness tree right up to the tree itself, I hope it doesn't damage the tree.
Wonderful history...everyone should visit this historic spot, especially in today's political climate. The sacrifices made to ensure our freedoms and rights should be greatly appreciated.

Our very experienced guide took us back in time, and showed us every step of this 3 day battle, He answered every question we had, and we feel we are now experts regarding the area and what happened here.

What a lovely couple of hours. We hit the numbered spots - and SO enjoyed them. Beautiful fall afternoon- no crowds, no lines, no wait.
The visitors center got us started off with information and maps - and great advice about how to see all that we could.
And we accidentally joined all the photographers at Little Rock Top at sunset - just gorgeous.

Took the museum tour, watched the cyclorama display, and took a two hour guided tour (driver in your car). An absolutely great experience and seriously recommend the museum and show before the tour. Do get a personal guide in your vehicle, it is well worth the cost. This is a great trip for all ages! Fascinating to think what our country might look like today if the battle of Gettysburg happened differently!

What an amazing trip back in time. To see the vastness of this battle and to get an insight of all involved was incredible. There are so many memorials to see on route that tell all their own historic stories. You will really get a sense of understanding of the great battles once you have been here.

My daughter and I enjoyed walking on the trails on our self-guided tour. Everything is well-maintained and easy to follow.

What could be the best preserved battlefield in history is at Gettysburg. The plethora of markers and statues help to tell the story of the battle that took place there and the effects it had on the outcome of the war. Anyone interested in the Civil War simply must take a trip to this beautiful battlefield.

The scale and size of the cemetery is immense. Very well done and very impressive. We took the tram tour and hopped off and on . Tomb of Unknown soldier guard changes on the hour and half past in summer and on hour in Winter. JFK and IWO JIMA very impressive and sombre as is Arlington House

I was at the battlefields for multiple days for a conference. This place is incredible. The monuments and placards are very well maintained. The signage throughout is awesome. The museum is fantastic. I’m never one for movies at a museum, but the movie is excellent. The Cyclorama was one of the coolest things I have experienced. I love history and if you do too, this has to be on your travel bucket list.

You have to see the film, walk through the museum and do the auto tour. Go to the cemetery and view where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg address. It's our country's history.

We did a bus tour and it was ok but the self driving auto tour is great. It’s free you don’t need the app. Allow at least 3 hours with stops. It’s done chronologically and you get a good perspective on the battle. The museum is excellent

The vastness of this place was mind-blowing, we didn't have time to see everything so will need to come back another time. It was a great experience from top to bottom, especially the museum film.

Gettysburg National Military Park was one of our stops on our recent US History Tour. This was a very thought-provoking and at times emotional tour, where we learned from our licensed tour guide, Bob, of the battle and its outcome. This battle lasted only 3 days, but ended up with 51,000 soldiers killed, in the bloodiest battle of the civil war. It was the turning point of the war for the Union armies. There are over 1600 monuments and cannons dotting the landscape. There are also a number of buildings still standing that were there during the battle. One farm was pointed out by our guide, that has a hole from a cannon ball in its wall. I did not realize beforehand, that that battle took place completely around the town of Gettysburg. There are homes within the town of Gettysburg that still stand, with battle damages showing. This was a very solemn visit. I could have spent all day on the battlefield.

I go to Gettysburg just about every year, as part of my annual road trip. I travel with my three pet rescued rabbit, who have also been here before; just as my previous ones have done so. It rained most of the time during our four day stay, but we finally caught a break on our last day there. We then drove around the battlefield, and we stopped near the large Pennsylvania monument, so my rabbits could run and play. They were wonderful to watch, and was quite a contrast to what took place there 162 years earlier. Everyone stopped to watch them play, and to reflect on the tragic past and on the beauty of life.

There is a brief introductory movie, the Cyclorama (wrap around mural) is hard to believe, lots of artifacts and history.

You can feel the history . it was so informative and people were friendly and very knowledgeable throughout the city.

If you have ever visited a Civil War battlefield you have probably seen park service signs, a few open fields, and a monument or two. Then you try to place yourself in the moment over 150 years ago. A trip to Gettysburg is similar except you have upwards of 10 different areas (Devils Den, Culps Hill, Little Round Top, etc.), over 1,400 monuments, and an entire town that was literally in the middle of the fighting. Even the most amateur Civil War historian needs 3 days here to see everything. Tip - Believe what they say and start your tour at the Visitors Center. The museum is incredible with all sorts of artifacts and movies that describe the three days of the battle. The movie tells the history of the Civil War and explains how crucial Gettysburg was to deciding the conflict. Then go to the cyclorama, but be sure to move to the 12 o'clock position as you enter. That gives you the best view of Picket's charge. The gift shop has a huge selection of books to choose from.

TIP - We did our own self-driving car tour using the HereStory App narrated by Stephen Lang. Downloading it from the app store is cheaper than buying it in the bookstore, but you don't get the maps and accompanying book. It worked well, but you should really listen to it first so you know what to expect and where to turn once you get out on these hallowed grounds.

All National parks should strive to do what Gettysburg does. Everything about the experience is awesome. This must be the bar that all parks are graded against.

I have been to Gettysburg many times over the years and I find new things every time I’m there. Going in July is always precarious because of the heat, humidity and virtually dead air, but I love visiting the re-enactors. They always have such interesting stories and artifacts. We did the double decker bus tour in the evening and it was excellent! We also visited the museum and cyclorama, which is worth the price of admission. I suggest giving yourself the whole day, if not two.

This Military Park and museum are amazing. So much history, nothing like what we learned in school or what the kids are taught today. Make sure your tickets include the Museum, Film, and Cycleorama, and plan to spend several hours learning about this important war.

President Eisenhower's home is on the grounds of the park, a separate tour well worth taking. Again, a lot of history we never learned in school.

The National Cemetary is beautiful. All summer long from Memorial Day to Labor Day TAPS are played at 7pm to honor those soldiers that died for us.

Make this a mandatory stop when in Gettysburg.

We did not have long here and definitely will plan to return, but we thoroughly enjoyed our time here. The visitor's center was helpful and we enjoyed the brief movie as well as the cyclorama. We were not able to see as many places on the battlefield as we had hoped but will return to take it all on.

All of our young people should visit this military park. Teach them our history! We started taking our children when they were young, now our oldest is 53 years old.

We made a day trip to Gettysburg while visiting Lancaster County. Very nice visitor center. We self-drove and stopped at the major sites. We used the recommended NPS self-driving app, which had serious issues and repeatedly played the wrong site for us (the app needs some serious help!). The park is huge, and is scattered throughout the town, at times. You need a full day to do it justice, and serious history buffs would need more than that. Definitely a good visit, 🇺🇸

I was last here in the 1980s and it is such a better experience today. My key takeaways from our visit:
~Book bus tours early as they sell out fast.
~The museum, movie and cyclorama are a definite must to see prior to taking a tour of the park.
~Get to the north rail for the best experience of the cyclorama.
~There are several audio tour apps, read reviews before buying one.
~Little Roundtop is worth a stop for 30 minutes easy.
~Very poor cell service so download any multi-media before getting to park.
~Museum alone is easy 1-2 hour visit

We were in Gettysburg for "biker week." So we decided to go early - to avoid the noise and crush of people. We started the auto tour at 6am. What a fantastic decision! **Note stop 1 is NO WHERE near the visitor center - just use the NPS site to find stop one. We listened to the auto guide on the NPS site - just youtube clips - nothing to download. We finished the whole auto tour at 8:30 am - just in time to get to breakfast at the inn.

While out in the park we saw a few walkers/joggers and two other tourist the whole time. If you are willing to get up early it's totally worth it for the solitude.

I had been here when I was a kid - in the '50's and '60's, then again in the late '70's and early '80's when I was attending the nearby National Fire Academy. And it's more like it was back during the actual battles now than it was when I'd seen it last.
If you get a good Licensed Battlefield Guide, you're in for an experience that will seem almost like you were there in the 1860's - they can describe it just like they witnessed it then.
There is SOOO much to see, and SOOO much to learn that one-time is not enough; two times is like scratching the surface; and each additional time you can learn more.

A place worth visiting when you're in Pennsylvania. It's very close to Philadelphia (approximately 1.5 hour drive). Strongly recommend

The cemetery is a place to honor the men who have their lives for this country. Thousands perished so that we could live in peace

Gettysburg National Park is a profound experience. The work that has been done to pay tribute to both sides of the civil war was impressive.The movie was engaging and very well portrayed some of the dilemmas that occurred. Definitely worth your time. The only extremely negative experiences were the frequent loud muffler sounds from Harley Motorcycles that appeared to act like they owned the place. I don't understand how loud motorcycles can be allowed into an area as profound and historical as Gettysburg!! Loud noises like that should be outlawed in the park, out of respect for those who fought to the death.

We had no idea how massive this was and didn’t plan very much time! Also we got extremely confused with the directions app for your phone which was disappointing so maybe take the bus.. I believe everyone should come here at least once in your lifetime! So much to learn

Walking thought such a historical place was very meaningful. The statues that are placed throughout were both educational and set the tone for such a significant location. Views were great and the experience overall was wonderful.

No words can explain all the history and beauty you will experience. We have visited four or five times, and we are still in awe. There are some very useful audio driving tours you can download to learn more history, and even ghosts! A must visit!

Must see when touring Gettysburg. Awesome view of the surrounding area from the top. Good place to reflect on the battles that occurred.

On the auto tour. Seeing peace eternal in a nation united just made me think that needs to be constantly shown on the news to stop all the division in this country. Otherwise gettysburg is like a giant sad graveyard.

The battlefield guides are exceptional. The only way to fully understand the 3 days of battle. They explain it in a comprehensive manner and can point out key locations (Little Round Top, Seminary Ridge, etc.) plus the monuments. Be sure to see the Pennsylvania monument (rest rooms!) with a climb to the top for a view of the battlefield.

This was our history travel trip for 2021, our 8th Gettysburg 4 day weekend in 28 years. We spend one day with a guide, all of whom have been fabulous and well worth the relatively low cost. We always stay at the Quality Inn at the gate. At 5:30 am, the younger members (under 80) walk to Little Round Top, over to Seminary Ridge, to Rob't E. Lee, and then Pickett's Charge to Geo. Meade. We visit surrounding areas such as Lancaster. We eat at the Dobbin House, Farnsworth House, Hickory Farm, and all the diners in between. Never disappointed.

Absolutely must see - incredibly preserved, and easy to travel and see and understand history. Traveled with my young teen who is studying the Civil War in school. She enjoyed the battlefield and got a much more in depth understanding of the battle as well as an appreciation of Civil War events.

We found the people working here very very kind and helpful. We enjoyed looking at the artifacts and the surrounding area. If you want to get a full feel of Gettysburg, be prepared to spend a bit of time there and to walk a good bit too. It’s a big area and there’s lots to see. This is an important piece of the United States’ history, and I’d recommend you visit if you are interested in history and have the time.

Sad to see how many Americans died in just a few days, in such a small area. The visitor's center is a must see. They have several displays of weapons, uniforms and other items used during the Civil War. They have a nice gift shop for those wanting souvenirs. You can take a self-guided auto tour and spend as long as you want in the area. There are too many monuments for you to see in a short time.

I visited Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. The film presentation “A New Birth of Freedom” was very well done. Then I got to view the Gettysburg Cyclorama. A painting that was so realistic and moving, I felt I was there. That was crazy! The museum was also interesting. Then I did the 24 mile driving tour. It was mind boggling to think how big of an area this 3 day (July 1-3, 1863) Civil War battle was and the fact it was the largest loss of life on American soil then and now. Some soldiers were identified and some not, so the cemetery has numbered graves for those who were not identified and that was really sad. On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave his historic Gettysburg address in the cemetery as a dedication. Some of you may remember those famous words, and some may not, so here we go. “Fourscore and seven years ago our father brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Beautiful words and still true today!

It should be on every American's bucket list. Hallowed ground that has been wonderfully preserved, and you have to be there to really feel and understand the battle. We hired a licensed guide (John Kreps) via the visitor center, and he was outstanding. He really brought the battle to life, and he was able to answer every question we had. It is completely worth the money.

It's a beautiful park, as befits its importance to the outcome of the war. Do yourself the favor and arrange for a private tour with a licensed battlefield guide, the cost is about $30 an hour and a 2 or 3 hour tour will provide you with a wealth of information and understanding about what occurred here over 3 days in July 1863.

Auto trip and history involved , lives taken for a good cause makes you realize how we are protected

The museum, Cyclotron and tour of the park were terrific and we all learned more than we expected. The cost for all 3 (veterans rate) was $30 per person and it's worth every cent.

Visited late June. Overall excellent experience. Felt welcomed by everyone encountered. Bought the combination tickets that included orientation film, museum and battlefield bus tour. Cyclorama painting is incredible. Only quibble is felt could have used more time to take it in. Til is make sure to move around room after presentation in order to see as much as time allows. The museum is very well organized. There are video presentations for each day of the battle. Lots of artifacts. Plenty of room to move around. Day visited the restaurant was still closed,but grab and go available. The bus tour met my needs. I'm traveling solo with basic interest. I can see that a family or group traveling together might really appreciate custom tour. Hands down the highlight of my day was meeting Can at Little Round Top. Dan is a volunteer. He was dressed as a Union captain. He explained that his uniform identified him as a staff officer. Gave very interesting description of activity at the site.

We highly recommend taking a bus tour of this historic park. We learned so much about the battle there and so much about the way that it almost tore our country apart. The war would end years after Gettyburg but this was a turning point in the battle.

Not only impressed with the quality of the experience, but the value as well.
Take at least one full day here and start early. Two days or more if you want to drive the route and lied surly understand what happened there.
Value for the money: Excellent.

Our favorite parts of the Battlefield are Little Roundtop and Devil's Den. Both recently finished rehab periods to remove vegetation and enhance parking. At LRT, they added some bus spaces and repainted lines. At DD, they just repainted lines. There were no open spaces so we had to drive through. To visit either place, start your Battlefield tour as close to sunrise as possible (when the park opens). Weekdays may be a little easier.

Awesome every time we go here. The park staff is always great, friendly, courteous and helpful. We always enjoy going through the battlefield. We always tour the battlefield by automobile. The NPS app is very easy to use and informative.

Wonderful, educational experience. A must when in the area. Knowing it’s a national park we felt assured it was quality, well maintained, factual and non commercial. We weren’t disappointed on any of those points.

A visit to the National Park Museum before you tour the actual park is an absolute must! It is fantastic! Allow at least two hours to do it justice.

The lands are absolutely beautiful. Each plaque gives the perfect amount of information. We will come back.

We were guests at a wedding in the area and decided on our free day to stop in the visitor center… WOW. The Film Cyclorama & Museum was a true treat. An inter generational experience. History and art surrounded us . Impressive and educational exhibit. A true American gem

We had a great walk around the loop, reading about the infantries and monuments. We thought the boys (7 and 11) might be bored, but they want us to plan a trip to go back and explore more of the park and battleground.

First time visitors. Spent the day driving/walking around looking/reading the monuments. Wish we would have did the bus tour first. A bus or guided tour would give you a much better understanding of exactly what took place here. The area is beautiful. So so much to see and learn.

Gettysburg is known for its place in history. A major battle that opened a path for the North to win. The amazing thing is the battlefields are mostly as they were then. That is not a common occurrence to for us to have such a great look at all that happened here is amazing. The dedication of those that fought to mark the locations of things and to do it with a touch of where they are from is amazing. You could spend days going through this park and still not catch it all.

Overall, this is such a significant part of our history and for that history to be so accessible is amazing.

Rather than rate each location and monument, I will give an overview here. After the stop at the visitor's center to see the movie, cyclorama and the movie, we started out on our audio auto tour. Places not to miss include big and little round top, devil's den, high water mark, Culp's hill and the national cemetery (site of Lincoln's Gettysburg address). And there will be many monuments along the route commemorating the units that fought in the battle. Actually being on the battlefield will help bring the movie to life.

An important piece of American history. So much to see and absorb that we will probably will have to return. Just a hint, fall is a great time to visit (cooler, leaves changing, etc).

Plan on spending the majority of your day here. There’s so much to see and do. We bought the auto
Audio tour and it worked great. I’ve done many tours with a guide and some by audio. I like the freedom of being on our own with a guide. We were able to stop at any time and spend as long as we wanted. Statues upon statues, info boards to read and to just enjoy the views. The cemetery is also worth a stop. Going by map alone will be a little big confusing. We had one & it quickly was put away. Audio was so much better.

we did!! very serene setting for a president to go think. we went at 6 AM Sunday morning and just toured the grounds...guided inside tours do not start til July 23rd. Maybe next time:)

We have been to this park about 5 times and each time I learn something new and interesting. This time we took a guided tour, those are the best in my opinion. It meant a little more to me because I discovered family members who fought and died here. The park is very well maintained.

We were passing by on the way home from the Shanksville Memorial and decided to stop. We didn’t have much time so we did a couple stops on the auto tour. This is something everyone should see. We will return to see more. Makes you proud to be an American!

We spent several days at Gettysburg National Military Park. There is so much to do from the Cyclorama, intro film, museum, bus tour, a virtual reality program, ranger-led walks and programs, and more! This is a fabulous park, and I'm so happy my federal tax dollars go to support the good work they do here to preserve and teach history.

Just do it. The museum. the Cyclorama, and the bus tour. We also used the free virtual tour in the car to hit the spots that the bus tour skipped. You can do the tour multiple times and see different things because they switch it up.

Our tour was very informative. Our guide was terrific and gave us a great history lesson He was able to tell the story of Gettysburg from memory using quotes from the soldiers. Would definitely recommend Jim Miller.

One of our favorite stops on our travels. There are several tour options to experience the National Park. The staff is very helpful. We only did a small portion of the auto tour. Instead spend more time Museum.

I had no idea there was so much to do there. Leave yourself enough time to check out the museum do a tour by bus I know you can do it by car but the tour guide was very helpful and I got a good sense of the history and what happened there

Amazing battlefield! Right off the US-15, and easy to access. The museum and film are really informal and interesting! There are observation towers and picnic tables across the site! Some of the monument have hidden stairs too. Overall, this is a must-see battlefield of the Civil War!

We were driving along route 30 and decided to stop. I was trying to het the kids with me to turn off electronics and learn something. Some of them were happier than the others. The battlefields are very well kept

Part of the experience to view this and many of the attractions. We learned a lot and can appreciate the sacrifices made by the soldiers.

I would recommend that the first thing you do is go to the visitor center, pay the fee and see the film, then you will be allowed to enter the cyclometer (sp) and then visit the museum. After that, begin (at some point)the auto/bike tour of the battlefields. This is very extensive and there are over 1000 monuments. If you do not do anything else go to Little Big Top and the Devils Den and get out of the car and take it all in. It will take all of the previous exposures and whatever you learned/did not learn/retain in school to grasp what actually occurred. You can drive the auto route without paying but you will miss all of the data you get by visiting the visitor center

Paul was our tour guide. He was wonderful. While driving our group around to all of the important stops along the battlefield and for 2.5 hours, he explained the events of the battle at Gettysburg. He ably answered all questions from several of us who are well versed in the history of The Battle of Gettysburg. Highly interested. Highly informed. Great tour!

The Gettysburg battlefield still draws us in after decades of visits! We were heading home from a visit out East and couldn't resist stopping at Gettysburg to take in a few sites. A sunnyTuesday morning in early November only enhanced our experience! We drove out to Devil's Den and walked about the rock formation and beyond, seeing some sites new to us. Then we drove over to Little Round Top for the gorgeous views and some photo opps with the NY State Monument and visits to the 20th Maine monument. Also had to stop at the stupendous Pennsylvania Monument!!

Visited in September, visitor numbers were lower, absolutely beautiful park. Auto tour of the battlefield was very informative and highly recommended. Very moving experience.

Words could never express how profound the experience is of visiting these battlefields. Over 50,000 lives lost in three days. Business Insider even had a headline once that read "So many Civil War soldiers were killed at Gettysburg that they were still finding remains to bury in 1996"!

My visit was long overdue. I truly believe Gettysburg should be a required visit for everyone trying to grasp US History. Visiting the fields inspired humility, hushed awe, and utmost reverence.

There are many ways to explore the park. I spent a couple of days driving some and walking a lot. Even after 2 days, I feel like it wasn't enough and would love to come back for more than exploring and learning!

It's good to start at the visitor center for maps and ideas and planning - and of course the requisite souvenirs lol! The roads are paved and well maintained and also well marked - with numerous monuments and information signage to visit.

There are many monuments that you can even climb!! They provide incredible panoramic views of the expansive grounds as well as interesting information from various vantage points.

I visited in May of 2021 and flowers were in bloom everywhere- really made for an especially lovely experience! I also took a guided coach tour to learn even more and I highly recommend it - review will follow this one.

I think it truly is important to examine history - and especially this bit of our own history - from all sides and angles - never more relevant than now to gain better understanding of our society and the significant events that shaped this country.

Wow! We had a private guide, and I'm glad we did! John was super informative and explained in detail the three days we were at war. There are so many stops along the way it's easy to get lost in what was at stake and the sacrifices made.

Visiting this place could easily take several days with hundreds of monuments and various places to see. I was glad we had a tour guide who gave interesting stories and explained the various parts of the battle and interesting facts about the monuments.

A must for all Americans to learn from the lessons of history about the catastrophe of divisiveness. Take your time to reflect upon the events at each of the stops. Highly recommend the audio tour guide.

What can I say about this military park? It is simply amazing. Whether you have a couple of hours or a whole week, you'll find plenty to see, learn, and do. There are hiking trails, and plenty of roads to take you everywhere. Ranger led events make the experience priceless. And you get all of this for free.

A must see for every American where you can walk and explore all the famous battle sites and relive soldiers from both sides of the conflict. As many know, this battle was the turning point of the Civil War. I strongly recommend hiring a certified battlefield tour guide and are well worth the money spent. If you choose to go it alone, first start at the Visitors Center to learn how to visit and what to see. There was plenty of memorabilia, artifacts and information available to get a real feel for the conflict. Free maps are available, and the Park roads were easy to navigate, and points of interest were clearly visible to see. It had a very nice cafeteria and large gift store featuring books and many other souvenir items. Don't miss this important historical Park.

This place is huge, it would take you days, if not weeks to see every monument and read every sign. The NPS audio tour is good basic information. You can listen as you drive. It is not GPS enabled, so you have to tell it where you are, it doesn't tell you. Visitors center was poor, pretty much everything is behind a $23/pp fee, so no movie, displays, nothing. Park is amazing to see.

Very nice museum, with a theater, bookstore and Cafe. Lots of Civil war relics, information and resources. Could easily spend 3 or 4 hours here.

Family vacation to Gettysburg turned out to be better than advertised. The park itself is huge and has soooo much to see! We knew the park was big but underestimated the true size. We took two days driving through the park and did not see it all. We saw lots of monuments and lots of areas that played a big part in the Battle of Gettysburg. There are so many monuments that I am not sure that I could ever see them all. Scratch Gettysburg off the bucket list as soon as you are able!

Worth seeing! The museum recreates the battle in an impressive way. The melted bullets are particularly remarkable. A must-see.

I must stop for Civil War buffs. We hired Jim Miller, a licensed battlefiel guide who took us on 5 -hour tour that he customized for me. We also did the self-directed auto tour the following day to see sights we missed on the guided tour. The Visitor's center has a spectacular museum, a fine movie and a visit to the 19th century cyclorama which are must sees.

We spent 2 full days in Gettysburg and the museum and battlefield tour was one our historic highlights. It was very interesting to follow the battle, the stories of various units and how the battle unfolded. The panorama in the museum was amazing for getting a feel for Picket's Charge. We were visiting from the UK and it was very interesting to understand more about this important historic event.

I frequent Gettysburg and have to say, just go! If you have time be sure to hire a Ranger because all of them are just exceptional. The park museum is fabulous. Just go!

I can't say enough good things about this park. We hired a National Park Service guide to take us on the tour. His name was John, and he brought the park to life with his narration of every thing that happened during the three-day battle. I highly recommend hiring a guide to do this. It is well worth the money.

This is hard to describe, beautiful park with so much history. The visitor center is well maintained and staffed. Rangers are knowledgeable and helpful. Worth the visit to learn about our hiatory. Great place to hike, bike or tour.

I recommend the auto tour unless you have a lot of time to walk. It was overwhelming to think of all the lives lost....everyone should see this.

Our family spent a full day doing the audio tour through Gettysburg National Military Park; we couldn't believe how expansive it was. The signage was great, and so many monuments and markers to see and read. It was an amazing experience!

This was our third visit to the Battlefield, and our second taking the guided bus tour. Our guide, Roy, was absolutely perfect, with encyclopedic knowledge combined with an engaging, friendly manner. He really made us imagine the battle, hour by hour, and we learned a lot about the generals. The give-and-take style makes the tour an improvement over the straight audio tour, in my opinion.

We took a walking tour with Terry Hall, Licensed Town Historians/Guide was very prompt. Knowledgeable, took us behind the scene. Gave us an excellent prospective of the battle within Gettysburg.

Love the park itself and the history but dont let officer Murphy catch you immediately after the sun has completely set touring the field in a respectful manner. He'll speed up to you and accuse you of vandalism of the monuments and "creepily" cruising the field before assessing the situation. I am a person of great historical respect and feel disgusted that someone representing the badge would jump to such bold conclusions/accusations before assessing the situation.

As always best kept and wonderful place to visit. They do a wonderful job keeping the place neat and clean

We spent the day here and I would recommend that if you only have a day that you purchase the combination ticket that gives you admission to the museum, the movie and cyclorama and the 2 hour guided bus tour. It was well worth the money and gave you a very good idea of the events of the battle of Gettysburg. The museum was impressive and we actually went back to it later in the day because in the morning when we first went in there were many school groups there and it was very loud and distracting. The 2 hour tour was great, the tour guides are very knowledgeable and were able to make history come alive.

We did a bus tour of battle ground. Double decker, open air top of bus, could get such a great view. Guide of tour was very knowledgeable. There were rest stops and stops to view monuments & take pictures.

Strategic observation towers help visitors see an overview of the terrain and line of sight/fire that the two armies had. Markers are informative, for the most part. Cannons dot the landscape, indicating actual artillery positions. Visitors center a must

The park was easy to navigate, very well maintained and huge. A great loss of life happened here and it was certainly a thought provoking experience as we increased our knowledge of the events.

Brilliant place to visit if you're interested in American Civil War history. Thanks to the recommendations on this site we hired a personal guide, Bill Thomas, who drove our car round the battlefield and gave us an amazing talk and insight into the battle. I don't think the visit would have been half as good if we'd attempted it ourselves, the area is so huge and there are so many different aspects to the three day battle. We had a three hour tour and that was barely time enough to fit it all in.

What could be the best preserved battlefield in history is at Gettysburg. There are a number of markers and statues to help to tell the story of the battle that took place there and the effects it had on the outcome of the war. Anyone interested in the Civil War simply must take a trip to this beautiful battlefield.

We were humbled by the honor and valor of the men who fought on both sides of the Civil War. It was a breathtaking historical experience.

The Gettysburg National Military Park is a true treasure.
It is a worthy tribute to one of the most famous and important battles of the Civil War.
You need more than one day to see and do everything. However, we had one day only and our visit was timed because of the Covid restrictions - Be sure to book in advance!!.
We started with the (excellent and informative) movie. Then we went to the (beautifully made/painted) Cyclorama. At the end of the indoor part we walked through the whole length of the museum which was fascinating. It was a good idea to see the movie and the Cyclorama first in order to get an initial idea before diving into the detailed museum exhibits. The museum is extremely informative and well presented. At each stop along the timeline there are sayings by both Union and Confederate persons, which provide insights into the thinking of both sides at the time.
Being non-US citizens, the whole experience was extremely educational for us.
Then we used the remaining time to tour the outdoor sites. We stopped, read, listened, climbed observation towers and got an idea as to where everything we saw indoors actually took place.
The shop at the Visitor Center is worth a visit.....We purchased a booklet about Lincoln's iconic Gettysburg Address.
A Definite Big MUST for everyone!! Absolutely Amazing!!

A must see for both new visitors and those returning. I always learn something new. The guides are AMAZING!

It is hard not to come here and be moved by the awesome magnitude and scope of the history this location as to reveal. It may not always be evident, but once you start peeling back the layers...just like an onion, you might shed a tear. Over 150 years later, this battlefield still has stories to tell and lessons we can learn from. The climate of our nation cycles, and today we find ourselves in a very divided country. We should look back and learn from the tens of thousands that perished or were wounded here not only to honor them, but to remind ourselves that a divided nation brings more harm then good.

Must visit attraction that I am bummed it took this long to see. Museum, movie and cyclorama are top notch. Going to visit the sites on the driving tour were informative and moving.

Hauntingly beautiful historic destination. A definite must see. The scope of this battlefield is absolutely overwhelming! The decisions that were made here helped to shape the USA. 60,000+ men met their demise during the bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil. We are sincerely humbled by the killed and wounded on this hallowed ground. Monument after monument for miles! Be sure to look for the statue of John Burns, the only civilian to take up arms and fight in the battle. His story is interesting! Bring some pennies to place on your favorite graves or monuments. It shows people that you visited and are aware of the sacrifices that were made. Once a month coins are collected and donated towards area beautification. Different coins have separate meanings, so google it before you go. Also, bring some American flags to place wherever you feel inclined. This park is well worth your time! If you’re looking for fewer crowds I recommend August.

Great way to experience the battlefields! You learn a lot of how the war was fought and won by the armies.

Wow!! So much to see and no way we were going to do it in a day but we gave it our best shot. Will be going back next time we are in the area. The museum was very interesting and maps for the park were very informative. Staff was very helpful. Museum had clean bathrooms and there was plenty of parking.

This definitely was the highlight of our trip. We did a 3-hour auto tour with a licensed guide named Phil. He was very knowledgeable. There were several stops along the way where we could get out and get closer for views. We were amazed to see all the monuments. Highly recommend!

This national historic park has it all! The exhibits really put you into history. we did the self-guided auto tour through the NPS app. So educational and interesting.

Great experience. So much to see. Will need to plan a full day and that is not even enough. So many interesting things to see and read.

A great way to educate your family on what our country went through to remain one country United under God! This hallowed ground and beautiful monuments recount the history of the pivatal battle of the Civil War.

We had an Amazing experience. To really fully appreciate it, you need a personal battlefield tour guide. We had Dave Donahue. He was so knowledgeable, thorough, and enthusiastic. Worth every penny.

Our grandsons are home taught. We took them on a self guided tour using the NP app after the movie, cyclorama and museum. They filled out information in the Junior Ranger book. A wonderful field trip for us all during the Memorial Day Weekend.

This recently renovated visitor center features an excellent movie, narrated of course by Morgan Freeman, plus a wonderful museum that tells the story of the battle in a complete and very interesting way. But the highlight is surely the restored Cyclorama, which tells the story of the battle in a 360 degree painting.

The tour and tour guide EG were absolutely amazing. Gave family connection information ahead of time and guide focused on areas related to our ancestor. The movie followed by the tour made it accessible to our kids as young as 9. Too many interesting sites, facts, and anecdotes to count or pick a favorite. Thank you for such an enriching experience. EG made one of the turning points in our nation's history spring to life! He should write a book!

We thoroughly enjoyed the bus tour of the battlefields. Our guide was friendly and a wealth of information.
Couldn't go to Little Round Top or Devil's Den(?) as these areas of the park are being worked on right now. But all in all it was a great tour.

Wow ! The history comes alive ! All the effort done by brave men and women who helped you can almost see it in front of your eyes ! The diorama and museum is a must visit! Also take a guided tour so you can actually hear about what you are looking at ! Take your school age kids !

A beautiful environment where a lot has happened. Park looks beautiful. For Europeans without extensive history knowledge, this can be complex. Guided by a carguide, was very good and a lot of knowledge and passion.

GET THE GUIDE!!! You can call the Visitor's Center and get a private guide to drive(your car) and tell everything you need to know about the historic park. It is well worth it!!

Other than our wonderful B&B, this is a must see for everyone. We were moved by our experience. I would suggest making your visit over two days. There is so much to see and learn.

We spent two days exploring the Gettysburg National Military Park. The first day we toured the museum, and it was very, very informative. There is a good blend of exhibit, video, and interactive opportunities. Then we visited downtown Gettysburg. On Day 2 we completed the self-guided auto/audio tour. It was cool to hear about and experience the historic battle locations.

My mom and daughter visited with me and we had a great visit. The painting is pretty cool to see, the film is pretty self explanatory (but very helpful for my young daughter to grasp since she can’t read everything at the museum!) and the museum is absolutely fantastic! You can download the NPS app on your phone and play the self guided auto tour for free and go at your own pace (also good for my family!).

I spent the a splendid hot summer afternoon following the National Park Service’s auto tour guide. It was fantastic.

Start at the visitors center and grab a free map. The tour is well marked with white stars on red background signs. The audio sequence also has directions between each stop if you need them.

I found it helpful to listen to the next stop’s commentary while driving to it and then replaying it when I was at the stop. Helped me understand the view points and layout of the various battle fields.

Things to keep in mind…. The tour is on public roads that are often narrow, cross county and state routes. Keep an eye out for traffic. Other tourers, buses and even bikers are out and about and are constantly leapfrogging each other so stay patient. Bring a drink and a snack.

Allow at least two hours if you make every stop. I skipped a couple but got out to climb a couple of the observation towers for the views.

Great way to spend the afternoon.

A solemn tribute to the men that died in defense of our country. The sheer numbers dead are staggering.

Wow. This is an incredible place, where you can really immerse yourself in so many aspects of the Battle of Gettysburg. I opted to buy the ticket ($17.75 for seniors) that allowed me entry to the museum inside the museum, as it were; the film; and the cyclorama. It was well worth the price.

They say to allow two hours and it definitely took me that long to walk around the exhibits, then watch the film and cyclorama.

I'm not at all a Civil War buff, but I do appreciate the opportunity to learn more about our country's history.

Very clean restrooms, lots of free parking.

We went to visit two of our grandsons in Ocean City, Maryland, in the summer of 2024 where they were working as lifeguards.
We took the opportunity to see Washington again, and following this visit, on our way back to Montreal, Canada, we stopped at Gettysburg, this mythical place in the history of the Civil War, which pitted the states of the South against those of the North from 1861 to 1865.

After our visit to the Welcoming Centre and Museum, better informed we crisscrossed the surroundings and were able to see these places of confrontation, those of assembly, those where the disappeared lie.
In this bucolic country today, rather than massacres have happened.

The events of this conflict took place here in various parts of this Pennsylvania town. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought from July 1 to 3, 1863, killing 7,863 soldiers on both sides.

President Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech took place there on November 19, 1863, on the battlefield that had been so deadly a few months earlier.
In this historical harangue, the president refers to the principles that gave birth to their nation following the Revolutionary War. It calls on troops and citizens to ensure that these principles continue to be their own.

Traversing these hints of such a devastating civil conflict makes us understand how fragile everything is on Earth and that nothing is taken for granted...

We had Jesse, a certified Gettysburg guide. She was outstanding! She related a compelling story about so many aspects of the battle and the town since then. Which was impressive since so much was happening at the same time in different places.

We did the film, cyclorama, and museum. Well worth the money! We then did the audio tour. We purchased the app “Gettysburg Battle Audio Tour” by Adventures Abroad. It is GPS based, unlike the NPS one. Made the drive very easy and enjoyable! We learned tons!

This is a must see for every American. From the museum, to the cyclorama (that was unbelievable) to the bus tour. The cyclorama was a 15 min enactment with sound BUT it was a painting. It came to life. Must see! Then we went on the bus tour. Our driver was Klaus and our tour guide was Roy frampton. Roy made the battlefields come to life. I was never good in history, it was boring, I never paid so much attention as I did during the tour. He told a story that was true and made you feel it.

Gettysburg is awesome! The Visitor Center is a good junction. If you're looking to get a real appreciation for what happened at Gettysburg, get a 3 hour (or more) tour with "Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides". The movie at the visitor center was an OK overview of the battle of Gettysburg, the Cyclorama was a real disappointment if you're there to get an understanding (might be good as a big impressive painting...but we were there to learn and got very little about Pickett's Charge or the bigger context from the Cyclorama). Save your money on Cyclorama and its preceding movie and instead get out on the field with a battlefield guide and you won't then be disappointed

We have been to Gettysburg many times and know a lot about the battle. We made the trip with my 13 year old son in August. I highly recommend doing the auto tour, which helps guide you thru the battle and various points. We did the auto tour Friday and then Saturday had a tour with a licensed battlefield guide. It really nailed home everything about the battle and answered a lot of questions we still had. The battlefield is hollow ground and should be respected by all.

Really amazing experience for everyone interested in American and military history.
We took a 3 hour tour with licensed guide, very informative, gives a detailed perspective of the battle and the war and in particular of battlefield snd monuments.
There are bus tours, horseback tours, self guided tours and more.
We saw two re-enactments on a Saturday tour.
I would recommend visiting Museum prior to the tour to be knowledgeable of basics prior to very detailed overview.
Licensed guides are quite passionate and knowledgeable, and I would suggest to tour with the guide for sure.
They offer an option of driving in the car with you or you can follow their car.
There are really breathtaking views on the tour and the guides can tailor the route to your interests as there is a lot to see.
The park is expansive, well maintained and with good signage.
Highly recommend a visit.

My husband & I did a quick overnight trip to Gettysburg & took advantage of the double decker bus tour to see the battlefield. The park is so well preserved & easy to navigate!

I had visited Gettysburg National Military Park before but my wife had not so I brought her here while visiting nearby Philadelphia. Even though I am a history buff and had told her much of the history of the battle, she was blown away by it's mystique, history and overall size of the battlefield. We loved retracing the steps of the battle and also visiting the cemetery and paying respects and honor to those that fought and lost their lives in this historical battle in our US History.

We visited the battlefield following a previous plan, collecting information about the protagonists and key moments of the battle to be able to make the most of the visit.
The battle took place for 3 days, so there are many points to visit. If you do not have the information to take the tour on your own, at the visitor center you can obtain a map or buy the audio guide to listen to in the car. .
We divided the visit into 2 days, about 3 to 4 hours each to be able to stop and appreciate the different sectors of the battlefield, the headquarters, as well as the hundreds of cannons, monuments and sculptures that were placed to honor and highlight each of the divisions and brigades of the 2 armies.
It is surprising how well organized and preserved the battlefield is, it achieves the purpose of showing how the battle unfolded in detail.
The combat was fought between July 1 and 3, 1863. These 3 days have many protagonists, stories and interesting anecdotes, which is why I recommend visiting websites, watching documentaries or the movie Gettysburg, to better enjoy the visit.
The tour highlights places such as Little Round Top, Devil's Den, The Peach Orchard, and Culp's Hills, which have high viewpoints to appreciate the fields where the confrontations took place.
Also notable are the monuments of Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia, The Angle where the battle culminated with Pickett's charge and the headquarters of General Mead and General Lee.
In the city you can also see vestiges of the battle in historical buildings with ammunition marks on their walls.
A visit to this city is highly recommended to learn about a key event in the Civil War and North American history.

Allow at least a full day to see the battlefield. Book a tour with a licensed battlefield guide to get the most out of your visit.

Amazing history and great auto tour since it was so hot. Using the app it was like having a personal tour guide. Not super crowded on a weekday either!

If into history or not everyone needs to visit this National Military Park. If you visit the visitor center first and do the things there, it will give you a better understanding of what happened and then can branch out on your own and see the tons of momuments. Highly recommend!!

Amazing!!!!! Absolutely chilling, a must see experience. With over 1000 monuments and markers it’s a awesome tribute to those who served in the civil war.

The reason most people come to Gettysburg. One of the turning points of the Civil War. They have a nice visitor's center with a museum, movie and Cyclorama. The auto tour takes you around the battlefield visiting the sights of the battle and the monuments. Don't forget to drive to the other part of town and visit the East Cavalry Battlefield.

As a amateur history buff, this is a must see place. You need multiple days to take in all of the monuments and history involved with the park. The town of Gettysburg is also great, full of great shops, museums, historical buildings, and restaurants.

I could not put into words the importance of remembering by actively going and experiencing. Everyone should

Spent 5 days exploring and learning about this battle. A bit overwhelming at first because of the size. Read up on Gettysburg before going and it will help. The town is a lot of fun to explore with many shops, restaurants, bar and grills

All I can say is WOW! As a British person, the civil war didn’t affect me and I only had a limited understanding what the war was about. So, in summary, if you want both an amazing day out and you want to learn about the civil war, this is the place to be.

To start with, there is a fantastic visitor centre with a museum that would grace any major capital city in the world. The facility is sprawling with a basic ‘I-max’ theatre where the battle of Gettysburg is played out. The staff are all friendly and knowledgeable. Really, this is a great day out. Highly recommended.

I wish all American kids could be taken to visit Gettysburg, to learn more about their own history and the sacrifices made by tends of thousands of earlier Americans to secure freedoms we enjoy today. We did a bus tour with a guide and also drove the self-guided tour by car, both were very well-organized.

This was a moving experience. It was neat to stand where Abraham Lincoln stood to make his Gettysburg Address. Also, visiting all of the graves of those soldiers who died for their beliefs. I highly recommend.

Wonderful glimpse into history. Helps us understand how the battle was fought and appreciate the soldiers who were willing to stand up for what they believed in.

Across the street from the museum. You can walk through on the paths, or drive through. There is a free virtual tour to listen to (npr.gov/gett). I didnt know about it until we were about halfway through the tour. Beautiful & well maintained!

I’ve been here a few times before but really took our time going through this time. I recommend the self guided auto tour to be able to go at your own pace.
Too many people don’t realize all that took place on these grounds and how pivotal the 3 days of battle were. Enjoy and broaden your knowledge of American history.

My son is a history lover and this trip was definitely on his bucket list. So much to do between the visitor center museum..the bus tour..and the cyclorama. Everyone we had contact with was very knowledgeable and friendly. A must see when in the area.

The park is amazing - so much history. Definitely use one of the licensed guides to experience how amazing this place is.

We will definitely have to go back because this place is huge! We spent most of our time driving around the battlefield and then at the military park, seeing where the Gettysburg Address was delivered (approximately) and walking around to see the memorials and statues. It was a peaceful walk in the busy area around us. We ran out of daylight and promptly put it on our list of places we wish to return on a future trip.

Not horribly crowded. It was an air conditioned experience indoors for the documentary. Then you go to the rotunda after the documentary and it was a BEAUTIFUL 360 degree oil painting of the battlefields!!! I couldn’t believe the artwork! I didn’t Leo that’s what we would see so I was surprised and very impressed at how well that was. I had a cane and the staff noticed my mobility issues and offered me an elevator experience instead of the escalator and stairs that one has to navigate for the film and the documentary. We spent about 2 hours on our feet going through the museum artifacts afterwards. Again, well air conditioned and not horribly crowded especially on the July 4 weekend, so we were pleased. Driving around the grounds we opted to not do the audio tour because the movie and documentary was plenty of details about the battlefield. It was too hot to get out and walk around when we drove around the different sites but after our 3rd site, we realized we were just looking at fields and decided it was ok to not see all the fields. Stop by Amish county for the food!!!!!!

Gettysburg rated as easily the best of the 3 significant battlefields I had visited for it's museum and park film (Chancellorsville and Chattanooga were the other 2). Probably because I had to pay for it lol.

Places like this should and do generate thought. What was the Civil War about? What consideration should a militarily and industrially dominant side give to the culture and way of life of its opponents? How did winning the Civil War reflect these considerations in future conflicts (Vietnam, Afghanistan)? Did this lead the culture of a country in a certain direction? Did winning the Civil War change the mindset of the defeated?

On the world stage there were disagreements between groups of countries or states that formed a greater union that lead to peaceful succession (Malaysia and Singapore, the EU and UK). Why did the American disagreement end with such violence? Is there a potential for this to happen again?

That is why places like this are so important. They prompt us to ask the difficult questions of ourselves and others. And prompt our leaders to chart a path where disagreements can be resolved amicably.

My favorite part? The enormous number of massive monuments among the hills and the story of Battlefield Bettie - the fighting mascot of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment.

I’ve wanted to go to Gettysburg since childhood since my mom was a Civil War historian.

What can anyone say about Gettysburg that hasn’t been said in 150 years?

If you enjoy history - spend a day at this sad and melancholy site. Stand on Culps Hill and the place of Picketts Charge and just visualize
Amazing place.

Depending on the time you have available, you can make this a longer day walking through some of the sites, taking in the statues or fo a quick drive thru! Drive thru audio tours are available if you want more detailed history on the full events that transpired here. Super cute town just outside the military park.

We walked the Civil War area and read the signs and reflected the tragic costs our country was willing to suffer for our political ideas. Did most of the residents even understand for what they were willing to die for? I wish I could come here often, I am great moved by this whole experience of Gettysburg...

If you like Civil War history, this is a must stop. Good area to actually see different battle scenes as alot of the area is unchanged. Auto audio tour was very good and helpful.

This is an excellent centre….excellent museum … we signed up for the Battlefield Tour, a two hour bus tour around the various battlefields, the cyclorama and the museum….worth a couple of days here.

Steve Graham, Park Guide, provided an extremely informative presentation at the Battlefield Inn.

Tim Fulner drove my husband and I and our 2 French Bulldogs for 3 hours. What an inspiring tour.

We feel we've made 2 new friends.

Amazing to see how big the field is and the size of the battle that took place for three days. The park's staff is so friendly and will go out of their way to help make your experience understandable to the action that took place.

We visited Gettysburg National Military Park on Labor Day as a homeschool field trip. We purchased the value package and did the film, cyclorama, museum, and battlefield bus tour. It was fantastic! I believe purchasing the value package in advance online helped our day to run very smoothly. This way the tickets were waiting upon arrival and no time is wasted. And of course, it is a better value this way. The staff was super helpful and pleasant. We ate onsite and, as most tourist destinations, the food was very high priced. There is the option of bringing your own lunch and eating in a picnic area outside. The only disappointment was that I like for my children to do the junior ranger books and were given one book for the two children to share. They did both receive their badges. There's so much to see and do in Gettysburg! This was a great introduction!

We did the self-guided driving tour because we had limited time. By using the QR option at the visitors' center we were able to jump in the car and start right away. Follow both the signs and the map to make sure you're headed in the right direction. The staff at the Center were helpful and approachable. We learned so much!

To be able to see where this battle took place and all of the history in the area was great. I've never seen so many different monuments in my life. As must do.

The Gettysburg battlefield is huge; and the battle consumed 3 days. The natural topography, while having an extremely important impact on the battle, is visually unimpressive -- mostly rolling "hills." (I put hills in quotes because, its more like rolling undulations.) From my POV, the best way to tour the park and understand the events of the three days is with a Park Service guide. The National Park Service licenses guides; provides a link to connect; and sets the fee - $70 for two hours/$35 per hour for additional time. An absolute bargain. Our guide (they asked he not to mention their name and they are not allowed to advertise) was wonderful - pleasant to be with and well informed. The experience was just great. Actually seeing the battlefields made history come alive.

Excellent visitors center and park. Did self guided walking tour. This Park should be on everyone's list to visit due to its historical significance.

Symbolic sites of the Civil War. Many monuments whether they be Confederate or Union. To visit absolutely.

Great time - take advantage of the Park Ranger tours - the tours are free and very informative! I was there Friday, Saturday & Sunday and went on three tours and purchased the film, cyclorama and museum ticket which was definitely worth the cost.

This park is very large, so I definitely recommend the auto tour and getting out and parking where you see fit. There was a few really nice trails and places for photos of the area. The visitors center/museum/gift shop is absolutely beautiful and the park rangers are super friendly and helpful! Just a PSA for dog owners and people with kids, I found a tick on my dog after visiting. He was only is short grassy areas, on the cement paved trail, or in his red wagon. This was only his second tick in his 10 years, as we are super careful and he always has the treatment on. I’m assuming ticks are bad in this particular area.

Bobby Housch was our tour guide. He deserves 10 stars! He asked about our interests and quickly made a plan to focus on our interests. He used our names often and was able to quickly answer questions as they arose throughout our time together. He was articulate and brilliant in his presentation. We learned so much from him in 3 hours! A family ancestor is Pickett and he shared interesting insights about him with us. We highly recommend him as well as scheduling a longer tour as 3 hours just wasn’t enough time!

If you are looking for a beautiful area with plenty of history then Gettysburg Battlefield should get on your travel calendar. Especially if you have a family.

We did the individual car tour using the app. It was very informative and easy to follow. So much history to discover.

We began our day at the Battlefield with a stop at the Visitor's Center. First we spent time going through the museum and being amazed at the artifacts they have collected and the excellent way everything is displayed. Next we saw the movie and the diorama. They were both very well done and made you realize the horrors of this battle and this war. Finally we drove the auto tour to get an overview of the landscape. We were surprised at how truly much acreage was involved at the Battle of Gettysburg. The next day we returned for our guided tour with one of the Licensed Guides, Truman Eyler. He was so knowledgeable and made the battle come alive for us. We were very impressed with the generals and men involved in the battle and with the decisions that were made. Gettysburg National Military Park is a must see.

The must do in Gettysburg! Great experience especially with the audio tour, the audio tour was laid out perfectly with 16 spots!

Excellent day. Bought the ticket recommended for the film, cyclorama and museum. Then we did the 16 stop driving tour on our own and learned a lot. Would definitely recommend to anyone interested in Civil War history.

The Gettysburg battlefield is fantastic for everyone. What's nice is you can drive through it with monuments and plaques explaining what happens. You can also purchase a tour for your phone or take a tour bus. It's your choice pay or free . You can stop almost everywhere along the route.I enjoyed doing it at my pace. Give yourself time and don't be on a schedule to enjoy.

My husband and I love coming here and every time we learn a little more than the last time. It's a peaceful place to take a walk and learn a bit about history.

This was one reason I came to Gettysburg - to see the battlefields. There are many ways you can see the battlefields, one is taking a tour bus, another is by hiring a guide to drive you around in your own car telling about the different sites and stops. For me, the best was was to do as others have said and purchase the guide book with CD's. They sell the guide books several places for between $25 and $30, however I bought one several weeks before my trip off the internet from a site called Thriftbooks for only $6, and it looked brand new. I just put in the first CD, opened the book to the map and started at the first stop. As to go to each stop, the CD audio will tell all about that location, you can park at each site, get out and take pictures and then pause the audio when it tells you to until you get to the next stop. It is so simple to drive the route yourself and you can take as long as you want at each numbered stop. You can also drive it as often as you want to, like if you wanted to go to one stop again the next day for any reason. With the guide book it's a great way to put yourself right in the heart of the battle each day it was going on back in July of 1863 and learn specifically where the troops were and what divisions were fighting where. I had been told Little Round Top was still closed but Devil's Den was open after the restoration. Unfortunately that was not the case. It seems, per a park ranger that Devil's Den was indeed open with the exception that I chose the week they were repaving the roads. Never got to see it even though I tried a couple times during the week. Remember, this is where thousands of soldiers on both sides died fighting for what they believed in, right or wrong. It's Hallowed Ground you are viewing. If you don't get anything out if this park tour, then you are here for the wrong reasons.

This is a reverent place which transcends history. Gettysburg reminds one of what livery and freedom really mean.

Allow plenty of time because you will want to get out of the car, often, and just experience this special place.

I do suggest you star early and try and gear ahead of the crowd, try and avoid the trams - they unload dozens of tourist (not travelers), and pay attention for signs as you drive it’s easy to miss a sign.

As special as the battlefield is, be warned the prices in the official gift shop are much higher than any other NPS gift shop I have seen - magnets and patches (for example) are outrageously priced.

You must visit the site Lincoln have his address - it is not yo be missed.

We took the self guided tour of Gettysburg. You can download a tour guide and go in your own car which is helpful or you can rent a tour guide and still go in your own car.

Was such a beautiful place! I felt so much peace! What an amazing memorial! Loved being there! Can't wait to return!

My husband, two border collies, and I walked the 10-mile Billy Yank Trail on a stunning autumn morning. We stopped quite frequently to read and photograph monuments (not allllll of them though), took two snack breaks, one porta john break, and we did a few little offshoots for a total of 10.35 miles and just over 4.5 hours. Some parts of this hike are on the auto road and some parts are on dirt and/or trails. The elevation gain was just over 700 feet, but nothing felt strenuous. It was a lovely, long hike! Just a wonderful way to visit this park. So grateful to have had the experience.

Fist time I've went to this Battlefield. Drove around the first day and went into the visitor center and tour the museum and read alot of things about the battle. Went into the information center where a found out alot about my great great grandfather from the Civil War. Had a guide take us through on the second day and he was great. Told us alot of things about the war, the direction it came from and it went. Where the battle line where drawn and where the different units where and the direction of movement. Was so glad that we got the guide. He was full of knowledge and was from Gettysburg. He definitely knew his stuff, so fully recommend getting a guide for this trip. We had a blast doing this tour.

A beautiful tribute to such an important time in American history. The battlefields, visitor's center and graveyard are all must sees. The various monuments throughout the site add to the story of this event. Emotional, sad, and yet inspiring.

We had a full day traveling through the Park and listening to the audio tour info from the National Park Service ap we had downloaded. We didn’t feel the need to pay for a tour and had plenty of information from the free audio tour as we drove through the Park. So many monuments and so much to see- we feel we learned so much more about the Civil War after visiting the Park. It should be on everyone’s bucket list

Do teh self guided tour. Take the time to get out and walk around to get the full effect. Teh grounds are just beautiful and the history of Gettysburg is one everyone should understand

Great area to see a lot of history. Surreal feeling thinking about standing in the same area President Lincoln stood to give his epic Gettysburg Address along with seeing how large of a battle that occurred there. Beautiful area.

We did an entire day touring the battlegrounds and museum. It was fantastic. So much to see and learn. We hired a guide and did a three hour tour. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and we felt like we had a great experience. Would recommend to everyone.

Fun walk through history. Very moving to set foot where history took place. Beautiful location. I have been a repeat visitor for 5 years.

Gettysburg is an absolute must-see for any history buff visiting Pennsylvania. I was pleasantly surprised by the free audio tour, complete with informative signage. Be sure to bring sunscreen and keep your car nearby, as the battlefield is vast, and walking for the average person can be tiring. The experience is incredibly immersive and offers a profound insight into this pivotal moment in history. Don't miss the opportunity to explore this iconic site—it's truly unforgettable.

This is a must see. Whether you like history, parks, the outdoors this place can accommodate. We did the Auto tour…very nice as we good move around at our on pace and spend time and focus on what we liked and were interested in. I would even go back again just to enjoy the site.

Reluctant usually to take a bus tour and as I didn't wish to drive I took a trip with the Smithsonian Residents program. The Study Leaders and the Smithsonian Reps are not exactly stellar so I will leave them out, but suffice to say, I was not looking for a highbrow cultural experience but rather a fun day out. I got that amidst beautiful fall weather and magnificent views of the battlefield. First stop was the Eternal Light Peace Memorial where the Study Leader ran his mouth but I got good photos of the cannons and the monuments. Bus stops have limited stops but Little Round Top and the High Water Mark were historic and unforgettable sites. If you are a history buff, Gettysburg doesn't disappoint. No time of course for the Visitor Center,but that is to be expected on a bus tour. Gettysburg gets five stars from me, the Smithsonian would get a little less.

It’s huge. Plus is a car tour. Follow the map and it’s a two hour drive minimum depends how many times you stop for the sights. Great place to spend a day. A must see if in the area and it’s free. What more can you ask for a free history lesson, great views and a sobering reminder of what happened here

We did a three hour private tour with Bill Thomas. He was excellent. He met us at the parking lot and drove our car while we were able to look around and listen. He had us get out and walk at certain points. He was very knowledgeable. We took our 11 year old nephew and he had a blast. Bill customized our day to include extra stories about the guns used as that is what my nephew really wanted to discuss and also the different battle tactics used in the war.

Was a great museum with so much history and it’s just the right size. I loved the giant tvs that showed the progress of the beginning of the battle to the end of the battle. Should be on every Americans bucket list!

It's such a beautiful way to learn what these great men and women, on both sides, sacrificed. It's such a solemn place that should be respected.

Started at the visitor center. The cyclorama is a must see. The museum is very informative with a lot of displays . Did the auto tour with the map you get at the visitors center. I liked it that way because you can spend as much time as you want to at each stop.

Allow at least 1 day to drive around and getting out to walk around the monuments. The story telling is excellent. Worth the extra time!

We'd planned a short time in the visitors center and an extended time on the auto tour, but the boys (4 of them aged 8-12) loved the museum and cyclorama...3 hours worth. We still had a great time outside, too. At dinner tonight, everyone talked about what they learned today. It was a lot!

So well done...

My husband and I just returned from a trip through the Amish country near Lancaster. We decided to make a side trip to Gettysburg on our way back to BWI. Once you arrive, you will have an opportunity to not only watch a short film, but also to see the cyclorama, which is a 360 degree 40+ foot mural narrated with highlights. This is hard to describe, but the details depicted in this mural are amazing. Then you can drive through the battlegrounds which occurred over a three-day period and see important points of interest which are also marked on a map. Being able to experience the vastness of the battlefields and topography in person allows you to understand the magnitude of this significant and historic site.

America's greatest intact Civil War Battlefield. Like stepping back in time. You can almost smell the gunpowder.

A visit to Gettysburg had always been on my bucket list. It was an amazing visit with helpful staff a knowledgeable guide which really brought the history to life. The diorama in the museum was spectacular

Absolutely incredible. So thankful that these grounds are cared for so that future generations can enjoy. Several types of tours are available including an auto tour for when time is limited. One can visit Gettysburg over and over again and appreciate it the same as their first visit.

Our first trip to Gettysburg...HOT day, so we were glad to have water. We used the NPS pass to enter free and had will call tix to see the film and Cyclorama, which was very much worth it! Very moving! We used the NPS audio self-tour which was VERY good when moving around this large battlefield. The sheer numbers of things related to this battle are overwhelming. We were very glad that Little Round Top was reopened, but sad to see young people crossing fenced off areas to get photos. We ate lunch that we ordered ahead, at the Saloon area, before moving on to the Eisenhower National Historic Site, which sadly was closed that day. We were disappointed, especially since we are from Kansas and had hoped to take a self-guided tour. The website had listed it as open.

Beautiful and peaceful place to visit which is an odd thing to say given the fact that there were so many casualties and a horrific war on that very land. You can do a self guided driving tour through the battlefields at your own pace. I highly recommend visiting Gettysburg.

Plan a whole day. Pay for museum tickets, they are very well worth it. The auto tour does take AT LEAST 3 HOURS. Don't short yourself time for this. Amazing picture opportunities everywhere. Bring the telephoto/zoom lens and maybe even binoculars. Take your time, see it all, it's all amazing. Taps plays in the cemetery at sunset - if that doesn't give you goose bumps, check your pulse. Amazing.

WOW! JUST WOW! The whole place is absolutely fantastic. My son and I couldn’t get enough. We explored four 8 plus hours for 3 straight days. The whole thing was so well done. It was so beautiful, That it’s hard to imagine the carnage and devastation that took place. So much to absorb and look at. It made the whole event come to life. Walk the paths the soldiers took in the fields. Amazing!!!!

For anyone interested in America’s Civil War history, this is a must see! You may walk the grounds at your leisure and take in the sites that interest you the most or there are various options for guided tours. You may even drive through the park and take in the many sites. There is good parking nearby and a restroom on the site. The town is only a short walking distance away for those who may want to grab some food and extend their stay.

First time visit for me. We enjoyed the welcome center and the museum, but the drive thru the battlefields was so enjoyable. Just thinking about what all occurred where we were standing was an incredible feeling. As we were walking around one of the statues a young couple approached us and asked us to take a picture ( video ) of them. As we did the young man got on one knee and proposed to the young lady. He had planned to do this at this location and we just happened to be there. How neat was this. I think if we had time we could have stayed her for a couple of days to get the full effect of the area. Great place to visit.

The movie and the pictorama were very impressive.and moving. However, I have limited mobility as do my 2 friends who were with me. We took the bus tour and we’re disappointed that we were not told the bus made multiple stops and you needed to get on and off to hear the tour guide’s commentary. We definitely would not have paid and taken the bus tour if we knew that was the case. Paid for a tour and only heard about 1/4 of the comment

The Visitor Center in this Park is amazing. The film is very informative, the Cyclorama is so impressive, and the exhibits exceptionally well done. A wealth of information...In fact by the end, I personally felt overwhelmed!
We also had a private tour with Stuart Dempsey, who reinforced our knowledge and was extremely well informed and interesting. He drove our car, making a number of stops when we got out and relived the three days of the battle. We gained so much from him, and I don't think our visit would have been complete without this tour. We highly recommend seeing the Park with a private driver.

Let's pray our country has learned from the past and doesn't repeat it!
I enjoyed the film, narrated by Morgan Freeman, showing how Republicans fought to free the slaves and how the war waged in and around Gettysburg.
I then walked to the Cyclorama - a 360 degree painting they brought to life depicting the war!
After that wonderful experience, I wandered thru the museum full of goods to remember Gettysburg.
I then did the self-driving tour which took a few hours as I stopped and wandered thru many exhibits.
Gettysburg has an unbelievable system allowing us to listen to stories at each auto point more fully understanding the war.
All the rangers were friendly and extremely informative!
I am so glad I stopped by and spent the day here.

Roy Frampton was our step- on- guide for a coach tour of the battlefields. He is EXCELLENT. Not only is he knowledgeable about everything to do with the Civil War and the surrounding area, he can tell the story in such a manner that everyone enjoys it. He is truly gifted as a guide; he was a remembered highlight of our trip to Pennsylvania! Great job!!

We went early in the morning on a lovely clear Monday before anyone else. It was magical and deeply moving. We did the self guided tour having done the museum the day before, it took most of the day and gave us a good understanding of the battle. The app was very helpful

We have visited this park many times and always find something new to see. This year we did a couple ghost tours and a history tour of what really happened here so many years ago. will go back for sure.

So much to learn about and do. The NPS app is so great! You can use it to get a virtual tour and it also provides driving directions for the tour. The museum is also totally worth the admission price, TONS of artifacts from the battle.

Today we had a 3 hour private tour with Steve Slaughter. He was great with the right balance of information and facts. We would highly recommend using him for a private tour. We were able to ask questions and he tailored the tour just for our interests. We learned a lot and continued on to the Eisenhower Farm and the free tour of the Military Cemetery. And listening to Taps at 7:00 PM was a great way to the end the day.

The visitors center is a must. It has an excellent ($) video about the war and a cyclorama that is a great visual. You can purchase an audio tour in the gift shop or use the map as you drive the large battlefield. Allow three hours.

If you love history of civil war this is your place. I been coming here for over 38 years, and I still can find thing to do.

We had a three hour car tour through Gettysburg Foundation and it was amazing! Our guide, Bob Moore was fantastic and answered all our questions
He was so thorough and attentive. We couldn't have asked for more.

The park is so well-kept and ample detail is given to keeping the area authentic to what it would have looked like at the time. Highly recommend!

After visiting numerous National Militaty battlefield, this one certainly came across as the grendaddy of all parks. It is well organized and easy to follow the various tours though we did particiapte in a bus tour we drove along from site to site. The visitor center museum is very good and time consuming. I really appreciated the segment on the aftermath of the battle. This was well worth the trip..

We first visited the Visitors Center to get more information. We had our Service Animals with us and were given great information on how to see everything. They do have a Bus Service which has a guide and makes some stops. They also have individual guides which travel with you. (we will do that when we return) We took the Self Guided Driving Tour which was Free. We downloaded the Free App for our phone and did the entire tour. We were able to go at our own pace, stop at each site and we could walk the trails and take photos. We were able to listen to the bus tour guides when they stopped and spoke to their groups. One Day is not enough time to see all of the Gettysburg area especially if you enjoy history. This is a MUST SEE place to visit. The History is so important. It is what it is and then you have people who want to hide the truth, take down statues and remove plaques. Let it all Stay!

Was first there about 16 years ago. HUGE improvements since then (2008?)! The new(er) Visitors Center and Museum are wonderful and informative. There is a great deal of wonderful video included. We were there with ages 13, 17, 45, and 60, and all found it engaging and informative.

While I'm sure there are upsides to the guided tours and guides, we found that after having viewed the videos and been through the museum we had a pretty good understanding with which to simply use the self-guided battlefield tour on the parks app. That also gave us flexibility to get out when we wished and not when we didn't.

Gettysburg is the best military park I have ever visited or read about - perhaps too commercial and too many monuments that to me detract from presenting the site as it was, still it is wonderful. And what the NPS has done to bring it back to the way
it appeared in 1863 is a model for every other site. Antietam and Shiloh are second and third, aided by their isolation; Waterloo is terrible, Normandy covers so much and is not in the least coordinated, Rorke’s Drift is very good but so very isolated, Sevastopol surprisingly well done and no WW 1 battlefield even in the conversation. Gettysburg is great!

Wife and I drove an hour from our hotel to Gettysburg to see this park.

The visitor center is spacious and cool and had some of the cleanest restrooms we have seen.

After getting the maps for the tour we walked through the exhibits which are free to see. If you want access to the Civil War Museum or the Cyclorama or any thing else, you have to pay for it. We found that disappointing.

The auto tour is fairly easy to follow as it is marked with auto tour stars along the route.

It took us a little over two hours to drive the route we did. Because of the heat, we were not able to get out and walk the trails.

NOTE- there are over a thousand monuments and markers in the park dedicated to every unit involved in the battle. If you want the immersive experience, plan on being there all day.

We did a self guided tour through Gettysburg and viewed.many of the historical monuments. We also.went briefly thru the Evergreen Cemetary which was quite moving. Recommended for.all patriots of the.United States of America.

Mike was absolutely the best. His ability to bring the battle to life from both sides is simple marvelous. What an experience. Could not have gone better other than to have had hime for 4 more hrs. So much to learn.

Gettysburg National Military Park marks the site of one of the best known and most important Civil War battles. The park is expansive and largely open. There are woods to both the east and the west, and the town of Gettysburg sits at the northern end. Like Chickamauga in the south, the park is filled with monuments to those who fought there, many of which tell the story of the battle. (In fact, some of the monuments at Gettysburg closely resemble those at Chickamauga!)

There are a variety of tours available at the visitor center, but I choose to do the self-guided driving tour. Like the other battlefields I've visited, the park brochure clearly marks the tour route, as do signs on the road. (Except for the turn to stop 9. Either there was no arrow or I missed it. Either way, take the first left after stop 8.)

The self-guided driving tour is still a fairly long tour. It took me over three hours to complete, but it was well worth it. The tour takes you first down Seminary Ridge, the site of the Confederate lines, then up over Little Round Top to Cemetery Ridge, the location of the Union lines. Accordingly, the Confederate monuments are mainly at the western end of the battlefield, while the union are on the eastern side.

It's hard to picture the clash of great armies that occurred at this now-peaceful spot and almost surreal to walk on such hallowed ground.

Fittingly, the tour ends at the cemetery, the site of Lincoln's Gettysburg address.

We did the package with the movie, cyclorama and museum. We enjoyed the movie and cyclorama. It was interesting hearing the history behind the cyclorama. In the museum there was a very large group of teenage students (over 100 or so) who were loud and running around. It really hurt the experience of viewing the museum artifacts. Perhaps going on the weekend would be better. Afterwards we took a walk outside over to the cemetery - about 1.5 miles.

Had a wonderful time seeing the museum, watching the movie and seeing the Cyclorama. Very realistic and we felt like we were actually experiencing what happened in 1863

Most hallowed and humbling experience of my life. I am 60 years old. Google/Yahoo the battle before arriving. The experience will be much easier to comprehend.

I enjoyed the movie, the Cyclorama, and especially the museum. What fell flat was the two hour bus ride. The bus was full and I ended up in the very last row, which was a bench seat across the width of the bus. There was only a partial window at that spot, and I spent two hours leaning forward to try and see what the tour guide was pointing out. Many times I missed it. Sitting like that was uncomfortable and I was not happy. That back row should not be filled. The people in the middle of the row couldn’t see anything at all.

Ben here 4 times. Each time is humbling.
Love the history and battle sites and monuments.
To walk where general Lee walked and Lincoln gave his address is amazing.

The history at this battle field is amazing. If you have never visited, I suggest a tour guide experience. The battle field is well marked. Little Round Top will be closed for renovations starting May 2, 2022. There is several pull offs and parking areas through out the park. Still my favorite place on US soil.

We come to Gettysburg a few times a year. Really enjoy riding around the battlefield & looking at the monuments. Always learn something new each time. We also meet lots of pleasant people from all the world. It is such a solemn place.

Lots to see. You can just tour this area alone in a day. So many monuments and memorials scattered all over the park. Many are quite beautiful tributes. It is so large that it would be impossible and not practical to walk it all. Touring by auto is best and there are official tour guides to book and follow them in their car, if you desire. The area is beautiful and scenic. It is difficult to imagine the horrible war scene that took place so many years ago.

The knowledgeable and friendly tour guides who assisted throughout the tour. The different view from observation tower. If u get the chance do bus tour.

Standing on any part of Gettysburg's battlefields will mentally transport you back in time. I have visited this area many many times and, every visit is educational. The park service has done a fantastic job keeping things clean and up to date. Definitely check out the newly renovated museum, it is packed full of genuine artifacts along with some great theater areas that really brings the story of what happened here alive!!!

while you don't expect to have to pay $15 to visit a national park the Foundation at the park does an excellent job and the fee was worth it.

A visit here has been on our bucket list for years. We are a family of history buffs and it was well worth the wait. Our tour guide driver was very knowledgeable, informative, personable, and he tailored some of our drive to our own interests and backgrounds. like paying special attention to sites related to our home state. The Cyclorama was an emotional experience for us and not to be missed. The museum was also well worth the visit; many Civil War and Battle of Gettysburg displays.

Love every bit of this trip. Got to hear some amazing facts about the battle on a double decker bus.

This was my 3rd time, this was the most disappointing. I am not sure what's going on with the tour guides but we waited for 3 hours for a personal tour and no one showed up. Little Round Top was supposed to be closed for 18 months, now way that will be done in the next 4 years and that's a huge piece of the battlefield tour. Very sad!

Beautiful park! We did a tour with a private guide. We did a 3 hour tour with a 3 year old and a 1 year old. There were plenty of stops for them to get out and shake their legs/run around. The guide was excellent and I enjoyed learning about the history of the battle.

There are so many ways to see the park. We recommend a guided tour or ranger talk. The park comes alive when you have someone to show you around the exact spots.

Unfortunately, both Devil's Den and Little Round Top were closed. Didn't realize they would be closed when we scheduled the day, but had a great experience despite the closures. They are listed on the National Parks website.

The park and museum exceeded all expectations. The movie followed by the cyclorama experience was amazing. Afterward we followed the map on the self-guided tour of the battlefield and this was also great. The whole experience was incredibly well done.

The cemetery and areas around Little Round Top are neat to see. You do need quite a bit of extra time since the Gettysburg Battlefield areas are quite spread out.

Visiting the park was the goal of our trip and it did not disappoint. The care with which the park is preserved and maintained is wonderful. There is a surreal feeling to walking these grounds.

This place was full of history, beauty, back story. Our visit was truly amazing. I highly recommend this place when you visit

Two of my friends and I were invited to a Memorial service here where the ashes of the departed National Guard member were to be scattered.

While waiting for the ceremony to start, we drove around the huge park, admiring the various statues and monuments. Periodically, we would stop to take some pictures.
It was the first visit of one of my friends here so we discussed the Civil War as we drove around the park.

There is Free parking across from the Cemetery area. After the ceremony, we walked to the Cemetery and saw the area where Abraham Lincoln made his famous speech, the Gettysburg Address.

Highly recommended to visit! Tour it by walking, driving, joining a Group Tour, etc. Enjoy this historical place!

Seeing this battlefield with the help of a guide is highly recommended. They can tell you good details of exactly how things transpired. This battlefield is larger than I had thought it would be. Their detail to preserving it is very inspirational. Their respect of history is very iportant as far as I'm concerned

This was probably our last trip and we saw all the battlefield again but this time found we're my Great Grandfather was during the war.

We opted to explore the area solo, consulting NPS virtual tour app and a good map. However there are many bus tours or private guides available for a more in depth experience. You can appreciate the significance of the battlefields by driving through the park and past the memorials. If possible, do some research prior to arriving in Gettysburg. Suggest more than a day to visit the museums and outdoor sites.

I have always wanted to see this site out of historical curiosity, and it did not disappoint. The Welcome Center, The Museum and Experience were phenomenal, and you can download a driving tour on your phone to see the well-preserved battlegrounds with too many commemorative statues and markers to count. It is truly worth visiting if you are into civil war history.

How can you not be honored to walk where heroes (on both sides) died? It was an honor to walk where they gave their lives. The topographical features were well marked, memorials were oriented towards the direction of the fighting, and fences were erected as they were during the battle.

Excellent way to start your visit. Gives details on the 3 days of the battle. The museum contains a lot of detail. Be sure to give yourself enough time to review it.

If you have never done the tour, please do! So much history to explore. Our favorite was learning about the dog Sally that was faithful and loyal to
The men she served with. We did an audio tour for our car and it was well worth the $10.

The museum is fantastic. The battle field is little confusing. I would highly recommend that you book a tour so that they put all of the pieces together for you.

You must visit the battlegrounds. Tour buses are the best, but self guided are also a choice. We found the bus was much better for us and experiencing the history with a guide was much more enjoyable.

We hired someone to drive us through the military park. I’d recommend that to everyone. He never stopped talking for the entire 3 hours! Amazing!

In 2016, I had the opportunity to meet and talk to Ken. It was a truly outstanding presentation and talk I had with him. I was truly amazed with the knowledge of Hood's Texas Brigade at Gettysburg. From the individual soldiers up to General Hood himself, Ken was an expert. We not only talked about the Gettysburg Campaign and the battle, but about other Civil War Battles in the Eastern and Western Theater of the War.
Ken is a great guy and is pleasant and professional in his speaking and in his manner. The few hours I spent with Ken at Battlefield and Beyond Bookstore (no longer in business sadly) went by too quickly. Ken is known for his almost "trademark" red collared shirts and when you see Ken throughout the town giving a tour, or just walking around, he will standout!
I look forward to seeing Ken this July for the 160th Anniversary of the battle and my wife and I will be on one of his tours. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I was in the area for business and only had four hours to dedicate to touring the park. You could definitely spend days exploring everything there is to see. Downloading the National Park Service app and using the self-guided tour made things so easy. Being there in the off-season made things even easier. It is definitely a must see.

What an incredible experience! The park is right there where people drive through to go to school, work, in the store. The visitor center was very helpful and friendly. I bought the guided tour with the CDs so that I can drive through it. and know what I was looking at. That was very informative and it is it definitely a keepsake item. It’s better to take two days for this amazing look back into history. The town is very nice as well and the restaurants are pretty friendly as well.

Be prepared for the "Woke" generation changes. You won't find a Confederate flag on the property and there is talk they may remove ALL Confederate monuments !! And this is history ?? We can all agree that slavery was bad but the civil war was about MUCH more than slavery. I enjoy my visits so hopefully they won't ruin this great Park. If they stay on this path, it will be a slow death.

The park was impressive not just because of the statuary representing many states but also because of the combination of natural, rustic, and memorial scenes. There was a formal cemetery, but also monuments to far flung locations from Maine to Minnesota. I was particularly attracted to the green patina on many of the cannons. The statuary was well spaced, not cluttered, so the majesty of the rolling hills and rocky outcroppings were visible.

We downloaded the app and drove though the grounds. It is amazing when you stop and look out and imagine what happened here over the course of just a few days. Make sure your driver is paying attention and do not speed as it is easy to get distracted looking around.

The Gettysburg memorial building site was free to visit as was the battlefield. A car was needed for the battlefield tour unless you took a escorted tour. However, the film of the battle, the museum and the Cyclorama required a combined ticket. It was about $17 each, good value. The information desk was manned by the most helpful of staff.

It is a beautiful park and has monuments for both sides of the battle. When combined with the National Park Service free audio tour, the park comes to life. You can imagine the events that took place and the people that were involved.

The park is much larger than I imagined. It is beautifully manicured and cared for.

I would recommend a visit to those who are considering a trip to Gettysburg.

Fantastic! Do the bus tour if you can but save time to do the auto tour, too. You don’t have to do the bus tour, but it’s interesting.

Use the NPS app audioguide driving tour! It was great - a specific route to drive with stops along the way. Ensure you have a map, and it's easy to deviate if there is something you want to see that was left off. Highly recommend!

We went on morning tour of downtown Gettysburg with Ken Rich and afternoon car private tour of military park with Truman Eyler.
Do not think we could have had any better tour guides. Both gentlemen was extremely knowledgeable and quite personable.
We especially recommend taking the private tour of the battlefields rather than doing the self-guided audio tour. Yes, it does cost more, but it is well worth the cost to get the perspective, guidance, comments, and personal questions answered.

We had never visited Gettysburg and decided to start with the National Military Park Museum. Highly recommended. From the initial movie voiced by Morgan Freeman through the entire museum, you gain a sense of how things occurred during those three fateful days in July 1863. If you've never been to Gettysburg, THIS is the place to start.

We were amazed at how large the park is & loved the history. Driving tour interesting, loved walking the battlefield also.

My husband and I kicked off a cross country road trip at Gettysburg and talked about it for the rest of our trip. We expected it to be interesting but it was even more engrossing than we expected. We learned so much, the exhibits and films are excellent and the setting is wonderful for driving around and exploring by foot. Of the many stops we made on our journey, this one most exceeded our expectations.

We have visited the Gettysburg National Military park several times over the past 20 years and have read many books and viewed as many documentaries of the July 1-3, 1863 battle. We have learned so much from our visits and readings between visits but “feet on this hallowed ground” is the most important to us. Lots to see and you can’t do it all in one day. But a “bucket list item” for us and those who visit is a walk from General Lee’s Monument across the undulating field eastward toward the Copse of Trees a mile away. That experience in itself is worth the visit.

It had been probably 30 years since we last visited Gettysburg and as we had a free afternoon, we decided to visit. I'm 78 and use a cane, but even with all the walking we did, I really enjoyed it. We concentrated on certain parts, especially the National Cemetery where so many who died at Gettysburg are buried. I would love to have seen more of the battlefield.

Something new I learned was there seems to be some debate on where Lincoln actually stood to give his famous Gettysburg Address. But is that really so important?

We didn't have time to see the displays at the visitors center as it was a beautiful day and we wanted to be outside wandering. We were there about 3 hours, but I think true Civil War enthusiasts and historians would want more time.

Walking in through the gates, you are greeted with a sign that says, “No talking”, though it isn’t the kind of place you actually want to. Once you walk through the overarching pine trees and out onto the cemetery grounds, you’re immediately taken aback by how many grave stones and markers there are, especially those marked “unknown”.

I walked down these paths for a bit, following them to the left to get to the Kentucky monument - the place where Lincoln delivered his address. It was a bit of a surreal moment for me to stand in that spot and try to picture what it was like to be a surviving soldier or civilian and listen to Lincoln try to uplift them all. I left there feeling a bit heavier, but also in awe.

We were lucky enough again to visit the Gettysburg National Military Park today. Thanks to the United States Park Service and the Gettysburg National Trust for preserving and presenting such a vital part of United States History. We have been here several times before so we decided to skip the Movie this time and set out for a hike up the Cemetery Hill trail. We decided to forego the Park Ranger trail as we would have had to wait for it and we were glad we didn't wait. The trail is a good walk through History. It starts at General Meade's Headquarters and takes you back through time with mostly a look at the Memorials to the Union Troops atop Cemetery Hill. It is always a moving experience and we were glad we took the time. Everyone should visit this place once in a lifetime.

A comprehensive museum focused or the Gettysburg battle. The cyclorama is amazing. What a great way to visualize the final battle. The museum displays are easy to read with lots of items from the time. It is laid out in an easy to follow chronological order.

We spent several hours going through the museum then drove through the rest of the park. They also have a video presentation we did not stay for because of time constraints.

WE learn something new with each visit. This time we saw a surgery demonstration at the Spangler Farm. This is out of the way but well worth seeking out. We missed our ticketed time, but the folks at the desk in the visitor's center were very helpful in getting it changed. We got to see some reenactors drilling. We took the auto tour which hits many of the battle's highlights. The picnic grounds were overcrowded. Give your self plenty of time to explore this battlefield. Two full days, if you can spare them is well worth it.