Manassas National Battlefield Park Reviews

My goal in visiting Manassas National Battlefield Park was to gain an appreciation of the scale of a Civil War battlefield, and I was not disappointed. The rangers are enthusiastic, intelligent, and patient. To say the interns are history geeks is to diminish their enthusiasm and intelligence. They diligently research their topic and present it in an way as to draw you into the battle.
When you enter the visitors center, skip the movie theater on the left and go to the room on the right. That will give you the information you need to acquaint yourself with the battle and its aftermath.
The park opens early so take a walk or a run on the well maintained path. This gives you the opportunity to experience the vastness of the battlefield and gets you out in the fresh air.
One downside, traffic. Two major roads leading to the interstate intersect in the middle of the battlefield. Be patient, the battlefield isn't going anywhere, you will get there.

You can spend days here, the trails and attractions are varied and far apart enough that you can get your exercise in if you want (you can also drive between the sites). The visitor's center is a great place to start and go from there. If you are able to make it around the anniversary of the battle there are more attractions that are open to the public. I try and go every weekend the weather is nice with my daughter.

We’ve been to many battlefield and other historic sites; this was one of the best.
Highlights:
The electric light diorama in the museum showing the progression of troop movements,
The thorough and fascinating movie
But especially:
Ranger ANTHONY Trusso ( capitalized to correct an error in an earlier review)
This Ranger is remarkable in both his knowledge of the battle and his fervent portrayal of it to visitors.
Hint: get to the park in time for his talks at 11am and 2pm
Kudos to Anthony for bringing the two battles to life, with nuance and balance
( I’m still deciding whether there were picnickers from DC watching the battle!…, and really appreciated his alternate perspectives about Stonewall Jackson. )

Very much enjoyed this - smaller and more cozy than Gettysburg and less crowded. I really enjoyed Stone Bridge and taking pictures there.

Staff was extremely knowledgeable! The (free to use) all-terrain wheelchair made the outside trail accessible for mobility issues. (Much easier than a personal wheelchair). Definitely a great place to visit

If you like history and are into Civil War stuff, Then it is a must see. It's where it all started! I did not get to go into the Center for it was closed. I did enjoy getting to walk around and seeing the battlefield and reading the markers. It gives you an eerie feeling standing there and imagining all that went on during the course of the two battles. Definitely worth the time to go see.

It thrilled me to no end to actually be on the ground of a battlefield I've read about for over 50 years! Being where Jackson stood like a stonewall was a moving experience for me. So much history in one spot and it is well preserved by our National Park Service. Exhibits were well done and Rangers were knowledgeable and open to help with information. Just a great day for both of us!

My wife and I live in the park. Why: for the RUNNING! We have been here since 1992 and have run 20 or moire miles a week rain or shine. There are great trails and terrific views (Fall and winter are best.) However, watch out for the ticks. Spray in advance unless shnow on the ground. The park is big enought for many many shrt or long runs without getting bored.

We had another here on the way to Asheville. It’s was ok but it’s not a blast. The people at the visitor center were very friendly. A nice stop on the way.

Learn a little history and get in some great walking. If you are form the North this is truely a must check out to learn some true civil war history. The museum is small and packed with information. Great self guided tours along the grounds and many walking trails throughout the area to check out more civil war fences along the way. ( you will learn of them in the museum)

Please don’t let our history die people, get out to these Civil War sites and let their amazing historians share their passion for our nations history! We toured both battlefield sites, and both were amazing, with the historians who shared being both knowledgeable and passionate! No revisionist history here...the war was about slavery! Thank God over 700,000 men and women were willing to give their lives to free over 4 million slaves!

The museum or location on Sudley Road is not much. They have a few things inside and a gift shop, restrooms. Tours offered and Henry house with a few re-enactment guys around a camp fire. This park is huge, over 5,000 acres and is surrounded by split rail fencing. The stone house is down the road and a lot of civil war cannons everywhere.

I think we were looking for more inside because it was a rainy day with showers off and on. There were two battles here mainly I think because of the railroad. The replica Henry House has a monument and Mrs. Henry who was killed during the first battle is buried there.

It’s a great place to visit on a sunny, cool day. Lots of walking with beautiful views. Blue ridge mountains in the far distance.

A good little park to learn more about the civil war. It is a little spread out, so start at the visitor center to get a lay of the land. The volunteer is very friendly and was there for any questions or comments. There is a little exhibit or two in the visitor center and the bathrooms downstairs are clean and a good place to stop before walking around. The stone bridge is nice and has its own parking lot. The park itself is really only an hour or two for a visit depending on what you are interested in and how little or much information you already know about the war.

Visited on a hot day. Really enjoyed the museum. Lots of interesting facts. Highlight was the tour by Bob. He is an excellent fellow and made the first battle come alive. His presentation of the context was excellent.
Then went on a driving tour of the second battle. All good

Came to see where the Civil War battles began. Visitor center very informative. Walking the fields was sobering.

The Manassas National Battlefield Park is the sight of the first and second battles of Manassas (also known as Bull Run). The First Battle of Manassas marked the first time the armies of the Union and Confederacy met on the battlefield in the Civil War. At the visitor center, a 45-minute movie is shown on the hour that portrays the First Battle of Manassas.

The park tour route includes some of the more well-known sites: Stone Bridge, Henry Hill, Matthew Hill, Stone House, Deep Cut, Chinn Ridge and Brawner Farm. Foot paths connect these widely dispersed sites but you can also drive to them.

The only problem I had with the park and tour is separating what happened in each to the two battles, but I guess that’s inevitable when two events occur in essentially the same place. Nevertheless, the Manassas National Battlefield Park provides a nice look back into the history of these two Civil War battles.

This is where reality set in for both sides in what would be a bloody, costly, and strenuous conflict. I recommend this visit for practically anybody, but a must for any history buff or those who study the Civil War. Walking the same ground as people such as Stonewall Jackson, Joe Johnston, PGT Beauregard, etc. and visually taking in the battle lines and movements gives a new perspective to both Manassas Battles. I would recommend at least half a day, as there is much to see and plenty of walking. There are great exhibits in the Henry Hill Center, and there is a narration that actually has a topographic layout of the land and the movements of both the Confederacy and Union and displays the movements of the troops. This is one of the best Civil War battlefield sites I have personally visited and I hope to be able to return in the very near future!

Small park showing the first and second Battle of Manassas. Cannons are in the fields just like in the Battle. Some orginial houses are still standing. Great place to visit.

We arrived at the Manassas Battlefield Visitor Center just in time to join the ranger there on a walking tour of the grounds. We stopped under shade trees along the way for her to tell us more of the stories of Manassas. There are cannons to see here and a few statues and an old house but going with the ranger to learn about it all was most helpful. There is also a movie to watch in the center with a few chairs. The walk is out across the grassy area from the Visitor Center to the house and monument and then over closer to the cannons. At each stop, the ranger told us more of these battle stories in our history. This is near Chantilly, VA if you are in that area and is an interesting stop. Do go on the ranger talk so you can learn more and understand the site more. There is also a small shop here with a few toys and things to buy but it has a number of books to purchase as well. There is also a bottled water machine here to purchase water and also a refill station if you carry your own beverage container. There is no charge for the stop here or for the tour.

Took advantage of a return home from the Shenandoah Valley to visit this national battlefield park. Stopped in the visitor's center and felt that the diorama helped one to visualize the first battle of Bull Run. No support for the second battle of Bull Run besides the brochure because of closure of the building housing that battle's diorama. It's hard to appreciate the horror of these two battles in the calm of today at the battlefield. There is small well stocked gift shop.

I wanted to visit here for Father's Day. Just so happened that they were showing cannoneers and riflemen doing their thing. We watched the cannons go off a few times. We then went to Brawner Farm and got the tour. Not an exciting reenactment, and not much to see really. The docent knew her history but was a bit staccato in speaking due to her allergies. About 40 mins later, we returned to see the riflemen.

These are very nice grounds with plenty of interpretative information to give visitors good insight into the first major engagement of the Civil War. This is a definite must stop for history buffs and a great place to spend an afternoon learning or just soaking it all in. Park staff are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, further enhancing the experience.

Two battles were fought in this one area and we chose to tour each separately over two days. The Henry Hill area covers most of the First Bull Run while a driving tour is needed to cover the second battle. Each is well explained by a very good audio tour available for free.

The grounds are neatly arranged with monuments and educational markers, plus rangers deftly conduct fact-filled talks appealing to adults while holding the attention of children. Indoors the exhibits are first rate and the lighted maps show troop movements with clarity and easy understanding. Nice book shop as well.

Friendly and helpful rangers and other park personnel contributed to a lovely morning. The 45 minute movie in the theatre was informative and well done. The loop walk was very easy and nicely done. One gets a good idea of the terrain during the battles and can see lots of wildflowers in the right time of year. I highly recommend spending a morning here doing the walks and sitting under shady benches, enjoying the views. There is no admission cost.

Visited this famous Civil Ware battlefield yesterday . The main visitors center was very nice and we enjoyed the informative film. The men working at the desk were helpful and the gift shop there was also full of many nice books and gifts for all ages. One thing that was disappointing was the fact that unlike Gettysburg and Antietam the sites are not marked as easily to find doing a driving tour at Manassas. Maybe they should be numbered like the others which would be more helpful for someone driving. Also shuttle tours should be considered after COVID is better under control. Park rangers gave tours and lectures but we didn't stay to hear one, Also at the one house that was brown brick / stone in appearance didn't have railing to get in and out of the house and it should for safety. The statue of Stonewall Jackson was very nice We also enjoyed the older male volunteer at the second visitor center who was a VMI ALUMNI. I would recommend visiting this battlefield site if you are a history lover . I would allow 2- 3 hours for visiting this sight, Great area for taking walks but do it on a cooler day than 91.

I really enjoy this national park, it's history, trails. It has lots of trails to walk, run or hike. If you like to horse back ride, this park has many trails to do so. While no camping is allowed, it is fun place to come out for the day and enjoy. Check the parks calendar for re-inactments of the Battle of Manassas / Bull run, Civil war.

There are many miles of trails and history along most every path. Just be sure to bring water as there are no services but it is definitely worth the trip.

Visited here on a warm hot day and the place offers a fine insight to an important event of American history. There are many trails to wonder round at your leisure and signs that provide valuable information of the battles and the people who fought in them. Definitely worth a visit if in the area.

Had a great time at all of the historical sites despite the fact that it was in the 90's the whole time. Puts the war in a whole new perspective

Another look at the Civil War and, this time, where it started. Video was excellent as was touring the area.

Everyone should visit this site to see where the civil war first major battle occurred. Very open area and visitors friendly staff at location. Driving tours at your pleasure. Very historic and naturally beautifully sloping landscape make it a great 👍 visit. Lots of informative markers and information. A must see if your in the area or passing through on I66 on Virginia

I took a group of elementary school kids there. The museum was dated and didn't offer much depth. There are a few faded signs in the field but that's it. We had brought bag lunches for the kids since it's difficult to move a group efficiently and the rangers were very sharp and said they could not sit on the ground to eat because it was "hallowed ground". We left. There's more history at the Manassas Museum and they are friendlier towards kids.

We stopped in on our way west. Wish we would have planned to have more time. The visitor center is very small, but has a gift shop. The ranger was very friendly and loved talking with our kids. Tours are available. We walked around the battlefield. The kids loved being able to run free. There was a historic house, but you couldn't go inside. If you go, make sure to plan enough time to experience everything.

Not a lot to see, but the visitors center had helpful staff and did a good job of outlining the first battle of Manassas.. A lot of walking... a good imagination is helpful.

Worth a look. Free. Plenty of Civil War artifacts in the visitors center and on the grounds. Guided tours conducted. Takes about an hour to experience.

We just moved to Mannassas, only about a 20 minute drive from the park. Having read, a lot of Civil Way history, had a good idea of what occurred there. The signage gives you a decent overview of what happened 140 years ago. It is a relatively peaceful place, nice pet-friendly trails, good to take a leisurely walk and think about what our nation went through. Staff was friendly and helpful.

We appreciate that they offer walking tours! The one we went on was short but informative. And lots of information plaques. Definitely recommend.

Manassas has changed considerably over the years--for the better. At one time, the Manassas National Battlefield Park focused almost exclusively on the first battle of Manassas or Bull Run in 1861, the first major battle of the Civil War. In recent years, however, more focus has been placed on the second battle of Manassas or Bull Run in 1862. Today, it's fun and educational to tour both sites. Start at the visitors center, which features an excellent 45-minute film documenting both battles and features a well-stocked bookstore that covers Manassas and other facets of the Civil War. On this trip, I purchased six books. The site of First Manassas, steps outside the visitors center, is unique because it is the only Civil War battle site, to my knowledge, that can be covered entirely on foot from the visitors center to Henry House to Robinson house to the Stonewall Jackson monument. It's a wonderful walk in the countryside if it isn't too hot. You can obtain an audio tape for use on an auto tour of Second Manassas. It, too, is excellent and offers expert insights into a battle that is mostly overlooked and forgotten, even by Civil War buffs. In truth, it might have been General Robert E. Lee's greatest victory. Be sure to visit Brawner's Farm and the Stone House, which played important roles in the battles. Learn how Stonewall got his famous name. After Gettysburg, Antietam and Vicksburg, it's the most fun you can have on a Civil War battlefield.

An excellent place to visit to learn about the first significant Civil War battle. It's beautifully preserved, and the NPS do a fantastic job informing the public about the critical US history that occurred here. I was doing research on my 2nd great-grandfather, who fought as part of the NY 8th Infantry. The park ranger provided me with documentation from his regiment. Definitely do the tour and watch the first-rate movie, shown at the main Visitor Center, at Henry Hill. The battlefield is FREE!!

I had planned on prior trips to the Washington area to visit one of the historic battlefields but never did. This trip I took a morning off and decided to walk the hollow grounds of Manassas. I read the information at the visitors center and surveyed the terrain. Just putting yourself back in time, in a battle, firing artillery at your opponents just a few hundreds yards from each other showed unimaginable courage. Regardless of the outcome here, this clearly was a site where brave men died and I got the sense from my visit here.

Great site , museum is under construction , the auto tour signs could be bigger and wish they were on the park service app , like Winchester Virginia battle tour , red roof and other hotels nearby

My wife and I are history buffs and liked our visit to Manassas National Battlefield Park. The visitor center is small, but just right. It has a 3D depiction of the first battle and the auditorium has a very good forty minute film about both battles. There are frequent walking tours on the battlefield. Artillery pieces are strategically placed on the battlefield to give a full sense of the battles. The volunteer staff was very helpful and there is a museum store. We learned a lot in the time we were there.

This place is very nice for couples, families and teams. It is not uncommon to see people to see people picketing.

This HAS to be the WORST laid out battlefield experience I have ever driven in my 20+ tours. Half of the tour sites have the markers not visible for facing the wrong way., Traffic conditions are deplorable. If you can, do this mid-day to avoid the psycho drivers speeding in the area. Do stop at the Visitor's center and buy the CD driving tour, but be prepared for a WILD ride.

The Battlefield Park is a great place to visit if you are interested in war history. The museum employees can tell you all sorts of things about this battle and others! The museum as well as the grounds are very educational and interesting.

The museum and the staff were superior. If traveling in Northern Virginia, this is a not to be missed stop.

Altogether the park is a beautiful place
Lot’s of easy walking, but recommend Spring and fall temps
Definitely for Civil War buffs and close to Gettysburg, etc

We visited this battlefield after visiting the Gettysburg Battlefield Park so had some knowledge of the civil war. The park was very similar in its theme with information boards at numerous sites of interest. We had a talk from one of the rangers and moved around the battlefield park after. Some of the signage identifying the relevant sites could be better but this is only a small point.
The numerous Battlefield Parks appear to be very well run and very informative, this was no acceptation.
There is a small museum that assists in giving an overview of the various skirmishes of these battles and assists in working out what tactics were employed.
This park is definitely worth a visit.

Since I live near here, I've been many times with company. You absolutely need to watch the video. Then you can walk the battleground with the knowledge that the house on the property had an older woman living in it at the time of the battle. After that, drive west on Sudley Rd to Rte 29 and make a right. There is a small red brick building on the left. Pull in. You will have seen that used as a hospital in the video as it was during the battle. After the battle, instead of replacing stones, they simply mortared the cannon balls into the wall. The little stream you see down there is Bull Run which is why the Southern army called it the Battle of Bull Run.

The Manassas Nat. Battlefield Park has a walking tour setup that is easy to follow, the volunteers are well versed in all aspects of the 1st and 2nd battles of Bull Run, and the displays are outstanding. This being my first visit, I was amazed at the small size of the actual battlefield around the Visitor's Center. With my sneakers on and the sun shining, off I went for a 2 mile hike around the battlefield. Following this tour we went to the stone house which was in the middle of the battles and emerged intact. With history up close, this battlefield is easy to get to and makes a good morning walk. The Visitor's Center has informative displays, a great gift shop and a staff that can answer any of your questions. Great park!

Very very good. Once you receive your CD you drive to the different points and they talk you through the site. Very educational and a great look into the battles. I loved it.

We highly recommend the ~45 minute video before going on any tour. We did a self-guided driving tour and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Stone Bridge, the Dogan House & the various memorials along the way were our favorite sites. The entire tour route was very scenic and well maintained. The Ranger and volunteers were very friendly & helpful.

We went to the battlefield and enjoyed the trails and history we found there. Would recommend especially for civil war history buffs. Must be a favorite place for locals as many where there walking and running the trails

Manassas National Battlefield Park, really a beautiful unspoiled battlefield, rare indeed. We took the ranger guided tour, it was a pretty long walk but 1/2 way through our walk, half of our group went back to the visitor center to see a short movie of the battle, the rest continued on with the 2nd part of the tour. Bring your walking shoes and sunscreen if you decide on the walking tour, definitely worth the walk by the way. Make sure you the visit the Stonewall Jackson monument as this is where he got his nickname, "Stonewall Jackson".

The National Park service has done a great job with the sites here is one of the best. Interactive exhibits and markers walk you right in the same steps as the soldiers during the battles

I decided to stop at the Manassas Battlefields on my son’s historical tour of Virginia because I had read it was the site of two civil war battles one in July 1861 and one in August 1862.

My son and I started our visit at the visitor center and museum. The museum is small, but contains a great amount of knowledge and the park rangers are extremely helpful. Oh, and it is free although a donation canister is by the entrance.

There are multiple park hosted walks, but my son and I decided to do Henry Hill independent and to also walk down to the Stone House.

Walking out of the visitor center, we first came to a field with cannons placed on it. After, we walked to the Henry House which we found was a remake of the original. The original destroyed during first battle. Sad to find out that Judith Henry was killed during the first battle. Behind the house we found the monument erected by Union soldiers in 1865.

Walking down the path, we stopped at a bench under a large tree where we viewed Buck Hill and the Stone House. At the tree, we visited the Stone House that served as a Union hospital during both battles. We then walked back up hill to finish the one mile path.

Walking with my 21 year old son, my heart ached at the thought of these young boy soldiers who thought it was going to be a quick fight. These young, inexperienced boys were not experience soldiers and had no idea what war was. It is quite eerie to think of the thousands that died on these fields.

As with any of the battlefields, to visit is humbling. I always feel as if I'm not alone while wondering around. Manassas is no different. Compared to Gettysburg, it's not as well marked and organized but much better than some others. Worth the visit.

Although I haven't been to the park since last year it is a great place to go relax, walk, run and take pictures. Lots of trails. The tours at the park aRe very informative for you history buffs. The sunsets are awesome. Worth checking out.

This is the place to go to learn about the war between the states. It’s horrifying to see the film where the troops stand against each other and to see so many people die. Once you have seen the film you go out in the fields where this all happened. You can really feel the atmosphere of that time. Various shields tell you where what happened. Really impressive

A nice battlefield, but not as nice a few others I've visited. The stone house and stone bridge were nice stops and probably the main ones. It doesn't take a long time to visit the main sites, and is worth a visit.

Lovely hike with kids. Easy path. Beautiful scenery! When you are finished seeing the battlefield and hiking around, you can take a break at the Bull Run Winery to quench your thirst!

great and well preserved historic battlefield of not just one, but TWO of the more important battles of the Civil War. We were lucky enough to catch a reenactment during the memorial day weekend and saw rifle line fire and cannon fire. the tours and the guides from park were excellent. this is not to be missed and the exhibits are amazing as well.

Manassas National Battlefield Park is an excellent starting point for anyone who is interested in learning about the history of the Civil War. This is where it all began. Located at 6511 Sudley Road, at the intersection of Route 29 or Lee Highway and Route 234 or Sudley Road, north of I-66 and Manassass, Virginia, 30 miles west/southwest of Washington, D.C., it is the site of two major battles of the Civil War--the First Battle of Bull Run or Manassas and the Second Battle of Bull Run or Manassas. The FIrst Battle, which occurred on July 21, 1861, was the first major battle of the Civil War and is where Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson acquired his famous nickname "Stonewall." The 5,073-acre park was established in 1936 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. More than 700,000 people visit the two battlefields each year. Start at the Henry Hill Visitor Center on Sudley Road by the south entrance to the park, overlooking the 1861 battlefield. It offers exhibits regarding the First Battle of Bull Run, including Civil War-era uniforms, weapons, field gear, an electronic battle map and an orientation film entitled "Manassas: End of Innocence," and an extensive bookstore stocked with Civil War-related books and memorabilia. The site of the First Battle of Bull Run is small enough that you can walk from start to finish. Also see Stone House, used as a hospital for both battles, Robinson House, Stonewall Jackson Monument, Hill Farmhouse and Chinn Ridge.

Bring comfortable walking boots. Trails can be muddy after rains. Bring plenty water and snacks. No refreshments stands.

Very nicely preserved battlefield. We visited this upper part and then drove down the home site which was not open when we were there.

Calm, serene place for a walk, sit and understand the history on a weekend. They had several displays of civil war. Enjoyed the weather and calmness that came with it.

Absolutely enjoyed walking the entire battlefield and visiting the museum in the visitor center. The cannons, statues, and buildings were impressive. Like many of our Civil War and other memorials, you should probably visit them now before some mob shows up to tear down the statues and anything related to Civil War history. Have ancestors that fought on both sides. The lessons of history will be forgotten if we allow our leaders and mobs to erase history. Then, we will be doomed to repeat it.

Enjoyed visiting the battlefield and gift shop. Didn't have much time but we enjoyed what we had time to see and do. Would definitely recommend and go again.

We revisited this battlefield for the first time in many years. Because the key landmarks of First and Second Bull Run/Manassas are in fairly close proximity, it’s easier than more sprawling battlefields like Fredericksburg/Spottsylvania and Gettysburg to take in the whole of the park in just a couple of hours.

The visitor center has some notable exhibits, including a First Bull Run lighted map that shows the course of the battle. The battlefield areas are very well-maintained and well-curated, with beautiful vistas of the rolling Northern Virginia countryside.

To be fair, we didn't spend any time in the visitor's center, and that might have made a different to our rating. We arrived when a ranger talk was starting so we joined it. The ranger was knowledgeable and an okay speaker. She might have been a bit out of practice as the pandemic had disrupted tours until recently. I've heard many a Civil War battlefield guide, and ours didn't quite manage to tell a compelling or dramatic account of First Manassas. She did give a good historical account of the battle, however.

The field itself is a good spot for a nice walk, with open fields and forests here and there. Reasonably hilly so it helps if you are fit. My biggest complaint is that there are not enough signs on the battlefield. The Park Service can do better.

The friend I was visiting lives in this town and took me one morning for a look at the visitors centre and a walk around. The visitors centre was great and very informative, plenty of things to look at and read and the big map that was animated for the battles was fantastic, it really gave you a great idea of the actual battlefield and how things happened.
The walk was good to see the scope of the battlefield and it was also sobering to see it all.

Nice video at Henry Hill Visitor Center which showed the action of the battles. Site is great for first battle. Signage for 2nd battle drive is not so good.

Hard to imagine that war was ever anywhere near this peaceful area. Some monuments and an old inn/tavern that you can walk through.

The park is free now . Did not have time for the tour . Visitors center gave an excellent overview of first battle along with the museum giving visuals of items that were in the battle .
Grounds and monument s were well kept and paths were easy to walk .
An amazing experience and worth going if only for a few minutes if in the area and not much time .

A pivotal battle site from the Civil War, this place is large, just like the battle area was. If you don't have a lot of time, or cannot do a lot of walking, you can still stop in at the visitors center, walk a few yards to the Stonewall Jackson statue, and take in the view of a nearby farmhouse that got caught in the battle, as well as lots of cannons. It's ironic that visiting here is serene, and yet, over a hundred fifty years ago this was a killing field.
If you are a history buff, or a Civil war buff, do not miss this place if you are in the vicinity. It has a lot to offer for either. Even if you are neither of those two, it is a beautiful place to go for a walk.

Was in the area and stopped by to take in some American History and do some hiking. Hiked both the First and Second Manassas trails . Amazing!!! To hike on hallowed land where battles were fought was awesome. Hike history if
you visit here .

Our tour guide was absolutely amazing, full of knowledge and very engaging! The museum is well put together and interesting. I learned many facts I didn't know before.

A place of major significance in US history and a little understated from that standpoint, but a nicely done Center with a good bookstore and friendly ranger/volunteer staff.

Given that this was the first battle of the Civil War, it's a great place to start if you find yourself in Virginia. Lots of interesting displays in the visitors' center and a film re-enacting the battle. Informative talks by park guides. The whole Civil War was a tragic,extremely bloody event in which hundreds of thousands of soldiers were needlessly murdered ... so it's sad to see all this, but essential if you want to know more about the history of the United States.

Very informative information on the first civil war battle. Nice visitor center and definitely take the walking tour with a US Park Ranger.

So much history in this area! I loved my day exploring the battlefield at Manassas. There is a movie to watch at the visitor center. Last about 45 minutes. The national park service has done a great job recreating the battles that happened here! I learned so much during my exploration! I hiked, walked and drove my way through history! There are free guided tours every couple of hours. Staff was so nice and helpful! I bought several keepsakes from the gift shop! I highly recommend stopping here to learn about the war!

I visited Manassas National Battlefield Park for the first time this April. Looking out from the Visitors Center is breathtaking. I took a free Ranger lead tour and found it very interesting. After the tour, I returned to the Visitors Center and watched their movie, which filled in some more interesting facts. There are beautiful walking trails that are pretty clearly marked. I walked part of the First Manassas Battle trail. The whole trail is a little over five miles. I walked about two miles to a bridge and a field of Blue Bells, which was very pretty. Of course turning around and walking back at that point didn't cut much from the trip as far as mileage, but my husband was tired and didn't want to commit to the whole trail. I really learned a lot. Imagine town folk from Washington DC and the surrounding area brought picnics and came to watch the fighting! That didn't last long when they realized this wouldn't be a short conflict.

The place were Stonewall Jackson earned his name, visit the sites of the first large battle (Bull Run/Manassas) between the eastern armies of the Union and Confederacy, overlaid with a second larger battle that allowed the Confederacy to invade Maryland (Antietam/Sharpsburg). Start at the main NPS building to see a 45 minute movie on the battle, tour the small museum, buy a few souvenirs, get information on any Ranger led tours, and the all important map of the two battles. You can now decide on whether you want to take the driving tour to the 14+ sites, or take a number of walking/hiking self tours and trails. The relatively short tour near the NPS building will give you a quick overview of the final stages of the battle.

Took the driving tour and enjoyed it! wanted to see the Lemond house but it was closed. Viisitors center had a small museum which was interesting and the park rangers were very helpful and interested in answering our questions.

The park is a great location for the Civil War 'purist' visitor. The monuments and markers are few as compared to nearby parks such as Gettysburg. This, however, does not take away from one's understanding of the events of that horrible day in our history. We suffered, as a Nation, more combined casualties than any other in our history. The park and it's units are in great condition and must sees are Burnside Bridge, Bloody Lane for a true understanding of the depth of the battle.

Very nice park, with free parking & entrance. We walked a loop around the park that took a few hours, there are signs along the the trail with small bits of historic information on them. The trails are pretty clearly marked and they are not too difficult. We visited during Memorial Day weekend, and there were reenactment demonstrations of rifles and artillery around noon--really cool to see.

We stopped here driving from Gettysburg to DC. We decided to see the film and take the tour offered by the park. Our guide was phenomenal. I wish I remembered his name because he deserves credit. The tour was about 45 mins but I learned so much during that time. The film and the museum were excellent. This will be a required stop on future visits to DC.

We spent the day in the park.We especially like the walk around the battlefield. It had lots of markers describing the battle. Plus plenty of cannons. The visitor center was very nice and the park rangers were very helpful.The walk around the battlefield is aover a mile so bring good shoes and water to drink. There is lots to do and you could easily need two days there. Traffic can get heavy at the intersection near the park.

I know, I grew up in the south so I realize that this was "the war between the states", but I'm a Yankee so it is the Civil War.

The visitor center is pretty small, with very limited exhibits. The best feature may be the detailed trail map, showing where the battles took place and which trails go to them. That's really good for hiking the various trails, except when it's 95 degrees and 100% humidity, like today. I wilted pretty quickly.

Next time I will try for the fall, when I am told the leaves get pretty and the temperature is much nicer.

I was there year ago, nice historical battlefield. There are few old cannons. And building where you can find some More information. And we made longest trip there through forest and we very enjoyed it. Only problem is unavailable water..but it could changed

My wife and I went all 5 of the tours offered by the park rangers. It was very a blast. Highly recommended if you love history

We did not have very long to spend at the visitor center or battlefield - will definitely have to return one day and take our time touring it. Our main purpose was to see and stand upon the ground where our ancestor fought. If you know the regiment your ancestor was in & if it was the 1st or 2nd Bull Run, the ranger at the visitor center can show you on the park map exactly where they fought. He went into detail about the regiment's part in the battle, and we stood there and listened to him for the longest time - very interesting & knowledgeable! When we got to where the road ended-close to where our ancestor's regiment fought, another ranger was very helpful in showing us an easy trail to take that would end up where the regiment actually was. We were excited to find a plaque with the regiment name and other information signs at the end of the trail. Can't thank the park rangers enough - will definitely return one day to take it all in!

We weren't planning on stopping by, but we noticed how close it was to our route from DC to Shenandoah, so we decided to. Nice park. Friendly rangers working there. Good hiking trails. Lots of interesting history here about the beginning of the Civil War.

This is a great place to take out of town visitors. If they come during the summer. I wish they would keep the most interesting part of the exhibit, i.e.. the houses on the battlefield, open all year. It's one of the only touristy things (not related to wine) to do around here during the winter. Otherwise if you go to the museum during the winter months, you can basically just see the movie and the limited exhibit in the main visitors center.

Have taken our dog there several times for long walks. Beautiful area. It was in the fall of last year and the leaves were changing colors. Absolutely delightful day.

Great movie to watch before you tour the battlefield narrated by Richard Dreyfuss. We chose to do the self guided driving tour rather than any guided tour that's offered. All the information you need is right there and easy to follow. While we were there a gentleman was walking the grounds playing the bagpipes. There are no words to describe that experience. He was very pleasant to chat with and very informed. It was a perfect chance encounter.

Manassas had such a central role in the civill war that it is hard not to run into a battlefield or some historical marker indicating some important event or another. This park houses the sites of two major battles: the battles of Bull Run. The Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has an excellent Visitors' center, with exhibits and explanations of the two battles, as well as examples of uniforms, weapons, a very good video and a gift and bookstore.

I have visited the Park many times. This spring, for the first time, I decided to park right off of US 29 and try one of the trails. At that point, one of the loops is accessible. The Park has miles of these. Later, on another trip a few months later, we went back.

As long as one remembers where to park (multiple options), one can have a real nice walk/hike. That is, if you forget where you are (it is easy), you have a huge hike, potentially, to get out. But, in the spring, that was no issue. It would be more so in the summer.

Not too extensive, but provides a historical perspective of the area. Sometimes, they provide re-enactments that are pretty cool. My son liked it when they would fire the cannons.

We were passing through the area and made a stop here, since it's such an important part of history. Unfortunately we were a little disappointed. While it's an important part of the Civil War, not as much attention is put into this area as other battlefields. We went in to watch the movie (which was good) but were overwhelmed by the stench of mold in the theater. There was mold growing on the screen. It was unbearable. The maps they hand out were hard to follow as well. We were unable to find a couple of the sites. There didn't seem to be signs at the sights either. We did get there late, so the welcome center closed shortly after we saw the movie, so we couldn't tour the home or go back and ask questions. The Stonewall Jackson statue is really neat though, as well as the cannon balls stuck in the walls of the house. If you love Civil War history, it's still a good place to check out. It's just not at well done as other sites.

Spent a great afternoon visiting historical civil war landmarks. The visitors center and park ranger discussion were great. Makes you think about what our ancestors went through to protect our union. Then what’s happening to our country now.

Very interesting park. Enjoyed our visit. Appreciate our parks and the preservation of our history. Facilities nice, staff friendly.

Starting with the excellent Visitor's Center exhibits and presentations, this was a history lesson at it's best (school field trips should be mandatory!). Walking on either of the trails around the battle site and pausing to absorb how the struggle developed was very powerful - one of the cannons is pointed directly at the huge statue of Stonewall Jackson (intentional?!).

Great history here. We like to geocache and there were quite a few good ones in the area. The history was the real reason, the geocaching a fun side bar. The gift shop is super friendly and reasonable. We bought my father some things while we were here. Nice places to walk and very well maintained!

Very interesting. The visitor center is well done. I started out in the big illustrated electronic map room. It narrated the battle and the map lit up to show where the different troops were during the narration. Gave me a good understanding of the first battle of the Civil war. I then went in and watched the one hour movie in a small theater. It was well done and really showed what I had just seen and heard in the map room. Then I went into the newest area they had just opened at Memorial Day. Faces of the Fallen feature photographic glass stickers on the windows and short biographies for 120 of the over 3,500 who were killed on the Manassas Battlefield or died as result of wounds incurred at the battles. It was sobering to see their ages, mostly very young men. It was raining that day so 4 days later I came back to walk the grounds outside when it wasn’t raining. Very worth going to see. Helps you have an understanding of the cost we have in America for freedom.

This battlefield is of extremely high significance as the first one of the Civil War.

The National Park Service does a great job of helping us understand what happened there. They offer a 45 minute movie, a museum with great war artifacts, ranger-guided walks of the battlefield, maps for walking and driving the area and lots of friendly help at the front desk.

It's FREE!

So - as I generally say how long I've been visiting an attraction - I have been visiting the Manassas National Battlefield/Battlefield Park off and on for 31 years.
Within about a 2 to 4 mile radius there are all kinds of cool things from hiking to various historic markers and monuments.
I like to hike here more in the mornings not long after the sun is up. Though it's important to have a "spider-spotter" with you on hikes further into the forests as they make their webs just below the height of a person's head.
Hikes are cool not only because of the nature that surrounds you though also because you can think about what happened there so many years ago.
Good or bad it is important to remember history - and learn from it.

First stop at the visitor center. There is ample free parking. See the audio/visual battleground map. Next take the ranger led tour of first manassas from the visitor center. After tour, go back to house and tour inside. Visit the stone tavern and tour inside of house with ranger narrative. Go to the ridge and take ranger led tour. Go to the farm house and tour inside and take ranger led tour of second manassas. All of the rangers and volunteers did a great job and are knowledgeable. Everything is free.

Great view into our nations past. Very informative. A must do if interested in civil war history. We watched I the short film and went on the guided tour.

Did not get to Manassas in time for the tour, but the movie was wonderful and just walking the hollowed grounds was truly Holy. Such a reverent spot. Get out of DC and go to Manassas for an afternoon. The Park Rangers are the best.

We visited on the 155th anniversary of the second battle of Manassas (Bull Run), a fact I discovered from watching the movie offered in the main building. It was a warm and sunny day and difficult to imagine what had taken place there so long ago. There is a replica of a cabin, a small graveyard, cannons, and a statue of Stonewall Jackson on his horse. In the distance cars drive by on a highway but far enough that they add no sound. It's worth a visit.

This is a must see for history and Civil War fans. First saw it as a kid 50 years ago and was happy to see the site still has not been spoiled by encroaching development. Took my adult son with me to see it and to learn about kin who were killed there. Nice exhibitions at the visitor center.

Manassas Battlefield, although the site of the carnage of war, makes a very interesting presentation of this particular battle. There is a movie at the visitors' center which should be seen before driving to the various points of interest near the battlefield. The park itself is very nicely laid out and appears to be a popular site for joggers and picnickers Suggestion: time your drive around the points of interest to occur in the early part of the day - try to avoid "getting off" time!.

Manassas is like a quiet cemetery. Start at the Visitor's Center, listen to a Ranger talk, see the museum, read the exhibits, walk the ground for the First Battle, drive the fields for the Second Battle. Immerse yourself in the Civil War. That is what you came for, right?

We did one of the guided tours . The ranger was very smart but she assumed that we were as smart as she , especially with all the names of the Civil war.. she just kept saying their names and not telling us which army they were on . .. so it was hard to follow all the ins and outs of the battle ... we had to figure out which side she was talking about first in our heads.We had a member of the group who was a civil war buff and he even had a hard time following all the info and the little charts she held up. The place is amazing.. lots of the people were there, lots of trails and I think you should get the full experience with a tour.. I would take it again and maybe I will have learned something more

We were here on a detour on a roadtrip and were pleasent surprised. Great history. Visitorcenter staff very knowledgeable. Well worth your time. Free entry. Some walking required.

Places like this one are very unspectacular. A small visitor center, some paths, an old house, a few old cannons. Definitely not the Grand Canyon. And, yet, it all happened here--heroism, fear, stupidity, brilliance, luck, death. The Henrys lived here quietly all their lives and then someone decided to have a major battle around their home--woe to those who wish for a civil war. As usual, the ranger tour was very helpful. I knew someone who walked the land of Spain during their civil war and spoke of the terrible tension he could feel. Here, at this point, the tension of many decades and speeches, and bitter arguments over slavery spilled into death. Everyone should contemplate this place.

Visited late June. Arrived in time to hear the ranger talk at Henry Hill visitors center. I didn't know much about Manassas battles. Found the talk about the first battle very interesting. Visited on a rainy day,so didn't hike area. Notion that people would come out to watch a battle as entertainment something can't understand. Ranger helpful in explaining why hear battles referred to as battles of Bull Run. Second battle occurred around 13 months later. Ranger talk at Brawner farm focused on the second battle. Rain had stopped by time attended the third talk which was Deep Cut walking tour. This talk focused in more detail about the second battle. All the rangers and be a were very enthusiastic and seemed proud of the park. I appreciate their patience in answering questions.

So much to explore and so little time, get ready to travel in time and use your imagination to visualize the trials and events of the civil war.

Nice place to walk and learning about the history.
Highly recommended.
Buen lugar para caminar y aprender de la historia de US

We decided to include this in our trip to the Manassas Museum. We were glad that we did. We arrived too late for the walking tour but did a self-guided walking tour. I downloaded the apps, which were very helpful. Bring your walking shoes and I would not do it after a heavy rain. There are lots of hills.

While looking for a place that would allow us to maintain the CDC suggestions for distancing from other people during the Covid-19 Pandemic, we decided to visit the nearby Manassas Battlefield marking the first win for the Confederacy. Our day began at the Visitors Center. In front of the Visitor Center, park rangers had a table set up with brochures and maps of the area and answered questions. Inside the Visitor Center, is a small museum. Every employee had a mask on which was a plus. Guided tours by park rangers are offered each day. The park offers four, well-marked trails as well as a driving route. We chose to do the Henry Hill Loop Trail (1.2 miles). This trail focused on the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run). It is here where General Thomas Jackson earned the nickname “Stonewall”. On this trail are the rebuilt Henry House, cannons, a cemetery, monuments, and a statue of Jackson on his horse. The Henry House was homed to Judith Carter Henry, who was the only civilian killed during the first battle because she refused to leave her home Interpretive signs are strategically placed along the trail.

We also visited a few of the places on the Second Manassas Battlefield driving tour including Brawner Farm, Battery Heights and Dogan House. The Brawner Farmstead played a role in the Second Battle of Manassas. It was here that General Jackson hid his troops. The conflict continued on this property for two days. Park in the designated area and walk the paved path to the house. Our next stop was Battery Heights. There is a small parking lot on Route 29. What to see of interest? There are two cannons marking the location of the Confederate Artillery. Two informational signs provide details of what happened here. Our last stop for the day was the Dogan House. This house is the only surviving building of what was once the village of Groveton. During the Civil War, Groveton was once a farm village at the crossroads. Next time a visit to the other places of the Second Manassas Battlefield.

This battlefield is a must see for history buffs and anyone who wants to learn about the Civil War. If you go in the summer, be sure to wear good walking shoes and bring water.

The driving tour may not be what you expect. Yes, you can park relatively close but there is a fair amount of walking to the actual site such as the Brawner Farm but all are doable.

Important Civil War location of the First and Second Bull Run battles.The visitor center had a decent interpretive displays and video. Due to time constraints, we cut past the 40+ minute video. You can get enough info from the pamphlets and displays to get the just of the battles. Getting over to The Stone House from the visitors center took longer than expected due to traffic in the area. The Gift shop has hiking staff medallions if you are into those.

I grew up in Manassas and hadn’t been back to the Battlefield for several years. It was nice to stop by, park, take pictures and continue on my journey. Some things you just have to do to reminisce about your childhood. That hill by the Stonehouse was the best sledding hill ever! Although I’m sure they don’t let you do it anymore.

I visited the Manassas National Battlefield Park in June 2021. The visitors center is very nice and the rangers were very helpful. You can get a brochure for a self-guided tour. There is also a gift shop and book shop. Not far from the visitors center is a statue of General Stonewall Jackson on his horse. There were two important battles in Manassas. The First Battle of Manassas (also known as the First Battle of Bull Run) took place during July 1861 and can be explored by walking. You can walk from the visitors center to Henry Hill and Henry House. Looking out from Henry Hill you can see Matthews Hill and you can walk / hike there if you are so inclined. The key action of the First Battle of Manassas took place on Henry Hill. I did not walk to Matthews Hill and walked back to the visitors center looking at the Stonewall Jackson statue on the way. The Second Battle of Manassas (also known as the Second Battle of Bull Run) took place during August 1862. I explored this battle via a self-guided driving tour per the brochure provided by the National Park Service. Key stops for the Second Battle of Manassas included Brawner Farm, Stone Bridge and Stone House. I spent 2-3 hours at Manassas National Battlefield Park but you can spend the entire day here if you take one or more of the tours.

There is a movie that is very interesting in the visitors center. It is a great place to walk. There is an old house you can watch a 3d movie in. It never gets boring because it is a huge park with lots of trails.

We are a family of hikers and history lovers; this was our only visit to Manassas and the heat index was well into the 90s.

The visitors center has a diorama and short audio off to your right when you walk in, and a longer movie that played the top of each hour in a theater to your left. Get a map from the helpful guides.

We walked the Blue (1st Manassas) counterclockwise. Henry Hill is a Strava segment. The placards/interpretive signage were very good. We then cooled off at the movie. Red trail can be hiked, driven, or both. Our first afternoon we drove to Unfinished Railroad and hiked that, an isolated, Beautiful hiking loop off the Red trail, and Groveton Cemetary. A definite theme was the war taking place on family grounds. Second day we came back to hike Chinn Ridge loop that backs onto the NY (Zouaves) monument, which can be reached by 29 as well. The map needs updated and it would be great to have a shuttle tour as others have suggested.

really enjoyed the history of this area! It was a great trip and we did it in october. learned things we didn't know about this area. highly recommend.

The visitor center gives you a paper that explains the battlefield. It comes in several languages. The walking tour is very easy and allows you to better understand the battlefield.

Two battles of the Civil War were fought here. A lot of the battlefield has been preserved. If you like learning about history this a good place to visit.

The sites are well maintained and there are plenty of trails to explore at the various locations with information. Use the NPS mobile app for the best experience.

Two big battles happened here. Cool to see where history happened. There are some cool big cannons here.

The indoor museum was excellent and has enough variety to keep the littles entertained. The outdoor section is excellent because it is among open fields that the kids can run around and burn off energy.

After a lengthy description in the visitors center of the two major battles by a docent, we decided just to drive the country roads to see the sites. The drive is beautiful, and one can spend most of the day hiking trails and seeing it all, or focusing on a few areas. Our path began at the Stone House (#3) on the map. We proceeded to Matthews Hill (#4), then Sudley (#5), down Featherbed Lane (unpaved) to the Unfinished Railroad (#6), the Deep Cut (#7), to the Dogan House, to Battery Heights (#2), to the Groveton Confederate Cemetery (#8), to the New York Monuments (#9), to our favorite Stone Bridge (#12), then back to the statue of Stonewall Jackson, Henry House and the cannons etc on the field behind the visitor's center at sunset. Wonderful afternoon. If you are in the area, worth the stop. If a history buff, has to be a must see park. No admission fee is a plus. Many see the short film in the visitor's center, yet we did not have time. So plan accordingly, bring water and realize no restrooms along the path.

We have been coming to Manassas for years from the UK, and we always make the time to stop by the battlefield and just take it all in. I must admit its one of my favourite places to go in the world (that I've seen so far!). The museum keeps improving year on year and the facilities are great. The trails around the battlefield are full of cannon and things to see and being so high you can really feel where it all happened.

Sobering to think there were two battle here a year apart. Touring this area is a little different from many other sites due to the road being a major traffic thoroughfare and housing communities scattered around but most of the battlefield has been beautifully preserved. Start in the visitor center. You can get a driving map of the grounds- again be careful as you will need to crisscross busy roads. The driving tour covers 18 miles with 12 stops.The Stone House still stands on an intersection- Pope made his headquarters directly behind it and it was used as a field hospital. The Deep Cut and Chinn Ridge are vast and unchanged. The Stone Bridge is accessible for walking with paths around it- the spot where the first shots were fired during the first campaign and where the Union Army withdrew across Bull Run during the second Manassas campaign.

For a history buff like me, history really came alive for me on a beautiful afternoon in October. The site of two major battles in 1861 and 1862, I only had time to visit Henry Hill, the location of a mighty artillery duel on the grassy plains. The Visitor Center was a wonderful learning experience with artifacts from the battles but I didn't have time to see the film. Walking the trails you come across the iconic statue of Stonewall Jackson and the memorial to a Confederate general, Barnard Bee, killed in action on July 21, 1861. The restored farm house was interesting as well as the Stone House, seen in the distance, a Union Hospital on the other side of US 29.
A great experience for civil war lovers, understanding the two Confederate victories made easier. A word of caution: if you plan to do extensive hiking on the battlefield, US 29 is virtually impassable during rush hour. You are relying on the courtesy of drivers to let you cross. Doesn't happen very often.

This park hosts two battlefield in one. First Manassas is a classic civil war battle that can be easily toured with a stroll around the battlefield near the visitors center. Second Manassas, although a driving tour, will require a great deal of walking to experience. This park is huge and its size caught me off guard while touring second Manassas. If you’re willing to jump out of the car at each stop, you’ll have the chance to walk up a lot of hills and ridges, and along fields and trails. Some great views will immerse you in the battle as it looks much the same (unlike so other battlefield that have been built up). Secluded fields will allow you to reflect in what happened. Don’t miss the Brawner farm exhibit center, which again is a walk from the parking lot. This site has a light up map of second Manassas similar to the one about first Manassas at the visitors center. The railroad grade tour stop was a pleasant surprise, and a worthy sight to see. Give yourself time, it took me longer than I expected.

Park Interpreter at the Visitor Centre desk was very knowledgeable and helpful with advice on how we could best experience the park. We did a walking tour on our own at our own pace and it was very very interesting and educational. We especially enjoyed the short 6 minute talk in the museum about the battle. We learned so much more even more than we learned from history books just by seeing the actual battlefield, well worth the visit!!

The museum itself is very informative, but the self-paced walk through the grounds brings the battle to life. The placards/docents not only cover the military view of the battle, but also the "spectators" who came out from Washington D.C. to watch the battle.

Great places to let your dogs run. Cool cannons and battlefield diorama inside. Ample parking and wheelchair acces inside. Trails throughout the battlefield are easily walkable but not recommended for wheelchairs. Cool replica house on property. Much better on sunny days since there is little outside cover.

The history of our nation rests in this piece of land. A desire to learn of what transpired here has always been in me. Solemn but beautiful in its own right.

Wow is all I can say. I really loved these Battlefield. The best part for me was walking around on the trail around the Battlefield. So much history and these is a beautiful place. This was the site of the first Civil War battle. Don’t hesitate on this one. Go for sure.

Amazing to walk the same fields where soldier fought shoulder... you can visit the Stone house that served as a hospital....volunteers are very knowledgeable about the battlefields.

This was definitely on my bucket list for must see sights. I love history and I had to see the historic site of the battles of bull run. Make sure you grab a map of the property so you can see and navigate all the sites you wanna see would of been very difficult without a battlefield map.

This is probably the closest Civil War battlefield to Washington, DC, and it was the site of the war's first major clash. The Henry Hill Visitor Center does a nice job explaining the troop movements of the First Battle of Manassas and how it turned a brewing conflict into an all-out war.

The lovely grounds belie the brutality of the fighting, and there are plenty of trails to explore. Unfortunately, it was very hot and humid the day I went, so I didn't stay too long, but it's definitely worth a visit to take a step into history.

Manassas Battlefield National Park is a unique treasure among the number of battlefields of the Civlil War that I have visited. The terrain, forests and battle landmarks give you a clear picture of what it would have been like over 150 years ago. I would recommend going to the Henry Hill Visitor Center and get acquainted with the history (45 minute film) of the two battles of Manassas. The trip to the visitor center will also assist you in understanding how you want to visit the various battlefield sites. There is a driving tour (you need a map) that will take you to more than a dozen key landmarks. There is a parking lot at each one so that you can get out and explore. A more adventurous way to view the battlefield is to take one of the many hiking trails. There are two main trails (1st Manassas Trail and the 2nd Manassas Trail) that each take 2-3 hours to complete (over five miles). These two trails will take you to most of the sites you would see on the driving tour. There are also a number of shorter loop trails that are from .5-1.5 miles that give you an easier option. The trails are either cement, grass or dirt, and are all well maintained. The beauty of this part of Virginia is worth the trip. Going through the woods on the trails give you a glimpse of what it would have been like to be a Civil War soldier on foot. The only drawback is that the trails, even with a map can be confusing and cause more hiking than you intended. It was not very crowded on my Wednesday visit, which made for a very cool experience. Bring plenty of water and be prepared to take a trip back into time. The visitor center opens at 8:30 am, but the park opens at sunrise if you just want to start hiking.

Nice place for a sunny walk... even if you aren't into civil war history the grounds are maintained and there are several older buildings to explore.

We only had 1 hour, so the National Park Ranger helped us make the most of our time. We did the mile hike near the visitor center which included a memorial to soldiers, a statue of Stonewall Jackson, an old farmhouse as well as many historic cannons placed around the battlefield. Great signage explained the battles that took place here. Very somber and very worth the visit.

If you are a Civil War buff, you must visit this battlefield. Great self guided walking tours of Manassas I & II. Also take one the park ranger tours. The park rangers and the people who volunteer there are very knowledgeable about the battles and the Civil War. Make sure you see the one hour historical movie narrated by actor Richard Dryfuss,

M. Greg Miller
Millersville, PA

This was our first battlefield on our history tour and we were so in awe of this place. To stand where so many fought and died is a feeling that you can't put into words. There is a beautiful hike near by that takes you back into the woods. We really enjoyed that. It was April so the place wasn't very busy and during much of the time we were the only ones around which gave us time to really reflect and take it all in....though you never really can. highly recommend.

As the number one thing to do in Manassas, we thought we would give this a try as it offered interesting historical perspectives and the ability to keep our distance in the Corona Virus time in which we live.

Great overview of the battle inside the visitors center - while low-tech, it certainly allowed you to focus on what had happened and understand the troop movements. A reasonable display of the battlefield uniforms and materiel that the troops used.

Outside you will find well-defined paths, excellent explanation markers throughout the battlefield, and set-up replica cannon to give you an idea of what the soldiers were able to see (and not see!) during the battle.

Before you start touring the battlefield, make sure you go to the Henry Hill Visitor Centre first which is located on Sudbury Road ( just off the Interstate 66, exit 47 and north on Sudbury Rd). There you will see a short film about the battles which took place here and that gives you a better understanding of events before you explore. Pick up the usual NP pamphlet which also gives you all the necessary info. Entrance into all parts of the Battlefields is FREE!!! The short walking tour (one mile round trip) from the centre takes you round the first Manassas Battlefield, passing artillery guns, a monument to the Union soldiers killed as well as a statue of Stonewall Jackson. An exhibition is set up in the rebuilt Henry House and you can watch a video there using 3D glasses. The second Manassas Battlefield is a driving tour, details of which are on the NP leaflet. If you do not have time to do it all, the Stone House and the Stone Bridge are definately worth a visit. Manassas is a really interesting place to visit if you are at all interested in the history of United States. Many locals appear to use it as a place to run and cycle. However it is also very sad and sobering to think of the great loss of life that occurred here.

So even if you're just a casual Civil War buff, you know about Manassas battlefield. While monuments are nice the openness of the fields and being able to stand where each side stood and visual the carnage is an experience unto it's own. It's best to watch the film first. The rangers there are VERY knowledgeable and approachable. There are many areas to drive to and walk around. Do plan on wearing comfortable shoes.

Great visitors center with a very informative 45 minute short film to watch before embarking to the Battlefield. This place is rich with history and fascinating stories. Trails are well marked and clean from debris. Spent an afternoon walking the 5 1/2 mile "First Battle" Trail. Already looking forward to returning and seeing what I didn't have time to see the first time. Highly recommend spending a few hours or even a full day here is in the area.

This Battlefield is so well kept and a real pleasure to visit. The Rangers are knowledgeable, the introduction film is engaging and the museum has such unique pieces. Wow! This is our history, this Battlefield is so important in our American History, as the North and South were split over the expansion of slavery. President Lincoln told folks the war would end in 90 days. He was wrong. There were two significant battles of engagement here and it is so interesting to walk the different hikes. Pleasant and so many factors involved, which the Rangers are awesome at explaining. The gift shop - amazing! I have gone to this site several times and will continue to do so. Great place for families and the Junior Ranger Program. Check it out! You'll be so glad you did.

Beautiful visitor centre. Information provision included a 45 minute film and a 6 minute electronic diorama. Very interesting exhibits which connected to the film. Enthusiastic and helpful volunteers / rangers. Our visit to the centre very much helped our understanding. Excellent shop. Ranger tours and self tours of the battlefield available.

Don't miss the 45 minute film at the Visitors' Center that details the battle. As you walk the fields, you can just imagine the battle. Be sure to drive down the road a short distance to see the Stone Bridge.

This is the battlefield where the first battle of the Civil War took place and where the Union and South fought it out again for a second time later on in the war. They have a museum and tours that operate daily but always check ahead for times. Whether you are a Civil War enthusiast or a history buff in general this is a must visit for you.

Decided to go the battlefield park for morning walk. Took a trail which covered secondary day of second battle field with markers showing various units that took part in the battle and its progress. There is guided tour option if anyone is interested.

Ended the walk with visit to New York Ave. monuments covering New York units that participated and was constructed in 1903.

Lastly on the way back decide to get breakfast at Dunkin’s with Avocado 🥑 toast and coffee

Healthy day so far

Enjoy your visit if you are military history geek 😉
Option for horse ride in the park trail are available depending on I guess weather and season

Ventured here on a Saturday when they were doing walking tours and had live demonstrations. Very nice experience.

This is a great park and a great way to experience history. The surrounding area has other attractions too.

One of the few tourist points in the area i would definitely recommend. Open air adventure good hosts. I would only recommend tourist guides more walking less standing.

Large variety of hiking trails to enjoy for such a small area. Last week I went a few days after work and did a different trail each day. Great place to picnic or exercise and not that crowded during the week. On weekends parking lots can fill up.

Listened to an informative presentation by a Park ranger then watched a 45 minute film of the two battles at Manassas. I did not remember this was the first battle of the civil war. North side thought it would be a one-day war. Wrong! Enjoyed walking the battle field too. Glad I came!

I met a young friend (like family) here for a tour and the movie. Very cool place and grounds, despite the freezing winter temp and show. My young friend is a history buff with an eidetic memory. He has spent his teen and adult (32 now) life touring historical sites, monuments, libraries, museums and galleries. Having his added info during the visit gave a wonderful overview of the many things I learned he about the first ever battle of the civil war.

The movie is quite enlightening, and paints a pretty accurate picture of the events according to my young friend. Walking the grounds (about a mile) was challenging in cold and snow with a cane, but quite doable. I was pleased to see that the confederate side, which eventually lost the war, was not presented/dismissed as a racist group, as it is in so many areas of modern society. That they have been careful to recognize and honor the fallen from both sides, speaks to the real understanding that owning slaves was just one of many issues that lead to this civil war.

It gives a unique perspective and feeling, hard to gain from just reading a book, to walk this land and see what it was like to fight on this topography with the cannons, firearms, and weapons of the time.

This National park is really worth a visit. I hope to return when I have more time, and in warmer weather!

The Civil War site is wonderfully preserved and the park service provides wonderful opportunities to learn and explore the site. We started off at the visitor center to take in the movie which describes the battles which took place here. We then went down to Mathews Hill for a ranger guided tour of the site. We then went to Brawner Farm to a ranger guided tour where the second battle of Manassas took place. Both tours were excellent. Please take the time to visit and learn about the historical site.

The first and second battles of Manassas, or Bull Run, is a great place to begin your tour of American Civil War battlefields. The visitor center is very nice, but parking may be limited during peak seasons, so get there early.

The Ranger-led tour of the First Manassas battlefield is very interesting and informative. There is walking involved so wear sturdy footwear and be prepared to walk maybe a half mile or so, mostly in grass. Also, and perhaps most importantly, wear sunscreen and be mindful that you are in tick country when you visit virtually any battlefield. Bug spray (preferably with permethrin) is a very good idea for feet, legs and lower extremities. DEET is not very effective on ticks, or so I am told. Some sort of DEET spray for your head/face will help with the gnats encountered in some areas.

I won’t spoil the tour by sharing details of the battles, but I will say I learned a great deal and enjoyed it immensely. There are numerous cannon positioned around the battlefield to illustrate the Union and Confederate lines. If you are lucky, you may get the chance to witness people in period uniforms loading a firing muskets or rifles of the day.

We had a Ranger-led tour for both 1st and 2nd Manassas battlefields, but we also hired a private guide, specifically for 1st Manassas. While our paid guide was very informative and interactive, I didn’t feel the information he provided was substantially better than the information given (for free) by the Ranger. We spent several hundred dollars for the private tour, but I don’t believe that is necessary to enjoy the full experience of this battlefield.

There are several points of interest around both battlefields (they overlap) that you can tour in self-guided mode. There are also docents at some locations who are extremely well versed and helpful if you want to hear about specific portions of the battles. All in all, this was a great start to our trip. Ultimately we toured 8 Civil War battlefields in 3 states in about a week. I will review other battlefields separately.

Oh, and you can easily drive to Antietam (Maryland), enjoy all that national park has to offer and return to Manassas in the same day. That might help with lodging and additional travel plans.

Compared to other battlefields we visited this week, this one was spartan. Very few monuments, just some signs at stops. Mostly what you see is open fields. Excellent movie at the visitor center. NPS guide is silent

The history here is incredible. When you do the driving tour for the 2nd battle make sure to plan time to do the hiking trails and get a real sense of the battle.

The Battlefield is well preserved and curated by the National Park Service. We love that it's right in our backyard. The history is accurately portrayed and well-presented from both the Union and Confederate perspectives. There are also lots of trails for hiking and exploring in addition to the historical aspects of the park. Well worth a visit.

Several easy walking trails, driving trail. Film makes for effective and humanizing introduction to the battlefield as well as to the drama of the Civil War. Film is well-produced and narrated. Museum exhibit features a helpful electric map and battle-specific artifacts. Gift shop has strong selection of topical books, Christmas ornaments. Passport stamps in gift shop with another staump at the Stone House (seasonally open). Good Junior Ranger program -- wish it had a patch. Excellent, large volunteer force helps keep things running.

We traveled from Antietam to Manassas to tour the battlefield, although our day was on and off with rain, we enjoyed driving around the different locations then visiting the Park. We toured the small museum inside and the grounds outside especially Judith Henry's grave, my wife swears that area is haunted.

I experienced a wonderful presentation by Ranger Kimberly at the Manassas Battlefield. I learned a lot of new information about the first battle of the Civil War.
The museum is well worth visiting with the artifacts and film description.
I heartily recommend this locale on your travel through northern Virginia.

This is where the civil war started, the first and second battle of Bull Run. The area is spread over a huge amount of land and the really interesting thing is that there are a few houses that were right in the thick of the battles. One was demolished by cannon fire and others were used as field hospitals. You have the plaques where generals and other high ranking military men were killed, sites where massacres occurs. You look out upon the beautiful rolling meadow today and it’s hard to believe what happened back then. They have a nice visitor center that’s in the middle of the 1st battle of Bull Run battlefield. In their shop they have a lot of good books and there’s also is a small museum that one should see before entering the battlefield. If you’re a history buff or trying to show your children history this is a good place to see.

Make sure you see the film before visiting the battlefield. The battlefield experience is free. You can both walk and drive. I was a bit disappointed being a Civil War enthusiast - there's just not much here. I've been to both Antietam and Gettsyburg and those battlefields have much more to see. This was interesting though.

This is also a must do when in Manassas. This is the site of the first battle of the Civil War and where many gained their iconic names, such as Stone Wall Jackson. The battlefield is spread out, but the main attractions can easily be waged to from the visitor center/museum/gift shop. They have regularly scheduled tours and an interactive theater inside the museum along with a very nice gift store. There are also walking trails for those who want to explore even more.

Such a great battlefield. As terrible as the battles were on these grounds the scenery is magnificent. The staff is extremely knowledgeable in the history . There is so much ground to cover, it can literally takes days if you walked all the trails offered.

Great place to visit. Did the car trip and you got to visit all the interesting sites. Then we did the visitor center and watched a 45 minute movie, which gave so much more detail into the places we visited.

We took our kids here after church one Sunday and it was such a beautiful day. The park was very nice and very clean. We took a guided tour around the area which took about 30-45 min and I highly recommend doing one as they are very knowledgeable. Our tour guide explained about all the challenges that you may not even realized we're issues back in the day and included the group in the discussion, so very interactive tour. I am one to find history a little confusing if I don't know the background before hand and she had me wanting to learn more on these battles.

The area was also nice for runners and many people had dogs. There was a very clean restroom and water fountain in the main building and out side was a water fountain and nozzle for dog water bowls.

You can easily drive to the further locations or hike the whole route depending on you ability.

I think this is great for all ages and fur babies. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Interesting battlefield with lots of open space for wandering on your own. There are tours of a few of the buildings. The visitor center has a short movie about the two battles that were fought there. You can drive yourself to some of the attractions. Definitely stop there if you're in the area.

The First Battle of Bull Run took place in a relatively small area that can be viewed from the Visitor Center. The six minute presentation on the 3-D map is very good, but too quiet. It's not shut off from the squeaky front doors so it's hard to hear the presentation.

We got an Audiotour for the car for the Second Battle of Bull Run. It was pretty good with interesting details. There are a ton of walking trails as well. The volunteers at the various sites are helpful with questions & answers.

I recommend bug spray - it's the height of summer and it was really buggy.

The Battle of Manassas is also know as the Battle of Bull Run, using the name of a small stream in the area. Start your visit with the 45 minute visit which begins promptly on the hour. Then tour through the small museum which includes a short presentation showing, with small lights on a model of the landscape of the area, the various troop movements and ensuing battles. After that, you are at liberty to walk throughout the battlefield or even take a Ranger led tour through parts of the battlefield.
There is a parking lot in front of the visitor's center. In terms of accessibility, it may be a bit more challenging because we noted steps in some places, restrooms downstairs, and uneven terrain as you go out into the battlefield. Check directly with the visitor's center to understand what provisions are available for accessibility.
We spent 2 hours here which included the film, museum, and some walking in the battlefield. For more enthusiastic civil war buffs, you could spend more than 3-4 hours.

So much history here, with 2 major civil war battles fought here as well as large encampments before and after both battles the park has a very surreal feel to it. You can explore several monuments that were erected after the war to dedicate the places were these American stood their ground and fought with uncommon valor.

The best part of visiting is the guided tours and talks with park rangers -- if there's only one thing you do while visiting, it should be to go to the tours and talks. I learned a lot from the talk I attended.

The visitor center is small and the exhibits focus more on the first battle of Manassas and less on the second battle of Manassas (unless there's another exhibit room that I completely missed). The exhibits don't take that long to go through. There is a movie that runs once an hour (also available on DVD in the gift shop in the back of the visitor center) which does a better job than the exhibits of explaining what happened at both battles.

I was unable to go on the trails or driving tour, so I have no comments on that.

Very informative displays in the visitor center. Do NOT miss the film narrated by Richard Dreyfuss which explains the two battles. We did the guided outdoor tour with a ranger. It was a short easy walk with an informative narrative. The stone house was closed the day we were there.

Great historical spot. Lots of information. Easily walkable. Thoroughly enjoyed. Bathrooms in the welcome center aren't easily accessible as they are down 2 flights of stairs. Otherwise, we enjoyed our visit very much!

Great place to visit, center has a video presentation that is worth watching, the Park Rangers are knowledgeable, interesting and friendly, lots of history!

It was so nice to see how history is preserved at this battlefield. The lecture guide was thorough and gave us a good history of the battles that took place at Manassas and it was great to know that the first major civil war in the USA was fought at this battlefield. There was an outdoor display of how the armed military fired riffles back then. Also the war canyons are still present at the field, even-though they have been repainted to preserve them from rust and the outdoor weather from damage. Inside is a small museum with pictures and some relics of the battlefield and soldiers and people that were involved . Near the battlefield is a dispensary where wounded soldiers from the battle were treated. It may be nice to visit that too.

Anthony Trusso lead our free tour from the visitors center he was very informative and gave so much interesting details. We ended up spending 51/2 hours and still didn't see everything. If you love history it's a must visit!

The NPS Rangers were indispensable in getting you to virtually time travel back to 1861 and 1862. This is a great place to both walk and ride around. The car tour is worth the run and walking it takes you to that period. Be aware of one thing when viewing the battle field panorama, most of the trees weren't there. It was open farm fields. So, what you see now does not represent what the soldiers of that time saw. It is still worth going to, as long as you as you accept that things change after 150+years. Keep in mind that this battle changed the country forever. It was supposed to be a walk in the park but, turned into the bloodiest war in our history that still hasn't been surpassed in loss of life to this very day.

A lovely setting the best visitors center we seen on our trip. The center and restrooms were open which has been hard to find with COVID regulations.

Excellent!!! Be sure to stop at BOTH visitors centers - each covers a different Manassas battle. Each center has a light-up topography map with audio to show the advance and retreat of the battle. That really helped perspective on it. Then be sure to stop at the Stone House and see that plus talk to the Park Ranger there. The driving tour was so-so. No audio info at the stops. We spent about 3 hours here.

i was really impressed by how well the exhibits and signs explained the historical significance of the Battlefield. We also took a 5 mile hike around the property which was wonderful.

We spent 4-1/2 hours at the battlefield on a mid-week afternoon and it was not enough.

We arrived to tag onto First Manassas Battlefield short guided tour to the Henry House and Stonewall Jackson Monument areas. Museum at The Henry Hill Visitor Center is small but worth checking out....and as with most National Parks, the video was excellent. Should have seen first but guided tours are limited.

We did part of the Driving Tour visited the Stone House, which was not open at the time of our visit, and hiked to top of Buck Hill. We went to Battery Heights followed by the hiking the Unfinished RR. The parking at the west end of the trail is limited but we were able to squeeze our 23 ft. RV in. In peak season, there may not be room. We did a short hike at the Deep Cut Trail but only to the stream since was getting to be late afternoon. Last stop was the Groveton Confederate Cemetery.

It was a good visit but a full day or a second day would have allowed us to hike the First or Second Manassas Trail to fully appreciate the park.

Highly recommended!!!

We visited here for a whole day, its a most interesting place. The rangers are most informative and helpful.

This is an excellent place for both the casual and serious history buff. I'm in the former category and I'm also a hiker so the trails through the park (all 5000+ acres of it) were icing on the cake. Roger deserves a special shoutout for the awesome and thorough and entertaining job he did in narrating the important details of the beginning of the Civil War and Manassas's part in it. He was very engaging and obviously very interested in the subject and made the information very accessible. There were 20 of us though some drifted off (am I the only person who found this rude?) and I am so glad I stayed to the end. I am a Canadian and have always found the Civil War to be somewhat confusing but now have a better grasp. The 45 minute movie that was shown in the dedicated movie theater was also very good and gave a very human viewpoint from both the Confederate and Union sides of the 2 battles that were waged at Manassas.

We were driving through the area when we spotted signs for this national park. We got there about 10:15 in the morning. When we entered the visitors' center we saw that there would be a free tour at 11 am. Part of the visitors' center is like a small museum with lots of artifacts. There are many uniforms, weapons, etc. on display here. There is also a great map of the area that explains exactly how the first battle of the Civil War a.k.a. Bull Run took place. At 11, we met our park ranger, Liz, outside. She was so interesting explaining events leading up to this famous battle and then the battle itself. There is a small area we walked around to see a house, Stonewall Jackson's statue, and some small memorials. There is a wonderful little book store/gift shop inside the visitors' center. There are also restrooms in there and there is plenty of free parking. We saw several people walking their dogs in the park so I guess dogs are allowed.

Visiting the museum, watching the movie, and listening to the park ranger talks is all free. We enjoyed the self-guided walk which concentrates on first Manassas, and the auto tour which concentrates on second Manassas.
The first Manassas battlefield map with lights showing troop movements, located in the museum, is particularly helpful.

A chance to see where two of the most important battles of the Civil War took place. Well done for a self guided tour.

Manassas/Bull Run was the battle that slapped both sides with the reality that the war would be neither short nor glorious. Taking the walking tour of the sites of First Manassas and the driving tour of the sites of Second Manassas illustrates this point profoundly. Be sure to spend at least an hour at the Visitor Center as well. The film is part documentary and part dramatic recreation, shot on site. Set among rolling hills and intermittent forests, most sites are easily accessed by car.

For the Civil War enthusiast, the Manassas Battlefield is a great experience and usually not crowded. We did two Ranger tours, Henry Hill and Brawner Farm, and both Rangers did an excellent job! Because there were two separate battles here, it is easy to get a tad confused when you visit some of the sites in the Park. Suggest you start your visit seeing the First Battle of Manassas presentation in the Visitor's Center before you attend the Ranger Henry Hill tour. You can pretty much see the entire one day battle area from the Visitor's Center. The First Battle area is a walking tour. We did not do this because of time constraints, but hope to come back in the future and complete it. It appears to be a good hike.The driving tour concentrates on the Second Battle of Manassas and starts at the Brawner Farm. There you can see the Second Battle of Manassas presentation. Ideally, the Ranger Tour at the Brawner Farm will follow and then you can finish the driving tour. The driving tour is 18 miles long and depending upon your time at each of the 12 sites, it could be a long day. To do the Park justice, you will need two days.The NPS has done a very good job here, along with the volunteers.

This site its very neat. When you walk in the visitors’ center it gives you a glimpse into the past. Displays of old weaponry and military uniforms. You have to like military era history. My husband and I enjoyed the 45 minutes movie that explains the Manassas battle background; what was happening at the time. Very interesting.

Lots of wide open space, Short and long trails so you can choose how much exercise you want to get. Not flat but rolling hills.

From the visitor’s center (and especially the video on the two battles) to the key stops with displays and staffers - like Brawner’s Farm and the Stone House - visitors learn a ton about this important place in Civil War history.

My friend and I, both Civil War buffs, decided to tour the first and second battle sites separately and I would recommend doing just that. Take at least one of the first battle’s walking tours and then drive to the sites of the second battle.

We visit this battlefield when we are in the area. The visitor's center is top notch with friendly rangers who are very helpful. The gift shop is great too. There have been many improvements made since the last time we visited and we were very impressed. It is very easy to walk the fields near the visitor's center and the driving tour is easy to follow.

I have lived here 40 years and in the past 10 have seen great strides in preserving the battle fields and iconic buildings and trails that are there. There really is a lot of Civil War buildings to visit in Prince William County. Highly recommend you visit them online first before visiting.

Visited the battlefield and had a free group 40 mins walk around the battlefield site with a very knowledgeable ranger who fought the battle to life in a very easy to understand way. I would highly recommend a visit.

Civil War history buffs will of course love the place, but I think the best part of the visit was walking along the extensive trails. We parked down by the stone bridge and headed towards the visitor center from there. Lots of expansive areas with great views (particularly on the tops of the hills). I was most impressed that they were able to preserve so many original items & buildings. It really brings history to life!

This is a battlefield with a small visitors center and not much else. If you’re looking for more than that you’ll be disappointed. If you want to walk around on a battlefield where you can touch and see old cannons and get a feel for the way things looked and felt for the soldiers, it’s a great spot.

Small museum with informative movie that starts on the hour. Open 8:30 to 5 daily, has rest rooms. Free admission and parking. Guided tours available but easy to do on your own. Small parking lot fills up fast so arrive early or expect to park on the grass. Great hiking/jogging trail that covers the battlefield. We did the First Manassas trail (5.5 miles), easy level trail with many interpretive signs and good views. Expect crowds in good weather and weekends.

NPS once again at its finest. Good leafleting for a self guided tour, for stuff that is walkable and that which is a drive away. Plenty of display information at the key points.
The moving lights battle plan intro is particularly good

While most people visit Manassas National Battlefield to learn about the first battle of the Civil War between the Union and Confederate armies, First Manassas (or First Bull Run), one should not pass on the opportunity to learn about the much larger, longer (3 days versus 1 day), and more complex battle of Second Manassas (Second Bull Run).

We spent the better part of a day learning about both battles by first visiting the Henry Hill Visitor Center, looking through the museum and watching the good park film to get oriented. We next took part in two separate Ranger Guided battlefield walking tours; the first at the Brawner Farm introducing Second Manassas; the other at Henry Hill covering First Manassas. Both were very good an informative.

Following the guided walking tours, we finished our day by taking the self-guided driving tour that focuses on the much more spread-out battle of Second Manassas, although a number of stops were elements of both battles. Our favorite stops included; #3 – Stone House which was Pope’s headquarters during the 2nd and 3rd day of Second Manassas and served as a field hospital during both battles; #6 – Unfinished Railroad where Stonewall Jackson’s line extended for about 1.5 miles (2.4k) along the still visible unfinished railroad bed during Second Manassas; #7 – Deep Cut which is site of the Union’s largest attack during Second Manassas and where intense close quarters fighting occurred along a particularly deep portion of the unfinished railroad; and #12 – Stone Bridge where First Manassas essentially began and Second Manassas essentially ended.

We visited this National Battlefeilds last Summer it was a very hot August day , we toured the visitor center then went outside to hear the History on the Battlefeild , it was so hot and sunny the Park Ranger did his lecture from under a big tree to help keep the audience cooler. We went out on the fields and told the stories , it is so sad to hear so many were lost.

Control over the main intersection of roads were fought over in the battle of Bull Run / Manassas. How ironic we still battle in traffic jams at this intersection. I appreciate this memorial is in the middle of a large local populace, but heavier traffic should be rerouted around this area. It is dangerous trying to slow down to enter or exit one of the many stops with the speeds of the commuter traffic barreling by. And we visited after school was back in session. I would hate coming here during the vacation season.

The battle of Bull Run is conic in the Civil War and is explained wonderfully at this site. The staff at all the sites connected to it are wonderfully informative.

Went to the visitor center; watched the movie and diorama; then viewed museum. Took a hike around the grounds—did first bull run loop trail. Would be a beautiful hike without any history—that definitely added to the experience.

The narrative of the first battle at Manassas was interesting. Visuals aides need to be updated somewhat. Walking the grounds and viewing the old guns and battlefield was very sobering. The park is kept clean and its a great stop to pick up a few historical facts and stretch the legs at the same time.

This is my second review of the Manassas and every visit I like it more and more. This is the sight of two battles, the very first major battle of the war and the sight of one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Besides the history, this is a great place for hiking. It is a beautiful park. The visitor's center is informative and has a small exhibit, gift shop, and a movie that tells you about both battles. The rangers here have always impressed me with their knowledge, passion, and their hospitality. The auto tour is well marked and takes you to the interesting parts of the battle. I recommend going here to learn about the early years of the war and see where Thomas Jackson earned his famous nickname "Stonewall," although his statue is ridiculous. That's a small issue. Even if you are not interested in history, I recommend going here for hiking because there are a lot of great trails and beautiful scenery. If you like history, there are markers on the trails with quotes from soldiers who fought there. Go to Manassas National battlefield Park because it is a great national park that is truly underrated.

This is a great historic battlefield encumbered by two busy roads through the park. To make it worse they were working on the roads when trying to move around the park. The are also repairing the stone bridge, so that added to what is a great venue with good park rangers.

We spent the entire day here. The facility has a museum, restrooms, theater, gift shop, vending, some of the homes, and many walking trails. You have to ask for the walking trails map. They usually only give out the map of the main park. We liked the First Manassas trail the best. It went thru the woods on a well made path with lots of shading for most of it, wooden bridges, a Marsh walk, and the stone bridge at Bull Run. We did have to cross the road at one point. There is no crosswalk or button to push on that area of the trail so be careful crossing. There are many smaller loops within the trails too if you don't want to spend hours walking and touring it all. It seemed that many locals use the trails for jogging, walking, and walking their dogs so parking is limited.

The park has a great network of trails that are well suited for long hikes and trail running. Terrain is mostly flat. Along the way are markers to explain parts of the two battles. It is very spread out and for history buffs trying to follow the course of the battles it is difficult. For nature lovers wanting peaceful time outdoors, it is the perfect place. Great for bird watching and dog walking. And free!

I put in my GPS hiking trails near me and this came up. I was surprised when I pulled up, I took the tour and watched the short video. Then me and my pup walked the battle field grounds!

Outer trails are not crowded and overlooked by the throngs that hit the two main trails. Even off of the main trails there are numerous side paths. All well maintained with wonderful field views, forest and streams.

Let me begin by saying that if you enjoy history, then Manassas is a very worthwhile visit. So why did I rate it a four? Simply because sites such as Brawner’s farm, so central to the second battle of Manassas, were closed. Okay, we visited in winter—but so did dozens of others whilst we were there. The interpretation Center at Brawner’s farm had two HVACs which were humming away, and even the loos, in a separate building, were locked. UNnice!

Okay, for the good points. There is a well-produced 45 minute film at the visitor center near Henry Hill. If you know little of the two battles which took place over this piece of land, then the film will orient you. Maps are available to follow the course of the battles. There are also apps that can be downloaded to your phone to provide information. The positioning of field guns helps one to see just how “point blank” the action was. The casualty difference between First and Second Manassas was exponential. By Second Manassas, sightseers didn’t turn out with picnics to watch the spectacle. By then most people on both sides had come to recognise that the war would be a giant blood-letting war of attrition. Is war heroic? Ask the dead.

I have visited here several times on holidays from the UK to stay with my wife's family in Virginia.They say that you can't understand America and Americans without understanding the American Civil War. If so then this is one of the places that you have to visit. The site is so evocative (as well as being immaculately kept) that it sends shivers up your spine just standing on the spot of so much fighting so long ago. The houses on the site are especially worth visiting and take you straight back over 150 years.

I visited midweek at the beginning of November. There were almost no people there that day which made it better. The weather was gorgeous which also made it great. We went there in the late afternoon and stayed until dark. It was so quiet and peaceful there, hard to believe that at one time it was the scene of such tradgedy. It was fascinating to see the canons stretched out at each end of the field and humbling to realize how many men died on the very ground we were walking on. As the sun was setting we saw herds and herds of deer coming out of the forest to feed. it was amazing to see so many deer in a natural setting like that

The Battlefield is very well preserved and run by the National Park Service. The history is accurately portrayed and well-presented from both the Union and Confederate perspectives. There are also trails for hiking and exploring so you can see where the cannon emplacements were during the battles. There is a very good movie I suggest you watch before you tour the battlefield that is narrated by Richard Dreyfuss. We chose to do the self guided driving tour rather than take one of the guided tour that are offered. All the information you need is right there at each stop and is easy to follow.

You don't need to be a student of history to know about the First Battle of Manassas. The Second Battle of Manassas also occurred on this well kept battlefield park. A car is needed to visit all the important points in the park.

take one of the many excellent tours given by the rangers.they are very good groups are usually small so it can be close to one on one
beautiful area

Visited this park with friends from NY. We walked the park and saw the monuments and signage which gave great background. The visitor center was helpful and had wonderful people there to enlighten and inform.

This area of Virginia is full of historic sites and the Manassas National Battlefield is a big one. I took the self-guided walking tour and while I only saw a few sites, it was worth the hike.
A few considerations for those taking the walking tour versus the driving tour; the park is huge so plan accordingly. Take water as it is not readily available on the trails. Much of the hike is over open fields so wear a hat and use sunscreen; the trails also take you through forested areas. The walking trails are wide however, you'll be walking on uneven ground that is wet at times. Due to the walking distance between historical sites I do not recommend the hike for children; my hike to visit two sites was just under six miles.
Overall I think this historical park is average and if you like history, it's worth your time.

Mike
Travel Thru My Eyes, Let's GO

We had a very nice time visiting and got tons of walking done . The 45 min movie was very informative and is best viewed before you walk the grounds . This is a great stop for adults as well as well behaved children .

Sudley Road and Lee Highway form an intersection in the middle of this large park. There is a visitors center on the east side of Sudley road and south of Lee Highway. There is a parking lot in front of the center with plenty of parking. The building has displays, park rangers, displays, and a gift shop. The center is very nice with beautiful displays and graphics that allow a better understanding of the battle that took place on this site. Their website state, “ On July 21, 1861, two armies clashed for the first time on the fields overlooking Bull Run.” Many of the houses and field artillery are still standing with displays to explain their significance throughout the park. There are 2 main paths that leave from the center. One was about 5 miles and the other about 7 that make large loops around roughly half of the park for each. We took the shorter path and had a very enjoyable walk through the battlefield and countryside. The paths are not paved and are up and down hills, over roots, across streams, and roads so they may be challenging for some. It was a very nice park and I plan to visit again and highly recommend this for others to come to experience it.

We were on an 11 Park tour over Labor Day. There is always one park that is the unexpected WOW! This park was it this trip! Beautiful and haunting. Give yourself some extra time here to walk the grounds and hear the stories!!!

Appreciating this battlefield is a bit more difficult than at Gettysburg or Antietam, because of its relatively small size and the fact that two battles were fought here (the Union lost both) which can make touring confusing. But read up beforehand (the NPS brochure is short but instructive, as usual), pay attention and you will be rewarded by a very real Civil War experience. The terrain is well preserved and authentic, some of the stops along the second battle tour, especially along the wooded railroad cut, are very atmospheric and deeply impressive.

Based on the maps and the length of the cannons, you can imagine the first battle at Bull Run very well. It takes about an hour to run down Henry Hill.
When we told the Ranger that we were interested in artillery, he opened a box and explained exactly what and why a particular ammunition was used and when.

Compared to the big sweeping battles of the later parts of the war, Manassas is a much more compact and simpler to understand site. The interpretation in the visitors center is very good without being fawning. The the core of the battle can be walked in 30-40 minutes.

Other than Gettysburg, this is one of the "northern" locations of the Civil War battlefields. Take the time to walk the trials and view the location to get perspective. The visitors center is very informative.
Enjoy, Gene H.

Very well done, like tjs with the NPS, and besides, it's free

At the VC, you can see a 45-minute movie about the two battles of Bull Run, and then, very nice walks possible on the whole battlefield, with bcp explanations, details ... Very nice visit, with above all, a very nice tribute to all these young people who died there

Nice hiking paths. Descriptive plaques. The visitor center is wonderful and had a great visual of the battle.

I’m a huge history buff. I had high hopes for this place. It’s free which is nice. Apart from that this place is boring. The 45 minute movie in the visitor center is old and way outdated. The museum is small. The gift shop is simple and mainly consists of books. There are a few cannons and old homes spread apart vast open fields. That’s it! If you want a better civil war experience then go to the Gettysburg. We did that last week and the visitor center, battle fields, cyclorama and elevated vistas are 10x better and more engaging.

Civil War sites are numerous and can get tedious for the non-history buff. This has an easily followed film, an engaged staff and an evocative venue.

There are over a thousand Civil War sites in Virginia alone, so if you have to pick just a few, start here (and end in Appomattox). Watch the 45-minute film on the two battles fought here, learn how spectators treated it as an afternoon's picnic, follow the lives of key leaders such as Stonewall Jackson (he earned his nickname here!), and then take a ranger-led walking tour for another hour's worth of engaging history. Our ranger was Gregory and he was spectacular, with 12 years' experience at the site. Entrance is free, parking is abundant, and you'll really see how an afternoon's skirmish that was thought to be the start and end of the war turned into fours years of conflict with over 600,000 lives lost - more than all the American lives lost in every war before or since combined. Easily worth a few hours of your time.

This is a great place for a nice hike or picnic. I love going here and seeing all of the history of Manassas and enjoying the views.

Very interesting battlefield with lots of history. Its free to visitors with walking guided tours . Worth the time.

This place is so much fun. There is so much to see and if you like to hike and explore this is the place for you. My friend and I have hiked it extensively. Today we did the first battle loop which is 5.5 miles. We started at the stone house. The stone house is very cool. The upstairs is the best part to see but it is only open on the weekends. If you like to hike come here!

If you are looking for a rewarding, professional experience when visiting a Civil War battlefield, Manassas is an excellent location. While the commemorative landscape is very different from battlefields like Gettysburg and Antietam, this battlefield presents a great opportunity to explore the landscape significant to two major battles of that war, including the first one. In the visitor center, volunteer staff were very friendly and helpful as were the rangers on duty. Currently for winter, visitor center hours are from 8:30-4, but grounds are open sunrise to sunset. Great store, film, and driving tour available. We were headed to Dulles and wished we had some more time to explore.

It’s amazing that this much of the battlefield has been preserved- thank goodness. We started at the visitor center and asked how to organize a 2 hour visit to start. We are in the area for a couple of days, so we hope to see more later. We eschewed the 45 minute video behind the docent desk and opted for the first battle map with light display on the right as you walk in; seeing this first really helped orient you to which side was positioned where, and the outlines of the battle; afterwards, we walked loop at Henry Hill and took in the views and monuments there. Next stop was the Stone House which was open by then, we were greeted by guides on the first and second floors. Both were very knowledgeable and interesting. We were both pleased with our visit and would recommend it— a very solemn and moving experience.

Another nice stop among the National Park Service's Battlefield parks. While not quite as large as Gettysburg, this landmark commemorates two important battles of the Civil War. I was initially disappointed by the gentleman at the counter who did not offer a map or standard park brochure when I walked in the door (they aren't on the counter so you have to ask or be offered one in order to acquire one), however, he was more than eager to help a male in our party who came in much later (this was not a NPS employee).

The small museum has an interesting fiber optic map that depicts the military strategy used in the battle of Bull Run (also known as First Manassas) and another facility in the park has a similar map for 2nd Manassas. These maps help summarize the geographical location of the important events at the battlefield. I would suggest reading up on the battles prior to visiting in order to get the most out of your time there.

The auto tour is short and worth checking out, along with several other important landmarks within the park. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore and hike (if that interests you).

A little bit of history while on a road trip back home. Interesting and beautiful place. They have an indoor theater with an audio playing the details of the battle. There are also a few guided tours offered at 11 and 2 pm. Because most of the monuments and exhibits are outdoors, it would be difficult for a person in a wheelchair.

Great orientation film,very knowledgeable and courteous staff. Although we toured the battlefield in a monsoon, the National Park employees could not have been more helpful in making this a positive experience. Hope to take their guided walking tour next time. The gift shop is not to be missed.

Although the battles took place 150 years ago, you get the sense that the area today still looks very much like it did during the Civil War. The visitor center on Henry Hill is a great place to start, as it gives information about the battles and the sites in the area. The sites around Henry Hill are an easy walk. You need a car to see the remaining sites, so you can go to the ones that interest you most. If you're a Civil War buff, this is worth 5 stars for sure. If not, it's 4 stars or 3 stars depending on your level of interest and how much time you want to spend learning about the battles.

Make sure you first see the 45 minute film at the Henry Hill Visitor Center that covers both the First and Second Battles of Manassas. It explains the battles very well. Don't miss the fiber-optic map that describes the troop movements during the battle and also there are artifacts on display. If you have time, they offer a walking tour and also a driving tour. You can pick up a map at the visitor center and there is also a daily schedule of interpretive programs. There is no admission fee.

The park and museum were excellently laid out. A 45 minute video introduced the history on the battlefield. The park layout was beautiful and the important elements of the battle were easily seen and the distances etc between the 2 armies clear. A credit to the park authorities. The museum staff were excellent.

My first visit to this amazing site. After hearing the audio of what took place on this battlefield, I walked around the grounds imagining what took place as soldiers from the north and south fought. It also helped knowing someone personally who was a Civil War reenactor.

this field is the best among the best and far more better than the rest i really love to be here again and again with sammy i love this

Most certain will plan to come back again. Since we were passing by with the fresh start of Covid many things were not open for us to gain the full enjoyment of this stop. Beautiful grounds, peaceful area for a great sunny day exploration. Just in love with the whole civil war anything from the north or the south.

Learn about the 2 battles at Manassas the lives lost in the Civil War. You can walk the battlefield, watch a short film about the battles, visit the Henry House and the Robinson House as well as the Stone House. The park rangers were helpful in answering questions and telling us the highlights of their park.

Don't forget to ask about the Junior Ranger program - it's fun for all ages!

The park was very nice, Nice film. Lots of rangers giving talks. Some private talks too. Be prepared to drive a ways to different battlefield spots. Some walking from the parking lots to the sites

My husband and I drove to the battlefield when we were staying in Leesburg. We decided to take the driving tour because it was so cold and were not dressed appropriately. There is a free driving tour app in the PlayStore for Android users called Bull Run Battle App. This app gives you a driving tour with about 1.5 miles of additional walking. We just sat in the car during the walking part. We drove the tour in about an hour. The park also has convenient red stars to indicate in the driving tour stops. We decided we are going to return when the weather is warmer and we have appropriate footwear. A must stop for history buffs. A fun fact also is the Battle of Bull run is the precursor to the Battle of Gettysburg. Go to the Manassas Battlefield and then take the hour and a half drive to Gettysburg to take in the full effect of the Civil War on American History.

Our stay was very nice! The staff was wonderful from check in to check out. Jamal made sure we were satisfied with our room. The hotel was very well maintained and the staff is awesome. Upon checking out Michael made us feel we were special and thanked us for staying, Jamal again asked if everything was to our liking. You have a great management at this hotel.

What an experience to know American civil war and now also that my son joined the US Army. Good to know what happened all those times!

As I walked the grounds of the battlefield, I found myself pausing to reflect on the 6000 that lost their lives here. War is hell! I met an old warrior like myself that he comes here on a regular basis to try to digest it all. I’ll return and hopefully I’ll have more time when I do.

This Civil War battlefield has a visitor center and extensive grounds. There are numerous hiking trails, which visitors were utilizing, or you can easily drive from one stop to another along the numbered route to see all the significant battle areas. This park features locations and artifacts from both important battles that were fought in this area.
For us, the highlight of the visit was the Visitor Center. There we met a knowledgable and incredibly helpful Park Ranger named Patrick Trusso. When you enter the Center, I noticed that visitors are asked where they're from, and conversation proceeds from there. My husband mentioned that he wished that he had more information about his great-great grandfather, who had served in a New York State Infantry unit during the Civil War. Since it was so close to closing (< 1 hour), Patrick asked us to watch the 45 minute (excellent) video, then return the next morning and he would help us find information about my husband's ancestor.
We were able to return the next day, and Patrick acted as our own personal genealogist! He consulted books kept in the Center's Library, and was extremely familiar with NYS's websites and military information. Bottom line: my husband discovered facts about his great-great grandfather that he never knew--many mysteries were solved. If it hadn't been for this wonderful Park Ranger, we would never have found out so much valuable information. It occurred to me that there's so much information both in print and online, but if you don't know how to access it, it's worthless. Patrick Trusso knows how to unlock the keys to the kingdom, and we will always be grateful to him for his assistance.
Manassas National Battlefield Park is a well-preserved battleground with knowledgable staff. Well worth a visit.

Within a small museum at the Henry Hill Visitor Center, there is a very good 10-minute electronic map about the two important (1861 and 1862) civil war battles that took place here. Additionally, though long, watch the worthwhile 45-minute movie with re-enactors portraying the two battles. In December other buildings are closed, but the grounds are open to walk and drive. The Confederate cemetery and Union monuments are interesting and afford wonderful views of the battlefield.

We came from Idaho for business, but made a point of arriving a few days earlier so we could visit some of Virginia's battlefields. The Manassas National Battlefield Park is fantastic, especially if you happen to catch a Living History demonstration. Even if not, the tours provided by the rangers are a MUST-DO! Even if you've read several thousand pages of Civil War history and battle strategy (as one of our group had), these rangers' presentations will add to your experience -- and you will learn stuff!

We were able to attend the :90 Chinn Ridge tour on Friday (8/24/18) afternoon at 1500 -- can't remember the name of the ranger who gave this talk, but whoever he was, he was wonderful. He managed to describe a fairly complex series of events and mix of people and regiments, in a very descriptive and captivating way, and made sure we felt comfortable with the content before moving on. Thus, everyone in the group seemed to really have a grasp of what had happened -- which is a huge gift to us visitors.

The Living History presentation of infantry and artillery at Brawner Farm on Saturday, 8/25/18, presented by Ranger Greg and volunteers -- simply fantastic!! For soooo many reasons! First and foremost, the team did a really first-class job of providing aa richly entertaining, educational (!!) and quite comprehensive demonstration of the firing process and context. It is clear that everyone from Greg to the volunteers is passionate about this, and that passion is what really came across. They (and Adam, above) made this *important* to us visitors -- not just fun, but of thought-provoking, historical signficance.

I was also extremely impressed with the safety standards and behavior that this group adhered to.

Last but not least, the displays, the grounds, and all the staff we encountered made us really appreciate the Park Service and what it provides to its visitors.

Every visit to a national park is impressive, especially the tour guides. Do not miss the films and guided tours.

It was such an honor to get to visit this park and to know that they are protecting this great history and this land !!!!

We were passing by on our way home and felt that it would be good to stop and see the location of one of the biggest Civil War battles. Having just watched Ken Burns's "Civil War" I found it interesting to see the locations of the battles. A solemn tribute to all the people who lost their lives fighting for the freedom of our nation. The lighted display helped us understand how the battle happened.

I spent a day touring both the Battles of First and Second Manassas, both fields have hiking trails that allow the visitor to further understand the troop movements, as well as, stops at historic farms and at other important highlights of the battle. I study Longstreet's First Corps, so the walk along Chinn Ridge was very moving. Great Park.

Went here in late July which happen to coincide with the actual 1 st battle of Bull Run 100 plus years earlier. Was need to walk the ground on a hot July and get a feel of what it must of been like in close combat in wool uniforms in 90 plus degree heat and 90 plus humidity. I great site to spend a day

My husband and I went here on a beautiful, sunny Saturday in June. We stopped at a few of the spots along the driving tour. My favorite spot was seeing the house that got caught in the crossfire of the battle. Inside the house was an old woman who got killed and was the only civilian death of the battle. Her gravesite is also next to the house. The visitor center has a museum with a few artifacts and a gift shop. The museum also had a nice light-up feature that showed the troops movements.

There is a movie that lasts about 45 minutes that gives an account of both battles, but, as expected focuses on the first battle. The walking tour of Henry Hill lasts about an hour and is well worth the time, even if you’ve already seen the movie. I did not take the driving tour but I think it would be valuable for a deeper understanding. The center staff were friendly and there is no charge for the programs.

My wife and I called in for a short visit and wished we'd given ourselves more time. The small museum has a model of the area which incorporates a low-tech, six-minute presentation, which told us everything we needed to know about the battle. What we wished we could have done was to follow the well marked walk around the whole site, but unfortunately we had to settle for a quick visit to the wooden house and statue of Stonewall Jackson. The man on reception as you enter the Park was so helpful and keen to help us make the most of our visit.

The grounds are beautifully kept with plenty of signage to narrate the events that took place there. We were there after the visitors center closed but the grounds were open to walk about.

A wonderful park with lots of history of the civil war. The welcome center is smaller than for other civil war battlefields and the largest issue with the park is the traffic that passes very close by. Still, the park is well done and worth a stop.

My second time at Manassas/Bull Run. It is sacred ground. I urge people to see it. It demonstrates the madness that can happen when we have a divided country. This was the location of the first battle of the Civil War. The battle ended with a Confederate victory as Stonewall Jackson saved the day by holding his troops in line. No easy task. Encourage first time visitors to head directly to the Visitors Center to get an overview of the battle. Henry Hill is the place to pause and pay respects. There is a large statue of Stonewall Jackson at the top of the hill. Tip:It is free and a quick exit off of I-66 ion Manassas. Well signed.

Upon arrival at the visitor center we were fortunate to have an opportunity to see a fabulous film adaptation of the 1st & 2nd Battles of Bull Run. The 1st being the beginning of our Civil War. The film was on a very personal level & should not be missed. Following the film there was a guided tour of the battlefield by a very well versed Park ranger. Back at the visitor center you will find a small museum $ lovely gift shop. Well worth a side trip!

This is our first battlefield trip of 2021, the welcome center, gift shop and restrooms are open. Lots of artifacts inside the center. The grounds are well preserved.

My only issue is with the people who walk their dogs on the grounds and don’t clean up the poop! I hope the NPS stops allowing the dogs on the grounds.

I enjoy historical sites and this place is just so beautiful. Our US history is not perfect but that is what I love; getting the chance to see how it has been in the past.

We actually visited twice during our trip down south. The visitor center staff was great. Assisted us in finding info on relatives who fought in the area during the civil war. Went on a several tours, the Rangers were extremely knowledgeable and gave wonderful tours despite pretty harsh weather conditions.

At long last after 15 years I made it to Manassas and what a treat !!!

Perfect weather, History galore and a perfect state of preservation from the iconic stone house to the statue Jackson standing like a stone wall this is a MUST SEE for any student of the war between the states.

I have made numerous trips to MNBP. The staff is friendly and knowledge. They have hourly tours of Henry's Hill. There is a self guided 5.5 mi walking tour of the 1st Battle of Manassas and a 6.1 mi tour of the 2nd Battle of Manassas. both of them are great but wear comfortable hiking/walking shoes. There is also a self guided driving tour but I haven't done that one.

My wife are UK tourists. We love visiting the US, which we know quite well, and we stopped here as part of a 10 day tour of historic Virginia.
The battlefield is of course very close to DC, so it should get plenty of visitors. We were there on a Monday afternoon in mid-May and there were plenty of other visitors (and not just school groups either). With that in mind, you would think that this site would have received plenty of focus and attention so as to engage with US citizens and others about all aspects of the Civil War.
Yet we felt there were some missed opportunities at this site. We can't fault the enthusiasm and knowledge of the NPS staff and volunteers, who always seem to do an exemplary job. But there were some other things missing.
First of all, the basics. There is absolutely zero food or drink for sale at this site. Literally, you can't even buy a bottle of water. We had to drive 1/4 mile back to the nearest gas station. Almost anyone would probably spend two hours here and enthusiasts could easily spend a day. So what sense does that make? There is a gift shop where you can buy lots of US flags and memorabilia that are all made in China. With no customers in it. Perhaps you could turn it into a cafe? With drinks and cookies that are made in America. Just a suggestion.
Second, the site is just not curated. We have visited plenty of museums and exhibitions in the US and, outside of NYC, DC etc, there is a consistent lack of thoughtful curation. At the visitor centre you can view a 20 minute movie about the two battles, and they provide an insight into the personal experience of those involved or affected by the conflict. But they didn't provide any basic introduction to the background to the battles or to how the battles played out from a military point of view. A non-specialist visitor with a general interest in learning more about the Civil War would benefit from looking at the material at battlefields.org before visiting - it would enable them to better understand why the two battles took place here, why things played out the way they did and what the consequences were.
On a positive note, the location of the first battle (and the visitor centre) is very well looked after. In contrast to the horrors of the conflict, it's now a beautiful and peaceful place.
We took two guided tours. Our guide for the tour related to the second battle was very knowledgeable but, given our lack of prep on the battle, his explanations of the movements of the troops took place in a bit of a void. By contrast, our guide for the tour of the first battle site focused on bringing alive the experience of the conflict from the perspective of the troops involved. His presentation was more engaging for that reason.

The Manassas Battlefield park is the site of two major battles of the Civil War. The First Battle of Bull Run (July 21, 1861) helped propel the legend of Confederate general “Stonewall” Jackson and ended with the routing of Union forces. The Second Battle of Bull Run (August 28-30, 1862) commenced as an ambush of Union forces, but determined Union resistance robbed the Confederacy of a chance to alter the dynamics of the war. As many National Battlefield parks, Manassas is well organized, accessible, clean, and well worth the trip.

I visited Manassas with one of my West Point roommates, who lives 20 minutes away. The Henry Hill Visitor Center provided an excellent video and informative displays on the military technology of the day. We then drove 10 minutes to Browner Farm for a guided tour of the second battle’s site. As always, the Park Ranger leading the tour was engaging, articulate, and very well informed. It was a wonderful tour, made all the more pleasant by the excellent weather (overcast and not too warm).

Walk the grounds where hundreds of people died. It was hot in July. I could only imagine how awful it was in that heat with the smoke, bullets, bayonets, and bombshells.

Brilliant and iconic and a must see if you are in the area and fantastic visitor centre with a brilliant interactive map which shows clearly how the battle unfolded....or their best guess! Really informative small museum too. Lucky enough to be there when a group of re-en actors fired muskets and cannon all explained in detail by the very knowledgeable Rangers. Superb!! TOP TIP however!! Do not approach from the south on the 234 as there are dozens of traffic lights and our Saturday early afternoon arrival took 45 minutes for the last 2 miles! You've been warned!!

Really appreciated that the battlefield was preserved almost like it was 159 years ago. It was an easy walk around the battlefield and the posted signs gave you a good feel for who was where and what time. The path is unpaved, lending further authenticity. Plaques also provided pictures of what the landscape looked like soon after the battle ceased. The Confederate and Union cannons were set in place so you knew how close they were to each other when cannonballs were flying. It was a bit disappointing that the visitors center was closed, but Covid changed normal for everyone. If you like history, this is worth the time.

Would definitely recommend stopping at the Manassas Battlefield when in Northern Virginia. A lot of information given and very peaceful and beautiful battlegrounds. The scenery surrounding the battlefields is Serene and breath taking. You can either walk the 5 miles of trails or take the car tour, stopping at each historical spot. You can take a few hours or longer viewing and reading at each site.

We go regularly since we live in the area. The museum is small, but very informative. What we enjoy is hiking the various trails throughout the battlefield. Each is well marked with great, detailed historical markers, maps, pictures and so on along the way. Most recently we walked the Unfinished Railroad trail, which some say is haunted.

This is just a wonderful place. It has a walking tour for the 1st Battle of Manassas, and a driving tour of the 2nd battle. We thoroughly enjoyed it!

The Battlefields of Manassas are quite extensive and a visit begins at the Manassas National Battlefield Park, Pet Friendly to pets at all times on leashes, the Visitor’s Center, located at 6511 Sudley Road, Manassas, VA 20109, 793-361-1339, battlefields open daily daylight hours, Visitor’s Center offers information, maps, restrooms, bookstore/gift shop, a introductory film, and exhibits. There were 2 battles referred to as First Manassas (First Bull Run - July 1861) & Second Manassas (Second Bull Run - August 1862). In our view, they First Manassas Battlefield is best understood by taking the walking tour; & the Second Manassas Battlefield is best understood by taking the 12 Station or Locations Driving Tour. First Manassas was the first real Battlefield action between USA/CSA, and it ended with 900 young men dead on the battlefield. It ended any notion the war’s outcome would be decided quickly. Eventually after 4 years of war, the war ended and 600,000+ young men lay dead on the battlefields. We suggest you plan to spend 4 hours or so, minimum, to get an understanding of the meaning of Manassas, and to begin to understand the degree of violence and destruction that occurred at Manassas, and how it set the base for 4 more years of bloody and destructive war.

If you're a History buff of course will love this place the 1st battle Of the Civil War. Plenty of trails to walk around and enjoy a little history at the same time. Very peaceful and quiet, large open areas. I Can get several miles of walking in here.

Bryant was very informative and a great guide. We just did the short walking tour then drove over to see the inn. Kids aged 6 and 8, were mostly intrigued and enjoyed taking photos with the cannons. Bring water. It was a beautiful day but walking across the fields in the hot summer would not be fun, though reminiscent of what the soldiers endured.

Probably at the top of our list of battlefields we've visited. Large visitor center with artifacts, exhibits, videos, rangers waiting to help, and a big gift shop. We would recommend walking the trail from the visitor center to the Stone House. In between that half mile walk you'll see a lot. There's 2 National Park workers in the Stone House alone! Don't miss the Stonewall Jackson statue and its powerful overlook. The ranger-guided tours I'd always recommend if you have time. Lots to see - plan on 3+ hours at this great park.

We loved the park. You must stop in the park headquarters for the movie. Its's 20 minutes or so and free.It is a great way to relearn American history and get a sense of the piece you are seeing.

An amazing and somewhat overwhelming bit of history here...

The Visitor's Center is on the small side for a national park/battlefield, but is well done.

Go on a nice day. The best of everything is outside.

The only complaint I have about this park is it didn't have much on the 1st battle here. Otherwise this is a neat an clean park. Be careful down featherbed road during a heavy rain. This place is beautiful and the history is outstanding. I did the driving tour the 25 dollar version from the welcome center. I'd recommend you grab the free map and buy an actual book instead. The cd was terrible at giving directions and it didn't hit all of the spots to visit. Overall it's the 2nd best civil war park I've been to.