Traveling to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is like taking a trip back in time to simpler days. From quiet country roads with scenic views to homes and properties that have been carefully managed to preserve the historic feel of yesteryear.
Beyond the Battlefield
Many travelers visit Gettysburg for the namesake battlefield that marked the turning point in the Civil War. As you drive along the roads in the parks and view the peaceful open spaces, it’s hard to believe that this was once the site of such a brutal battle, the evidence remains in the monuments and markers that recognize those lost in this battle. But Gettysburg is more than a battlefield. The history of the area, great food, and the varied outdoor recreation offerings make this an ideal location for road trippers. Plus, Gettysburg happens to be an easy six-hour drive from my home in North Central Ohio and less from Pittsburgh, New York City or Washington DC.
A Growing Culinary Scene
Gettysburg is emerging as a culinary destination and has a number of great restaurants to choose from. You’ll find food options that range from family style dining to historic and period fare to farm-to-table meals and craft beverages that include spirits, hard cider, and wine to treats to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Outdoor Activities
You’ll find plenty of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails, plenty of shopping and antiquing, as well as camping and skiing in season. Gettysburg is also the #4 producer of apples in the country. During harvest season, you’re welcome to visit an apple orchard to pick your own apples. Visit the wineries during the summer or early fall to see the grapes as they ripen on the vine. Don’t forget to pack your camera, photographers will find much to photograph- like the Sachs Covered Bridge or Jacks Mountain Bridge, the only covered bridge in Adams County that is still used by motor vehicle traffic.
Of Special Historical Interest
Visit Gettysburg. Take a bus tour of the military park which provides a great overview of the area, plus it takes you to some of the lesser known attractions in the park. Stand where President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. Tour the Eisenhower National Historic Site, the location of the only home President & Mamie Eisenhower ever owned. Learn about the Studebaker family, famous for the car, who made wagons in Gettysburg through the 1830’s. Tour the Jennie Wade House, where the only civilian casualty of the Civil War occurred. Take an evening ghost tour through the dark alleys of Gettysburg by candlelight as an experienced guide and storyteller takes you on a creepy, but fun-filled walk in search of those that are said to haunt Gettysburg.
Whether you’re traveling as a couple, with the family or as a solo traveler, you’ll find plenty to see and do in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Visit Destination Gettysburg for more information about the area. You can also follow them on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
Have you visited Gettysburg. Pennsylvania before? What did you love about your visit? Are you planning a trip to Gettysburg? What would you like to do most?
”
”
This post is sponsored by Destination Gettysburg. Photos provided by the sponsor.
© 2016, Tonya Prater. All rights reserved.
Sara says
January 1, 2017 at 7:47 amI visited Gettysburg as a child and it was a great experience. I really need to take my own kids here, it is not that far away from me.
Roger Wellington (www.wetnoseescapades.com) says
December 31, 2016 at 4:45 pmA fascinating post. I would love to visit Gettysburg one of these days!
Mark at NWRoadtrips says
December 31, 2016 at 12:01 amAs a guy who stops at pretty much any historical site he drives by, I’m totally jealous of your Gettysburg experience. I’ll get there one day. Great info and photos!
SindhuMurthy says
December 30, 2016 at 12:12 pmIt is interesting how time changes things. Who would believe that such a lush green location bustling with life was once a battlefield. Thanks for sharing details of an interesting destination.
Kirsten says
December 30, 2016 at 11:36 amWe have not been to Gettysburg, but drove not to far from it while we were in Hershey over Thanksgiving. Such a beautiful part of the country. Would love to take the kids for a visit. So much history, but obviously so many other things to do too!
Maria says
December 29, 2016 at 6:40 pmBeing from Europe I just know Gettysburg from the movies and TV shows, and looks like people go out in the countryside and visit the battle field. Your post showed that is much more to it and looks like a nice place to go for a weekend.
Ali says
December 29, 2016 at 7:12 amWe took a trip to Gettysburg when I was a child. I have to admit I didn’t enjoy it much but you’ve made me think differently about it as an adult. We’ll need to add this back to our list of places to visit.
CourtneyLynne says
December 29, 2016 at 12:06 amI have been to Gettysburg. Really neat place to visit especially if you’re a history buff like myself
HilLesha says
December 28, 2016 at 10:14 pmI have never been to Pennsylvania, but I have always wanted to visit. I love that it’s deeply rich in history.
Jennifer S says
December 28, 2016 at 1:50 pmGettysburg has been at the top of my road trip list for a long time! I love the history of the town, but I love that there is more to do than just the battlefield!
Terri Beavers says
December 28, 2016 at 11:17 amI lived in PA as a child but I don’t remember Gettysburg. I’ve always wanted to go back and after reading your post, I’m moving it up on my bucket list. This would be so much fun and I know the grand kids would think so too.
Rebecca Swenor says
December 28, 2016 at 11:04 amGettysburg Pennsylvania is a place I would love to visit some day. We would love to see the battle field and Sachs Covered Bridge is something I would also love to see. Thanks for sharing all these things to do in Gettysburg.
Jacqui @FlightsFancyMom says
December 27, 2016 at 9:31 pmIt has been at least 25 years since I’ve been to Gettysburg. I don’t remember a whole lot about it, but think I need to take my daughter up there one weekend. she needs to get off the computer and enjoy history a little more lol. Thanks for sharing!
Liz Mays says
December 27, 2016 at 9:04 pmWow, it would be so cool to plan a visit to Gettysburg. It’s really nice that there are so many ways to spend time outdoors while you’re there.
lisa says
December 27, 2016 at 7:03 pmWe went to Gettysburg as kids and I loved it. The history is amazing. I would love to take my girls there soon to learn all about it and see how beautiful it really is.
candy says
December 27, 2016 at 6:52 pmNo I haven’t visited Gettysburg or even been to Pennsylvania. It is something I would love to spend several days there. History is a passion so I would love to go someday.
Kerri Olkjer says
December 27, 2016 at 6:28 pmI’ve never been, but it’s definitely on my family’s list of places to visit! That list is getting pretty long, lol.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
December 27, 2016 at 6:02 pmI’ve been to Gettysburg when I was a kid with my parent. This looks like a wonderful place to take my own kids to for a vacation. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Pam Wattenbarger says
December 27, 2016 at 3:52 pmWe are actually considering going to Gettysburg this year for a family trip. My husband went years ago and has been wanting to return.
Heidi Dee says
December 27, 2016 at 2:12 pmI have never been to Gettysburg before, but I have always wanted to visit! It looks like a beautiful area and like there would be a lot of things to do as well!
Vera Sweeney says
December 27, 2016 at 1:34 pmI love visiting places with historical stories like this!! What an amazing place to visit, I know my family would love to visit there.
Robin Masshole Mommy says
December 27, 2016 at 1:16 pmI have never been to Gettysburg, but I have always wanted to go. I am only about a 6 hour drive, so maybe one of these days we will take a road trip!
Lynndee says
December 27, 2016 at 12:44 pmMy husband is so into history and he had visited Gettysburg before. And he wants to take us there too. So it is on our bucket list of places to visit someday.
uprunforlife says
December 26, 2016 at 11:10 pmI wish that I had the opportunity to travel when I lived in North Carolina. However, being young I just didn’t have a travel budget. Now I am further away vut msybe one day.
Sara Broers says
December 26, 2016 at 7:46 pmI need to visit here. When I think of Gettysburg I think of Colonial history and you have shown me that there is much more, including a hot culinary scene. What’s not to love about food in any destination, right?
Maria says
December 26, 2016 at 4:13 pmI have to admit, that the battlefield is the only thing that came to mind about Gettysburg before reading your article. I am planning to visit there next year, so it’s good to know that I should plan for some time in the area to explore the whole region, not just the historic marker.
Chuck says
December 26, 2016 at 11:08 amGettysburg is a great place, the town is cool and the battlefield is remarkable. Since it is close by, go to Carlisle, PA and visit the U.S. Army history center. They have some great items on display.
laurie m. says
November 11, 2016 at 8:12 pmOn my husband’s and my 4th trip to Gettysburg in 8 years, I finally made it to the bridge! I told my brother in law (who went with us, as well as my brother) that he hadn’t seen a hissy fit yet from me, but he would if I didn’t make it to that bridge this trip 🙂
Brianne says
November 10, 2016 at 11:52 amWe’ve never been to Gettysburg, but I love that there is so much to do there! I’ve got to take the kids one of these days!
Jocelyn Cañasa Brown says
November 10, 2016 at 7:07 amI would love to visit there one day soon! Take the whole family and have a wonderful time.
Amanda Love says
November 10, 2016 at 3:37 amThere is so much to see in Gettysburg and it would be nice to visit during this season when the weather is amazing. I’d love to take the kids here!
Rebecca Darling says
November 9, 2016 at 9:46 pmWe visited the summer of 2015 and it was awesome – we only had one day- I wish it was longer!!
Sarah says
November 9, 2016 at 5:34 pmI wouldn’t have thought there would be much else there. Very cool!
Meagan says
November 9, 2016 at 5:22 pmI’ve never been there.
Louise Bishop says
November 9, 2016 at 2:35 pmMy family and I have always wanted to visit here. Knowing that it has much more to offer than we even knew makes it that much more exciting!
Kita Bryant says
November 9, 2016 at 2:34 pmI have family not far from there. It really is more than a battlefield! Lots of fun!
Teresa says
November 9, 2016 at 9:13 amI have a friend that lives there. Looks like a neat place to visit.
DAna says
November 8, 2016 at 11:24 pmI have never been but man I want to go now.
Crystal says
November 8, 2016 at 10:33 pmI went to Gettysburg as a teen, but it’s been forever since I’ve been there. There sound like so many fun things to see and do while there.
Rosey says
November 8, 2016 at 10:20 pmI have only travled through the state to get to DC. I have never stopped. I like to visit historical places though!
Kiwi says
November 8, 2016 at 6:57 pmI never thought to visit Gettyburgs but maybe one day I should. I know this place holds a lot of history here.
Ann Bacciaglia says
November 8, 2016 at 12:07 pmI have never been to Gettysburg. I will be close by this winter. I will have to see if I can work it into my trip.
jEANINE says
November 8, 2016 at 11:53 amThis would be so grand to do. I have never been or seen Gettysburg. But we’ve all learned about it. Would be neat to experience.
Reesa Lewandowski says
November 8, 2016 at 10:41 amI have a few friends who visit Gettysburg regularly and I had no idea it was so beautiful!
Toni | BoulderLocavore.com says
November 8, 2016 at 10:33 amI’ve been to Gettysburg once and it’s really an amazing place! I can’t wait to visit this lovely place again!
Theresa says
November 7, 2016 at 11:35 pmI would love to take a family trip to Gettysburg. It’s nice to know that you can take in the history, but also venture out into more of the modern aspects too!
Marcie W. says
November 7, 2016 at 8:27 pmI inherited my dad’s love for history so visiting Gettysburg would be a dream come true. Even better that it seems to offer far more than just historical attractions.
Melissa says
November 7, 2016 at 7:09 pmBetween the hard cider on tap and all the history and gosh your luscious pictures I am definitely going to plan a trip to Gettysburg and feel so glad that you put this destination on my radar!
Pam Wattenbarger says
November 7, 2016 at 5:04 pmMy husband was just saying that he wants to go to Gettysburg next year. He hasn’t been since we were engaged!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
November 7, 2016 at 5:01 pmWe haven’t been to Gettysburg, but I think it would be a wonderful thing. There’s so much history there.
Amanda says
November 4, 2016 at 4:52 pmI’m going the Pennsylvania next summer and I would love to visit Gettysburg while I’m there.
Annie says
November 4, 2016 at 1:39 pmAny reason to try hard cider on tap is worth a visit! I never really considered Gettysburg as a destination, but if there are hiking trails I’m in 🙂
Joe says
November 4, 2016 at 12:15 pmAs someone from the UK, Gettysburg is most definitely synonymous with the American Civil War to me. So it’s good to hear that there is a lot of other stuff to check out as well 🙂
Mindi Hirsch says
November 4, 2016 at 2:46 amI’m embarrassed to admit that I haven’t been to Gettysburg yet. Learning that there’s a growing culinary scene with craft beer makes me more motivate to get there.
Vicky and Buddy says
November 4, 2016 at 12:04 amWow, I honestly didn’t think there was so much to do in that area. I’d love to go for the historical aspect of it, but it’s good to know that there are other things to do and see as well.
melody pittman says
November 3, 2016 at 7:28 pmI love visiting Gettysburg. I actually had a ghost happening several years ago while I was there. It rocked. Glad to see their culinary scene is exploding. I like the thought of hard cider. 😉
Lara Dunning says
November 2, 2016 at 10:12 pmI haven’t been to Gettysburg, but I’d like to visit and spend some time there. I like that their culinary scene is growing, foodie stops while traveling are always good.
Beth Daubner says
November 2, 2016 at 3:30 pmThat picture of the field is amazing! definitely want to revisit.