Approximately 110,000 men casualties occurred during the four major battles fought in the vicinity of Fredericksburg, Virginia making it the bloodiest ground on the North American continent. In 1927 the U.S. Congress established Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Memorial National Military Park to commemorate the heroic deeds of the men engaged at the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House. Today the park also includes the historic structures of Chatham, Ellwood, Salem Church, and the "Stonewall" Jackson Shrine. The park encompasses almost 9,000 acres making it the largest military park in the world. For more detailed information on the battles, tours, and park news take a look at our expanded website.

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Visitation:

The highest visitation occurs from April-October; the lowest from December-February.


Location:

The Park preserves portions of four major battlefields in the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and the nearby counties of Spotsylvania, Stafford, Orange, and Caroline.


Address:

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP
120 Chatham Lane
Fredericksburg, VA 22405

Telephone:
Superintendents Office (540) 373-4510
Historians (540) 371-0802
Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center (540) 373-6122
Chancellorsville Visitor Center (540) 786-2880
Chatham Manor (540) 654-5121
Jackson Shrine (804) 633-6076
Maintenance (540) 371-1882
Law Enforcement (540) 899-2698


Operating Hours, Seasons:

Call the Park for operating hours on the day of your visit.

Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset.

Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center and Chancellorsville Visitor Center open 9-5 with extended hours in the summer and weekends in the Spring and Fall.

Chatham Manor open 9-5 year round

Jackson Shrine open daily in summer, open Friday-Tuesday in the Spring and Fall, open Saturday-Monday in the Winter.


Climate, Recommended Clothing:

Summers are generally hot and humid, while winters are often cold with variable precipitation. Layers of clothing, especially in spring and fall, and good walking shoes are recommended.
Current weather forecast


Directions:

Fredericksburg, Virginia, is located approximately 50 miles south of Washington, D.C., and 50 miles north of Richmond, Virginia. The town is about three miles east of Interstate 95.


Transportation:

To Park: Airline transportation is available to and from Washington Dulles, Washington National, Baltimore-Washington International and Richmond International airports. Amtrak provides train service to Fredericksburg.


Fees, Costs, Rates:

Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania NMP is a fee area. A $3.00 entrance fee is charged that is good for one week. The annual park pass is now $20.
Fee Schedule
Fee Waivers

Annual Fee Free Day
All park units that collect an admission fee will honor the Annual Fee Free Day this year on Founder’s Day, August 25, 1999. Whether a park is collecting the admission fee under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act or collecting an admission fee under the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program, the National Park Service invites the public to visit the parks at no charge. This is the 83rd anniversary of the establishment of the National Park Service. Recreation use fees charged for other than admission, i.e., camping, cave tours, daily use of a specialized site, and interpretive activities will remain in effect.

Facilities and Opportunities:

Visitor Center/Exhibits:

The Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center and Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center are open daily with exhibits and each has a slide program. Historians are available to answer questions. The Wilderness Exhibit Shelter and Spotsylvania Court House Exhibit Shelter are manned by Historians daily during the summer and on weekends in the Spring and Fall. Chatham Manor contains exhibits and is open daily. The "Stonewall" Jackson Shrine where the general died contains exhibits and is manned by a Historian. See operating hours above for information on when this building is open. Salem Church and Ellwood contain exhibits and are open seasonally, call (540) 371-0802 for information on when these buildings are open. There are many outdoor exhibits as the Park is an "outdoor classroom" to study the battles.

Trails, Roadways:

Park roads link tour stops on all four of the battlefields. Numerous walking trails provide access to additional areas. These walks include: Sunken Road, National Cemetery, Marye's Heights, Chancellorsville History Trail, Hazel Grove, Salem Church, Gordon Flank Attack, Widow Tapp Field, Spotsylvania History Trail, and the Bloody Angle. Folders for these trails are available in the visitor centers. Online versions of the folders are available by clicking here and following the links to the trail you are looking for.

Programs, Activities:

Regularly scheduled historian-guided tours are available during the summer season (mid-June through mid-August and on most weekends during the Spring and Fall. Call the Park for times. Educational programs for schools are given throughout the school year. Reservations are required for these educational presentations, call (540) 786-2880. Teachers planning a field trip or developing a Civil War lesson plan and students working on reports should visit the educational resources page. Civil War Round Tables, military officers and other groups wanting a tour should make reservations several months in advance, call (540) 373-6124.

Lodging and Camping Facilities:

None in the park. A variety of lodging and camping is available in the area.
Fredericksburg Lodging and Food
Spotsylvania County Lodging and Tourism
Stafford County Lodging and Tourism
Caroline County Lodging, Food and Camping
Orange County Lodging
Rappahannock River Campground

Food, Supplies:

Restaurants abound in the Fredericksburg area. Check at the visitor center for a list of area establishments. See above links.

Other Concessions, NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:

Eastern National maintains two large bookstores in the park. The main bookstore is located at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center complex. It boasts one of the most complete inventories of Civil War books in Virginia. Another shop is located in the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center. Smaller bookstores are located at Chatham Manor and "Stonewall" Jackson Shrine. For further information call (540) 372-3034.


Accessibility:

All park buildings are either partially or wholly accessible. All buildings have wheelchair access to restrooms.


Special Needs:

Parking is available at all visitor centers and historic buildings.


Recommended Activities/Park Use:

Visiting various battlefield interpretive centers, attending park interpretive programs (seasonally), walking the self-guided tour trails, and driving either the self-guided tour or the tape tours.


Reservations/Permits:

Reservations for school groups and other educational groups should be made several weeks prior to your visit, call (540) 786-2880. Reservations for group tours other than schools should call (540) 373-6124. Filming permits are arranged on an individual basis, call (540) 899-2698.


Basic Visit Recommendations:

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP contains multiple sites in the city of Fredericksburg and four counties. To properly tour each of the fields please allow two days, although abbreviated touring options are available. Allow 30 minutes for each visitor center and historic building. Allow a minimum of one hour per battlefield. Tape tours for each of the three military campaigns last approximately three hours each.


Special Events/Programs:

Annual special events include:

Salem Church Christmas Program on December 6, 1999. More information will be available at a later date.

Battle of Fredericksburg Commemoration Ceremony on December 12, 1999. More information will be available at a later date.

For more information on these events, visit our special events page or call the park for specific dates and times at (540) 371-0802.

Many other Civil War tours, lectures and conferences are offered in the Fredericksburg area. For more information on these events and dozens of others, visit our special tours page.

This park is featured in a lesson plan created by Teaching with Historic Places, a program of the National Park Service that helps teachers and students understand how parks and other historic places embody America's historical experiences and cultural expressions.

Visitor Impacts:

Information on park closure due to snow or other emergencies are broadcast over local radio stations.


Adjacent Visitor Attractions:

Fredericksburg Historical Attractions
Stafford County Historical Sites
Petersburg National Battlefield
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Richmond National Battlefield
Appomattox Court House N.H.P.
George Washington Birthplace N.M.
Prince William Forest Park
Shenandoah National Park
Colonial National Historical Park

Additional Information:
Write Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, 120 Chatham Lane, Fredericksburg, VA 22405 or call (540) 371-0802.