COWPENS
National Battlefield

LOCATION:
Three miles east of Chesnee, SC, Cherokee County, 17 miles northeast of Spartanburg, 10 miles west of Gaffney. At intersection of SC Hwy 11 and SC Hwy 110.

ADDRESS:
Post Office Box 308, Chesnee, SC 29323

TELEPHONE:
(864)461-2828
FAX: (864)461-7077 or (864)461-7795

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:

• Cowpens National Battlefield is closed on
  • Thanksgiving Day
    
  • Christmas Day, and
    
  • New Years Day

• Open 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., year-round.

• Tour road and picnic area close at 4:30 p.m.

• All vehicles must be outside the main entrance gate by 5:00 p.m.

• Walking/jogging/bicycling is permissible after the main gate closes until dusk.

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:
Winters are mild with the lowest temperatures generally in the 20's. Summers are hot and humid with high temperatures in the 90's.

DIRECTIONS:
Cowpens National Battlefield is located on SC Highway 11 at the intersection of SC Highway 11 and 110.

• From I-85 northbound, take exit number 78 toward Chesnee.

• From southbound I-85, take exit number 92 at Gaffney,

• From I-26 traveling east take exit number 5 onto SC Highway 11 east.

TRANSPORTATION:
Air: Large airline carriers operate in Greenville/Spartanburg, SC and Charlotte, NC. Both cities are within an hours drive of the park. Car rentals are available at both locations.

FEES, COST, RATES:
No admission fee, however there is a charge for Daybreak at the Cowpens; a presentation shown on the hour 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.: $1.00 for adults and .50 for children ages 6-12; organized groups: .50. Donations are accepted at Visitor Center.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:

• Acreage:
  Cowpens was established as a national battlefield site March 4, 1929; transferred from the War Department August 10, 1933; redesignated April 11, 1972. Boundary changes: July 18, 1958; April 11, 1972. Acreage: 841.56 Federal: 788.71 Nonfederal 52.85

• Visitor Center/Exhibits:
  • Fiber optic map program is a self-start program and takes approximately 8 minutes,

  • Daybreak at the Cowpens is shown on the hour until 4:00 p.m. daily.,

  • Museum with authentic Revolutionary War weapons and full size replica of British 3-pounder "Grasshopper" cannon.

  • Book store is operated by Eastern National.

• Trails, Roads:
  • Walking trail: One and one-half mile self-guiding loop trail around and through the battlefield. The 1856 Washington Light Infantry Monument is located along the battlefield trail. Trail begins behind park Visitor Center and brings you back to the same point. Historic Green River Road was the centerline of battle for both patriot and British units, is part of the walking trail today, and exists today only in the park. Bicycles are not allowed on the paved walking trail.

  • Environmental trail: One-half mile trail southward from the picnic area.

  • Auto tour road: 3.8 mile road travels the perimeter of the battlefield and includes wayside exhibits, overlooks with short trails to the historic Green River Road, the circa 1828 Robert Scruggs log cabin and access to the picnic area. The tour road is a favorite local exercise walking route. Tour road closes to vehicle traffic at 4:30 p.m.

• Programs/Activities:

• Lodging and camping facilities: Cowpens National Battlefield has no camping facilities or in-park lodging. Lodging is available in nearby Gaffney, Spartanburg, Greenville, SC and Charlotte and Asheville, NC, all within an hours drive of the park. There are 28 motels within a 15 mile radius of the park.

• Food/supplies: There are no food concessions within the park. There are numerous restaurants in nearby Chesnee, Gaffney and Spartanburg SC.

• Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities: None

• Accessibility:
  • Each of the major sites in the park is wheelchair accessible.

  • A wheelchair is available at the Visitor Center.

  • Handicapped parking spaces are located immediately in front of the Visitor Center.

  • Restrooms are handicapped-accessible.
  • Special Needs:
    Restrooms are equipped with changing tables and toddler safety seats.
  RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:

  • Browse the actual Eastern National Bookstore in the Visitor Center.

  • View the fiber-optics display in the Visitor Center (8 mins, free) *

  • Visit the museum area of the Visitor Center (cannon, weapons, portraits) *

  • Watch the movie Daybreak at Cowpens, 22 minutes, $1 adults, $0.50 children

  • Talk "Rev War" with park employees, free, anytime.

  • Walk the self-guided battlefield trail, well-marked, level, easy walking, requiring about 45 minutes. Do it again each time you read a new account of the battle in one of the books in our bookstore. The battlefield is open and lends itself to visualizing what took place there at daybreak, 17 January 1781.

  • Military enthusiasts will find continued interest in studying the tactics of the battle, considered to be the "tactical masterpiece" of the Revolutionary War, and the only example of "double envelopment" to take place on the continent.

  • Visit the historic Robert Scruggs House. Doors are open on sunny days, weather and staff permitting.

  • Walk, jog, bicycle, or drive the auto tour road.

  • Plan a family or group picnic in our picnic area.

  • Watch for our birds, often less shy in early a.m.

  • Take pictures of family members standing by the manikins displaying militia and continental line uniforms.

  • Come to our special events. * Except when Daybreak at Cowpens is playing, normally the first 25 minutes of each hour, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

  RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:
  

  • Reservations for school groups and other educational groups should be made at least two weeks in advance prior to the visit.

  • Picnic shelter reservations begin each year on January 2nd. Summer weekends are busy and shelter reservations fill up quickly.

  • Other Special Use permits may be issued by the park superintendent, a four week time period is required for those, and some special event permits require a fee.

  • Call (864)461-2828 for more information.

  BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:
  A minimum of two hours is suggested for the Visitor Center, battlefield trail and auto tour road. Length of stay for other activities will vary according to your interest.

  SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:
  

  • Come to the Cowpens Battle Anniversary Celebration on/near 17 January and our 4th of July observance. Both have very full agendas of activities of interest to all ages.

  • Check our on-online events schedule which is updated regularly.

  VISITOR IMPACTS:
  

  • Cowpens National Battlefield is a protected area. All plants and animals in the park are fully protected. Regulations prohibit picking and digging of plants.

  • Regulations are to protect you and to protect the park. Park regulations exist for your safety and for the protection of natural and cultural resources. Please obey all parks rules and regulations.

  ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:

  • Kings Mountain National Military Park - 35 miles northeast

  • Carl Sandburg National Historic Site - 35 miles northwest

  • Ninety Six National Historic Site - 85 miles south

  • Congaree Swamp National Monument - 137 miles southeast

  • Blue Ridge Parkway - 45 miles northwest

  • Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail. [Click on "back" to return to the Cowpens NB webpage]. Cowpens NB is part of the OVNHT.

  Top

  
  Last Updated: 7/2/1999 12:06PMSaturday, 03-Jul-99 13:48:11
  http://www.nps.gov/cowp/index.htm/cowp/
  Donated by volunteer: John Robertson