Gettysburg Battlefield Guided Bus Tour with a Licensed Guide
A two-hour guided bus ride around the Gettysburg battlefield with a licensed park guide, the quickest way to understand how three days in July 1863 unfolded across the ridges and fields.
Pennsylvania
Gettysburg
Gettysburg is the small Pennsylvania town where the largest battle of the American Civil War was fought over three days in July 1863, and where Abraham Lincoln returned that November to deliver the Gettysburg Address.
Today the battlefield is a national military park of roughly six thousand acres, threaded with monuments and markers, and the town around it has grown into one of the country's most visited history destinations. This guide covers the essentials: the Museum and Visitor Center with its film and Cyclorama, guided and self-guided battlefield tours, Little Round Top and Devil's Den, the National Cemetery, the David Wills House and Seminary Ridge Museum, and the Eisenhower farm next door. It also covers the town's lantern-lit ghost tours, the Jennie Wade House, evening walking tours, a food tour, a carriage ride and a heritage train, then matches you to a bed, from historic inns on the square to practical hotels near the Visitor Center.
Don't miss
Gettysburg Ghost Tours
The bloodiest battlefield in American history — 51,000 casualties over three July days in 1863 — toured by lantern through the town that became one vast field hospital. The hauntings here carry weight no invented story can match.
Gettysburg Battlefield Guided Bus Tour with a Licensed Guide
A two-hour guided bus ride around the Gettysburg battlefield with a licensed park guide, the quickest way to understand how three days in July 1863 unfolded across the ridges and fields.
Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center: Film and Cyclorama
The National Park Service museum, introductory film and the huge Gettysburg Cyclorama painting of Pickett's Charge, the best single-building introduction to the battle.
Gettysburg National Cemetery and the Site of the Gettysburg Address
The quiet hillside where thousands of Union soldiers are buried and where Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. Free, moving and open to all.
Things to do in Gettysburg
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center: Film and Cyclorama
The National Park Service museum, introductory film and the huge Gettysburg Cyclorama painting of Pickett's Charge, the best single-building introduction to the battle.
Gettysburg National Cemetery and the Site of the Gettysburg Address
The quiet hillside where thousands of Union soldiers are buried and where Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. Free, moving and open to all.
45 minutes to 1 hourDetails →
Little Round Top
The rocky hill where the Union left flank held on the second day of the battle, with sweeping views, famous monuments and the story of the 20th Maine.
45 minutes to 1.5 hoursDetails →
Devil's Den Self-Guided Walking Tour
A short audio-guided walk through the jumble of giant boulders where the Union left flank was fought over, with the famous Slaughter Pen and Plum Run close by.
Gettysburg Battlefield Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour
A narrated, drive-at-your-own-pace audio tour of the battlefield, with stops matched to the park roads, ideal for visitors who like to linger, skip and repeat.
Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center
A restored 1832 seminary building that served as a Union observation post and field hospital, with a cupola climb and exhibits about the first day of the battle.
David Wills House: Where Lincoln Finished the Gettysburg Address
The townhouse on Lincoln Square where Abraham Lincoln spent the night before delivering the Gettysburg Address, now a National Park Service museum.
About 1 hourDetails →
Eisenhower National Historic Site
The farm next to the battlefield where President Dwight D. Eisenhower retired, with his restored home, gardens and a ride out from the Visitor Center.
Gettysburg Ghost Tours
The bloodiest battlefield in American history — 51,000 casualties over three July days in 1863 — toured by lantern through the town that became one vast field hospital. The hauntings here carry weight no invented story can match.
Jennie Wade House, Gettysburg
The small brick house on Baltimore Street where Gettysburg's only civilian battle death occurred, scarred by bullets and long reputed to be haunted by the young woman who was kneading bread.
Gettysburg Small-Group Paranormal Investigation
A small-group evening investigation with equipment and a guide in one of Gettysburg's historic buildings, for visitors who want more than a walking ghost story.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Hotel Gettysburg
Lincoln Square / Historic Downtown
A historic hotel at the center of town on Lincoln Square, steps from the Wills house, the walking tours and the restaurants, ideal for guests who want to leave the car parked.
Check rates →Historic Farnsworth House Inn
Baltimore Street / Historic District
A brick house on Baltimore Street with a Civil War past, bullet-scarred walls and period rooms, for guests who want to sleep inside the story and the town's ghost lore.
Check rates →Brickhouse Inn
Historic District
A bed and breakfast in the historic district, with a homestyle welcome and a short walk to the sights and restaurants.
Check rates →Baladerry Inn
Countryside outside Gettysburg
A historic country inn a short drive from the center of Gettysburg, with a quiet setting, period charm and room to unwind.
Check rates →Hampton Inn Gettysburg
Gettysburg area
A dependable chain hotel for families and road-trippers, with comfortable rooms, parking and easy access to the battlefield and town.
Check rates →Courtyard by Marriott Gettysburg
Gettysburg area
A modern business-class hotel with comfortable rooms and a Marriott loyalty program, handy for road trips and weekday stays.
Check rates →Holiday Inn Express and Suites Gettysburg
Gettysburg area
A newer-style chain hotel with breakfast, comfortable rooms and straightforward value for families and groups.
Check rates →Quality Inn Gettysburg Battlefield
Near the battlefield
A budget-friendly motel-style stay close to the battlefield, with parking at the door and a simple, practical setup.
Check rates →Comfort Suites Near Gettysburg Battlefield Visitor Center
Near the Visitor Center
A suites-style hotel near the Visitor Center, with extra space for families and an easy start to a day at the museum.
Check rates →Gettysburg guides
Gettysburg in Three Days: Battlefield, Town and Evenings
A three-day plan that sequences the museum, the battlefield, the town and the evening tours so that each day builds on the last.
Where to Stay in Gettysburg: Town, Battlefield or Countryside
How to choose between a historic inn on the square, a chain hotel near the Visitor Center and a country retreat, with tips for each season.
Seeing the Gettysburg Battlefield: A First-Timer's Guide
How to make sense of a battlefield of thousands of acres: the order to visit, the key stops, and the choice between a guide, an audio tour and your own map.
Gettysburg Ghost Tours and Haunted History: A Guide
What to expect from lantern walks, investigations and house tours, how to choose between them and how to keep the history in front of the folklore.
The Best Time to Visit Gettysburg: Seasons, Crowds and Events
A season-by-season guide to weather, crowds, hours and special events, with advice on when to book and what to pack.
Gettysburg with Kids: How to Make History Work for Families
Practical advice for visiting Gettysburg with children: which sights suit which ages, how to pace the day and how to talk about hard subjects.
