I am considering a trip to the Gettysburg battlefield this September/October. I've never been there before but have always wanted to go. I would appreciate some advice from those that know. I'll be traveling alone.

1. Best airport to fly into?
2. Where to stay?
3. 2 or 3 days to see it all? (I'd like to see it ALL. I'll visit every monument and read every plaque).
4. Other tips or bits of advice?

Thanks, fellas!

They have some excellent tour guides that will give you the who, where and results.

Prepare to think there are ghosts along with you.

Yes definitely hire one of the local guides. We just signed up and got one at the visitors center several years ago. He drove our rental car and was very knowledgeable.
And yes, on the ghosts. Spookiest place I’ve been in my life.

You missed the big 160th reenactment this past weekend?

Harrisburg International Airport would probably be the easiest major airport to fly into. Rent a vehicle there and its about a 45 minute easy drive. Look into staying in one of the many bed and breakfasts in and around gettysburg or a local hotel.
My first stop would be the National Park Service administered Visitor Center Museum/Cyclorama center. The battlefield itself is easily toured by car, and stopping to get out at desired spots but a guided bus/car tour etc might be a way to get the "lay of the land" to go back and explore more later on your own. One of my personal favorite views of the battlefield is to ascend the staircase inside the PA Monument and look out across the fields where Picketts charge took place.
I have visited the Park MANY times over the years and still get the chills and feelings of awe when visiting. Truly hallowed ground and a place I feel everyone who can should visit. Feel free to PM with any additional questions etc and I will do my best to answer or find an answer.

In high school me and my buddies use to skip out of school and go up there all day from Fairfax County VA.
Same with Harper's Ferry WVa and also Antietam Battlefields.

Lots of good Virginia boys lost their lives at Gettysburg and Antietam.

A lot of people don't know it, but Harper's Ferry changed hands 56 times during the Civil War.

High water mark is a must see

I was there Sunday and missed the reenactment. I heard 2,000 Yanks and 2,500 Rebs. I saw more than a few younger guys kitted out. Great to see reenacting is still alive around there.

History is About to Repeat Itself..

We went there for the first time in April while on a long road trip. It was a truly touching experience. We stayed in town in an 1880s Airbnb for 3 nights, and we would have liked to have stayed longer. If you want to read every monument, you may want to stay for a month. We got a private guide at the battlefield visitor’s center who really was amazing and answered every question we could think of.

If you stay in town, you are right there. My wife did her daily runs through the battlefield. There are tons of cannon and monuments all over the place, including outside the park. In that regard, even the guides in the park can’t cover it all in 2-3 hours.

Note that there are some closures for restoration. The Little Round Top area was not accessible. The closures are listed on the park website. I suspect that there always will be some area under renovation.

One other nice thing was the ability to tour President Eisenhower’s retirement home which is just outside the battlefield. They have limited viewings, so you may want to pay attention. It was not bad in April, and the fall may not be bad, either.

While we were there, it was during spring school trip season. It was refreshing to see so many well mannered students learning history. I chatted with one kid and a teacher from California who went through their itinerary, and it must have been exhausting.

While we were driving on U.S. 30 (the historic Lincoln Highway that also passes through my city), we drove past the Flight 93 Memorial. I really felt bad that we were not aware of it and were not in a position to stop. I don’t know if that would be too far out of reach for your trip.

There are many on 24HCF who can provide more detail than me. If you go, enjoy your trip!

Understand that the ANV is arriving mostly from the north and west while the Army of the Potomac is hurrying up from the south.

There is a bewildering array of informative plaques giving info on specific units. You don’t have to read them all, you can lose the big picture getting lost in the details.

If you are going to do it all, do it in chronological order, starting with Day 1 north and west of Gettysburg and then over to Cemetery and Seminary Ridges for Days 2 and 3. It will be much easier to comprehend that way.

Day 1 begins with Cashtown and the Cashtown Inn about eight miles west of Gettysburg. In addition to its excellent state of preservation this place serves excellent, gourmet-quality breakfasts at fast-food prices. A real surprise and a must stop-in.



Also on Day 1, the first shot monument, west of town along busy highway 30, can be a bit tricky to spot the first time. Parking is in back of the 1850’s red brick house on the westbound side of the road. Turn in the gravel driveway just to the east of the house. For whatever reason there’s no signage on the road.
and traffic can be fast-moving and heavy.

Redding's Hardware is on Franklin St and the Trading Post is East on Rt 30 about 4 miles, huge gun shops

Good advice. I've been there a couple of times, the best experience was when I was still on active duty in Virginia. We had a "profesional development" day where we bused up to Gettysburg, met Army historians from the War College who boarded the busses with us and acted as the guides. They had actual orders, battlefield messages, after action reports, etc that they could select and read to highlight the battle.

Don't know where you're traveling from, but if you want to fly into a major airport and probably reduce connections it's only about a 80-90 minute drive from BWI/Baltimire airport.

Have you been reading about the battle? There are some really good books, both historical and "historical fiction" available. I had read Michael Shaara's "The Killer Angels" a couple of years before the visit and had watched the "Gettysburg" movie. Although fiction they are pretty accurate and it was interesting to visit the battlefield after reading/seeing them.

The licensed battlefield guides are very knowledgeable, and will provide insights you can't get on your own. I'd start there, and ask them for help with the rest of your stay. Some good burgers at the Blue & Gray on the square.

The 20th Maine memorial on the rear flank of Little Round Top. There are memorials all over the site. Even some obscure ones marking Confederate campsites. Those would be on the rear flank of Little Round Top as I recall. The whole place is one big adventure. I have been there 4 different times over the years and I just scratched the surface.

kwg

Big Texas contingent in attendance

It should all start with a Long Look down Chambersburg Pike ..

It just flows from there..

My favorite spot is Little Round Top. I always stop there. Have “family” on the PA monument in the 123rd Regiment. The Virginia monument is very impressive as well and when you look out towards Cemetery Ridge, imagine walking all that way under constant cannon fire trying to stay in line. That ranks right up there with beach landings and exchanging broadsides on a wooden ship on the Horrors of War list. Can’t begin to fathom the courage required.

Hunted very close by during the 80s and early 90s on a farm within sight of the barns of the Eisenhower place and bisected by Marsh Creek. It was a wonderful property, and used in some of the scenes from the 1993 movie. It was a real loss to my family when that farm had to be sold in ‘94. Lots of great memories were made there.

Take a tour with one of the certified tour guides. Fantastic!

My ppls was there July 3
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Virginia_Infantry_Regiment

go to the bookstore and get Gottfried's map guide. Takes it hour by hour. Who did what where and when.

I’m not one that believes in ghosts but it was honestly a place that I had profound sense of sadness just walking through some of the places there. A Navy buddy I served with lived near there and took me to see a few places. I do remember walking across little round top and I was nearly in tears just from those feelings.

I got to go to Gettysburg for the first time last May.
My wife and I, along with three of my boys, had to go to Pennsylvania for a nephew’s wedding.
Since we were only a couple of hours away we set aside a day for it.
We went on a bus with a certified guide. It was money well spent for the knowledge the gentleman had and his ability to dispense it.
I really enjoyed it.
It put a lot of things into perspective as far as the battle, size of the battlefield, and so on.
I would love to go back sometime.

Wade, before you visit. Please read up on the battle. I’ll suggest Shelby Foote’s “Stars In Their Course”. But there’s a lot of good books. Bruce Catton and many others.
If you know the history, the ground seems to talk to you. Every time I visit, I can see the battle, I can smell the smoke, it just does something to draw you in! There’s been times that I’ve seen myself serving the guns, or trying to hide under a rock as an infantryman.
Both my spouses told me “you may have died there”!
What I’m getting at, is if, the more you know it, the more the ground tells you!
Get one of the NPS guides on the first day. Those guys know their stuff, but ask questions too.
I think after they drive you around explaining things, you can probably tackle it yourself, with the help of the free field pamphlets.
Try to make time for one of the Ghost Walk tours. Always entertaining and interesting. I myself have never had a ghost experience, but that area can bring them alive!
Above all, have fun. I think it will leave a mark on you.
7mm

I go a few times a year. We were there yesterday.
There are a bunch of ways to see the park, but it takes a while to digest the magnitude.
Get the driving tour via smart phone or CD. That will self tour you around the park, and get you ready for a guide on day 2. There are 3 towers you can climb, and they are free and really help see the battlefield.
Get a linked battle field guide. Tim Smith is probably the most famous and is the county official historian.
If the horse tours are available get one with a guide. Again a really immersive way of seeing the battlefield and they give you a headset to hear the guide. Sachs bridge is neat and free. You can walk downstream from the dam on trails. We always catch crayfish and have the dog swim.
Eat at ABC Brewery, Sweenys tavern/Farnworth house, Blue and Grey on the town square, Irish pub on Steinwier, Mr Gs ice cream across from Farnwoth house. Dobin House is pretty fancy and neat. They have a regular section and fancy private rooms upstairs.
They had a food tour, and it is great. You eat at 8 places while walking touring. That may not be available that time of year.
You can really walk anywhere, but people rarely bust 50 yards from a car. Lots of trails. I bet people only see a small amount of the park by staying in a car.

Wife and I and another couple did a horseback tour of the battlefield. It was one of the highlights of our time there. We spent three days and did everything we could fit in.

What ever time you think you need .
Double it.

Dave

Thank you for all the responses--I appreciate it!