Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

A line of four cannons placed in front of crescent shaped earthen gun pits.
Fairview, in the Chancellorsville Battlefield, was the location of intense fighting during the Civil War.
Monument in national cemetery illuminated by candles
Thousands of visitors join us every year for our Memorial Day Illumination of the National Cemetery
A gravel path bordered by a stone wall leading to a small, two story white house.
The Sunken Road on the Fredericksburg Battlefield is one of the most popular walking spots in the park.
Trees with fall colors in front of large brick manor house
When visiting Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania, be sure to explore our numerous historic structures, such as Chatham Manor pictured here
A cannon in a misty clearing surrounded by sparse trees.
The Overland Campaign began at Saunders Field on the Wilderness Battlefield.
A bowl-shaped field surrounded by autumn trees.
The Bloody Angle in the Spotsylvania Battlefield is a peaceful place today.
A living historian dressed as a US Civil War soldier speaks with a family outdoors.
During the summer, visitors may encounter park living historians and learn about soldiers' experiences during the war.
A middle aged couple stand at a visitor center desk and speak with a park service volunteer.
Make one of our visitor centers your first stop for orientation, maps, and exhibits about the battles we protect.
Photos: National Park Service

About Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania, this is America's battleground, where the Civil War roared to its bloody climax. No place more vividly reflects the War's tragic cost in all its forms. A town bombarded and looted. Farms large and small ruined. Refugees by the thousands forced into the countryside. More than 85,000 men wounded; 15,000 killed--most in graves unknown.

Quick Facts

State Virginia
Designation National Military Park
State Code VA
Weather The regional climate is characterized by mild winters and warm, humid summers. The mean annual temperatures is 56 degrees Fahrenheit. The average summer temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Daytime highs…

Location & Map

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park is located in Virginia.

Operating Hours

Park grounds are open from sunrise to sunset daily, with the exception of extreme weather incidents. Building hours vary by building and season.

Wednesday All Day
Monday All Day
Thursday All Day
Sunday All Day
Tuesday All Day
Friday All Day
Saturday All Day

Activities

Biking Road Biking Guided Tours Self-Guided Tours - Walking Self-Guided Tours - Auto Hiking Front-Country Hiking Living History Reenactments Historic Weapons Demonstration Junior Ranger Program Park Film Museum Exhibits Shopping Bookstore and Park Store

Getting There

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park manages 4 battlefields and multiple historical sites across multiple counties. The park is located approximately 50 miles south of Washington DC. Different battlefields and historical sites are accessible via I-95 and VA Route 3. For directions and physical addresses for each of our sites, please visit the Directions & Transportation section of our website.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

Address 120 Chatham Ln, Fredericksburg, VA, 22405
Phone 5406933200

Topics & Themes

Architecture and Building African American Heritage Archeology Birthplace Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite National Cemetery Enslavement Farming and Agriculture Plantations Great Depression Medicine Hospital Military Infantry and Militia Artillery Cavalry US Army Battlefields Monuments and Memorials Presidents Reconstruction Wars and Conflicts Civil War Women's History Animals Birds Fish

Things To Do

Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria

Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria

The Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria is an annual event featuring over 15,000 lanterns in the cemetery – one for each…

During the event, visitors may wander through the Fredericksburg on their own. Park staff will be onsite to provide guidance…

Programs at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP

Programs at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP

Join one of our regularly scheduled programs to explore deeper into the history of the park and tackle the tough…

History at Sunset

History at Sunset

History at Sunset is an annual series that focuses on areas rarely visited, stories rarely told, or familiar sites seen through…

Chancellorsville Anniversary

Chancellorsville Anniversary

View special programming for the upcoming anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Check the program schedule to learn more about specific activities.

Wilderness & Spotsylvania Anniversaries

Wilderness & Spotsylvania Anniversaries

View special programming for this year's anniversary of the Battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House.

Check the program schedule to learn more about specific activities.

Fredericksburg Anniversary

Fredericksburg Anniversary

View special programming for the upcoming anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Check the program schedule to learn more about specific activities.

Visitor Centers

Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center

The Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center contains exhibits about the battles at Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House and a 22-minute film that plays every 30-minutes.…

Hours: The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 24-25, and January 1. Park grounds are open sunrise to sunset.

Chatham

Atop Stafford Heights, over 250 years of history blend with the present at Chatham. Constructed in 1771, the Chatham grounds hold stories of the horrors…

Hours: Chatham is open daily, 9 am-5 pm. Chatham is closed Thanksgiving Day, December 24-25, and January 1. The gate is open 9 am-5 pm, but park grounds are open sunrise to sunset. Chatham may have reduced hours in the fall, winter, and spring.

Ellwood

Ellwood is located on the Wilderness Battlefield. Ellwood was a slave plantation, a Civil War headquarters and hospital, and its small family cemetery contains Confederate…

Hours: The grounds at Ellwood are open daily, sunrise to sunset. The Ellwood gate is open daily 9 am-5 pm. When the gate is closed, visitors may park outside the gate and walk the grounds. The building is open seasonally. During the summer season, the house is open Friday through Sunday. Ellwood is typically closed from fall to spring. The house may be open on weekends in the shoulder seasons, depending on staffing availability. The house may be open for select weekends and holidays throughout the year.

Fredericksburg Battlefield Bookstore

The park store stocks books, clothing, educational products, and souvenirs for visitors of all ages. The park store is managed by the non-profit partner America's…

Hours: The park store stocks books, clothing, educational products, and souvenirs for visitors of all ages. The park store is managed by the non-profit partner America's National Parks, a part of Eastern National.

Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center

Inside the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center are three rooms with exhibits about the Battle of Fredericksburg and its impact on the nation, a 22-minute park…

Hours: The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 24-25, and January 1. Park grounds are open sunrise to sunset.

Jackson Death Site

Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson died in the farm office building of the Fairfield Plantation. Today, that office building is all that remains of the…

Hours: The Jackson Death Site is open seasonally. The building is open on Friday through Sunday during the summer season, and may be open more frequently if staffing allows.

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