About Vicksburg National Military Park
To Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Vicksburg was the "nailhead that holds the South's two halves together." President Abraham Lincoln remarked "Vicksburg is the key" to victory, and could be the north's lifeline into the south. As the federals closed in on the Fortress City, they were met by a ring of forts with over 170 cannon. The resulting battle would determine the war's outcome.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Spring and fall in Vicksburg are always very pleasant with cool nights and warm, sunny days with temperatures ranging from lows of 40 degrees to highs of 70 degrees. Winter weather in Mississippi is usually mild except for occasional cold air invasions which normally last only a couple of days.…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Mississippi, Louisiana. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Entrance Fees
This pass admits the driver and all passengers in a private, non-commercial vehicle to the park.
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. The park requires all visitors to pay an entrance fee except children under 16 years of age.
Good for 7 days You are purchasing a digital site pass that is valid only for weekly entrance fees at Vicksburg National Military Park. The park requires all visitors to pay an entrance fee except children under 16 years of age. The pass covers entry for one pedestrian or cyclist.
$10 per person, not to exceed commercial group rate.
$25.00 plus $10 per passenger (not to exceed $40).
As provided by non-NPS charter tour companies.
As provided by non-NPS charter tour companies.
As provided by non-NPS charter tour companies.
Operating Hours
The Visitor Center is open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Wednesday-Sunday. Tour road is open from 8:30 am to 5 pm daily with last vehicle entry at 4:40 pm. Public restrooms are open at the Visitor Center and USS Cairo 7 days a week. Park grounds are open sunrise to sunset daily. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Activities
Current Alerts
The memorial itself closed for restoration starting on September 16, 2025. Starting on March 2, 2026, access to Tour Stops 2 and 3 will be temporarily closed. The closure point will be at the Shirley House. Visitors will still be able to continue north along Union Avenue and access the remainder of the Tour Road. This section will remain closed for the duration of the Illinois Memorial Restoration. The project is expected to be completed by September 2026.
Due to weather related incidents, Vicksburg National Cemetery is closed to vehicular traffic, however it is open to pedestrians. Visitor can park in the adjacent USS Cairo parking lot and walk into the cemetery.
Louisiana Circle is closed to vehicles and pedestrians due to slope instability. Navy Circle is open and also provides views of the Mississippi River.
Getting There
Plane — Closest commercial airport: Jackson, MS, 50 miles to the east. Car — Directions to Vicksburg: From the east — Take Interstate 20 west to Vicksburg, MS. Use exit ramp 4B. Follow Clay Street (US-80) west 0.25 miles to park entrance. From the north — Take Interstate 55 south to Jackson, MS. To save time, use Interstate 220 bypass on west side of Jackson. Take Interstate 20 west to Vicksburg approximately 40 miles. Use exit ramp 4B. Follow Clay Street (US-80) west 0.25 miles to park entrance.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Entrance Passes
Good for 12 months from the date of purchase The pass covers unlimited entry for one vehicle and passengers.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Become a Vicksburg BARK Ranger
Learn how your pet can become a BARK Ranger!
Become a Junior Ranger at Vicksburg National Military Park
This program is designed for children making a visit to Vicksburg National Military Park. Children can explore the park and…
Watch Vicksburg National Military Park's Orientation Film
This orientation film plays every half hour at the park's visitor center.
Visitor Centers
Visitor Center
Inside the Visitor Center, Park Rangers are ready to answer your questions and assist with your orientation to park areas. To help ensure that their…
USS Cairo Museum
Visitor Center and museum to the USS Cairo. Exhibits include a film, artifacts from the USS Cairo, models, and the actual USS Cairo that visitors…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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