About Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and where the first Union general was killed in action. The costly Southern victory on August 10, 1861, focused national attention on the war in Missouri. Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield commemorates and interprets the battle within the context of the war in the Trans-Mississippi West.
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
Summer months are frequently hot and humid, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. Winter months (especially January and February) are frequently cold, with occasional ice and light snow. Spring and fall months are generally pleasant, with occasional showers.
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Missouri. 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.
Operating Hours
The park grounds are open from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset. This includes non-motorized and pedestrian access to the tour road. Motorized access to the tour road begins at 8:00 am daily when the automated entrance gate will open. The visitor center and museum hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, seven days a week.
Activities
Current Alerts
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield is a fee free site. No pass or charge is required to visit. Due to being a fee free site, America the Beautiful Passes are no longer issued. To learn about different pass types and where you can obtain them, including new digital passes, please visit the provided link.
Some navigation systems on devices misdirect visitors driving to Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. Please note that the entrance to the park is at the visitor center located near the Southeast intersection of Hwy ZZ and FR 182.
Getting There
From I-44: exit at Exit 70 (Missouri Highway MM). Continue south to U.S. Highway 60. Proceed through the intersection. Continue 1/2 mile to Missouri Highway ZZ. Turn right on ZZ. Continue south to Farm Road 182 (Elm Street). At the roundabout, take the third exit; the entrance to the battlefield is on the right.
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.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Report for Duty at Wilson's Creek NB
Become a Junior Ranger at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield!
Seek and Find
Seek and Find nature and plant species as you visit the battlefield.
In the Steps of Soldiers
Hike in the footsteps of Federal and Southern soldiers.
Let Nature Surprise You
Let Nature Surprise You! Bring a notebook to journal about the nature you find at Wilsons Creek.
Ponder on the Porch
Visit the Ray House and imagine how their family home was trasformed by battle into a field hospital.
Moving on the Tour Road
Choose a method of exploring the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Tour Road that works best for you.
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Explore with your Animal Companion
Explore with your Animal Companion. Wilson's Creek National Battlefield has over 10 miles of designated trails.
Reflect at Wilson's Creek
Relax by the waters of Wilson’s Creek and transport your mind to a place of reflection.
Battlefield Museum
Let your curiosity be your guide while visiting one of the nation's finest publicly held Civil War museum collections.
Tour a Family Farm Turned Field Hospital
See the battle of Wilson’s Creek through the eyes of a farming family caught up in combat and its aftermath. The Ray…
Travel the Tour Road at Wilson's Creek
A 4.9-mile paved road for driving, walking, or cycling loops through Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, once of the most pristine Civil War…
March with the Missouri State Guard
Follow in the footsteps of Missouri State Guard soldiers! Cross Wilson's Creek on a historic bridge and peek into a cabin near…
Visitor Centers
Wilson's Creek Visitor Center & Museum
The recently renovated visitor center contains a staffed contact station, exhibits housing items from our extensive museum collection, a twenty-eight-minute film, an eight-minute fiber optics…
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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