Welcome to Gettysburg National Military Park and thank you for joining us on this self-guided driving tour through one of the most important battlefields in American history. Over the next few hours, you'll follow the story of the Battle of Gettysburg as it unfolded during three dramatic days in July of 1863. Although the battle lasted from July 1 through July 3, this tour has been carefully designed to guide you through its most significant locations in chronological order, helping you understand how the fighting began, how it intensified, and how it ultimately changed the course of the Civil War. This tour generally follows the route recommended by the National Park Service for exploring Gettysburg National Military Park, while enhancing the experience with immersive storytelling and additional historical insights. Along the way, you'll visit iconic landmarks such as Little Round Top, the Peach Orchard, High Water Mark, and Gettysburg National Cemetery, while also discovering lesser-known sites that played a critical role in the battle's outcome. At the end of the tour we encourage you to visit the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center, where you'll find exhibits, artifacts, and the famous Gettysburg Cyclorama that provide valuable context before beginning your journey. As you drive, please obey all traffic laws, remain alert to pedestrians and cyclists, and use designated parking areas whenever you wish to stop and explore. We also encourage you to drive slowly and safely throughout the battlefield. Not only will this help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, but it will also give the narration time to fully play before you arrive at the next point of interest. Gettysburg is best experienced at a thoughtful pace, allowing you to absorb both the history and the significance of the places you'll visit. The Battle of Gettysburg involved more than 160,000 soldiers and resulted in over 50,000 casualties, making it the largest battle ever fought in North America. Yet beyond the numbers are the stories of the individuals who lived through these events—soldiers, civilians, commanders, and families whose lives were forever changed by what happened here. Our journey begins at McPherson Ridge, where the first shots of Gettysburg were fired and where a determined Union defense set the stage for everything that followed. When you're ready, proceed to McPherson Ridge and prepare to step back into July of 1863.
Explore Gettysburg with self-guided GPS audio tours designed to help you discover famous landmarks, hidden gems, and local stories at your own pace. With our tour app, enjoy guided walking tours, driving routes, and biking experiences that turn your phone into a personal travel guide. Whether it’s your first visit to Gettysburg or a return trip, self-guided city tours make self travel easy, flexible, and unforgettable.
