Fort Donelson National Battlefield

Fort Donelson National Battlefield is a national battlefield run by the National Park Service in Kentucky and Tennessee.

In the park service’s words

Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donelson elated the North, and stunned the South. Within days of the surrender, Clarksville and Nashville would fall into Union hands. Grant and his troops had created a pathway to victory for the Union.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Pets (60 to 180 Minutes): Pets in the Park
• Hike the Trails at Fort Donelson NB (45 to 90 Minutes): Immerse yourself in the beauty of the historic site by hiking the park trails. You may see migratory birds, bald eagles, and lovely native wildflowers. Lovely views of the Cumberland River/Barkley Lake may be seen as well.
• Stop by the Fort Donelson NB Visitor Center (15 to 45 Minutes): Visitor Center
• Want to Become a Junior Ranger? (30 to 90 Minutes): Junior Rangers
• Fort Donelson NB Autotour Route (30 to 60 Minutes): An excellent way to understand the historic site include the self-guided auto tour.
• Fort Donelson: Then and Now (30 to 90 Minutes): Fort Donelson: Then and Now
• Quilt Trail (30 to 180 Minutes): Quilt Block: Joseph's Coat

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, 8:00AM - 4:30PM. Fort Donelson NB Visitor Center is open daily 8:30 am - 4:00 pm CST. Dover Hotel hours are 8:30 am - 4:00 pm CST daily. The park is closed Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. Hours change seasonally. The park tour route is open: Spring time change to Memorial Day: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm CDT Memorial Day to Labor Day: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm CDT Labor Day to fall time change: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm CST Fall time change to spring time change: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm CST

Getting there

The main entrance is at 120 Fort Donelson Park Road, in Dover Tennessee. It is advised to start a visitor experience here. Brochures and information are available at this location. Physical address for the park's Fort Heiman unit, in Calloway County, Kentucky: 654 Fort Heiman Road, New Concord, Kentucky. This site is not staffed daily, but exhibits and information are available for visitors.

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

• Fort Donelson Visitor Center: Daily, 8:30AM - 4:00PM. The temporary Visitor Center is currently open daily, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Gates are open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm daily.

Weather

Fort Donelson National Battlefield traditionally experiences mild to moderate winters and hot summers with an average high of 90 degrees in the summer and 40 in winter; average lows in the winter are 30 degrees but single digits are not unusual. Rainfall in the area averages 53 inches a year with an additional 6 inches of ice/snow. Violent thunderstorms and severe weather can take place at any time of year but are most common in December and spring time.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Mammoth Cave, about 112 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

• National Park Service Data API: Fort Donelson National Battlefield (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.