Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park is a national military park run by the National Park Service in Virginia.

In the park service’s words

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.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Fredericksburg Anniversary: View special programming for the upcoming anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg.
• 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 questions surrounding the history of the Civil War and how we remember the war today. Programs usually run from spring through fall, with the highest concentration of offerings in the summer.
• History at Sunset (60 to 90 Minutes): History at Sunset is an annual series that focuses on areas rarely visited, stories rarely told, or familiar sites seen through a different lens. Park rangers lead each History at Sunset event, which may be an evening tour or special program in the park or the surrounding area.
• Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria (30 to 120 Minutes): The Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria is an annual event featuring over 15,000 lanterns in the cemetery, one for each soldier buried in the cemetery grounds. This event takes place on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. The luminaria honors soldiers who have died in the service of this country.
• Chancellorsville Anniversary: View special programming for the upcoming anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville.
• Wilderness & Spotsylvania Anniversaries: View special programming for this year's anniversary of the Battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House.
• Earn Your Junior Ranger Patches (1 to 4 Hours): Become a Junior Ranger at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP! Our park has four booklets of activities available for kids of all ages. Complete all four booklets to complete your set of patches and learn about the battlefields.
• Hike the Battlefields (1 to 8 Hours): Explore trails at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and experience the battlefields up close.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Open 24 hours, every day. Park grounds are open from sunrise to sunset daily, with the exception of extreme weather incidents. Building hours vary by building and season.

Lodging

• Superintendent's Lodge: Note: The Superintendent's Lodge is not open to the public. When the Fredericksburg National Cemetery was established, the lodge, located at the cemetery's entrance, housed the Union veteran who was responsible for managing the cemetery.

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.

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

• [Fredericksburg Battlefield Bookstore](): Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. 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.
• Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 24-25, and January 1. Park grounds are open sunrise to sunset.
• Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 24-25, and January 1. Park grounds are open sunrise to sunset.
• Chatham: Mon 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Tue Closed; Wed Closed; Thu 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Fri 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Sat 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Sun 9:00AM - 5:00PM. Chatham is open Thursday through Monday, 9 am-5 pm. Chatham is closed Thanksgiving Day, December 24-25, and January 1. The gate is open daily 9 am-5 pm, but park grounds are open sunrise to sunset. Chatham may have reduced hours in the fall, winter, and spring.
• [Ellwood](): Mon Closed; Tue Closed; Wed Closed; Thu Closed; Fri Closed; Sat 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Sun 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The grounds at Ellwood are open daily, sunrise to sunset. 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 Saturday and 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.
• [Jackson Death Site](): Mon Closed; Tue Closed; Wed Closed; Thu Closed; Fri Closed; Sat 9:00AM - 5:00PM; Sun 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The Jackson Death Site is open seasonally. The building is open on Saturday and Sunday during the summer season, and may be open more frequently if staffing allows.

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 during the summer can reach the 90s, and nighttime lows are in the lower 60s. Daytime highs in the winter are typically in the upper 40s, and nighttime lows in the middle 20s. Precipitation is well distributed throughout the year, with the minimum amount in August and the maximum in February.

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 Shenandoah, about 50 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

• National Park Service Data API: Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park (public domain)
• Official website

Last checked 1 November 2026.