Manassas National Battlefield Park

Manassas National Battlefield Park is a national battlefield park run by the National Park Service in Virginia.

In the park service’s words

On July 21, 1861, two armies clashed for the first time on the fields overlooking Bull Run. Heavy fighting swept away any notion of a quick war. In August 1862, Union and Confederate armies converged for a second time on the plains of Manassas. The Confederates won a solid victory bringing them to the height of their power.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

• Matthews Hill Loop Trail (30 to 90 Minutes): The Matthews Hill Loop is a .9 mile trail that explores the ground over which the opening shots of the Battle of First Manassas occurred.
• Stone Bridge Loop Trail (45 to 60 Minutes): The Stone Bridge Loop is a moderate 1.3 mile trail that follows along the Bull Run and explores the area where the first shots of the First Battle of Manassas were fired. Picturesque displays can be had along the trail of wildflowers in the spring and colorful foliage in the fall.
• Chinn Ridge Trail (45 to 70 Minutes): Explore the grounds of Chinn Ridge that saw fighting at both First and Second Manassas. A paved path includes signage that explores the fighting in both battles. One way trail, must return along path to get back to parking lot.
• Second Manassas Trail (3 to 4 Hours): This 6.6 mile loop trail explores key locations on the Second Manassas battlefield.
• First Manassas Trail (2 to 4 Hours): A 5.4 mile circuit hike where you can explore the First Manassas battlefield in detail.
• Unfinished Railroad Loop Trail (60 to 75 Minutes): Walk along a section of Jackson's line on the Unfinished Railroad where Federal soldiers momentarily breached the Confederate line on August 29, 1862.
• Brawner Farm Loop Trail (45 to 75 Minutes): This trial traces the opposing lines of battle during the opening fighting of the Battle of Second Manassas on August 28, 1862.
• Sudley Loop Trail (15 to 60 Minutes): The Sudley Road Loop is a .6 mile trail that takes visitors to one the few pre-war structures in the park, and the spot where 13,000 US troops crossed Bull Run on their way to the First Battle of Manassas.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, Sunrise to Sunset. The park is open daily from dawn until dusk.

Getting there

Located right off Interstate 66, just 26 miles west of Washington, DC.

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

• Henry Hill Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. The Henry Hill Visitor Center is open daily, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day (December 25th), and New Year's Day (January 1st).
• [Brawner Farm Interpretive Center](): Closed. The Brawner Farm Interpretive Center is open for the season on occasional weekends through fall 2026. When the house is not open, the grounds remain open daily, from sunrise to sunset.

Weather

Spring: Mild weather, with average low/high temperatures from 33 F to 75 F. Variable rainfall, with May being the wettest month of the year on average. Summer: Warm and humid weather, with average temperatures from 61 F to 88 F. Variable rainfall, with occasional downpours during storms. Fall: Mild weather, with average temperatures from 35 F to 79 F. Variable rainfall. Winter: Mild to cool weather, with average temperatures from 24 F to 47 F. Annual snowfall averages about 22 inches.

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 48 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

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

Last checked 1 November 2026.