Whether you’re touring the battlefield with a Licensed Battlefield Guide, standing at the site of Pickett’s Charge, or walking through town on a candlelit ghost tour after dark, Gettysburg is one of the most powerful and memorable stops on an East Coast history trip.
Standing on the quiet fields of Gettysburg National Military Park, it’s hard to reconcile how peaceful it feels today with what happened here in July of 1863. Rolling hills, open farmland, and long stone walls stretch out in every direction. But once you understand the story, every ridge and field takes on new meaning.
A visit to Gettysburg isn’t just about seeing a battlefield. It’s about trying to grasp the scale of what happened here and realizing how overwhelming it can be without the right context. With thousands of acres, over a thousand monuments, and three days of complex fighting, it’s a place where the story only truly comes alive when you pair the landscape with expert guidance and storytelling.
If you’re traveling with kids or teens, Gettysburg can feel overwhelming at first. There are miles of fields, countless monuments, and a story that’s hard to piece together on your own.
But with the right approach, especially a Licensed Battlefield Guide and a nighttime ghost tour, it becomes one of the most engaging and memorable stops of the entire trip.
Gettysburg After Dark
Gettysburg has a reputation for being one of the most haunted towns in America and after a long day exploring the battlefield, a nighttime ghost tour is a surprisingly fun (and eerie) way to wind down. Or if you are getting to Gettysburg in the afternoon, it’s the perfect primer for the next day of battlefields.
Ghost Tours: Candlelit Walks Through Haunted Gettysburg
Most ghost tours in town are lantern-lit walking tours through the historic district, led by guides in period clothing. They weave together local ghost stories, eyewitness accounts, Civil War history, and reported paranormal activity.
The lantern-lit format creates atmosphere with dark streets, soft light, and the hush of nighttime storytelling. Our kids loved this because it feels immersive and just a little spooky without being over-the-top.
Many companies offer these, including Ghosts of Gettysburg Candlelight Walking Tours, Gettysburg Ghost Tours, and Sleepy Hollow of Gettysburg Candlelight Ghost Tours.
Most tours last 60–90 minutes and stick to outdoor locations (though some specialty tours include access to buildings or investigations).
Depending on the tour, you might hear about:
- Jennie Wade, the only civilian killed during the battle, whose house is still said to be haunted.
- The orphanage on Baltimore Street, where stories of cruel caretakers and lingering spirits are told.
- Soldiers seen walking across fields where no reenactments are happening.
- Hospitals set up in homes and churches where thousands of wounded soldiers once lay.
- Unclaimed spirits whose bodies were never identified or sent home after the end of the war.
Some tours lean more into ghost hunting and equipment, while others focus more on storytelling and history, so ask around and see which one you might like best. We did a ghost tour in Colonial Williamsburg and loved it, but it was a totally different experience from the one at Gettysburg! For our family, we like the storytelling and history approach more than the paranormal activity focus.
Touring the Battlefield with a Licensed Battlefield Guide
The battlefield itself is massive covering roughly 6,000 acres with over 1,300 monuments and markers. And that’s not even considering the 10 different roads that lead into Gettysburg and the mountains, hills, and other landmarks that factored into the battle. Trying to understand it on your own can be overwhelming.
This was my 3rd visit to Gettysburg and we have learned that having a licensed battlefield guide to orient you and share history and stories is by far the best way to experience Gettysburg if you aren’t super familiar with the history of the battle. Using a Licensed Battlefield Guide makes the biggest difference (and this isn’t sponsored, just my real experience)!
How It Works
- You book a guide through the Gettysburg Heritage Center or Gettysburg Foundation (through the visitor center).
- They ride in your car with you, directing you around the battlefield.
- You stop at key points, get out, walk around, and learn what happened there.
- A good guide will also bring maps and visuals to show troop movements.
We chose the 3-hour tour, which felt just right to be able to cover the major moments of all three days of fighting without feeling rushed, while also keeping our kids’ interests and attention spans in mind.
Our guide, Theresa, even tailored our experience by calling us ahead of time to learn about where we are from, the ages and interest levels of our kids, and whether we knew of any Civil War ancestors who fought at Gettysburg. It really made the tour feel personal.
Pro tip: If you have a relative who fought in the war, mention it when booking your guide. They can often locate where their unit fought or the monument to that person’s specific regiment.
Our guide had handwritten note cards with additional details she had looked up to share with us because one of my ancestors was Robert E. Lee, so yeah, he was kind of involved.
Spend the Afternoon at the Visitor Center
After a morning orienting yourself with a guide, you can explore the visitor center and museum for more detail. It tells the story of the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg through artifacts, personal accounts, and immersive exhibits that help make sense of the three days of fighting.
One of the highlights is the Gettysburg Cyclorama, a massive, 360-degree painting that places you right in the middle of Pickett’s Charge, paired with a narrated program that brings the scene to life. You can also watch an introductory film for helpful context, and browse the massive bookstore.
Where to Stay in Gettysburg
If you want to be able to walk to shops, restaurants, and evening ghost tours, staying downtown is a great choice. We stayed at the Hotel Gettysburg, which was beautiful and conveniently located right in the center of town.
If you want the experience to feel even more like stepping back in time, Gettysburg has some incredible historic inns and B&Bs like the Farnsworth House or the Langdon Hill House. There is even the Battlefield Bed & Breakfast where you stay on the actual battlefield!
If you’re traveling with kids or want something more budget-friendly or modern, there are plenty of great options from larger hotel chains just outside the main historic area.
Where to Eat in Gettysburg
Gettysburg has a surprisingly solid food scene for a smaller town, especially considering how many visitors pass through each year.
- Garryown Irish Pub: This was one of our favorite meals in Gettysburg. Right in the heart of town, it has a lively, authentic Irish pub feel with cozy dining rooms and great energy. The owners are from Ireland and the menu leans into traditional Irish fare like shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, and Guinness beef stew with Irish soda bread. My favorite thing there was the excellent sticky toffee pudding.
- Honeybee Restaurant: We enjoyed breakfast here before heading out to the battlefield. They have great pancakes, omelets, biscuits and gravy, and other typical breakfast dishes.
- Appalachian Brewing Company: This is a great casual option, especially if you’re traveling with kids. Their menu has plenty of favorites (think burgers, sandwiches, pizza) and it’s relaxed, easy, and a good place to unwind after a long day exploring.
And when you are done with battlefields and history, I recommend driving through Lancaster County to get some delicious Amish baked goods on your way to Philadelphia!
