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I am planning atrip to the Gettysburg battlefield in the next year. when is the best time to go? I will be pulling my travel trailer from California so I want some decent weather.

If you can get there for the weekend of the 4th of July, that's generally the most impressive, but hotels and such tend to be booked more than a year in advance for that time.

They often have some reenactments that time of year.

Thanks, i'm taking my trailer for lodging but even the RV Parks would be booked up. Still if I plan a year or so ahead it would be be possible.

If you have young kids, the Hershey Park amusement park less than an hour away is a great place to visit -- not just for the rides, but for the gift shop at the Hershey's Museum.

I was there last year, and if memory serves, this year is the 100th anniversary of the Hershey's Kiss. Who knew those had been around so long?

Since I'm facing 60 this year, kids is not an issue, but you don't have to be a kid to like Herseys.

I'm from the Hershey area and have been to Gettysburg 20+ times. My favorite time of the year is early fall. No crowds, beautiful foliage. The weekend of the 4th is the best for a total experience if you don't mind crowds. Plan for two or three days if you want to see everything. Here's to a great trip to Central PA.

thanks proginc. What a gas to be so close to history. I think Sept would be better since the weather should still be good( its very hot crossing Nevada, Utah and wyoming in June/July. I want to spend at least a week there. don't think I could cover the battle in one day. Is there a series of tours available? I guess I could check the internet for all this but its nice to get info from the ones who have been there.

Do you plan on going to other battlefields as well? Manassas and Antietam are worth a visit and Harper's Ferry... It is really beautiful in fall.

I'll second Bluesman here. Antietam is my favorite battlefield. It is unspoiled countryside, a beautiful outing, and you can really visualize the battle taking place. Harper's Ferry is very interesting and picturesque also. And, once you go to Gettysberg or Antietam, you will be struck by how small the Manassas battlefield was -- more like a Rev war site. If you are coming all that way, you might as well dip down -- a half-day's drive -- to these other sites.

If you are there during the last week of July you might want to drop down to Lancaster and check out all the Miniatures Games at Historicon as well for an afternoon. Interesting sight even if you don't want to play in any games.

Couldn't agree with you guys more. I think Antietam is the better perserved of the two battlefields although there's more to do (tourist stuff) in Gettysburg. I was disappointed with Manassas and Fredericksburg.

Drex, there are bus tours and audio self tours available (I'd recommend the audio tours if you want to take your time on the battlefield). Someone told me you can contact the Natl park service and hire a guide to ride in your car with you, not sure if that's true or not. If you're going in the fall, several companies offer walking ghost tours at night through the town and college, I've done one and its entertaining to say the least.

Wow! I would love to take in Antietam and Manassas. I'll take a full month off and allow 20 days travel time both ways from California, that leaves me with 10 days for sight seeing. Artillery Ridge RV park looks like a decent place to stay and they offer tours of Gettys burg from there. I'll have my F-250 to drive to the other areas. this is going to be a blast.

ORIGINAL: Drex

Wow! I would love to take in Antietam and Manassas. I'll take a full month off and allow 20 days travel time both ways from California, that leaves me with 10 days for sight seeing. Artillery Ridge RV park looks like a decent place to stay and they offer tours of Gettys burg from there. I'll have my F-250 to drive to the other areas. this is going to be a blast.

For us older fellows, it's much easier to fly into an area, then rent a car. The added benefit is more time for actual sightseeing at the destination.

For this older fellow, its important to see the country. Thats why i'm RV'ing it.I've never seen Utah, Wyoming, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania or any other place back East. Yes I spend money on diesel, but I'll save it on Lodging and food. I'm not just going to see the battlefields(that's for me) My wife wants to see all the country on the way. I love to drive and I plan only to pull my rig a max of 5 hours a day.

Well, if you have an RV, that's different!  Cool...  Loved to drive when I was young.  I hate driving now that I've aged somewhat, though that could change once I've actually retired and have a lot more time to enjoy travel transits.  One thing, I do know, unless you live close in to Washington, D.C., the only real way to enjoy it, is to fly in, and use the subway system. Lots of Civil War statues in D.C. BTW. Trying to drive in D.C is an exercise in traffic futility. [:)]

Yes, i'm sure traffic is bad in the large cities just like it is out here. I don't plan on spending a lot of time in the urban areas though. RV parks tend to be in the outskirts. I'll probably take a packaged tour into the DC area.

If your transiting the Southern route via I-44 in Missouri, check out Wilson's Creek Battlefield, along the way... It's also in the vicinity of Branson, MO (Country & Western entertainment), if you and your wife enjoy such.

I'm taking I-80 (northern route ) as it runs almost straight from where I'm at. Don't know about coming back the same way. I can't go too far afield with the gas prices being what they are and who knows where the price will be a year or more from now?

Post some pics Drex when you get them!
Christian