Major city · United States
GettysburgGettysburg, Pennsylvania
Give Gettysburg 2 nights: one full day for the battlefield by car or bike, one for the town. Skip it as a day trip from Washington, DC — the drive is long enough to eat the day.
Gettysburg is a small Pennsylvania borough (population about 7,600) built around one event: the three-day Civil War battle of July 1–3, 1863, and the address Lincoln gave here that November. The battlefield is a free national park you drive, cycle or walk; the town adds museums, a 1925 theatre and a walkable historic core. Two nights covers it well; three if you add Eisenhower's farm or the apple country north of town.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and storms), late Dec–Feb (cold, some attractions on shorter hours)
- Airports
- MDT · BWI · IAD · PHL
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Gettysburg911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Gettysburg, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyGettysburg is a small, low-crime town and the park is safe in daylight.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMDT Harrisburg International (About 75 km (47 mi) by car; the closest airport with real service.).MDT Harrisburg International (About 47 mi (75 km) by car; the closest airport with real service.).
- Getting aroundA car is the practical choice: the park's roads run about 40 km (26 mi) and the speed limit inside is 15 mph.A car is the practical choice: the park's roads run about 26 mi (40 km) and the speed limit inside is 15 mph.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–6
- Sit-down mealLunch or casual dinner main$12–22
- Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$10–16
- BeerDraught beer in a pub$6–9
- Metro or bus rideGuided battlefield bus tour$30 adult with a licensed guide; $26 with headphone narration
- Museum or sight ticketFilm, Cyclorama and Museum ticket$20.75 adult; $15.75 youth 6–12; under 5 and active military free
- Budget bedFamily room or suite (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$150
- Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomUS$150
- High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomUS$260
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$160 · High US$280
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MDT Harrisburg International (About 75 km (47 mi) by car; the closest airport with real service.) · BWI Baltimore-Washington International (About 100 km (62 mi); often the cheapest fares.) · IAD Washington Dulles International (About 125 km (78 mi).) · PHL Philadelphia International (About 240 km (148 mi); only worth it for a much better fare.)MDT Harrisburg International (About 47 mi (75 km) by car; the closest airport with real service.) · BWI Baltimore-Washington International (About 62 mi (100 km); often the cheapest fares.) · IAD Washington Dulles International (About 78 mi (125 km).) · PHL Philadelphia International (About 148 mi (240 km); only worth it for a much better fare.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Feb
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Mar
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Apr
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
May
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jun
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jul
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Sep
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Oct
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Nov
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Dec
Avoid*
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)), coolest Jan (−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C) low), wettest May (12 rain days), driest Feb (9). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Gettysburg: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
10 rd
Feb
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
9 rd
Mar
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
10 rd
Apr
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
11 rd
May
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
12 rd
Jun
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
11 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11 rd
Aug
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
10 rd
Sep
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
9 rd
Oct
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
9 rd
Nov
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
9 rd
Dec
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
10 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is the practical choice: the park's roads run about 26 mi (40 km) and the speed limit inside is 15 mph. Bikes can be rented in town and cover the main sites in a day. Guided bus tours and licensed battlefield guides run from the visitor center if you would rather not drive. There is no useful local rail; Rabbit Express buses link Harrisburg's Amtrak station and airport.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Eisenhower National Historic Site
goDoor to door: Half a day
Shuttle bus from the park visitor center; the home is only reachable on the tour
Treat it as a half-day add-on, not a day trip. Tour availability and tickets: check at the visitor center; timed departures.
Biglerville and the fruit belt
goDoor to door: About 30 min each way
Car, about 15 km (9 mi) north on PA 34Car, about 9 mi (15 km) north on PA 34
Farm markets and the National Apple Museum; the museum opens weekends, early May to mid-October.
Liberty Mountain Resort
cautionDoor to door: About 20 min each way
Car to Fairfield, about 13 km (8 mi) westCar to Fairfield, about 8 mi (13 km) west
Seasonal operation and opening dates: check before you drive out.
Harrisburg
cautionDoor to door: 1–1.5 h
Car on US 15, or Rabbit Express bus to the Amtrak station
Worth it only as a transport link or for the state museum.
Lancaster
overnightDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Car, about 95 km (60 mi) eastCar, about 60 mi (95 km) east
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there instead.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Downtown / Lincoln Square
Walk to dinner, shops and the Jennie Wade House; 5–10 min drive to the park's Baltimore Pike entrance.
Steinwehr Avenue
The strip closest to the visitor center and the museum row; motels and family restaurants, walkable to both.
Baltimore Pike / US 15
Chain hotels and the outlet shops; you need a car for everything.
Countryside (Fairfield, Biglerville)
Campgrounds, orchards and Liberty Mountain; cheapest beds, 15–25 min drive in.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $70–110 excl. bed
- Mid
- $120–200 excl. bed
- High
- $220+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range double room1 × 2 nights × US$150 | US$300 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$160 | US$640 |
| Film, Cyclorama and Museum ticket2 × US$21 | US$42 |
| Licensed-guide bus tour2 × US$30 | US$60 |
| Bike rental, one day2 × US$40 · 2026 estimate; check | US$80 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$116 |
| Trip total≈ US$320 per person per day, bed included | US$1,278 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax is added at checkout. Flights and car rental excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Diner breakfast | $10–16 |
| Lunch or casual dinner main | $12–22 |
| Sit-down dinner main | $18–35 |
| Draught beer in a pub | $6–9 |
| Film, Cyclorama and Museum ticket | $20.75 adult; $15.75 youth 6–12; under 5 and active military free |
| Guided battlefield bus tour | $30 adult with a licensed guide; $26 with headphone narration |
| Horseback battlefield tour, 2 h | $88 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Park roads open about 30 min before sunrise and close about 30 min after sunset — plan the last stop before dark.
- Alcohol is not allowed anywhere in the national park.
- Deer and pedestrians on the park roads; keep to 15 mph.
- Summer thunderstorms hit fast in July and August.
- Many town museums and houses keep seasonal hours — check before you build a day around one.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
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GettysburgGettysburg, Pennsylvania
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies here; they are in Washington, DC. Consulates-general are in Philadelphia and New York.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Park entry: free; only the museum and film are ticketed
- MDT airport to town, taxi or rideshare: check the current fare; about 1 h
- Rabbit Express, Harrisburg Amtrak to Gettysburg: check the current schedule and fare
Say or show
- Where is the visitor center? — Where is the visitor center?
- Two tickets, please — Two tickets, please
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Is there parking here? — Is there parking here?
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Gettysburg. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and storms), late Dec–Feb (cold, some attractions on shorter hours) · month by month →
- 4 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contracts for MDT, BWI and IAD: drive times, last bus from Harrisburg, taxi fallback.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Lincoln Square, Steinwehr Avenue, the visitor center and museum row, the park's auto-tour stops.
- Place pages with verified hours and cutoffs (visitor center, Jennie Wade House, Heritage Center, Eisenhower site) and eat pages with last orders.
- Seasonal fixtures for the July battle anniversary crowds and winter closures so gates A–D can go green.