Gettysburg is an incredible place. I've been there twice now as an adult.

There's a lot to see that is pretty spaced out so I'd definitely start with the driving tour, for the 1st day's fighting especially. You'll actually be driving quite a bit in the end. However, it's very rewarding to walk a lot of the grounds.

I enjoyed walking up Culp's hill to see where the opposing Marylanders fought each other. The Iron Brigade was posted there too on the second day. You can get a feel for how tough the scramble up the hill was.

Pickett's charge is a special walk naturally. I liked parking my car at the jump off spot and continuing on foot. You can do the full charge's length and approach the angle on cemetery ridge and see the 'high water mark' of the confederacy.

From there you can walk up to the round tops, though it is a bit of distance. It's very easy to imagine defending those heights. You can see where Chamberlain's 20th Maine fought till they were out of ammo and performed their famous bayonet charge.

Walking out of the round tops you can follow where Dan Sickles pushed his command forward of the union line into the Devil's Den and wheat field. This is where Sickles lost a leg from a cannonball.

At this point you can turn right and head back to the Pickett's charge jump off point and go in reverse the march that brought Longstreet and Hood behind seminary ridge to attack the union left.

The town itself is very charming. You'll see costumed people everywhere. Everyone I've ever met there is so kind. Ghost tours are fun, but a slight tourist trap at this point. They'll often take you to parts of the battlefields at night which is eerie.

And of course don't miss the cemetery where Lincoln spoke the most famous words in American history.

All in all, a really amazing battlefield. Having been to almost all the eastern battlefields, I can say that Gettysburg is terribly cluttered with monuments, which a lot of other battlefields actively resist. Still, gloriously preserved, easy to view and understand the troop movements, and just a special place.

Have fun!

I don't think this is the best subreddit to ask, but I went to college at Gettysburg and am happy to give you a few pointers.

The day one battlefield is located to the northwest of Gettysburg College (then Pennsylvania College). Unfortunately, much of the terrain is changed below the ridgeline. The Pennsylvania Hall cupola building (currently used as the school's administrative office) was used for observation by Union forces on day one, but you can't access the cupola and most of the college is in the way of the historic view. If you travel along mummasburg road to the ridgeline, there is an observation tower that would let you see over Ewell's assault path. The railroad that crosses the road there is NOT the historic railroad cut along Chambersburg Pike, its a later addition. However, you can travel south from the tower and reach the area Hill assaulted along the cut. If you're strapped on time, I'd skip the day one sites entirely or save them for "if you have time"

The day two and three battlefield is far more interesting, imo, especially on the union side. I actually recommend going south to north here, starting at little round top. It gives you a pretty decent view of the south flank, and you can travel from there to Devils Den, the Wheatfield, and the Peach Orchard fairly easily as you head west. Don't miss Devils Den, its impressive if just for the rock formations, let alone the fight there as Longstreet pushed through the Rose Woods.

From the Peach orchard, I'd swing back to the Union line along monument row and head up to the Copse of Trees and the Angle (High Water Mark). This will give you the Union view over the confederate advance on the Third day. The most remarkable thing to me is how low a rise Cemetery Ridge really is here. The Cyclorama painting was recently moved to a new visitor center so check that out, probably in the afternoon when it gets hot (the cemetery can also be nice around then). The confederate line is generally less interesting imho aside from Virginia monument and the large observation tower on Confederate ave that probably gives the best view of the battlefield as a whole.

That's about all Ive got. If you're looking to just get hyped for the experience, The Killer Angels is a fun read, though historical dramatization. I also recently found the game ultimate general--Gettysburg which might also be fun. perhaps other people could recommend you more hard-history books or activities.

I was there about 10 years ago as a special trip with my grandparents. I dont remember really the first time I was there a few years earlier but I do remember on the 2nd visit that we trekked up to Little and Big Round top in the early morning hours (6:30-7, it was summer time and muggy). The night prior must have been chilly, again it was a bit of time ago, because there was fog still low to the ground. It is the image that sticks in my head after all these years. Visited the Devil's Den, I think it is called, at the bottom of the hills, which was rather eerie to me, knowing that I was in the same spot that young men sat, fearing for their lives.

Pickett's Charge was interesting to me as I looked at the tourist maps with the positions of each side and tried to envision what it was like.

I believe there is a self guided tour that you can take in your car. Get out at a site marker that had a POV picture taken from the time, overlooking different skirmishes and battles during that time. As well as areas that had some sort of significance. That was interesting and very informative.

We did a haunted ghost tour one night, which came up with no sightings, but was still very cool to walk the streets and see bullet holes in original buildings. Went into some cafe, where a reinactor* was dressed up, sipping whiskey and smoking a pipe, while telling stories to those who would listen. Free of charge.

Hope this helps. Guess I remember more than I thought. We did other things during the week we were there, but I only have snippets of a memory of them. Not worth trying to explain.

Honestly, all of it really is worth seeing. You should absolutely take one of the 2-3 hour bus tours that circle the battlefield (you don't get off), and take notes on what appeals the most to you. Then, use your car to drive the battlefield (it's huge) and stop where you want.

Particularly good sites are Little/Big Round Tops and Devil's Den. Seminary Ridge, too.

In-town, Jenny Wade's home is worth a look; she was a civilian casualty caused by a stray bullet. It's been maintained in a period-correct fashion, and does a great job showing what living conditions were like at the time.

I found walking the route of Pickett's Charge to be very revealing. I'd always thought it had been a long march under constant fire, but when you walk it you'll notice that you're under cover a good bit of the time. The real nightmare seems to have come with climbing the fences, most within about 100 yards of the Union lines.

Also, the monuments to the different units often were installed when members of the unit were still alive, and can show actually where those soldiers recalled they were during the battle.

You're also not too far a drive from Antietam. If you drive there from Frederick on Rt 40, you end up going over South Mountain, which is where Lee discovered McClellan was coming up from Washington , and began his retreat back to Sharpsburg. Right near the town clock in Sharpsburg is also Nutter's Ice Cream, which is good value for money.

My favorite spot was at the top of the hill overlooking where picket's charge was, is the Corpse of Trees. Go there at sunset and overlook the whole battlefield. It's quite moving.

You might want to look into the Licensed Battlefield Guides, who work out of the Visitors Center. They can conduct you on a tour of the battlefield, useful and usually giving more insight to places and events than you'd get from the brochure. Or if there's some particular spot or event that especially interests you, contact them ahead of time and see if they can set up a tour with someone who really knows and loves that aspect of the battle. I think it costs $20, money well spent.

Haven't seen it mentioned yet - go to the visitors centre! It's huge, has a ton of stuff to do in there (a small Gettysburg museum basically), and would make a good start to your trip.