Virginia's National Battlefields
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Virginia’s National Park Service battlefields preserve two very different chapters of the Civil War: the early clashes at Manassas and the long campaign around Petersburg. Both reward an unhurried visit, but their sites are spread across substantial landscapes, so it helps to choose a focus and check current visitor information before setting out.[1]
At a glance
Near Manassas, Virginia, the park preserves the ground of the First Battle of Manassas in 1861 and Second Battle of Manassas in 1862. Explore the battlefield from the Henry Hill Visitor Center, by walking trail, or on a self-guided driving tour.[2]
In and around Petersburg, Virginia, the park interprets the siege campaign that lasted from June 1864 to April 1865. Its separate battlefield areas include the Eastern Front, the Western Front, Five Forks, and Grant’s Headquarters at City Point.[3]
Manassas: two battles, one landscape
The First Battle of Manassas—also known as First Bull Run—was fought on July 21, 1861. The armies met again in August 1862 in the Second Battle of Manassas. The National Park Service preserves and interprets the sites of both engagements, including historic structures and open battlefield ground.[4]
The Henry Hill Visitor Center is a useful starting point for exhibits and orientation to the First Battle. For a shorter visit, the park suggests the Henry Hill Loop Trail; visitors with more time can follow a self-guided driving tour focused on Second Manassas. Trails also lead across battlefield areas associated with both battles.[5][6]
Petersburg: a long siege and several sites
The Petersburg campaign was not one isolated clash but a prolonged siege and series of operations around the city. The park’s four areas are spread across roughly 33 miles, so a full-day visit is a practical way to allow time for more than one area. The Eastern Front Visitor Center introduces the campaign; other sites include the Western Front, Five Forks Battlefield, and City Point.[7]
The Battle of the Crater, fought on July 30, 1864, is one of the campaign’s best-known episodes. At City Point, the story widens beyond the trenches: the site served as a major Union supply base and field hospital, and the park also interprets the history of the Appomattox plantation, the Eppes family, and enslaved people who lived there before the war.[8][9]
The campaign also involved United States Colored Troops. The National Park Service describes their participation in the opening assaults and at the Crater, among other actions around Petersburg.[10]
Planning a visit
At Manassas, consider starting at Henry Hill before choosing a trail or driving route. At Petersburg, plan your route in advance: the park’s areas are dispersed, and the NPS recommends allowing a full day to experience the whole battlefield park. Ranger programs, facility schedules, and seasonal openings can vary.
Grounds, visitor centers, and historic buildings may have different hours or seasonal schedules. Check each park’s official planning pages shortly before travel for current hours, closures, programs, directions, and access details. Petersburg National Battlefield currently lists no entrance pass requirement; confirm current information with the park before your visit.[11][12][13]
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References
- ↑ Virginia: List View, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Manassas National Battlefield Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Plan Your Visit, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Places, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Things To Do, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Places To Go, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Plan Your Visit, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Battle of the Crater, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Plan Your Visit, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ African-Americans at the Siege, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Plan Your Visit, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Plan Your Visit, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
- ↑ Fees & Passes, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2026-10-22.