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<div class="vw-place-intro">Virginia’s Civil War battlefields range from the fields of First and Second Manassas to the long siege lines around Petersburg and the Shenandoah Valley’s campaign sites. National Park Service (NPS) parks make several of these landscapes accessible through visitor centers, driving routes, trails, and exhibits. Because many parks span multiple locations, check each park’s current maps, alerts, and operating details before setting out.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/battlefields/civil-war.htm
|title=Civil War - Battlefields
|website=National Park Service
|publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior
|access-date=2026-10-23
}}</ref></div>

== Start with the major NPS battlefields ==
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<div class="vw-place-card"><h3>[[Manassas National Battlefield Park]]</h3><p>Explore the landscapes of First and Second Manassas. The park’s visitor center, trails, and self-guided driving route help visitors connect the two battles with the terrain where they unfolded.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.nps.gov/mana/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm
|title=Places To Go
|website=Manassas National Battlefield Park
|publisher=National Park Service
|access-date=2026-10-23
}}</ref></p></div>
<div class="vw-place-card"><h3>[[Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park]]</h3><p>This large park covers four battlefields: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House. NPS provides self-guided driving-tour maps for each, so it’s practical to focus on one battlefield or plan a longer visit.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.nps.gov/frsp/planyourvisit/directions.htm
|title=Directions
|website=Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
|publisher=National Park Service
|access-date=2026-10-23
}}</ref></p></div>
<div class="vw-place-card"><h3>[[Richmond National Battlefield Park]]</h3><p>Rather than one compact site, this park links battlefield locations across the Richmond area, including Gaines’ Mill, Cold Harbor, and Malvern Hill. Its driving route covers 12 sites over about 80 miles; allow time for travel between locations.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.nps.gov/rich/planyourvisit/index.htm
|title=Plan Your Visit
|website=Richmond National Battlefield Park
|publisher=National Park Service
|access-date=2026-10-23
}}</ref></p></div>
<div class="vw-place-card"><h3>[[Petersburg National Battlefield]]</h3><p>Follow the story of the 1864–65 siege across several park units, including the Eastern Front, Five Forks, and Grant’s headquarters at City Point. A driving tour connects the sites, with trails and exhibits offering reasons to stop along the way.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.nps.gov/pete/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
|title=Basic Information
|website=Petersburg National Battlefield
|publisher=National Park Service
|access-date=2026-10-23
}}</ref></p></div>
</div>

== A different kind of battlefield visit ==
Virginia’s battlefields are not all arranged like conventional parks with one entrance and a single visitor center. At Manassas, trails and a driving tour help distinguish the two battles fought there. Around Fredericksburg, the four battlefields are separate places to visit. Richmond’s sites are spread across the surrounding region, while Petersburg’s tour links multiple units and historic ground. Choose a park based on the time you have, then use its official map to plan the route.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.nps.gov/mana/planyourvisit/things2do.htm
|title=Things To Do
|website=Manassas National Battlefield Park
|publisher=National Park Service
|access-date=2026-10-23
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.nps.gov/rich/planyourvisit/directions.htm
|title=Directions
|website=Richmond National Battlefield Park
|publisher=National Park Service
|access-date=2026-10-23
}}</ref>

== The Shenandoah Valley ==
The valley’s Civil War story spans many battlefields and related historic sites. The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District brings together sites across the region, while [[Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park]] offers a place to explore the Battle of Cedar Creek and its surrounding landscape. For a broader visit, combine battlefield stops with nearby towns and museums in the [[Shenandoah Valley]].<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.nps.gov/places/shenandoah-valley-battlefields-national-historic-district.htm
|title=Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District
|website=National Park Service
|publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior
|access-date=2026-10-23
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.nps.gov/places/cedar-creek-battlefield.htm
|title=Cedar Creek Battlefield
|website=National Park Service
|publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior
|access-date=2026-10-23
}}</ref>

== Planning your visit ==
<ul>
<li><b>Pick a manageable area.</b> The parks vary in scale: some have a visitor center and nearby trails, while others require driving between sites.</li>
<li><b>Check current operations.</b> Building hours, seasonal programs, and closures can change. Review the NPS operating-hours and alerts pages before traveling.</li>
<li><b>Download maps in advance.</b> Maps and directions are especially useful for parks with multiple battlefield units or sites spread across a region.</li>
<li><b>Allow time to walk.</b> Trails, earthworks, historic structures, and interpretive exhibits often make the landscape easier to understand than a quick drive-through.</li>
<li><b>Explore beyond the park boundary.</b> Nearby communities can add museums, historic districts, and places to eat or stay; see [[Fredericksburg, Virginia]], [[Richmond, Virginia]], [[Petersburg, Virginia]], and [[Manassas, Virginia]].</li>
</ul>

== Related Virginia history ==
For more sites and travel ideas, see [[Virginia’s Civil War Sites]], [[Virginia Civil War Trails]], [[Virginia’s National Battlefield Parks]], and [[Virginia’s National Park Service Sites]]. For the war’s final campaign and surrender, continue to [[Appomattox Court House National Historical Park]].

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== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://www.nps.gov/subjects/battlefields/civil-war.htm National Park Service: Civil War battlefields]
* [https://www.nps.gov/frsp/planyourvisit/hours.htm Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park: Operating hours and seasons]
* [https://www.nps.gov/rich/planyourvisit/index.htm Richmond National Battlefield Park: Plan your visit]
* [https://www.nps.gov/pete/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm Petersburg National Battlefield: Basic information]
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