Petersburg National Battlefield

VIRGINIA ATTRACTION

Petersburg National Battlefield

Explore the battlefields, earthworks and landscapes where a long Civil War siege helped bring the war to its close.

Location
Petersburg and nearby communities

Park layout
Four areas spread across about 33 miles

Best starting point
Eastern Front Visitor Center

Time to allow
A full day to explore the park

Petersburg National Battlefield preserves sites connected to the siege of Petersburg, a nearly ten-month campaign that lasted from June 1864 into April 1865. Rather than a single compact battlefield, the park is a collection of four areas: the Eastern Front, Western Front, Five Forks, and Grant’s Headquarters at City Point. A driving route links many of the principal sites, so a visit involves time on the road as well as walks among historic earthworks and exhibits.

Begin at the Eastern Front Visitor Center for exhibits, a short film and help planning a route. From there, the park’s stories unfold across different landscapes: fighting around the Crater, the Union supply hub at City Point, and the final campaign at Five Forks. The battlefield also offers trails and interpretive stops that bring visitors beyond the visitor center and into the terrain itself.

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Why visit Petersburg National Battlefield?

This is a place to understand how a prolonged siege worked on the ground—and how the campaign’s outcome shaped the final weeks of the Civil War. The preserved forts, trenches and battlefield routes make the scale of the conflict tangible, while the separate park units show how combat, supply operations and civilian life were connected across the region.

The park also gives room to explore the human stories behind the military history. Union forces included United States Colored Troops, and the City Point area interprets the Union’s supply operations alongside the history of the plantation and the free and enslaved people who lived there.

Start here

At the Eastern Front Visitor Center, take time with the museum exhibits and film before setting out. The park recommends this as the starting point for understanding the siege; staff can help visitors make sense of the different units and choose what to see with the time available.

The four park areas are spread over roughly 33 miles, and the National Park Service advises allowing a full day to experience the park as a whole. If time is limited, focus on the Eastern Front and its visitor center, then add another unit if your schedule and driving time allow.

What to see and do

Eastern Front and the Crater

Follow the Eastern Front tour road to battlefield stops associated with the opening assaults and the Battle of the Crater. The visitor center’s exhibits and film provide context before you walk the grounds.

Western Front

Explore sites associated with the Union army’s westward extension of the siege lines, including preserved forts and Poplar Grove National Cemetery.

Five Forks Battlefield

Visit the site of the April 1, 1865 battle and use the five-stop driving tour to follow the ground where the campaign’s closing phase unfolded.

Grant’s Headquarters at City Point

See the landscape of the Union’s major supply base and learn about the headquarters, hospital operations and people connected with City Point.

Trails and outdoor exhibits

Walk or bike selected trails and pause at wayside exhibits. Trail conditions and permitted uses differ by unit, so check current park guidance before setting out.

History and significance

Petersburg was strategically important because of its rail connections and its role in supplying Richmond, the Confederate capital. After Union forces crossed the James River, they attacked Petersburg in mid-June 1864. When the early assaults did not capture the city, the fighting settled into siege warfare, with armies building and extending lines around Petersburg over the months that followed.

One of the campaign’s best-known episodes came on July 30, 1864, when Union troops exploded a mine beneath a Confederate position. The resulting opening became the Crater, but the attack failed to break through the defenses. The siege continued as Union forces pushed their lines westward and fought a succession of engagements, culminating at Five Forks on April 1, 1865. The Confederate withdrawal from Petersburg and Richmond followed soon afterward.

The park’s interpretation includes the participation of Black soldiers in the Union army and the varied roles African Americans held at City Point. At the headquarters area, visitors can also learn about the Appomattox plantation, the Eppes family, and the free and enslaved people who lived there before and during the war.

Planning a visit

Plan the route before arrival: the park’s areas are separated by substantial driving distances, and the visitor centers do not all share the same schedule. The Eastern Front Visitor Center is listed by the National Park Service as open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with holiday closures. Hours for City Point and Five Forks can differ. Confirm current hours, road access, trail conditions and any ranger programs on the park’s official pages before traveling.

The Eastern Front has a network of nature trails; Five Forks also has trails, described by the park as primitive and unimproved. Check the park’s maps and outdoor-activity guidance for current trail details and permitted uses. Ranger programs vary with season, staffing and weather, so consult the park calendar rather than relying on a past schedule.

Nearby attractions

Petersburg, Virginia
Explore the city whose strategic importance shaped the siege and the surrounding campaign.

Richmond, Virginia
Virginia’s capital, closely connected to the final campaign around Petersburg.

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
Continue the Civil War story at the site associated with the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Virginia’s Civil War Sites
Discover other Virginia places connected with the Civil War.

References

External links

• Petersburg National Battlefield — National Park Service
• Plan Your Visit — National Park Service