The Gettysburg center is around the area of Battle of Gettysburg Re-enactment and the area of Lincoln Room Museum.
The best time to visit Gettysburg is in the spring or summer, when temperatures are generally sunny and pretty mild out. Pennsylvania can get some frigid winters, so it's best to avoid Gettysburg during that time frame. While it's still possible to go, it's much more enjoyable to see the outdoor tourist attractions when it's not in the middle of a snow storm. On the other side of the spectrum, the summers can be unbearably hot. If spending a majority of time outside seeing the attractions and learning about the history is important, it's best to avoid the summer and winter.
Spring is a beautiful time to visit, as the grass has turned green again and the flowers are blooming. The Reenactor Appreciation Weekend occurs in spring, which can be a treat to see to better visualize how times were back in the 1800s. Gettysburg also has one of the oldest Memorial Day parades in the country, which is special for history lovers to attend. The Apple Blossom Festival occurs in the spring to add a beautiful background to the historic city. Although you can expect some rain, the weather is generally sunny and warm.
Fall is a very scenic time to visit, as the green leaves are starting to turn beautiful shades of red and orange. The throngs of tourists who were on summer break have disappeared, and the weather is starting to cool down from the summer's unbearable heat. There are plenty of events to attend in addition to the usual tourist attractions. Remembrance Day occurs to celebrate Lincoln's Gettysburg Address speech from over a hundred years ago. You can also visit the Eisenhower Farm, the previous getaway of former president Dwight D. Eisenhower, to celebrate World War II Weekend.
If a hotel with good amenities and a discount is important, there's plenty to choose from. The Quality Inn Gettysburg Battlefield offers a 10 percent discount to seniors who show their ID upon check-in. Take a few laps in their outdoor seasonal pool, frolic in the indoor pool, or enjoy the spa tub. For those with larger vehicles, the hotel offers free parking for buses, RVs, and trucks, which is often hard to find in a city. The hotel is conveniently within walking distance to Battlefield Military Museum, the Gettysburg Battle Theatre, and the Lincoln Train Museum.
If a hotel convenient for a work meeting is a priority, stay at the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg. Group rates are offered, and there are up to six meeting rooms that can be rented out along with free Wi-Fi so everyone can be online during the meeting. Pets are allowed at this hotel for anyone traveling that may have their furry friends with them, so no need to find boarding for them. Located less than half a mile away are the Gettysburg Battle Theatre, the Lincoln Train Museum, and the American Civil War Wax Museum.
Gettysburg has plenty of midrange hotels in prime locations at affordable prices. The Gettysburg Hotel, Est. 1797 has a restaurant that serves dinner as well as a bar to retreat to later for a glass of wine. Banquet rooms are available that hold up to 300 people. Over a dozen attractions are located within a mile away, including the Gettysburg National Military Park, the U.S. Army Reserve Center, and the Gettysburg Diorama. Spend your days walking to all the nearby attractions while learning about the history of the United States and how the area used to be.
The Comfort Suites Gettysburg is the city's first completely smoke-free hotel that has all suites. The heated indoor pool and fitness center will make sure you stay in shape during your visit. Their hot breakfast bar includes a station to make your own waffles. It's located close to the Gettysburg Battlefield and has views of the National Cemetery. There are many local wine tasting rooms and restaurants nearby to venture out to at night. A marketplace is available with snacks and drinks for children who suddenly get hungry or adults who don't want to leave the hotel.
There is so much to do in Gettysburg, with such a high amount of museums per capita. The Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center is a good place to start to learn about the history of the town. Reserve your tickets in advance to get your own battlefield guide to personally answer any burning questions you have. For the civilians' perspective of what happened during the Civil War, visit the Shriver House Museum. It tells the story of what happened when the Confederate troops took over the Shriver's family house during the war due to its prime location.
From low-budget hotels to luxurious accommodations, there's a hotel for everyone in Gettysburg. This historic location has so much to offer in way of festivals, reenactments, and original buildings that have been restored. Weeks could be spent exploring all the museums in the area, from showing how the war was for civilians to celebrating historic moments in the Civil War as well. The Gettysburg National Cemetery is also a special place due to the Gettysburg Address by Lincoln. The small town can be visited in any season, but choose a season depending on what activities you want to do outdoors first.
Below are reviews of the city of Gettysburg, PA from an actual visitor's perspective.
Gettysburg benefits from one of the most well preserved Civil War battlefields in the country. It is a real pleasure to be able to tour, walk, investigate, learn and meet others who are similarly inclined.
Everything, nice town with good restaurants
Nice town with good restaurants!
The history is amazing! The town is clean and there are some great places to eat.
Gettysburg has a lot of nice restaurants , museums and other activities.
Love the city decked out in Christmas lights and decorations. The city has charm and many excellent restaurants. The Majestic Theater was magnificent.
We love Gettysburg and go every year at Christmas!
Great Lincoln Forum Conference!
The Visitor Center and Battlefield Tours are excellent.
The tour of the Gettysburg Civil War battlefield and the museum.
Shriver House Museum is a great tour!
Great shops!
Clean!! Pleasant experience with welcoming front desk service.
The history, downtown stores and restaurants.
Gettysburg battlefield is a very humbling experience. Go to the Visitors Center and purchase the film/Cyclorama/museum package - you won't be disappointed. I also hired a tour guide for a three hour personal battlefield tour. Worth every penny.
We have been to Gettysburg many times. This was the first time we visited the Beyond the Battle Museum. We enjoyed our visit very much especially the Crossfire experience. We love Gettysburg Eddie's.
Well done!
Well done.
Great monuments and community, lots to see and do. Will definetely return.
The the small town was very nice and all roads led to mountains that were made for interesting riding.
We have been there many times and we like the history.
We really liked the horseback ride through the battlefields. We found the Confederacy Riding Tour and they were excellent. They gave us all receivers and the guide talked to us the entire time so we knew where we were on the battlefields.
Been to Gettysburg several times. We love the history and believe every American should have the opportunity to visit and especially all school age children. We believe the visitor center is exceptional and the services provided.
Land of the little horses. Hickickory Hill Arcade.
Location was good for bike weekend!
Liked the National Historical Park a lot.
Double decker bus tour was as good as it gets!
The Battlefield Tour.
Historical Gettysburg should be experienced by every American! A wonderful, friendly city.
Gettysburg is amazing. So peaceful and clean. I felt right at home.
The closeness to the battlefield was great as well as the stores and other places!
The Battlefield and different shops were very interesting to see!
The closeness of the restaurants and the battlefield.
Town is full of history; people are very friendly and eager to share their knowledge. Grandchildren learned a lot over our four day visit! We hope to return in the future!
Learned the history!
The history!
History and restaurants!
The Gettysburger restaurant is the BEST place to eat!!! We ate two times there during our 4 day stay!
Went to Gettysburg battlefield and visitors center, really interesting!
What's not to like about Gettysburg? The battlegrounds are fantastic and the shops were nice and the food in the Irish pub was good and the people are very nice.
I'm a Civil War buff so this is the best experience. Very moving.
Everyone so friendly, accommodating.
we loved Gettysburg. wish we could have stayed longer. The uniqueness.
we loved Gettysburg. wish we could have stayed longer. The uniqueness.
Love the restaurants and taverns!
Variety of restaurants, friendly people.. humbling experience with the attractions at Gettysburg.
Everyone in the area is kind and wonderful to be around. Things are reasonably priced in the area, it is a welcome change to most expense tourist locations!!
Nice
I WAS THERE FOR THE INSULATOR SHOW. WE NEVER LEFT THE HOTEL.
Quality national park, clean town and little to none rif-raf. I felt safe walking around.
The restaurants and the history!
The Gettysburger restaurant and Uppercrust!
In awe of the history! Incredible place to visit!
So many things to see and do! Lots of restaurants and shops! First time there and it was great!! Will go again.
LOVE everything about Gettysburg - cannot wait to return.
As a former Civil War reenactor, Gettysburg is a sacred place. The town such a great job of keeping its history alive. The homes with cannons in their front yards to the plaques denoting the buildings that were here during the war all make you feel a part of the important event that took place here. The city does an excellent job keeping the downtown area so clean and traffic moving so swiftly. One would never believe that millions of people go in and out of this town and park each year. Everything is kept maintained and manicured so well. Thank you for the work done by so many to keep this the sacred place it is.
Did the double decker bus battlefield tour which was awesome!!
Is not allowing commercialization and keeps that small town America!
Lots of history that can't be denied, lots of interesting things to see and learn.
Inspiring!
The bakery in Gettysburg and the historic sites in town and on the battlefield are worth the trip.
The history and tour was nice.
Love how close to Gettysburg Museum it is located.
Love how close the hotel is to Gettysburg Museum.
Very nice.
Love the history of Gettysburg! Beautiful town and area.
It's awesome!!
The Gettysburg Polish Pottery Store at 102 Baltimore St was fantastic! The SWEEET Candy store next to the Polish Pottery Factory was nostalgic for it's selections and gifts. The REDBUD HOUSE at 28 Baltimore St had a great assortment of kitchen accessories, gifts, and home items for sale.
Gettysburg is a historic site to be remembered. Views are breathtaking. Town is as cute as can be.
Love all the goings on! All the history. People are very friendly!
Family ties and memories. Surrounding countryside
All of the museum and historical site personnel were obviously very proud of their respective attractions and made our visit all the more pleasant. We experienced the same courtesy and hospitality at restaurants throughout our stay.
Gettysburg has something for everyone -- history, tchachki, good restaurants and shopping. It's a super place to spend a few days.
It is truly a special piece of American history situated in a quaint town.
You can walk the battlefield 100 times and still learn something new each time.
This is our third time (2014 - 2016 - 2018 at Gettysburg Country Inns. One of our group is a 20th Maine descendant and re4-enacter. His presentation of the battle and battlefield was the best I've ever heard and I've heard many. It comprehensively brought the battle alive. Wolf Bus tours was equally accommodating and their driver Mike was superb. Dinners at the Appallacian Brew Pub and the Dobbin House were exceptional. No matter where we turned people extended themselves for us and were most generous with their time and resources. A humbling experience. It is all one could hope for in presenting the story clearly and comprehensively.
Although the hotel was not clean the staff at the hotel were very helpful and friendly. I loved the history in the city and am looking forward to coming back again.
The group reservation coordinator at Comfort Suites recommended we add the Gettysburg Heritage center to our itinerary. It was well worth the time and modest entrance fee. They focus on the experience of the town during the battle, have some neat displays and a pretty good short film.
We loved the city! We needed more time, though.
The visitors center and our bus stop guide for the battlefield tour was great. Random people in period dress added to the atmosphere. The ghost walk was also a nice way to see some of the town and its historic stories.
Take the Double Decker Battlefield Tour and the Jenny Wade House Tour.
The amazing thought of the complete courage of those who fought in the war and to know that Gettysburg honors them.
Love Gettysburg! Other then the obvious Civil War attractions, the city has excellent restaurants and great shopping.
The history