Itineraries for Your Trip to Gettysburg
3 Days in Gettysburg for Families
My Dad moved to Gettysburg when I was about 11. Weekends, summers, and winter holidays were spent exploring the town and the surrounding countryside, from the scores of preserved Civil War-era battlefields to endless Orrtanna fruit orchards. It was a great place to be a kid.
As a 30-something writer, I still find much to appreciate in Gettysburg. The great thing about a historic location is that most of its charms never change. I’ve changed, of course, and am probably likelier to be visiting an art gallery or museum in town than climbing an apple tree. But I can confirm that Gettysburg has something to offer every age, making it an ideal destination for families.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a trip to Devil’s Den, the boulder-covered battlefield site.
Expect hot, sticky summers and snowy winters; fall and spring are golden-lit and sublime.
Start your first day with a visit to the battlefields, otherwise known as Gettysburg National Military Park. Walking and hiking trails abound, or visit by bike or horseback. It's a peaceful place these days, filled with sloping hills, grassy meadows, and plenty of statues and monuments.
To understand the fierce battles that took place, head to Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum, where miniature battle reenactments have been staged by hand—in a kid-friendly twist, all the soldiers are cats.
On your second day, hop in the car for a short drive outside town to Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium, a wildly unique old-time candy shop that doubles as an elephant museum—you’ll find thousands of pachyderm figurines, big and small, and elephant facts. Pick up homemade fudge or quirky offerings like pizza-flavored cotton candy, and explore the outdoor garden.
Next, head back to the battlefields to burn off that sugar high, specifically Devil’s Den. A key battle location on the second day of fighting during the Civil War, this larger-than-life set of boulders has become something of a playground: Kids love climbing the big stones like billy goats. It’s located just below Little Round Top.
Start your last day with a visit to the Shriver House Museum. This family-friendly favorite focuses on the fate of a single Civil War-era civilian household, including its small children. Period-costumed guides conduct tours, and you can glimpse a sharpshooter’s nest in the attic.
Shake off that wartime history with a visit to the Land of Little Horses, an open-air petting zoo famous for its ponies. It’s a short drive outside town toward Orrtana. If you’re not too tuckered out, wind down the evening with a ghost walk through town and listen to Gettysburg’s spookiest stories.
