Are you looking for things to do in Gettysburg with kids?
Gettysburg is a small town in Pennsylvania that is big on history!
As the location of one of the most critical battles of the Civil War, Gettysburg draws in families and history lovers worldwide.
If you’re planning a weekend getaway or road-tripping through Pennsylvania, we found plenty of things to do in Gettysburg with our kids. From the museums and fun shops, to exploring the battlefield, you can fill up your weekend!
And if you like hiking, there are some beautiful, family-friendly hikes near Gettysburg in the Michaux State Forest.
Gettysburg is a short drive from Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. It’s an easy add-on to a vacation in Hershey or Lancaster!
The guide below shares some of the best Gettysburg attractions and unique things to do in Gettysburg, as well as some great places to eat and sleep. So, let’s check them out!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Let’s Plan Your Gettysburg Trip!
Are you still working out details for your trip to Gettysburg with kids? These are some great ticket and hotel options!
Tickets/Tours:
- Check out a Family-Friendly Ghost Tour
- Take a Self-Guided Driving Tour of the battlefield.
- Visit the Shriver Family Home and lean about how the battle impacted their lives.
Hotels:
- Hampton Inn: A short drive into town, features free breakfast and large suites.
- The Inn at Lincoln Square: In the heart of town, features suites with kitchens
- The Gettysburg Hotel: Right in town, features large suites
Things to Do in Gettysburg With Kids
1. The David Wills House
Abraham Lincoln slept here! The Wills House is where Abraham Lincoln stayed when he visited Gettysburg, months after the battle took place. He was said to have put the finishing touches on his famous Gettysburg Address speech in the home.
The house also served as a makeshift hospital after the battle. You can visit the home on select days throughout the year for FREE. The National Park website has more information.
2. The Shriver House Museum
There are two historic homes on Baltimore Street that give you a great perspective of what life was like for the citizens of Gettysburg during the battle. And the Shriver House is one of them.
Visitors will learn about the Shriver family and what they and their home endured during the battle of Gettysburg.
The tour is about 30-40 minutes, but allow time to check-in before your tour starts and peruse the gift shop. Make sure to walk down the small alleyway to look for bullet holes from the battle! (The building adjacent was not built at the time of the battle).
The Shriver House is open seasonally, with days and hours varying. Stop by or call ahead to secure a tour time, especially if you are traveling with a larger group.
3. The Jennie Wade House
The Jennie Wade House is the other home on Baltimore Street worth visiting for an insight into the life of a Gettysburg civilian.
The tour starts in the adjacent gift shop, where you will get a history of the Wade family and their home.
The self-guided tour continues through the house. It is interesting to compare the two historic homes, as the families’ wealth and status were obviously different.
Touring the Jennie Wade House will take about 15-20 minutes, depending on how much time you spend in each room. After you tour the home, walk over to the Evergreen Cemetery (right next to the National Cemetery) to pay respects to Jennie Wade. You’ll recognize her gravesite by the Perpetual American Flag. Jennie Wade is one of only two women to be bestowed the honor of the Perpetual Flag.
4. Children of Gettysburg 1863
Travel back in time to 1863, where children can learn about what it was like to live at the Rupp House during the infamous battle.
Kids can explore hands-on exhibits like “Growing Up in Gettysburg 1863,” “The Soldiers are Coming,” “Surviving the Battle” and “Remembering Gettysburg”. They can even stand at a podium and give the Gettysburg Address!
Children 12 and under are FREE with a paying adult. Hours vary depending on the season.
5. Seminary Ridge Interpretive Trail
For some time outside, with a bit of learning mixed in, the Seminary Ridge Interpretive Trail does the job.
This half-mile walking path loops halfway around the United Lutheran Seminary, the location of the Union Army on the first day of the battle. It starts at the intersection of N. Hay and Elm Streets.
Visitors can learn more about the importance of the location and its impact on the outcome of the battle at the Seminary Ridge Museum. You can also visit the site of General Lee’s headquarters across York Street. The home is expected to open in 2022 for tours.
6. Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center
Gettysburg National Military Park is home to one of the best-known battlefields in America, and is one of the top things to do in Gettysburg!
Before you head out onto the battlefield, your first stop should be the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center.
We recommend doing the whole film, cyclorama, and museum experience. All three give you a great insight into what occurred over those three days of battle and what drew the armies to Gettysburg in the first place.
Even if you would rather skip the museum, you can get a map of the battlefield and tour, use the restrooms, fill your water bottles, or even get a bite to eat. The café has a vast selection of food and is a great place to grab lunch before heading out on the battlefield tour!
The museum and visitor center are open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Please remember that even though the battlefield is a National Park site, the museum is run by the Gettysburg Foundation, so your National Park passes are not valid for admission.
7. The Gettysburg Battlefield Tour
You have a few options to do the Gettysburg Battlefield Tour in your vehicle.
1. You can follow the self-guided tour information on the map from the National Park Service. These maps are available at the museum and visitor center for FREE. Each stop has a brief paragraph describing the importance of the site.
2. If you have a CD player in your vehicle, you can purchase one of the auto tours available at the gift shop in the visitor center. There were two options when we visited. The one we bought allowed the option of different length tours. Both options were around $30.
3. Another option is to download a self-guided driving tour to your phone. This one included a GPS map and audio narration.
4. If you don’t want to drive around the battlefield yourself, you can take a bus tour that will guide you through the battlefield.
No matter which tour option you choose, allow a minimum of two hours to drive around the 24-mile tour. More than that, if you plan to explore some of the stops.
Visitor’s Tip: There are 16 stops on the Gettysburg Battlefield Tour. Getting out at each one will add a significant amount of time to your tour. If you are short on time (or attention), these are the best stops to visit with kids!
- Stop 2: The Eternal Light Peace Memorial – places to climb, many cannons to look at, and great views.
- Stop 3: Oak Ridge – climb the stairs of the observation tower to get the best views.
- Stop 8: Little Round Top – the kids will love climbing on the rocks.
- Devil’s Den: Not an official tour stop, but still a fun place for climbing on rocks (access via Crawford Ave after Stop 8)
- Stop 12: The Pennsylvania Memorial – you can climb the stairs to the top of the memorial for fun views.
8. The Gettysburg National Cemetery
Even though it is the final stop on the Gettysburg Battlefield Tour, the National Cemetery is remarkable on its own.
As the last resting place for thousands of Civil War soldiers, including almost one thousand unknowns, the cemetery is a beautiful and solemn reminder of what our country lost to stay the United States we are today.
The cemetery is also where Abraham Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address, making it historically significant in more than one way.
9. Take a Ghost Tour
The Battle of Gettysburg was the deadliest of the Civil War and some claim soldiers are still haunting town. There are several ghost tours available in town, but you’ll want to do one that’s family-friendly if you’re visiting with kids.
10. The Union Drummer Boy Civil War Artifacts Store
One of the best things about visiting small towns are the unique shops. And the Union Drummer Boy on York Street is one of those cool stores.
This shop has hundreds of artifacts from the Civil War, making the store feel more like a museum. Everything in the store is for sale, but you can also visit to get a close-up view of buttons, bayonets, bullets, and more! The store is open seven days a week. You can also shop online.
11. Land of Little Horses
Land of Little Horses is kid’s dream! This live animal park allows children to get up close with almost 50 ponies and horses in fun ways.
They offer pony rides, horse shows, and pig races in settings like a western town and indoor arenas. They even have a little train ride!
Land of Little Horses is open daily in the summer and weekends in the fall. Visit their website for up-to-date pricing and hours.
Other Things to Do Near Gettysburg With Kids
12. Hikes Near Gettysburg
The Michaux State Forest is about 15-30 minutes from Gettysburg and is filled with beautiful hiking trails. Some of them lead to amazing views of the area.
We recommend the following hiking trails near Gettysburg to do with your kids. Two are on the steeper side, but they are short enough for kids to handle. And the other one has an awesome rocks to climb on and explore!
Pole Steeple Trail
An out-and-back trail, about .6 miles to the summit. It’s steep, but there’s an alternative, more moderate route available, about halfway through the trail.
The parking lot is in Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Cross the street and look for the blue blazes.
Sunset Rocks
The full trail is about 1.3 miles (one way from Old Shippensburg Road to Michaux Road), though the view is about halfway through the trail.
If you park at Old Shippensburg, you’ll be driving down a dirt road to a small parking area (2-3 cars, max). The trail is very steep on that end! You get a beautiful view to the southwest after scrambling over some rocks.
Chimney Rocks
There are a few options to reach this summit. If you park at Shaffer Rock Trail, the hike will be about 3.5 miles total. You can also use the Appalachian Trail or Hermitage Trail.
The trail isn’t very exciting, but the summit is awesome. Rocks to scramble over and climb while you enjoy views of the rolling mountains in front of you.
13. Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium
Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium is a fun, roadside attraction to visit near Gettysburg with kids.
The candy store is filled with every kind of the candy you can think of, even tasty fudge and ice cream. However, the real attraction is Mr. Ed’s extensive elephant collection. There are over 10,000 elephant figurines and sculptures on display!
It’s FREE to visit Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum, but you’ll mist likely be spending some money on candy.
14. Utz Factory Tour
Another fun thing to do near Gettysburg is the Utz Factory Tour in nearby Hanover.
Fans of their delicious potato chips will enjoy learning how they are made with their step-by-step audio program on the self-guided tour.
This FREE tour is offered Monday- Thursdays with various hours. They are closed on major holidays. Visit their website for more information.
Common Questions About Visiting Gettysburg With Kids
How Do You Make Gettysburg Fun For Kids?
We get it! Historical places, especially ones known for battles might not be the first place your kid want to visit.
However, you can easily make Gettysburg fun for kids by changing up how you tour the battlefield. You can ride around on bikes and horses. You’ll also want stop at some of the more “fun” battlefield stops, like Little Round Top, the Devil’s Den, and the Pennsylvania Memorial.
Is One Day Enough at Gettysburg?
One day is enough to see the museum and cyclorama at the visitor center and also tour the battlefield.
However, if you want to explore more of downtown Gettysburg and the fun museums, we recommend staying for a weekend. And to see everything on this list, you’ll need at three days! So you might as well make a long weekend getaway out of it.
Is It Free to Visit Gettysburg?
It doesn’t cost any money to drive around the Gettysburg Battlefield. However, we recommend downloading an audio tour for the best experience.
The Visitor Center is FREE to enter, but you will need tickets to see the cyclorama and museum portions of the center.
Where to Stay With Kids in Gettysburg
While there are many beautiful historic inns and bed and breakfasts in town, we recommend the Hampton Inn Gettysburg.
The location is convenient, at only a few minutes’ drive to town. It is near several stores and restaurants. There is even a CVS across the street for last-minute needs.
We loved our one-bedroom suite. There was plenty of space to spread out, and it even had a fireplace to keep our evenings cozy. The microwave and refrigerator make it easy to prepare lunch for the road or have dinner in the room.
Breakfast is always included at a Hampton Inn, and this one had an excellent selection of both hot and cold foods. Even though we visited over spring break, it never felt too crowded. There is also an indoor pool and hot tub, a big bonus for our kids.
Best Places to Eat in Gettysburg With Kids
Gettysburg might be a small town, but it has plenty of good food to eat! Some of the restaurants we enjoyed were:
- The Gettysburger Co: Delicious burgers! And they are BIG! Come hungry. Leave full.
- Garryowen Irish Pub: The food here was so good. Traditional Irish fare, comfort food, and delicious beers. Plus the service was top notch.
- The Blue and Gray Bar & Grill: Recommended to us by a friend, they offer your traditional pub fare, but in several different styles
- Mr. G’s Ice Cream: Creamy, delicious, homemade ice cream. It was the perfect way to end the day!
Read It Now. Pin It For Later!
