East Coast: Public campgrounds along the civil war “trail”

PUBLIC CAMPGROUNDS ALONG THE CIVIL WAR “TRAIL”

Though Civil War battlefields and sites are not located along an actual “trail” like the Oregon Trail, there are many people who create road trips dedicated to checking out these sites. Public campgrounds are located near these sites, though not in great numbers. There are also many privately-owned campgrounds and RV parks that may be closer to the battlefield sites than the city, county and state parks that will be listed here.

This post will put the Civil War battlefields and historical sites into geographical areas: PA/MD/VA, SC, TN/MS, and other areas as time permits. The most decisive battles will be here, as well as some smaller battles that are of interest to many civil war buffs.

Trip 1: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Appomattox, Virginia
Includes Gettysburg, Antietam, Monocacy (Frederick), Manassas, Washington DC, Arlington National Cemetery, Fredericksburg, Richmond, Petersburg, and Appomattox

Trip 2: Fort Sumter, South Carolina to Edisto Island, South Carolina

TRIP 1:


Click here for this RTA Library Map

***The tent symbols on the map above -- are the locations of the campgrounds identified in the posts of this thread***

Gettysburg National Military Park, Cemetery, and Surrounding Area, PA
1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA

Donna's Gettysburg, 2012, post 12
This is a personal log of a visit to Gettysburg by the author, in summer 2012.

Caledonia State Park, midway between Gettysburg and Chambersburg
101 Pine Grove Road, Fayetteville, PA

From Gettysburg, head south on US-15.

Catoctin Mountain Park
Note: Trailers limited to 22 ft and smaller.

To get to the next battlefield, Antietam, there are several routes you can take. One is to continue on US-15 to MD-77 West to Halfway, MD. Turn south on MD-65 to Sharpsburg.

Antietam National Battlefield and Surrounding Area
302 East Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD

Antietam Creek Campground, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal NHP, Sharpsburg, MD

After Antietam, return to Boonsboro and pick up US-40-Alt east, which will take you to Frederick.

Monocacy National Battlefield, Frederick, MD

At Frederick, turn west on US-340 then south on US-15 again. Take that to I-66. Turn east and then south on VA-234 to take you into Manassas.

Manassas National Battlefield and Surrounding Area
6511 Sudley Road, Old Town Manassas, VA

Bull Run Regional Park, No.VA Region, Centreville, VA
7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, CA

Prince William Forest Campground, NPS, Dumfries, VA
16058 Dumfries Road, Dumfries, VA

Washington DC – Capital of the USA

Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA

Prince William Forest Campground, NPS, Dumfries, VA
16058 Dumfries Road, Dumfries, VA

Pohick Bay Regional Park, No. VA Region, Lorton, VA
6501 Pohick Bay Drive, Lorton, VA

As painful as it is, take either I-95 south or US-1 south to reach Fredericksburg.

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Battlefield and Surrounding Area

Prince William Forest Campground, NPS, Dumfries, VA
16058 Dumfries Road, Dumfries, VA

Lake Anna State Park, Spotsylvania
6800 Lawyers Rd., Spotsylvania, VA

Stonewall Jackson Death Site, Fredericksburg

Continue south on I-95 or US-1 to reach the Richmond area.

Richmond National Battlefield and Surrounding Area

White House of the Confederacy, Richmond, VA
1201 East Clay Street, Richmond

Powhatan State Park, Powhatan
4616 Powhatan State Park Rd., Powhatan, VA

Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield
Note: Use this campground for Richmond OR Petersburg, or both.
10301 State Park Rd., Chesterfield, VA

Continue south on I-95 or US-1 to reach Petersburg.

Petersburg National Battlefield, and Surrounding Area
5001 Siege Rd., Prince George, VA

After Petersburg, turn west on US-460, which will take you into Appomattox Court House.

Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park, Rice, VA
Note: There is no camping available at this state park.
6541 Saylers Creek Rd., Rice, VA

Appomattox Court House and Surrounding Area
111 National Park Drive, Appomattox, VA

Donna's visit to Appomattox, Summer 2012, post 11
This is a personal log of a visit to Appomattox as part of a longer trip to DC

Holliday Lake State Park, Appomattox
2759 State Park Rd., Appomattox, VA

If you are combining Trip 1 (ends at Appomattox Court House) with Trip 2, there are a number of possibilities for routing to get you from Appomattox to Charleston, SC, where Trip 2 picks up.

Trip 2: Fort Sumter to Edisto Island, South Carolina


Click here for this RTA Library Map


***The tent symbols on the map above -- are the locations of the campgrounds identified in the posts of this thread***


Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Charleston
1214 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island, SC
Note: Fort Sumter is where the first shots were fired in the Civil War.

Donna's trip to Fort Sumter, Summer 2023, post 10
This is a personal log of a visit to Fort Sumter in June, 2023, as part of a longer East Coast trip.

Drayton Hall Plantation, Ashley River Road
3380 Ashley River Road, Charleston
Note: One of a few plantations being lovingly restored to their early splendor.

Middleton Place Plantation, Ashley River Road
4300 Ashley River Road, Charleston
Note: Another of the plantations. This one is a designated National Historic Landmark.

James Island County Park Campground, Charleston County, Charleston
871 Riverland Dr., Charleston

Folly Beach County Park, Charleston County, Charleston
1100 W Ashley Avenue, Folly Beach

Beaufort, SC and Surrounding Area

Hunting Island State Park
2555 Sea Island Parkway, Hunting Island

Edisto Island State Park, Edisto Island and Edisto Island Scenic Byway
8377 State Cabin Rd., Edisto Island

Tom Herbertson has built brand new maps showing the Civil War historical sites mentioned in this thread and the locations of the campgrounds that are also identified with a special campground symbol on each map.

Dennis Goza created the roadtrip attractions and verified the physical addresses for each campground which should make it easier for those who are planning to visit these historic sites and are also planning to camp along the way.

--RTA Custom Maps