Gettysburg: Self-Guided Battlefield Audio Tour & Driving Route

Summary

Drive Gettysburg’s fields at your own pace with stories that echo through time

You’ll drive through Gettysburg’s battlefield at your own pace, guided by an audio tour that brings each site alive with stories — from generals’ strategies to small moments like a dog mascot or a family fleeing dinner mid-battle. Pause anywhere for photos or reflection; feel free to linger where it matters most to you.

What’s the experience like?

Tapping the phone screen, my brother squinted at the Gettysburg Heritage Center parking lot — “Is this where it starts?” We’d already argued about which entrance was right (he was, annoyingly), but once the audio kicked in, the voice just sort of pulled us along. The car filled up with old names, cannon fire in my imagination, and that weird feeling you get when history feels too close for comfort. I rolled down the window — cold air, sharp with grass and something earthy — and tried to picture soldiers moving across these same fields. The app told us to pause if we wanted to wander or take photos, so we did, especially near that first memorial with Maine granite and Alabama limestone stacked together. Didn’t expect to feel anything at a pile of rocks, but there it was.

We kept creeping along the auto road, listening as generals barked orders (in my head anyway) and learning about things like Battlefield Sallie — a dog statue tucked behind one monument. My niece made us stop so she could find her (“She’s got ears like Grandpa’s!”). Sometimes the stories got heavy; at Trostle farm they said dinner was still on the table when everyone fled. I pictured bread going stale in the July heat. The tour let us go slow or skip ahead if we wanted; no guide hurrying us along or making jokes that fall flat. Just our little group, windows fogging up from our breath as we listened to stories about sharpshooters hiding among Devil’s Den rocks or doctors working through the night at Weikert Farm.

I’m not usually one for long drives — I get twitchy — but here it felt right to move slow. At Little Round Top we climbed out (muddy shoes) and stood quiet looking over those hills. The audio described Pickett’s Charge and I found myself holding my breath without meaning to. At the National Cemetery stop, my brother read Lincoln’s words out loud while a couple nearby snapped photos in silence. There was something about hearing those lines while standing there that stuck with me longer than I expected.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Gettysburg Battlefield and Memorials

• Start at Gettysburg Heritage Center
• Drive to McPherson's Ridge battle site
• Pass Railway Cut skirmish site
• Visit Eternal Light Peace Memorial
• Stop at Oak Ridge Observation Tower
• See 11th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument
• Drive past Seminary Ridge Museum
• Pass North Carolina and Virginia Monuments
• Enter second day of battle sites
• View Longstreet Observation Tower
• Optional visit to Eisenhower National Historic Site
• Observe Confederate troop assembly
• Pass Little Round Top and Valley of Death
• Drive by Devil's Den sharpshooters' site
• Pass Wheat Fields battle site
• Drive past Peach Orchard battlefield
• See Trostle farm evacuation site
• Visit Plum Run battlefield area
• Pass George Weikert Farm hospital site
• Stop at Pennsylvania Memorial
• Visit Spangler's Spring and Culp's Hill Tower
• Explore East Cemetery Hill night raid site
• Learn about Gettysburg National Military Park
• Witness third day Pickett's Charge site
• End at National Cemetery and Gettysburg Address site

Top questions

How long does the Gettysburg self-guided driving audio tour take?

The tour covers over 19 miles and takes about 1-2 hours to complete, depending on your pace and stops.

Do I need internet during the Gettysburg battlefield audio tour?

No, you only need internet or WiFi to download the app and tour files before starting; after that it works offline.

Where does the Gettysburg audio driving tour start?

You can begin at either the Gettysburg Heritage Center or the National Park Visitor Center.

Is this an entrance ticket for Gettysburg National Military Park?

No, this is not an entrance ticket; check opening hours separately before your visit.

Can multiple people listen on one purchase?

Yes, buy once per car so everyone inside can listen together during your drive.

How do I access the self-guided audio tour after booking?

You’ll receive an email and text with instructions and a password to download Action’s Tour Guide App before arrival.

Are there any physical requirements for this tour?

No special fitness level is needed since it’s a driving tour with optional stops for walking.

Can I pause or skip parts of the Gettysburg battlefield audio tour?

Yes, you can pause anytime for breaks or skip sections you’re less interested in.

What’s included

Your day includes access to Action’s easy-to-use Tour Guide App (downloadable before arrival), hands-free location-based audio stories as you drive, offline maps so you won’t worry about signal drops, flexibility to start anytime from two main points in Gettysburg, and use of your purchase for one year—so you can revisit whenever you want.