Manassas National Battlefield Park

The 5,000-acre tract bordered by Bull Run was the scene of two Confederate victories. The First Battle of Manassas, fought in 1861, was the opening engagement of the Civil War and pitted Union Brigadier General Irvin McDowell's unseasoned troops against ill-trained but spirited Confederates under Joseph E. Johnston and Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard.

The Union attack was repulsed by Confederates inspired by General Thomas J. Jackson and his Virginians, who stood against the enemy like a "stone wall," earning Jackson his famous nickname. Second Manassas, fought in 1862, cleared the way for General Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North. Federal forces under General John Pope retreated to Washington, D. C. General Lee led his Army of Northern Virginia across the Potomac into Maryland near Frederick; the invasion was thwarted at Antietam. The First Battle of Manassas can be explored by a one-mile, self-guided walking tour with interactive, interpretive signage. The Second Battle of Manassas has a thirteen-mile, self-guided driving tour (stops at various locations throughout the park).

6511 Sudley Road Manassas, VA 20109

6511 Sudley Rd, Manassas, Virginia 20109, USA

MORE ABOUT THE AREA

Manassas, VA — According to legend, the name Manassas was derived from an Indian source or from Manasseh, a Jewish innkeeper at Manassas Gap. Manassas originated in 1852 at the junction of two railroads which linked…

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Historic Manassas Visitor Center 9431 West St. Manassas, VA 20110 703-396-7130 or 800-432-1792 www.visitpwc.com

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Manassas National Battlefield Park | SECOND MANASSAS BATTLEFIELD TOUR

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Manassas National Battlefield Park Map (click to enlarge)

Manassas National Battlefield Park Map (click to enlarge)

The expansiveness of Manassas National Battlefield Park is due to the Second Battle of Manassas, a battle that was much larger than First Manassas in both terms of bloodshed and terrain. While the First Manassas battlefield can be explored by hiking a few trails, it takes twenty miles of driving to visit all of the key spots on the Second Manassas battlefield. To help organize your visit, the National Park Service has created a twelve-stop tour for those with a vehicle. However, just because you can reach the stops by vehicle doesn’t mean you can learn about the battle from the parking lots. If you aren’t willing to hike 1-2 miles, half of the stops aren’t even worth visiting because there is nothing at the parking lot other than an information panel. The story is out on the trails.

For those who want to learn more about the battle, the Second Manassas Field Guide , a CD audio tour, is on sale at the Henry Hill Visitor Center . Designed to play in your car as you tour the battlefield, the CD contains extensive narrations about the events that took place at each stop. It is not cheap, however, at $25, but it does include a small book of battle maps, bios of some of the key players, and information on the weapons of the day. I’ve purchased CD tours at other battlefields for as little as $5, but all I got was the CD.

While the National Park Service owns all of the battlefield property (sixteen square miles), this is not a self-contained park with an entrance and perimeter fencing around the borders. City streets and four-lane highways crisscross the park and cars travel at normal speeds, so you can’t lollygag and sightsee from your car windows. Each tour stop has a parking area, so be sure to use it. Also, during rush hour you could be sitting in traffic for an hour, so avoid the tour at this time.

For detailed information on what there is to see and do at each tour stop, visit the following review pages. A menu is located at the bottom of each page that allows you to navigate to the next and previous stops.

Stop 1: Brawner Farm

Stop 2: Battery Heights

Stop 3: Stone House

Stop 4: Matthews Hill

Stop 5: Sudley Church Area

Stop 6: Unfinished Railroad

Stop 7: Deep Cut

Stop 8: Groveton

Stop 9: New York Monuments

Stop 10: Chinn Ridge

Stop 11: Portici Plantation Site

Stop 12: Stone Bridge

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driving tour manassas battlefield

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Alerts in effect, where southern victories tested northern resolve.

On July 21, 1861, two armies clashed for the first time on the fields overlooking Bull Run. Heavy fighting swept away any notion of a quick war. In August 1862, Union and Confederate armies converged for a second time on the plains of Manassas. The Confederates won a solid victory bringing them to the height of their power.

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Welcome to Manassas National Battlefield Park

Learn about the different options for hiking the trails in the park!

Explore some of the park's museum collection online.

Learn more about the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) - July 21, 1861

Learn more about the Confederate victory at the Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) - August 28-30, 1862

Last updated: September 4, 2023

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Contact info, mailing address:.

12521 Lee Highway Manassas, VA 20109

703 361-1339 x0

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Photograph of a house at Bull Run

Bull Run Battlefield

First manassas.

The Manassas Battlefield is a must-see for anyone interested in American history.  From the Henry House Visitor Center you can tour Henry Hill or drive to Matthew's Hill, Sudley Ford, or Chinn Ridge.  The Visitor Center has a small, but excellent museum and a good orientation film. The Stone House, standing during the battle, is open to the public.

A photograph of a cannon and trees at Manassas National Battlefield Park

Tour Manassas Battlefield Sites in One Day

driving tour manassas battlefield

Tour Manassas Battlefield Sites and Vicinity in Three Days

Bull run battlefield: what's nearby.

Civil War   |   Historic Site Manassas National Battlefield Park Manassas, VA

Civil War   |   Historic Site James Robinson House Manassas, VA

Civil War   |   Historic Site Ben Lomond Historic Site Manassas, VA

Civil War   |   Battlefield Second Manassas Battlefield Gainesville, VA

Civil War   |   Museum The Manassas Museum System Manassas, VA

Civil War   |   Historic Site Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Bristow, VA

Civil War   |   Battlefield Bristoe Station Battlefield Bristow, VA

Civil War   |   Historic Site Sully Historic Site Chantilly, VA

Civil War   |   Battlefield Buckland Mills Battlefield Gainesville, VA

Civil War   |   Battlefield Chantilly Battlefield Chantilly, VA

Preservation

The American Battlefield Trust and our members would like to save land at Bull Run Battlefield.

View All Saved Land

Related Battles

Photograph of a house at Bull Run

First Manassas Virtual Tour

This is an image of the Bull Run App Icon placed on a landscape photograph of Bull Run.

Bull Run Battle App

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Stone Sentinels

driving tour manassas battlefield

  • Stone Sentinels books
  • Potomac River
  • Rappahannock River
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  • Tour the Antietam Battlefield
  • Monuments at Antietam
  • Tour the Chancellorsville Battlefield
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  • Tour the Cold Harbor Battlefield
  • Monuments and Markers on the Cold Harbor battlefield
  • Tour the Fredericksburg Battlefield
  • Tour the Gettysburg Battlefield
  • Battle of Gettysburg Facts
  • Tour the Harpers Ferry Battlefield
  • Tour the Manassas Battlefield
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Battlefield of Bull Run or First Manassas monument

Battles of Manassas  •  Tour the Battlefield  •   Monuments •  The Armies

The Battlefield of Bull Run or First Manassas monument is at  Stop 3  on the Manassas Battlefield Driving Tour. The marker is on the north side of the Stone House. at the foot of Buck Hill. the monument was erected in 1928 by the Western Division of the Battlefield Markers Association, which placed monuments commemorating Civil War battles all around Virginia.

The Bull Run or First Manassas monument is at Stop 3 on the Manassas Battlefield Driving Tour. 

From the monument:

Battlefield of Bull Run or First Manassas

July 21, 1861. Confederates under General Beauregard defeated Federals under General McDowell. General Jackson given name of “Stonewall” on this field. Generals Bee and Bartow killed. Old stone house used as hospital. This marker erected July 21, 1928.

The Battlefield of Bull Run or First Manassas monument is at Stop 3 on the Manassas Battlefield Driving Tour.

IMAGES

  1. Maps

    driving tour manassas battlefield

  2. Stop 10

    driving tour manassas battlefield

  3. Exploring

    driving tour manassas battlefield

  4. Stop 2

    driving tour manassas battlefield

  5. Manassas National Battlefield Park

    driving tour manassas battlefield

  6. Maps

    driving tour manassas battlefield

VIDEO

  1. Driving in Manassas virginia Battle field

  2. Driving from Manassas to Woodbridge

  3. Manassas Tour 2024

  4. Manassas National Battlefield Park

  5. Sabado de Adoracion, 5 Aniversario de Manassas Battlefield SDA

  6. Driving on Manassas Rd, Manassas, VA, USA

COMMENTS

  1. Tour Manassas Battlefield Sites in One Day

    Tour the battlefield. You have several options: Take a ranger-led walking tour (Brawner Farm, Deep Cut, Chinn Ridge). Take the 7.1-mile self-guided driving tour (approximately 2-3 hours). Don't Miss: Battery Heights-Union artillery engaged Confederate guns from this location during the Battle of Brawner Farm.

  2. Tour the Manassas Battlefield with a virtual driving tour of the

    The Manassas Battlefield Driving Tour: Henry Hill Visitor Center. Stop 1 - Brawner Farm. Stop 2 - Battery Heights. Stop 3 - Stone House. Stop 4 - Matthews Hill. Stop 5 - Sudley Springs Ford. Stop 6 - Unfinished Railroad. Stop 7 - Deep Cut.

  3. Guided Tours

    Henry Hill Walking Tour: Join a staff member to learn more about the First Battle of Manassas on the ground where the battle was fought in 1861. This tour lasts 45 minutes to an hour. Tours offered at 11 a.m. daily on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only. After March 10th, tours will also be offered on Sundays at 11 a.m.

  4. Things To Do

    Manassas National Battlefield Park preserves and interprets the grounds where two major battles of the American Civil War were fought. Whether you have a couple of hours, a full day, or multiple days to visit, there is plenty to see and do around the park! ... Take the self-guided driving tour (20 miles of driving, approximately 2-3 hours) to ...

  5. Manassas National Battlefield Auto Tour

    This is a scenic driving route, not a hiking trail. The First Battle of Manassas, on July 21, 1861, was the initial clash of the two main armies during the Civil War. The heavy fighting led to the realization that this was not going to be a quick conflict. The Confederate victory during the Second Battle of Manassas, on August 28-30, 1862, was one of the Southern high points in the war. This ...

  6. Guided, Multi-Sensory First Manassas Battlefield Tour

    Meeting Point: Outside the Manassas National Battlefield Park Visitor Center entrance (6511 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA) Duration: 3 Hours (mixture walking & driving) Highlights: Henry Hill, Matthews Hill, Stone Bridge, Sudley Springs Ford, Sudley Methodist Church, Stone House. Pricing. Group Size 1-3 Guests = $400. Group Size 4-6 Guests = $500.

  7. Maps

    Maps. The park's driving tour, shown on this map, takes you around the park to key locations during the Battle of Second Manassas. The 12 numbrered stops on this map generally follow the battle chronologically. Each stop has a parking lot and interpretive signage which provide information about the importance of that site in the overall battle.

  8. Manassas National Battlefield Park

    Established in 1940, Manassas National Battlefield Park is the keeper of numerous Civil War stories, sharing them with more than 700,000 visitors each year. ... For those wanting to take things at their own pace, the park's 20-mile self-guided driving tour allows visitors to interact with the site's vivid past from the comfort of their vehicle ...

  9. Manassas National Battlefield Park

    The Second Battle of Manassas has a thirteen-mile, self-guided driving tour (stops at various locations throughout the park). Additional interpretive loop trails lead to surviving landmarks at Manassas including the Dogan house, once in the line of fire; the Stone House, a Union field hospital during both battles; the unfinished railroad; and ...

  10. Tour Manassas Battlefield Sites and Vicinity in Three Days

    Watch the 45 minute orientation film, "Manassas: End of Innocence," which covers the battles of both First and Second Manassas. Tour the battlefield. You have several options: Take a ranger-led walking tour (Matthew's Hill & Henry House Hill) Take the 5.7-mile self-guided driving tour (approximately 2-3 hours)

  11. Stop 7

    Stop 7 of the Manassas Battlefield Driving Tour is the Deep Cut. The Deep Cut loop trail starts here and crosses the area of the Union advance to follow the line of the Unfinished Railroad before returning to the parking area. The Deep Cut is a continuation of the Unfinished Railroad at Stop Six. During the 1862 battle Federal troops assaulted ...

  12. Stop 10

    Stop 10 of the Manassas Battlefield Driving Tour, Chinn Ridge, is reached by a park road that turns off Sudley Road (Virginia 234) directly opposite the entrance to the Henry Hill Visitor Center. Although unnamed, the road is clearly marked for Chinn Ridge by National Park signage. From Sudley Road it is about 0.9 mile to the parking area at ...

  13. Places To Go

    The Second Manassas self-guided driving tour is a 12-stop tour that takes you to key locations in Second Manassas. A map for the driving tour may be picked up at the Visitor Center or on our park map page. Brawner Farm: Begin the driving tour on the grounds of the Brawner Farm where the opening clash of the Second Battle of Manassas occured on 28 August 1862.

  14. First Manassas Virtual Tour

    Explore First Manassas in our 360° Virtual Tour! Manassas National Battlefield is one of the most famous Civil War battlefields and a must-see for any Civil War enthusiast. Use the arrows at the bottom of the tour to navigate between scenes and click the tour points to learn more about the battlefield. View this tour in full screen or in VR ...

  15. SECOND MANASSAS BATTLEFIELD TOUR

    While the First Manassas battlefield can be explored by hiking a few trails, it takes twenty miles of driving to visit all of the key spots on the Second Manassas battlefield. To help organize your visit, the National Park Service has created a twelve-stop tour for those with a vehicle.

  16. Plan Your Visit

    Check out this list of tips of how to make the most of your visit. Visitor Centers. Learn about the opportunities at the Henry Hill Visitor Center and the Brawner Farm Interpretive Center. Schedule of Events. Calendar. Check out our calendar for any ranger programs and special events taking place during your visit. Hiking. Hiking the Battlefield.

  17. Stop 4

    Stop 4 of the Manassas Battlefield Driving Tour is Matthews Hill. This area saw an important part of the fighting early in the day of the 1861 battle, and served as a rear area and staging point for Federal forces in 1862. It is the trailhead for the Matthews Hill loop trail, and other trails lead from here to the Unfinished Railroad, the Stone ...

  18. Manassas National Battlefield Auto Tour

    This is a scenic driving route, not a hiking trail. The First Battle of Manassas, on July 21, 1861, was the initial clash of the two main armies during the Civil War. The heavy fighting led to the realization that this was not going to be a quick conflict. The Confederate victory during the Second Battle of Manassas, on August 28-30, 1862, was one of the Southern high points in the war. This ...

  19. Manassas National Battlefield Park (U.S. National Park Service)

    On July 21, 1861, two armies clashed for the first time on the fields overlooking Bull Run. Heavy fighting swept away any notion of a quick war. In August 1862, Union and Confederate armies converged for a second time on the plains of Manassas. The Confederates won a solid victory bringing them to the height of their power.

  20. Stop 2

    Stop 2 of the Manassas Battlefield Driving Tour is at Battery Heights. This is where the Union artillery deployed during the Battle of Groveton, or Brawner's Farm, which was the starting point for the three-day Second Battle of Manassas. A trail starts here which connects with the Brawner Farm loop trail and Stop 1 of the Drivinig Tour.

  21. Visit Bull Run Battlefield

    The Manassas Battlefield is a must-see for anyone interested in American history. From the Henry House Visitor Center you can tour Henry Hill or drive to Matthew's Hill, Sudley Ford, or Chinn Ridge. The Visitor Center has a small, but excellent museum and a good orientation film. The Stone House, standing during the battle, is open to the public.

  22. Henry Hill Visitor Center

    Henry Hill and the Visitor Center area are the heart of the 1861 Manassas battlefield. The Visitor Center is a great place to begin both the Manassas Battlefield Driving Tour and the Henry Hill Walking Tour. South side of the Visitor Center from the parking lot. The Henry Hill Walking Tour is a one mile loop that starts behind the Visitor Center.

  23. Battlefield of Bull Run or First Manassas monument

    The Battlefield of Bull Run or First Manassas monument is at Stop 3 on the Manassas Battlefield Driving Tour. The marker is on the north side of the Stone House. at the foot of Buck Hill. the monument was erected in 1928 by the Western Division of the Battlefield Markers Association, which placed monuments commemorating Civil War battles all around Virginia.