Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley
Walk the ground.
Hear the stories.
Explore preserved Civil War battlefields, historic towns and museums, scenic driving routes, and one of America’s most consequential landscapes.
Choose your experience
How would you like to visit?
Start with the kind of day you want—not a list of places. We’ll point you toward the landscapes, stories, and visitor resources that fit.
Walk a battlefield
Follow interpreted trails through preserved landscapes and battlefield parks.
Visit a museum
Begin with exhibits, maps, films, artifacts, and help from local experts.
Take an audio tour
Turn your phone into a guide for battlefield drives and historic walks.
Find passport stamps
Plan stops around official National Park Passport stamp locations.
Attend an event
Discover guided tours, lectures, living history, and special programs.
Plan by region
Build a day around Winchester, New Market, Harrisonburg, Staunton, or Highland County.
First stop
Not sure where to begin? Start here.
These three destinations offer an easy introduction to the Valley’s Civil War story, with exhibits, orientation, and staff who can help shape the rest of your day.
Winchester
Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum
Explore more than 3,000 artifacts inside Winchester’s historic 1840 courthouse.
Plan your visit
Third Winchester
Winchester Battlefields Visitor Center
Get oriented with exhibits, films, maps, books, brochures, and nearby battlefield trails.
Plan your visit
New Market
New Market Visitor Center & Museum
Discover the Battle of New Market, a remarkable artifact collection, and trails on Manor’s Hill.
Plan your visitAcross the Valley
Explore the battlefields
From the largest battle fought in the Valley at Third Winchester to the mountain landscape at McDowell, these preserved places offer trails, scenic views, and stories best understood on the ground.
See all battlefieldsMake a day of it
Plan by region
Choose the part of the Valley closest to you, then combine a battlefield, visitor center, historic town, and scenic drive.
01 Winchester & Frederick County Best for museums, downtown history, and Winchester’s major battlefields.
Begin downtown at the Civil War Museum or orient yourself at the Winchester Battlefields Visitor Center, then walk Third Winchester or explore Kernstown.
Explore the region02 Strasburg, New Market & Shenandoah County Best for New Market, Cedar Creek, Fisher’s Hill, and a scenic central-Valley drive.
Link the museums and trails at New Market with Fisher’s Hill, Cedar Creek, Belle Grove, and historic communities along the Valley Pike.
Explore the region03 Harrisonburg & Rockingham County Best for Cross Keys, Port Republic, local museums, and Jackson’s 1862 Campaign.
Follow the closing chapters of the 1862 Valley Campaign across Cross Keys and Port Republic, with museum stops and lively downtown Harrisonburg nearby.
Explore the region04 Staunton & Augusta County Best for museums, architecture, and an easy southern-Valley base.
Pair Staunton’s historic streets and museums with the wider Civil War story of Augusta County and convenient access to the southern Valley.
Explore the region05 McDowell & Highland County Best for mountain scenery, quiet historic sites, and an unhurried drive.
Travel west into the Allegheny Highlands for a striking mountain battlefield landscape, beautiful roads, and a quieter side of Valley history.
Explore the regionChoose your pace
How much time do you have?
A memorable visit can fill an hour or a weekend. Pick your window and use this simple rhythm to start planning.
One powerful story
Choose one well-oriented stop and give yourself time to look closely.
Pair story with place
Connect a museum introduction with the landscape where events unfolded.
Go deep in one region
Stay geographically focused and experience history from several angles.
Follow the Valley road
Travel north to south—or choose two neighboring regions and slow down.
Before you go
Visitor tools
Everything you need to turn a good idea into a well-planned visit.