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As seen in the 2026 Destination Gettysburg Getaway Guide
Image Courtesy of Dave Johnson, Gettysburg Images
By Moellyn Ramos Yetsko
Last updated: September 30, 2026
November has always been a meaningful time to visit Gettysburg.
This November will be different.
Thousands of visitors are expected to gather in Gettysburg for commemorations surrounding President Abraham Lincoln’s historic 1863 visit, the Gettysburg Address, Dedication Day, Remembrance Day and a full week of special programming.
At the center of it all is Lincoln at Gettysburg: Shall Not Perish, a special America 250th commemoration taking place November 18–19 that will recreate elements of Lincoln’s arrival, his time in Gettysburg and the procession to Soldiers’ National Cemetery. The larger week of programming will bring significant changes to downtown Gettysburg, including road closures, limited parking, shuttle transportation and larger-than-normal crowds.
That doesn’t mean you should avoid downtown.
It means you should plan for a different Gettysburg than you may be used to.
Restaurants, shops, museums and attractions are expected to remain open, and downtown Gettysburg will remain accessible to pedestrians. But this is one week when driving into the center of town and figuring things out when you arrive probably isn’t the best plan.
This guide is here to help.
Below, you’ll find what we currently know about road closures, parking, shuttles, event access, accessibility, weather and navigating Gettysburg during the November commemorations.
Please note: Planning is still underway, and some details may change as November approaches. Destination Gettysburg will continue updating this guide as additional information is confirmed, so bookmark it and check back before your trip.
There is a lot happening in Gettysburg this November, and it helps to understand that these aren’t all the same event.
Lincoln at Gettysburg: Shall Not Perish is a special 2026 America250th commemoration organized by the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania and Gettysburg National Military Park. The featured events take place November 18–19, with additional programming surrounding them throughout the week.
On November 18, programming includes the arrival of a steam engine carrying Lincoln actor Billy Campbell, his entourage and other dignitaries. On November 19, programming continues with a visit to Seminary Ridge followed by a procession from Lincoln Square to Gettysburg National Cemetery.
That procession will lead into Dedication Day, one of Gettysburg’s most significant annual commemorations. Held at Soldiers’ National Cemetery, where Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in 1863, the ceremony brings visitors together each November to reflect on his words, the sacrifices they honored and the work they continue to ask of us today.
Remembrance Day is another annual Gettysburg tradition centered on Civil War remembrance and brings thousands of living historians and spectators to town.
The week continues Friday evening with Live on Lincoln Square, transforming the heart of downtown into an outdoor concert venue. The ticketed event will bring live music to Lincoln Square and serve as one of the major closing experiences of the week’s downtown programming.
And beyond those major commemorations and events, museums, historic sites, cultural organizations and community partners will host programs and experiences throughout November.
The biggest thing to know: don’t plan on driving directly to Lincoln Square during the major events.
Lincoln Square and surrounding portions of Carlisle, Chambersburg, York and Baltimore streets will close to vehicle traffic as event infrastructure, seating and programming take over the center of downtown.
On November 19, additional closures are planned along the procession route toward Soldiers’ National Cemetery, including portions of Baltimore Street, Steinwehr Avenue and Taneytown Road.
That means some of the routes you may normally use to travel through Gettysburg won’t be available.
Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes to avoid driving through downtown during peak events, and truck traffic will be rerouted around the area.
If you’re coming specifically for the events, plan around the closures rather than trying to navigate through them.
As updated traffic maps and additional details become available, we’ll add them here.
If you’ve visited Gettysburg before, this is one weekend when your usual parking strategy may not work.
Parking in downtown Gettysburg will be limited because of the road closures and event footprint. Event organizers are strongly encouraging visitors to use satellite parking and shuttle transportation for the largest events.
The Racehorse Alley Parking Garage will also have restricted access during portions of the week. On November 18 and 19, the garage is expected to be available only to Hotel Gettysburg guests, permit holders, speakers and other event participants.
In other words:
Don’t drive downtown expecting to find a parking space and figure out the rest from there.
There is a better option.
Free satellite parking with shuttle service is planned for the major November events.
For November 18–19, current plans identify four satellite locations:
Shuttles will bring visitors from these areas toward downtown Gettysburg, with service operating continuously. Shuttle transportation is also planned for the Live on Lincoln Square concert on November 20.
Exact shuttle hours and additional transportation information are still being finalized.
We’ll update this section when those details are confirmed.
If you’re visiting for one of the major events, using the satellite parking and shuttle system will likely be much easier than trying to navigate downtown closures and limited parking on your own.
If you’re making a trip out of the November events (and we hope you do) your lodging property should be part of your planning.
Visitors with overnight reservations will be permitted to drive into Gettysburg to reach their lodging location. However, because road closures and traffic patterns may affect how you get there, overnight guests are encouraged to contact their hotel, inn or other lodging property before arriving for specific instructions.
Don’t assume your normal route to your hotel will be available.
A quick conversation with your lodging property before leaving home could save you quite a bit of confusion when you arrive.
Road closures do not mean downtown Gettysburg is closed.
Restaurants, shops, cafés and attractions are expected to remain open throughout the commemorative week, although some businesses may adjust their hours because of event logistics and crowds.
Sidewalks will remain open for pedestrians to access businesses and residences, including within the road-closure area.
So once you’ve parked and made your way downtown, explore.
Grab lunch. Step into a shop. Visit a museum. Warm up with a cup of coffee. Give yourself time between programs instead of treating downtown simply as the space between one event and another.
Gettysburg is still very much open.
This is an important distinction.
Some of the week’s programming is free but still requires a reservation to access designated seating areas.
Current event information indicates that reservations are required for the Square Dance and November 18 activities on Lincoln Square. The Live on Lincoln Square concert on November 20 is ticketed, with prices varying.
Reservations for Lincoln Square provide access to designated seating areas, where seating is first-come, first-served by section.
The Dedication Day ceremony at Gettysburg National Cemetery on November 19 does not require a ticket.
The National Park Service is preparing for larger-than-normal crowds at the cemetery, and available space and seating will be first-come, first-served.
Before arriving, check the official event information for the specific program you plan to attend.
Yes.
Current event plans allow visitors with QR-code reservations to leave and re-enter the designated event area. Pedestrian access to downtown businesses will remain available regardless of whether you’re attending the programmed events.
That means you don’t have to choose between attending the commemoration and experiencing downtown Gettysburg.
Make a day of both.
Temporary ADA parking is planned in downtown Gettysburg for vehicles displaying a valid state-issued disability parking placard or registration plate.
Current plans designate accessible spaces in the second block of Chambersburg Street for westbound parking and the second block of York Street for eastbound parking.
Accessible portable toilets will also be positioned within the road-closure areas and at other locations.
Accessible seating is available for reserved Lincoln Square programming.
Because accessibility arrangements and transportation information may continue to evolve, we recommend checking this guide and the official event information again shortly before your visit.
History is important.
So is knowing where you’re going to eat.
Gettysburg’s restaurants, cafés and other businesses are expected to remain open, but larger-than-normal crowds may mean longer waits and adjusted hours.
Our advice?
Don’t wait until you’re starving to decide where you’re eating.
Consider dining outside traditional peak times, make reservations where available and leave some flexibility in your schedule.
A food tent operated by Hotel Gettysburg is also planned for York Street, and local restaurants may offer preorders, takeout options or limited menus to help serve visitors more efficiently. Food trucks are not currently planned within the event area.
If you’ve spent enough time in Pennsylvania, you already know where this is going.
November can be unpredictable.
Previous Dedication Day ceremonies have taken place under warm sunshine. Others have seen much colder temperatures and even snow flurries.
Most of these experiences involve spending significant time outdoors, so don’t plan your clothing around what you hope November will feel like.
Dress in layers. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring a hat and gloves if the forecast calls for them. Be prepared for rain.
And check the forecast again before you leave home.
The events are currently scheduled to take place rain or shine.
This may be the most useful advice on this entire page.
Don’t overschedule yourself.
Thousands of visitors are expected. Roads will be different. Shuttles will be moving people into and out of town. Restaurants may be busy. Programs may draw crowds well before they begin.
If something starts at noon, don’t build a plan that assumes you’ll park at 11:45 and walk right in.
Arrive early.
Give yourself time to learn where you’re going. Give yourself time to eat. Give yourself time to walk through town rather than rushing through it.
And honestly?
Give yourself some time with no plan at all.
Gettysburg is a place where the space between the scheduled things can be just as meaningful as the things you came to see.
Walk Lincoln’s route. Step into a museum you haven’t visited before. Find the David Wills House. Spend some time on the battlefield. Sit down for dinner instead of immediately getting back in the car.
There are a lot of moving pieces involved in bringing an event of this scale into historic downtown Gettysburg.
Event organizers, Gettysburg National Military Park, the Borough of Gettysburg and community partners are continuing to finalize logistics. Additional information is expected as November approaches.
We’ll continue updating this guide as that information becomes available.
Before you head to Gettysburg, come back to this page one more time.
We’ll do our best to make sure what you need to know is waiting here when you do.
Check out our Getaway Guide online or have us send you one. Have an immediate question? Call us at 1.800.337.5015
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