The best camping near Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

Portions of four major Civil War battlefields call this National Military Park home. These verdant, rolling pastures and lush river valleys saw some of the bloodiest battles of the war. Signs point the way for self-guided tours among the battlefields.

During the summer, Park Rangers lead groups on hikes through several areas. See the spot where Gen. Stonewall Jackson received his fatal bullet wound from friendly fire in 1863. (Fellow Confederates who thought he was an enemy scout in the darkness.)

In the Battle of the Wilderness, both sides fought to a draw. Five generals died during the two-day battle. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant vowed to fight on to Richmond, even though he faced long odds in May of 1864. Make sure to check out any special events or re-enactments happening at any of the four battlefields.

Aside from walking trails and historic towns, these battlefields put you in the throes of some of the most intense fighting of the war. More than 15,000 Americans died here, with 85,000 men wounded. This relatively small area is the bloodiest ground in the United States in terms of casualties. The four battles occurred over a two-year period as Union commander tried again and again to reach the ultimate prize: Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy. These sites put the struggles of American into perspective.

Several campsites near this park offer a place for a base camp to explore these historic sites and attractions. Recreational activities along the Rappahannock River abound, while Fredericksburg is just a short way from Mount Vernon and Washington DC.