Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park is located in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. The park preserves the site of an 1864 Civil War battle. During the Cedar Creek Battle, the Union troops that were initially routed by a surprise Confederate attack rallied to defeat the Confederate troops and take control of the Shenandoah Valley.
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park
Cedar Creek is part of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Heritage Area and is one of the Civil War battlefields that can be visited.
This park is a little different from most National Historical Parks. The park helps support partners who run the Belle Grove Plantation and other sites within the park.
The National Park Service, partners, and local government agencies work together to run the park.
Self Guided Auto Tour
The 17.5-mile auto tour has 9 stops including where the Confederate soldiers surprised the sleeping Federal camps in the foggy dawn of October 19, 1864, to the final counterattack late that afternoon.
Extend your auto tour with a walk on the Morning Attack Trails or a visit to Belle Grove Plantation.
There are great signs for the self-guided auto tour. Be prepared that some of the roads are dirt roads to reach the attack fields and different areas.
Morning Attack Trails
The Morning Attack Trails include 3 trails spanning 1.7-miles. There is a trail guide available at the park visitor center.
The trails travel to the places where soldiers fought during the early hours of the Battle of Cedar Creek.
The 8th Vermont Monument Trail - a 300-yard trail (600 yards round-trip) to the 8th Vermont monument.
Thomas Brigade Loop Trail - a 0.6-mile long trail that focuses on the stand of Thomas’s brigade.
Hayes-Ramseur Loop Trail - a 0.7-mile long trail that explores the attack of Stephen D. Ramseur’s Confederates on the Union forces of Rutherford B. Hayes and Howard Kitching.
Belle Grove Plantation
Belle Grove Plantation is a 1797 limestone house that was owned by Isaac Hite Jr and his wife Nelly who was the sister of President James Madison.
Guided tours are offered of the plantation house. You can also enjoy a self-guided tour of the grounds and gardens.
Junior Ranger program
Pick up your Junior Ranger Booklet at the Visitor Contact Station - 7712 Main Street, Middletown, Virginia or download the Junior Ranger booklet.
- Ages 5 - 8, must complete 6 activities, one of which must be an activity located in the Park.
- Agest 9 - 13, must complete 8 activities, two of which must be an activity located in the Park.
- Ages 14 and Beyond - must complete the entire booklet.
Things to know when planning a visit
Park Address - 7712 Main Street, Middletown, VA 22645, United States
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove are along U.S. Route 11 in Middletown, Virginia. Take exit 298 off Interstate 81 to Middletown.
The Visitor Contact Station is at 7712 Main Street in Middletown Courts Plaza.
From the North - Take I-81 exit 302 and then head south on US-11 to Middletown Courts Plaza on the left. If you meet the only traffic light in Middletown, you have gone too far.
From the South - Take I-81 exit 298 and then go north on US-11. Middletown Courts Plaza is on the right, just past the only traffic light in Middletown.
From the East & Washington, D.C. Area - Take I-66 West to I-81 North and then exit 302 to Middletown. Go south on US-11.
Entrance Fees - $0.00, there is no fee to visit this park.
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
WiFi - wifi service is available in the Visitor Contact Station located at 7712 Main Street, Middletown, VA 22645.
National Park Sites near Cedar Creek & Belle Grove NHP
Appalachian NST
Manassas National Battlefield Park
C&O Canal National Historical Park
Antietam National Battlefield
Check out all of the National Parks in Virginia along with neighboring National Parks in Washington DC , National Parks in North Carolina, National Parks in Kentucky, National Parks in West Virginia, and National Parks in Maryland
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