Travel the Tour Road at Wilson's Creek

Enjoy a peaceful drive or walk through one the country's best-preserved Civil War battlefields

This paved five-mile road winds through the heart of the park. Take a leisurely drive alongside wooded areas, meadows, and fields, with stops at points of interest. These include the historic Ray House (site of a makeshift field hospital after the battle), Bloody Hill battlefield, and trailheads for hiking or horseback riding. Watch for seasonal wildflowers, deer, wild turkeys, and birds like the Northern Cardinal and Indigo Bunting, which thrive in stands of oak and hickory. The tour road's extended hours make it popular for morning and evening visitors who enjoy exercising in the gently rolling rural terrain. Enter the tour road at the main entry gate from the visitor center parking lot. Bathroom facilities and water are NOT available along the tour road. Seven miles of connecting trails (hiking and horseback riding) include the Wire Road, Southwest Boundary Trail, the Gibson Mill/Ray Cornfield trails, and the Manley Uplands Trail. (Not all trails are open to horseback riding.)

Details

Duration

15-120 Minutes

The 4.9-mile tour road loop takes about 15 minutes to drive (without stops), and about 2 hours to walk at an average pace.

Activity

Scenic Driving

Drive, walk, run, or bicycle on a paved one-way tour road. Parking is available at seven official stops along the way including the historic Ray Farm site with farmhouse, springhouse and cornfield battle site; Edwards Cabin/Price's Headquarters; and the Bloody Hill battlefield. Optional hiking and/or horseback riding trails include the Wire Road, Southwest Boundary Trail, the Gibson Mill-Ray Cornfield trails, and the Manley Uplands Trail.

Age(s)

All ages are welcome. Walking or cycling the entire tour road loop (4.9 miles) may not be suitable for younger children.

Pets Allowed

Yes with Restrictions

Pets must be on a leash not more than six feet long and are not allowed in buildings (except service animals). Horses are restricted to authorized trails,

Activity Fee

No

Visitors must pay standard park entry fee at visitor center before entering tour road.

Location

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Tour Road

This paved 4.9-mile loop circles through the heart of the park with seven stops at points of interest and access to hiking and horseback riding trails.

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

Tour road and seven tour stops at points of interest are available year round. Hours for tour road and visitor center vary by season. 

Time of Day

Day, Dawn, Dusk

Tour road hours vary by season. 

Accessibility Information

The 4.9-mile tour road is a paved, one-way loop. Seven tour stops along the road include handicapped parking and accessible sidewalks leading to wayside information displays. Not every feature at each tour stop is accessible to wheelchairs. The tour road takes about 15 minutes to drive (without stops), and about 1.5 hours to walk at an average pace. When walking, biking, or jogging, visitors must use the 6-foot-wide lane specifically marked for those activities. Hiking/horseback riding trails that connect to the tour road are unpaved and not wheelchair accessible. Bathrooms and drinking water are available only at the visitor center, adjacent to the tour road entry gate.