Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield

Over the Fourth of July weekend, we headed down to the Branson area to hang out with my family. We spent the Fourth in and around Springfield and stopped at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. Wilson’s Creek was actually the second battle fought during the Civil War, and the first Union general was killed in action here. It brought the Civil War to the western edge of the United States. While the Confederates won the battle, the Union kept control of Missouri.

Address and Location

You’ll find Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield at 6424 West Farm Road 182 in Republic, Missouri. It’s about a 15 minute drive away from Springfield. The tour road does have seasonal hours for both vehicles and pedestrians.

Cost

You have a few options when you visit Wilson’s Creek, and your admission is good for seven days. Adults ages 16 and over must pay for admission, while kids 16 and under are free. If you walk or bike in, you’ll pay $10 a person. Motorcycles pay $15. Non-commercial vehicles cost $20 and cover all adults in the car. An annual pass is also available for $35 a year. As always, America the Beautiful pass holders get in for free. We used our pass, and it covered the six adults (and one baby) in our rental car.

What to do

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield has a great driving tour. Grab a map in the Visitors Center after you check out the exhibits there. If you visit in the summer, pack sunscreen and bug spray. Also, be sure to check for ticks and other bugs if you get out and walk around. My brother-in-law found a tick on his arm. We stopped at most of the stops. Be sure to explore the Ray family farmstead. The family actually stayed in their house during the battle. If you want to check out the Pulaski battery headquarters, know that it’s up a rather steep and uneven hill. And it’s only one cannon, so Mac disagreed with it being called a battery. Overall, Wilson’s Creek is a pretty standard Civil War battle, and it does have some interesting things to see.