Ultimate Monocacy National Battlefield Driving Tour Guide: Complete Family Experience

Sometimes the best family trips are the ones where you blend education with adventure, and the Monocacy National Battlefield driving tour delivers exactly that. During our recent spring break stay in Frederick, Maryland, we carved out an afternoon to explore this significant Civil War site, and it proved to be both enlightening and engaging for the whole family.

External Monocacy National Battlefield sign with a cannon on green grass on a cloudy sky

Planning Your Visit to Monocacy National Battlefield

Monocacy National Battlefield sits just outside Frederick, and close to other amazing National Park sites like Manassas National Battlefield, Catoctin Mountain Park and Harper’s Ferry, making it an ideal addition to planned visit to this area. The battlefield preserves the site of the 1864 “Battle that Saved Washington,” where Union forces delayed Confederates advance toward the nation’s capital.

Note: During our visit the visitor center exhibits were temporarily closed for renovation, with the reopening scheduled for later in 2025. The renovations should be completed now, but note we did not see them during our visit.

Park Details

Operating Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm Thur – Mon
Address: 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704
Contact: 301-662-3515
Entrance Fees: No Entrance Fee is required

The Monocacy National Battlefield Driving Tour Experience

For a visit to the Monocacy National Battlefield you will need to go on a driving tour, which takes you to different stops giving you the breakdown of the battlefield.

Start the Monocacy National Battlefield Driving Tour at the Visitor Center

Begin at the visitor center to pick up the driving tour map and the famous brochure, AKA ‘unigrid’. Despite the exhibits being closed, the park staff were super helpful and knowledgeable. My daughter was gung-ho to get the Junior Ranger badge, and the program was modified to accommodate the renovation. They used little cards that looks like trading cards to replace some of the exhibits. Pretty clever.

Important Navigation Note: At the time of our visit the audio tour you access from a weblink on the phone was a little out of date and the stops did not align with the driving tour. Although, I think they may have fixed it now. Follow the map on the brochure to be sure. The content is still top notch, and the little tune they play at het start and end of each stop is catchy! My wife, however, was not a fan.

The driving tour covers approximately 6 miles and takes about 1- 2 hours to complete, though plan for longer if you’re traveling with history enthusiasts or your children are not grumpy that this was interrupting them going to mini-golf. The five main stops offer interpretive signs and varying levels of walking opportunities.

Complete Auto Tour Guide: Five Main Stops

The driving tour tells the story of the battle in chronological order through five main stops. Make sure to link up and play the Audio tour at each stop to get the best experience!

Official Monocacy National Battlefield driving tour map showing all stops and key features

Stop 1: Best Farm

Your first stop showcases one of the most intense fighting areas of the battle. The Best family farm became the center of Confederate assault, where Southern forces eventually overwhelmed Union positions. This stop provides excellent context for understanding the tactical flow of the entire engagement.

Gravel road through fields with a large tree next to the road on a cloudy day

A brown sign for Best farm tour stop 1 on a cloudy day on the Monocacy National Battlefield driving tour

What to See: Farm area interpretation, tactical movement Info signs, battle overview.
What to hear: Gravel rocks hitting the undercarriage of your car as you drive to the site. The wonderful ditty on the audio tour.
Walking Required: Optional walking across farm fields for better perspectives, see the signs.
Time Needed: 15 minutes, less if you can’t find parking.
Parking: Gravel parking lot, with only room for about four cars. (we could not park, it was too crowded! Grrr!)

Stop 2: Worthington Ford

This critical river crossing point explains why the battle occurred here. Union forces initially controlled this ford across the Monocacy River, blocking Confederate access to the roads leading to Washington. The terrain remains largely unchanged since 1864.

Note: you have to drive past all the other stop sites to get to stop 2, so there it is not terrible efficient. Also, there is a LONG gravel road that you take to get the Farm.

Gravel parking lot with information signs and cars

What to See: River crossing site, ford interpretation, strategic importance displays
What to hear: Even more gravel rocks hitting the undercarriage of your car. The wonderful ditty on the audio tour. Again.
Walking Required: Brief walk to the Worthington House
Trails: Three trails: Worthington Ford Trail – 1.6 miles, Brookes Hill Trail – 1.9 miles, High-Water bypass trail – 0.5 miles cut across Worthington ford trail
Time Needed: 10-15 minutes, more if you take in one of the trails.

Worthington farm house on a cloudy day with construction renovation and barrier around house

Stop 3: Thomas Farm

The Thomas family farm demonstrates the civilian impact of Civil War battles. Their property served as both a strategic military position and a casualty collection point. The farmhouse and outbuildings are preserved and provide key points in the story of this battle.

A brown sign for Thomas Farm tour stop 3 on the Monocacy National Battlefield driving tour

Red Thomas Farm Barn in distance with wooden fence in foreground on a cloudy day

What to See: Historic Thomas House, farm buildings, impact on local residents
What to hear: The lovely ditty on the audio guide. Again. Yes, again.
Walking Required: Short walk to farmhouse area
Trails: Thomas Farm Trail – 1.9 miles
Time Needed: 15-20 minutes, more if hike the trail

Stop 4: Gambrill Mill

This historic mill played multiple roles during the battle, serving as a strategic position, observation point, and a field hospital. There is a little pond next the mill, and apparently there is fish. We ran into an angler on his way to catch some fish on our visit.

Grey Stone building with a picnic table in front on green grass and interpretive sign

What to See: Historic mill building, Pond, trails system, and interpretive signs on the hospital and mill
What to hear: Yes, even more gravel rocks hitting the undercarriage of your car. Did I mention the catchy ditty on the audio tour?
Walking Required: Short walk around mill
Trails: Gambrill Mill Trail – 0.5 miles, Upper Gambrill Trail – 1.6 miles, Dam Ruins Trail – 0.3 miles
Time Needed: 15-20 minutes

Stop 5: New Jersey Monument & Monocacy Junction

This combined stop features both the monument honoring the 14th New Jersey Infantry Regiment and the strategic railroad junction. The regiment suffered heavy casualties while helping delay Confederate forces, and the nearby junction explains why controlling these rail lines was crucial for both armies.

Interpretive sign on the Monocacy National Battlefield driving tour

Man slow running down a path with overpass behind him

Heads Up: The turn for the New Jersey Monument at Stop 5 is particularly tricky. It comes up quickly next to the bridge and is easily missed. Keep your eyes peeled when you go over the overpass on Urbana pike – rte 355. Be prepared to slow down as you approach the bridge area.

What to See: 14th New Jersey monument, railroad junction area, Interpretive signs
What to hear: Traffic on the overpass right next to the monument. The ditty on the audio tour. Again. and again. (Please make it stop.)
Walking Required: Short walk from parking area to monument and junction viewing areas
Time Needed: 10-15 minutes, less if you have to jog to and from the monument so your family can get to play mini golf.

Additional Sites Worth Exploring

Beyond the main audio tour stops, the battlefield includes additional historical sites that you can include if you don’t have to immediately go play mini golf. Yes, I am bitter.

Jug Bridge

This historic stone bridge carried the main road from Frederick to Washington, making it crucial infrastructure in the Confederate advance. The bridge witnessed the retreat of Union forces and temporary Confederate control of the region. While not part of the main audio tour, it’s worth a quick stop if time permits.

Cemetery and Wallace Monument

This area honors Union General Lew Wallace, who commanded the outnumbered federal forces at Monocacy. Though tactically defeated, Wallace’s decision to fight here accomplished the strategic goal of delaying Early’s advance on Washington. The monument and cemetery provide a contemplative end to your battlefield exploration.

Historical Significance

The Battle of Monocacy, fought on July 9, 1864, earned its nickname as “The Battle that Saved Washington” because the Union delay of Confederate forces gave the capital crucial time to prepare its defenses. Though technically a Confederate victory, the strategic delay proved pivotal in protecting Washington, D.C.

Walking the battlefield and standing where these pivotal moments occurred adds genuine weight to the historical narrative that you simply can’t get from textbooks. While not as famous as Gettysburg or Antietam National Battlefield, Monocacy played a crucial role in the Civil War’s outcome.

National Park Passport Stamp Information

Even with the renovation, the passport stamps had their place and was available in the gift shop area. The friendly staff will happily provide stamps and can answer questions about the battlefield’s history.

Pro Tip: Ask about any bonus stamps that might be available during your visit!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I plan for my visit?

Plan 2-3 hours total: 30 minutes at the visitor center and 1.5-2 hours for the complete auto tour, depending on how much time you spend at each stop.

Is this suitable for young children?

Yes, with proper expectations set. The Junior Ranger program was really nice, and my daughter enjoyed her experience. The Driving tour makes it possible to spend as much or as little time as you want on the tour. Ther is some walking involved, which can actually be nice to allow the family run around a little.

Can I visit year-round?

Yes, the battlefield is open year-round. Spring through fall offers the best weather for the outdoor portions of the visit.

Is there a fee?

The Monocacy National Battlefield driving tour is free.

Are pets allowed?

Yes, pets are welcome on the auto tour and throughout the battlefield grounds but must be leashed.

Some Final Thoughts

Monocacy National Battlefield was a nice visit and provided a thorough overview of this important but lesser-known civil war battle site. I am interested to stop by and see how the Visitor Center renovations added to story.

This is certainly a good option for families who are in the area and want to learn a little more about the Civil War, or just a National Park Service nut who is trying to add more stamps to your list. Monocacy delivers both historical significance and educational value. Enjoy the little ditty on the audio tour and also remember to watch for that tricky turn at Stop 5!

Have you visited Monocacy National Battlefield? Share your experience in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow our journey as we work toward visiting all 430+ National Park Service sites!