There's no place as rich with Civil War history than Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. There is so much to learn and experience with a visit to this historic Keystone State town. Numerous museums, relic shops, and time-period restaurants are scattered throughout Gettysburg, and the National Park Service provides amazing stewardship over the once bloodshed battlefields. And what better activity to enjoy during a night in Gettysburg than a genuine candlelit ghost tour?
Within the borders of the Gettysburg National Military Park, there are no campgrounds, or anywhere to engage in dispersed camping. Unless you are on an official ghost tour, the park closes at sunset, so do not expect to park next to a battlefield for the night, for park rangers patrol the grounds often and will issue citations. There is no overnight street parking in the Borough of Gettysburg, according to their parking enforcement website. Gettysburg College does not allow any RVs on campus, so don't try to park on campus for the night either. Although there are some viable private campgrounds in the immediate area, you're interested in the free boondocking route, so here are your options.
Your first option is going to require some moderate stealth, so only try this boondocking option if you're car-camping, in a van, have a truck camper, or something quite inconspicuous (like a shanty). Unless you're a local or have taken a driving ghost tour in Gettysburg before, this site will be completely overlooked. You won't find this option on popular boondocking websites, such as freecampsites.net, and that's for a good reason. Sachs Covered Bridge is an EXTREMELY popular site for ghost hunting in the area, and adding it to a popular boondocking site would probably shut down this site for everyone due to its popularity already. Multiple driving tours traffic this historic bridge, as well as tour buses, and a multitude of locals. Just south of the historic downtown district, take US Business 15 S to Millerstown Rd, which turns into Pumping Station Rd. About 1/4 mile down Pumping Station Rd, make a left onto Waterworks Rd.
(GPS Coordinates: 39°47'52.8"N 77°16'39.9"W)
This 1000ft section of road dead ends at the Sachs Covered Bridge, where there is only pedestrian access across the bridge. There is a severely small turnaround at the end of this road, more suitable for passenger vehicles, but tour buses will attempt to make the turnaround with a difficult amount of maneuvering. There are pull outs along the entirety of this road, and traffic will be in and out all night to visit the bridge. There are no parking regulations enforced here, it has a very free-for-all vibe, but be aware there are local police that patrol this area all night long. Park for the night in one of the pull-outs further away from the bridge, or in the grass that runs parallel along the creek. Do not park all the way at the end in the turnaround to ensure the tour buses will be able to make it out. If this boondocking option seems good for you so far, be aware you will not find any peace and quiet with the sheer amount of visitors in and out. There are no restroom facilities at this location, so ensure you are self-contained. I would not recommend staying more than just a night here to not raise any suspicions. To ensure nobody bothers you in your vehicle, leave a note somewhere visible on your dashboard with something catchy, like "Out ghost hunting for the night, what a delight!"
Another boondocking option just on the outskirts of Gettysburg, more suitable for any-sized rig or recreational vehicle, would be the Gettysburg Travel Plaza truck stop. Located directly on the corner of US 15 and US Business 15 on Sandoe Rd, about 6 miles north from historic downtown.
(GPS Coordinates: 9.89049, -77.183109)
According to reviews on freecampsites.net, your first night's stay here is free, so talk to the store manager if you are planning to stay a longer amount of time than that. The rest stop is equipped with public restrooms, and showers available for a small fee. You can fill up fuel tanks here, grab a bite to eat, and pick up any small supplies as necessary.
During your day in Gettysburg, there are limited oversized vehicle street parking spots. Check on the Gettysburg Parking Website to see the exact locations of these spots, they are almost all at the intersections of small, colonial style roads. If you need a nice secluded spot to rest during the day, check out the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center right off of Baltimore Pike.
(GPS Coordinates: 39°48'39.7"N 77°13'22.2"W)
There is a free, massive parking lot designated for RVs and buses only, with public restrooms, vending machines, picnic tables and access to standard 15-amp outlets if you need to recharge any batteries. This lot is only a short walk up to the visitor center, which is very informative, and park rangers can answer any questions you may have about the area. There is an extensive driving tour throughout the battlefields that is almost completely RV accessible, so be sure to pick up the information there if that is something that interests you.
Always remember to follow local and National Park rules during your visit, and Leave No Trace during your boondocking excursions. I've included the links with more information related to the post down below. Have fun, stay safe, and get out there!
Gettysburg NPS information:
Sachs Covered Bridge information:
Gettysburg Travel Plaza reviews:
Borough of Gettysburg Parking regulations:
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