Camp O'Donnell

Wikimedia Commons

Camp O'Donnell

military camp

Camp O'Donnell is a former World War II prisoner-of-war camp and a current Philippine Army installation in Capas, Tarlac, on Luzon. Travelers visit to see the Capas National Shrine and pay respects at the wartime memorials.

Camp O'Donnell ViganSagadaBanaueBaguioSubicManilaTaal VolcanoPuerto GaleraMarinduqueDonsolCamp O'Donnell

Camp O'Donnell essentials

Address: Capas, Tarlac, Luzon, Philippines

Camp O’Donnell sits on the plain of central Luzon near the town of Capas and was established in 1941 as a United States military reservation before World War II. In 1942 it became the destination for Filipino and American prisoners taken after the Bataan campaign and the Bataan Death March.

During the months it operated as a POW camp roughly 60,000 Filipino and 9,000 American prisoners passed through the site; thousands died there from disease, starvation and neglect. Conditions at the camp were primitive and many of the dead are commemorated at the memorial that now occupies part of the original reservation.

The Capas area contains the Capas National Shrine and a large obelisk marking the site of mass graves; the memorial and park are intended to honor both Filipino and American soldiers. The wider reservation later returned to military use and today houses Philippine Army units while the shrine and grounds are maintained for visitors.

  • Capas National Shrine: The shrine and its large obelisk mark the original camp grounds and serve as the principal memorial to the Filipino and American POWs who died at Camp O’Donnell.
  • Memorial plaques and markers: Scattered plaques, interpretive panels and grave markers record names, unit histories and accounts of the Bataan Death March and incarceration.
  • Site of the former POW compounds: You can walk the areas that once held bamboo huts and barracks to get a somber sense of the camp layout and scale.
  • Views toward Mount Pinatubo: On clearer days the surrounding plain has views toward Mount Pinatubo and the uplands, giving geographical context to the region’s wartime history.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Camp O'Donnell#

Camp O'Donnell has a tropical climate with a clear dry season and a pronounced wet season; the driest months are most comfortable for visiting and walking the memorial grounds.

Cool dry season (best)
November - February · 20°C - 32°C (68°F - 90°F)
This period has lower rainfall and milder conditions, making it the most comfortable time for outdoor visits and memorial walks.
Hot dry season
March - May · 22°C - 35°C (72°F - 95°F)
Temperatures rise and humidity increases before the rains; mornings are best for visits to avoid the heat of midday.
Wet season
June - October · 23°C - 32°C (73°F - 90°F)
Heavy afternoon and monsoon rains are common and can make roads and paths muddy, so expect interruptions and limited outdoor time.

Weather & Climate near Camp O'Donnell#

Climate

Camp O'Donnell's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 20°C to 35°C. Heavy rainfall (2039 mm/year), wettest in August with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 59 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
JanuaryDecemberFebruary
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
42°
Warmest Month
15°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Ideal 20° - 31° 26° 8 mm partly cloudy 78% 1.9 m/s 1.7 very high 11.2h
February Excellent 21° - 32° 27° 7 mm some cloud 72% 1.4 m/s 2.1 extreme 11.5h
March Excellent 22° - 34° 30° 23 mm some cloud 66% 1.6 m/s 2.4 extreme 11.9h
April Very Good 23° - 35° 32° 57 mm some cloud 64% 1.9 m/s 2.5 extreme 12.4h
May Good 24° - 34° 33° 188 mm partly cloudy 73% 1.4 m/s 2.3 extreme 12.7h
June Acceptable 24° - 32° 32° 273 mm overcast 84% 1.5 m/s 2.2 extreme 12.9h
July Acceptable 23° - 31° 31° 404 mm overcast 88% 1.7 m/s 2.0 extreme 12.8h
August Acceptable 23° - 30° 27° 455 mm overcast 90% 1.6 m/s 1.9 very high 12.5h
September Acceptable 23° - 31° 31° 323 mm overcast 89% 1.2 m/s 2.0 very high 12.1h
October Good 23° - 31° 27° 192 mm partly cloudy 87% 1.5 m/s 1.9 very high 11.7h
November Good 22° - 31° 27° 83 mm partly cloudy 87% 1.9 m/s 1.7 very high 11.3h
December Excellent 21° - 31° 26° 26 mm partly cloudy 84% 2.4 m/s 1.6 very high 11.1h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Camp O'Donnell#

Camp O’Donnell lies just outside the town of Capas; the nearest larger centres are Tarlac City to the north and Angeles City to the southwest. The site is roughly 2 to 3 hours by road from Metro Manila depending on traffic.

By air the closest major airports are in the Clark/Angeles area and Metro Manila; by public transport the last stretch is commonly covered by a taxi, tricycle or local jeepney from Capas or Tarlac City - check local routes and schedules before you travel.

Tips for Visiting Camp O'Donnell#

  • Treat the site as a war memorial - dress and behave respectfully while on the shrine grounds.
  • Facilities are limited; bring water, sun protection and comfortable shoes for walking the grounds.
  • There is a small entrance fee and maintained memorial areas; check opening days locally before planning your visit.
  • Photography is generally possible at outdoor memorials, but avoid intrusive shots of others paying their respects.