Pea Ridge National Military Park

Pea Ridge National Military Park in northwestern Arkansas preserves the site of the Civil War Battle of Pea Ridge, a major engagement fought in March 1862 that affected control of Missouri and northern Arkansas. The park protects battlefield landscape, historic structures and interpretive waysides that explain troop movements and actions.

Walking routes and a park road cross portions of the battlefield and point out features such as rifle pits, earthworks and the remains of structures that existed at the time of the battle. The preserved terrain helps visitors follow the course of the two-day fight and understand unit positions and command decisions.

The battle was fought March 7-8, 1862, with Union forces ultimately securing the field; Elkhorn Tavern served as a landmark and focal point during the engagement. The site has been managed as a national military park to preserve battlefield topography and to interpret the military and civilian stories associated with the action.

The park is located in the Ozark foothills of northwestern Arkansas, a few miles from the town of Garfield and roughly 40-50 miles northwest of Fayetteville. The landscape is gently rolling with woodlots and open fields that retain the character of the historic battlefield.

• Battle date and significance: The Battle of Pea Ridge was fought on March 7-8, 1862 and played a key role in Union control of Missouri during the Civil War; the park preserves battlefield terrain and trenches.

What to See#

• Elkhorn Tavern: Elkhorn Tavern, a focal historic structure on the battlefield that played a central role in the two-day engagement of March 7-8, 1862 and now stands as a preserved ruin with interpretive signage.

Pea Ridge National Military Park is located in northwest Arkansas near the small towns of Pea Ridge and Garfield. The park is reached by car from nearby population centers (Rogers/Bentonville/Fayetteville) via US/AR state highways and local roads; the park has a visitor center with parking and a self-guided driving tour route with short walking stops at interpretive areas.

Public transit to the park is limited; most visitors arrive by private car.

• Begin at the park Visitor Center to collect the self-guided driving tour map and any seasonal advice from rangers; the driving loop with numbered stops provides the clearest way to experience the battlefield layout.
• Plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon to avoid heat and summertime busier hours-do the driving tour first, then pull off for the short walks to monuments and preserved sites when crowds are thinnest.
• Allow time for the Elkhorn Tavern area and the high-ground overlooks; many visitors speed through the main stops and miss the quieter trails and interpretive markers that explain troop movements and the landscape's role in the battle.