Stones River National Battlefield
Designation: National Battlefield
Location: Tennessee
📘 Park Overview
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it changed forever the people who lived and fought here.
🌤 Weather Information
Summer is hot and humid with highs in the 90s. Spring and fall are pleasant. Winter temperatures are variable, but temperatures may drop below freezing with occasional snow.
🚗 Directions
From Interstate 24 - Take Exit 76 and turn left (eastbound) or right (westbound) onto Medical Center Parkway. Turn left onto Thompson Lane. Turn left at the park entrance at 1563 N. Thompson Lane. Follow the tour road to the visitor center. From Interstate 40 - Take Exit 235 onto TN 840. Take Exit 55 onto US 41/TN 70 and follow the signs for Murfreesboro. Turn right onto Thompson Lane at the first traffic light. Turn right at the park entrance at 1563 N. Thompson Lane.
Images
On January 2, 1863, fifty-seven Union cannons fired from this line ending the Battle of Stones River by killing or wounding more than 1,800 Confederates in less than an hour.
Credit: NPS Photo / Buddy Secor
More than 6,100 Union soldiers lie in Stones River National Cemetery.
Credit: NPS Photo / Diana Anderson
The men of the Chicago Board of Trade Battery got their first taste of combat at the Battle of Stones River and helped stem the Confederate tide from this position during the afternoon of December 31, 1862.
Credit: NPS Photo / Hunter Brooks
Living history programs help visitors visualize the trials of soldiers during the Battle of Stones River.
Credit: NPS Photo
Thousands of visitors enjoy biking and hiking through the park.
Credit: NPS Photo / Brenda Massei
Activities
Topics
Operating Hours
Entrance Fees
No entrance fees listed.
Entrance Passes
No entrance passes listed.
3-Day Weather Forecast
Friday, May 29
Patchy rain nearby
High: 88.2°F | Low: 67.2°F
Humidity: 77%
Wind: 7.4 mph
Rain Chance: 91%
UV Index: 8.7
Sunrise: 05:31 AM
Sunset: 07:54 PM
Moon: Full Moon (99%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 70.6°F
Cloud Cover: 91%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Saturday, May 30
Moderate rain
High: 75.6°F | Low: 64.9°F
Humidity: 87%
Wind: 10.7 mph
Rain Chance: 89%
UV Index: 8.5
Sunrise: 05:31 AM
Sunset: 07:55 PM
Moon: Full Moon (100%)
Visibility: 4 mi
Dew Point: 67.2°F
Cloud Cover: 89%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Sunday, May 31
Patchy rain nearby
High: 74.2°F | Low: 63.5°F
Humidity: 83%
Wind: 9.8 mph
Rain Chance: 76%
UV Index: 6.2
Sunrise: 05:31 AM
Sunset: 07:55 PM
Moon: Full Moon (99%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 63.5°F
Cloud Cover: 76%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Park Alerts
Park Events
The Emancipation Proclamation 163rd Anniversary Programs
Date: Jan 1, 2026 12:00am to Jan 1, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Battle of Stones River 163rd Anniversary Living History Event: The Very Forest Seemed to Fall
Date: Jan 2, 2026 12:00am to Jan 2, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Murfreesboro's Park Day Volunteer Event
We need volunteers to help us care for our community's public lands! On Saturday, April 11, 2026, Stones River National Battlefield and our partners want to celebrate National Park Week by bringing the residents of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County together for a morning dedicated to properly managing the lands and waterways that are a critical part of life in in our community. We will join thousands of volunteers across the nation in celebrating the 30th year of the American Battlefield Trust's (ABT) Park Day by working to preserve and improve our public lands. Volunteers may also log their hours and participate in the America Gives camapign to celebrate our nation's 250th birthday though service. This event Registration is required at https://forms.office.com/g/gR5U2LcE5M by Thursday April 9, 2026. We will be working at Fortress Rosecrans, Old Fort Park and the Lytle Creek Greenway. Our focus will be on removing invasive plants and trash from these areas. Check-in will take place at the Old Fort Park picnic pavilion near the tennis courts beginning at 8:30 AM. Volunteers will park in the lot near the baseball field. Volunteers under 14 years old may not participate in invasive plant removal. Volunteers should bring work gloves and wear long sleeved shirts, work pants, and closed toe shoes. Volunteers should also bring a water bottle.
Date: Apr 11, 2026 12:00am to Apr 11, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Battlefield Caravan Tour
Meet the ranger at the flagpole in front of the visitor center.
Follow a ranger in your car for a tour of the battlefield. The group will make several stops at key battle locations, and the ranger will tell the tale of one of the most important Union victories of the Civil War. (90 minutes)
Date: May 3, 2026 12:00am to May 3, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Self Evident Truths to a New Birth of Freedom
The fighting at Stones River was driven by President Abraham Lincoln's need for military success to support the Emancipation Proclamation. That document, bolstered by the bloody U.S. victory in Murfreesboro signaled a change that shaped our Civil War into a conflict buildingon the promises made through the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Join a ranger and explore the connections between the ideals expressed at our nation's founding 250 years ago and the expansion of liberty and civil rights made possible by the struggle that gripped our country more than 80 years later. (30-45 minutes)
Date: May 3, 2026 12:00am to May 3, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Stones River National Cemetery Memorial Day Flag Placement Event
UPDATE: Due to forecasted thunderstorms and out of concern for visitor and volunteer safety, Stones River National Battlefield has postponed the May 23 volunteer flag placement event at Stones River National Cemetery until 1:00 p.m. All groups and volunteers are asked to arrive as planned at 12:30 p.m. rather than 9:30 a.m.
Registration Required
Scouting and other youth organizations from middle Tennessee will place American flags on more than 7,000 graves in Stones River National Cemetery. Volunteers will park in the overflow parking area near the visitor center and check-in near the walk-in entrance to Stones River National Cemetery. No volunteer parking in the cemetery.
Volunteers must register at https://forms.office.com/g/cDvg8zqbpy by Wednesday May 20th. You will receive a confirmation email with your section assignment and additional check-in details.
Volunteers should plan on arriving by 12:30 AM to ensure they have adequate time to check-in before the event begins. Volunteers will confirm their section assignments and receive flags at check-in.
Volunteer groups may pre-register for a commemorative patch through the Middle Tennessee Council - Boy Scouts of America.
Date: May 23, 2026 12:00am to May 23, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Memorial Day Program
Visitors are invited to gather at the national cemetery rostrum to remember the sacrifices of soldiers, past and present. The event will include patriotic music, a wreath laying ceremony and a a three-volley salute presented by the Ninth Kentucky Infantry, US.
Park in the visitor center and recreational/overflow parking lots.
Location: Stones River National Cemetery
Date: May 24, 2026 12:00am to May 24, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Stories of Service and Sacrifice in Stones River National Cemetery
Walk through Stones River National Cemetery stopping at selected gravesites where a ranger will share some of the Stories of Service and Sacrifice we've been posting to our website and social media to celebrate our nation's 250th birthday. Discover for yourself that each headstone represents more than a name and a date. It marks a personal journey, of service, family, sacrifice, and memory, that contributes to America’s shared heritage.
The walk will begin at the park visitor center and last about 60 minutes.
Date: May 25, 2026 12:00am to May 25, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Stories of Service and Sacrifice in Stones River National Cemetery
Walk through Stones River National Cemetery stopping at selected gravesites where a ranger will share some of the Stories of Service and Sacrifice we've been posting to our website and social media to celebrate our nation's 250th birthday. Discover for yourself that each headstone represents more than a name and a date. It marks a personal journey, of service, family, sacrifice, and memory, that contributes to America’s shared heritage.
The walk will begin at the park visitor center and last about 60 minutes.
Date: May 30, 2026 12:00am to May 30, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Ranger Talk - Discovering Stones River
Join a park ranger who will choose one of the following programs to share with visitors.
Stones River Stories
The Battle of Stones River changed the lives of thousands of people. A ranger will share the story of a soldier, civilian, or a military unit to highlight the vast array of experiences one battle can create. (30 minutes)
Find Your Park
Visitors will spend time with a ranger discovering the the unique cultural or natural resources that make Stones River National Battlefield a place where lasting memories can be made. (30 minutes)
Reservations are not required. Talks will generally take place near the park visitor center.
Ranger programs will not take place on days when other special events are scheduled. All outdoor activities will be cancelled when the heat index reaches or exceeds 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
Date: Jun 1, 2026 12:00am to Jun 1, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Visitor Center & Contacts
📍 Physical Address:
1563 North Thompson Lane
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
🏤 Mailing Address:
3501 Old Nashville Highway
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
📞 Voice Phone: 615-893-9501
📞 Fax Phone: 615-893-9508
✉️ Email: stri_administration@nps.gov