This Historic Battlefield in Tennessee Is Worth Adding to Your Murfreesboro Bucket List

I’VE RUN ITS TRAILS AND DRIVEN PAST THIS BATTLEFIELD MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT, BUT I HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH I WAS MISSING.

Having lived in Murfreesboro for more than 10 years, Stones River National Battlefield has always just kind of been there.

I’ve driven past it more times than I could count. I’ve run the trails through the battlefield and even taken part in one of the nighttime lantern tours through Stones River National Cemetery. But somehow, I had never actually gone into the Visitor Center or followed the driving tour through the battlefield.

So I decided it was time to change that.

Start at the Stones River Visitor Center

Inside the Visitors Center at Stones River Battlefield — Credit: The Southern Travelista

If this is your first visit to Stones River National Battlefield, I definitely recommend starting at the Visitor Center. This ended up being the perfect way for me to get a better understanding of what I was about to see.

TRAVELISTA TIP: The Visitor Center is located off Old Nashville Highway, rather than the main entrance on Thompson Lane.

As soon as I walked in, the park ranger at the front desk was incredibly helpful. She gave me a map and showed me the five stops on the battlefield driving tour. I don’t think I realized until then just how large the battlefield actually is.

From there, I went through the exhibits inside the Visitor Center. This was one of my favorite parts because they were much more interactive than I expected. There were historic photos and displays, but there were also staged scenes, things you could listen to, and actual artifacts that had been found on the battlefield.

I also noticed quite a few families going through the exhibits while I was there. With all of the interactive elements, I could see this being a good way for kids to learn about the battle without simply walking through a museum and reading signs.

Before leaving the exhibit area, I stopped in the small theater to watch the film about the Battle of Stones River. It gives you a quick overview of the battle and what happened over those few days around New Year’s. If you don’t know much about the battle before visiting, I would definitely take the time to watch it. It made the stops on the driving tour much easier to understand later.

The exhibits eventually led into the gift shop, which had a much bigger selection than I expected. There were plenty of Stones River and Civil War souvenirs. They had shelves of Civil War fiction and nonfiction, along with T-shirts, mugs, blankets, children’s items, and other souvenirs.

And, of course, I couldn’t leave without adding a Stones River magnet to my collection.

A Walk Through Stones River National Cemetery

A gravestone for an Unknown solider in the Stones River National Cemetery. — Credit: The Southern Travelista

After leaving the Visitor Center, I walked across the street to Stones River National Cemetery. It is close enough that I would definitely include it as part of your visit before starting the driving tour.

TRAVELISTA TIP: There are several placards in the cemetery that give you more information on its history. Taking time to read them definitely gave me a better understanding of its significance and added to the experience.

There are 6,133 Union soldiers buried here, and 2,322 of them were never identified. After the Civil War, soldiers who had been buried in mass graves and other locations around the area were exhumed and brought here. When possible, they were identified by something found with their remains, but for many families, that identification never came.

Walking through the cemetery and seeing those unknown markers makes the numbers associated with the Battle of Stones River feel much more personal.

This actually wasn’t my first time visiting the cemetery. I previously attended one of the park’s nighttime lantern tours, where a park guide and reenactors led us through the cemetery and stopped at specific graves to tell the stories of the soldiers buried there and their families.

That experience was incredibly moving and is still one of the most memorable things I’ve done at Stones River. If one of these special programs is being offered during your visit, I would absolutely recommend taking advantage of it.

Exploring the Battlefield Driving Tour

The driving tour of the battlefield features 5 stops. — Credit: The Southern Travelista

After visiting the cemetery, I headed back to my car to start the battlefield driving tour. The map from the Visitor Center made the route easy to follow. There are five stops along the tour, each covering a different area of the battlefield.

This was where I really started to understand just how large Stones River National Battlefield is. When you drive past it around Murfreesboro, you only see small pieces of it. The driving tour gives you a much better idea of the battlefield’s size and scope.

Each stop focuses on a different part of the Battle of Stones River. Signs and markers explain what happened in that area and why it mattered. You’ll also find monuments throughout the battlefield.

You can get out of your car and explore each stop at your own pace. I liked having the freedom to stop, read, take pictures, and move on when I was ready.

This was also where my time at the Visitor Center really paid off. The exhibits and short film had given me some background on the battle. I could now better understand what happened at each stop and why these places were important

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Ranger Programs and Special Experiences

A park ranger guides a group through a reenactment. — Credit: The Southern Travelista

When I pulled into the Slaughter Pen stop, I noticed a group of people gathering. I quickly realized I had arrived just in time for a ranger program. I hadn’t checked the schedule before my visit, so I completely lucked into this one!

The park ranger started by telling us what happened at the Slaughter Pen. He also explained why this part of the battle was so significant. Hearing the story while standing in the place where it happened made the experience even more interesting.

Then the reenactors took over.

They demonstrated the rifles soldiers would have used during the battle. After that came several cannon firings. I knew the cannons were going to be loud. But actually hearing them fired across the battlefield was something else entirely.

It was easily one of the highlights of my visit.

The ranger mentioned that programs like this are shared on the park’s Facebook page. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Next time, I would check the schedule before visiting. I would absolutely plan a future visit around another ranger program or demonstration.

TRAVELISTA TIP: If you are planning a trip to Middle Tennessee and specifically to the Stones River Battlefield, make sure to follow their Facebook page to keep up with any special programs or reenactments they may be having.

More Than Just a Historic Battlefield

Volunteers reenact the use of cannons in battle. — Credit: The Southern Travelista

One of the things I love about Stones River National Battlefield is that you don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy spending time here.

Long before I ever did the Visitor Center or driving tour, I knew Stones River as one of my favorite places in Murfreesboro to run. There is a paved loop through the battlefield that is just under 1.5 miles, and I’ve run it many times over the years.

It’s peaceful, mostly away from traffic, and surrounded by the open fields and wooded areas of the battlefield. On a Saturday morning, you’ll usually see plenty of locals out walking, running, or riding their bikes.

TRAVELISTA TIP: In addition to the paved trails, there are also several hiking trails and loops on the property for people who want to explore a little bit off the beaten path.

I think that’s part of what made this visit so interesting for me. I’ve spent plenty of time on these grounds without really stopping to think about everything that happened here.

Planning Your Visit to Stones River National Battlefield

The visitors center features a 9 minute educational film. — Credit: The Southern Travelista

After spending the morning exploring Stones River National Battlefield, I definitely think starting at the Visitor Center is the best way to experience it for the first time.

I wouldn’t skip the Visitor Center and head straight for the battlefield. Having some background on the Battle of Stones River before I started exploring made everything I saw afterward much more meaningful.

I would give yourself enough time to go through the exhibits, watch the short film, and talk to one of the park rangers before heading across the street to Stones River National Cemetery. Take some time to walk through the cemetery and read the markers and monuments there. Seeing the rows of graves, especially the many marked “Unknown,” adds another perspective to everything you just learned inside the Visitor Center.

From there, I would get back in the car and follow the five-stop driving tour through the battlefield. One of the nice things about the tour is that you can spend more time at the stops that interest you and move a little quicker through others.

I would also check the park’s schedule before you go. I got lucky and happened to arrive at the Slaughter Pen during a ranger program, but that ended up being one of the best parts of my visit. If a ranger program, reenactment, or other special event is happening while you’re there, I would absolutely try to work it into your plans.

And don’t feel like you have to rush through the battlefield. If you want to spend more time outside after the driving tour, you can also walk, run, or bike the trails.

TRAVELISTA TIP: If you want to add more to your day in Murfreesboro, check out these other free things to do in the area.

Let Me Help Plan Your Middle Tennessee Trip

A memorial statue at Stones River Battlefield. — Credit: The Southern Travelista

If you’re planning a trip to Murfreesboro, Nashville, or anywhere in Middle Tennessee, I’d love to help you put together an itinerary that fits the way you like to travel.

As a Middle Tennessee local, I love helping visitors discover places like Stones River National Battlefield along with the bigger attractions they may already have on their list. Sometimes it’s those stops you didn’t know about before your trip that end up being some of the most memorable.

Through my custom itinerary planning services, I can help you figure out what to see, where to eat, and how to put everything together so you can spend less time researching and more time enjoying your trip.

Final Thoughts: Stones River Battlefield

For years, Stones River National Battlefield was one of those places I knew was there but never really thought much about. I drove past it, ran the trails, and went about my normal life in Murfreesboro without ever taking the time to experience the battlefield the way a visitor would.

I’m really glad I finally did.

Between the exhibits in the Visitor Center, walking through the National Cemetery, exploring the battlefield, and unexpectedly getting to see a live ranger program, I came away with a much better understanding of the history that happened right here in Murfreesboro.

I also found myself thinking about the people I met who had traveled from places like New York and California to visit Stones River. Sometimes it takes seeing your own hometown through someone else’s eyes to realize how many interesting places are sitting right in your backyard.

If you live in Murfreesboro and have never really explored Stones River National Battlefield, I think it’s worth finally stopping. And if you’re visiting Middle Tennessee, it’s one Murfreesboro attraction I would definitely consider adding to your plans.