Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway
180 miles from Gettysburg through Maryland and Virginia's Piedmont to Monticello, on a corridor packed with Revolutionary and Civil War history.
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length180 miles[1]The Maryland section, Point of Rocks to Emmitsburg, is 57 miles.
- Drive timeNot verified
- RoadsUS 15, US 15 Business, and Virginia Routes 20, 231, 22 and 53[3]
- Start and endGettysburg, Pennsylvania, to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello near Charlottesville, Virginia[1]
- Fees and passesNone for the byway[1]Historic sites along it charge their own admission.
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway runs 180 miles from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, south through Maryland and Virginia to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. FHWA notes it was a transportation route in the Revolutionary War, a crossing zone on the Underground Railroad, and a key Civil War battleground.
It follows US 15 for much of the way, then Virginia Routes 20, 231, 22 and 53 toward Charlottesville. The Maryland section runs 57 miles from Emmitsburg to the Potomac at Point of Rocks.
Plan more than a day if you want to stop at the battlefields and historic towns; Gettysburg alone can fill one.
Stops along the way
-
Gettysburg
North end of the byway; Gettysburg National Military Park surrounds the town.
Official information · 39.83094, -77.2311 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Emmitsburg
Home of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Official information · 39.70455, -77.32693 · about 0.7 mi from the route line
-
Point of Rocks
Potomac River crossing at the south end of the Maryland section.
Official information · 39.27594, -77.53916 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
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Leesburg
Historic Virginia town on US 15.
Official information · 39.11567, -77.5636 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
-
Monticello
Thomas Jefferson's home near Charlottesville, at the south end.
Official information · 38.01032, -78.45233 · about 0.4 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Buckland Farm MarketWarrenton, VA · about 0.0 mi from the route · listed as year-round
- Adams County Farmers MarketGettysburg, PA · about 0.1 mi from the route
- Forest Lakes Farmers MarketCharlottesville, VA · about 2.7 mi from the route
- The Albemarle Farmers MarketCharlottesville, VA · about 3.7 mi from the route
- Wellness Connection Farmer's MarketStone Ridge, VA · about 4.1 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Journey Through Hallowed Ground Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Journey Through Hallowed Ground scenic byway (Visit Maryland) (checked 2026-10-22)
- National Scenic Byway (Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Gettysburg National Military Park (NPS) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).