Vicksburg National Military Park
Vicksburg, MS Hours and Location

Learn and Explore

Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.

We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.

Taking care of the national parks and helping Americans take care of their communities is a job we love, and we need—and welcome—your help and support.

Our Mission

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I obtain a park entrance pass?

Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

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About this location:

National Military Park

Operating Hours & Seasons

Vicksburg National Military Park

Open All Year except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day

Standard Hours

• Sunday:8:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Monday:8:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Tuesday:8:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Wednesday:8:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Thursday:8:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Friday:8:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Saturday:8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Park District

U.S.S. Cairo & Museum

Open All Year except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day

Standard Hours

• Sunday:8:30 AM-5:00 PM
• Monday:8:30 AM-5:00 PM
• Tuesday:8:30 AM-5:00 PM
• Wednesday:8:30 AM-5:00 PM
• Thursday:8:30 AM-5:00 PM
• Friday:8:30 AM-5:00 PM
• Saturday:8:30 AM-5:00 PM

Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees:

• $15.00 – Per Vehicle
  Valid for 7 days For up to six individuals per vehicle $7 per motorcycle.
• $4.00 – Per Individual
  Pedestrian, biker, motorcycle, jogger, etc.
• $25.00 – Commercial Tours
  (provided by non-NPS charter tour companies) 1-6 Person Capacity
• $40.00 – Commercial Tours
  (provided by non-NPS charter tour companies) – 7-25 Person Capacity
• $100.00 – Commercial Tours
  (provided by non-NPS charter tour companies) – Over 25 Person Capacity

Entrance Passes:

• $30.00 – Vicksburg Annual Pass
  Valid for one year from date of purchase; does not offer discounts at the cooperating association bookstores.

About

"Vicksburg is the nail head that holds the South’s two halves together…Vicksburg is the key"

Two statements, two Presidents, both aware of the importance of the city on the Mississippi River. President Davis knew it was vital to hold the city for the Confederacy to survive. President Lincoln wanted the key to gain control of the river and divide the South. Vicksburg National Military Park commemorates this campaign and its significance as a critical turning point of the Civil War.

Directions

Plane — Closest commercial airport: Jackson, MS, 50 miles to the east. Car — Directions to Vicksburg: From the east — Take Interstate 20 west to Vicksburg, MS. Use exit ramp 4B. Follow Clay Street (US-80) west 0.25 miles to park entrance. From the north — Take Interstate 55 south to Jackson, MS. To save time, use Interstate 220 bypass on west side of Jackson. Take Interstate 20 west to Vicksburg approximately 40 miles. Use exit ramp 4B. Follow Clay Street (US-80) west 0.25 miles to park entrance.

Visitor Centers

Visitor Center

Inside the visitor center, Park Rangers are ready to answer your questions and assist with your orientation to park areas. To help ensure that their visit is safe and enjoyable, large groups or tours should check in with the ranger at the desk when they arrive. USS Cairo Museum

Visitor Center and museum to the USS Cairo. Exhibits include a film, artifacts from the USS Cairo, models, and the actual USS Cairo that visitors can walk on.

Weather

Spring and fall in Vicksburg are always very pleasant with cool nights and warm, sunny days with temperatures ranging from lows of 40-50 degrees to highs of 70 degrees. Winter weather in Mississippi is usually mild except for occasional cold air invasions, which normally last only a couple of days. Temperatures range from lows of 30 degrees to highs of 50 degrees. In the summer, weather is consistently hot, beginning in the low 70’s and climbing to highs ranging from 80-90 degrees in the afternoon.