Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park
- Status
- Status not postedDaily sunrise – sunset
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- dcr.virginia.gov(804) 561-7510
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Nottoway County, in Crewe, Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park covers about 13 acres.
The park supports biking, hiking, and picnicking.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | sunrise – sunset | — |
| Daily | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — | |
| Visitor center | Daily | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Dawn - dusk. Visitor center, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily.
Open year-round, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas, the center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A gift shop is also in the building. Call the park for additional information.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Pets
'Pets are welcome in most outdoor areas of our parks.' 'Leashes may be no longer than 6 feet.' 'Pets are not permitted in yurts.' 'There is a $20 additional nightly charge per pet for cabin stays. There is no additional charge for pets in campgrounds.'
Statewide rule from Virginia's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
'A parking fee is required to enter most Virginia State Parks.' False Cape, Natural Bridge, Sailor's Creek Battlefield, Staunton River Battlefield and Southwest Virginia Museum do not charge parking, but Natural Bridge and Southwest Virginia Museum charge admission.
Statewide fee rule from Virginia's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Virginia park passes
- Naturally Yours Passport — $85. Parking and admission for 12 months to all State Parks (admission for up to 4 at Natural Bridge and Southwest Virginia Museum) Details
- Senior Naturally Yours Passport — $40. Parking and admission for 12 months, age 62+ Details
- Naturally Yours Passport for Boaters/Equestrians — $180. Parking plus boat-launch / horse-trailer fees for 12 months Details
- Senior Naturally Yours Passport for Boaters/Equestrians — $145. As above, age 62+ Details
From the Virginia state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Virginia State Parks reservation system (reservevaparks.com)
- Phone
- 800-933-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Things to do
HikingPicnickingBiking
Trails
There are seven hiking trails with interpretive signs. The trail directly behind the visitor center is the Stagg Trail (.4 miles). The Stagg Trail connects with the Kershaw Trail at the Overlook. Visitors may take the Kershaw Trail (.9miles), which leads to Sailor's Creek where the Union army traversed the battlefield to assault the Confederate position.
Across the road from the Overlook is the (.8miles) Custis Lee Trail which allows hikers to see where Gen. Custis Lee counter-attacked Union forces. The Seymour Trail (.2 miles) connects the Custis Lee to the creek.
The Hillsman House offers the Wheaton Trail (.7 miles) which takes visitors from the house to the creek and back, or visitors can pick up The Nature Spur Trail for an additional (.1 mile) back to the house.
At Marshall's Crossroads, signs on the (.2-mile) Pickett Trail describe the final fighting at Sailor's Creek.
Swimming
None at this park.
Boating, paddling and fishing
Several good fishing opportunities are a short drive from this park. The Appomattox River is a few miles to the northeast. Besides largemouth and smallmouth bass, the Appomattox is home to the Kentucky spotted bass and numerous other freshwater species. Access to the river is limited. Nearby Bear Creek Lake, Twin Lakes and Holliday Lake state parks offer fishing and overnight accommodations.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Picnic areas
- Visitor center
- Park or camp store
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
- ADA-compliant picnic tables
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 6541 Saylers Creek Rd.
Rice, VA 23966 - Nearest town
- Crewe
- Coordinates
- 37.1788, -78.1374
- Phone
- (804) 561-7510
- SailorsCreek@dcr.virginia.gov
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The park is at 6541 Saylers Creek Road, Rice, Va. From U.S. 460, take Route 617 (Saylers Creek Rd.) to the park. From U.S. 360, take State Route 307 (connecting highway between U.S. 360 and U.S. 460) to Route 617 North (Saylers Creek Rd.). Its address is 6541 Saylers Creek Road, Rice, VA 23966; Latitude, 37.178810. Longitude, -78.137372. Drive Time: Northern Virginia, three to three and a half hours; Richmond, one to one and a half hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, two and a half to three hours; Roanoke, two hours
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Virginia State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Jul 31, 2026
- Virginia State Parks 'Find a park' list (HTML, one 'Name (CODE)' link per park)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology