saratoga national historical park

We visited this Battlefield Park during the 1980's and found it to be very informative and enjoyable. To see the place where a vital American victory occurred proved to be an enriching experience. The Visitor Center is an excellent feature. The scenic Hudson River area was memorable.

The battle of Saratoga was arguably the most important in American history. Victory here over the British-German army brought France into the revolutionary war and promised ultimate independence. The park beautifully protects the historic battlefield and is superbly maintained by the park service. The visitor center provides a good guide to the history, the auto tour and trails are well taken care and the views of the Hudson Valley are breath taking. And don't miss the monument to Benedict Arnold's patriotic leg!

Site of the battle that turned the tide, very educational. Knowledgable and helpful NPS staff at the visitor center.

If you are a history buff, this is the place to be. Make sure you begin in the visitor center, watch the short film and then take a look at the map in the display room that shows all of the battle details and troop movements on a 3D map!I dragged my mother through this park and visited all of the locations. She didn't care for it much, but for history buffs there is no better place to be than to be on the spot where the heroes of this country bravely fought tyranny. To stand where they stood left me in awe.

Nice visitor center, knowledgeable rangers. we viewed the 15 minute movie to get a refresher on the events of this battle and all that took place here. We got our $5 car pass and went through all of the sites. Each site you can dial a cell # and it will give you a narrative of what happened there. Well laid out tour and beautifully kept battlefields. We loved that you parked your car at each site and got out to walk and see the points of interest. Recommend this for history buffs and for families, a poignant part of our history lies here!

This is a wonderful battlefield park that has been left pretty much unspoiled. Start your visit at the Visitor Center. If you have an ancestor that fought here on the American side the ranger will retrieve his name from a database and provide you with what information they have on him. They will also indicate on your park tour map where his company was positioned during the fighting making your visit a very personal one. There is an excellent display that brings the battles to life with the use of a model of the battlefield and LEDs. There are displays showing uniforms, etc. and a nice gift shop. For a small fee of $5.00 you purchase a park driving pass (valid for 6 consecutive days) and set off to explore the park on your own. There are ten stops where you get out of your car and walk to a small interpretive board that explains what you are viewing. The signage is minimal so it helps if you have done some pre-reading about the battles that occurred here. There is also no indication of how far you have to walk and whether the trail is a loop back to the car or a trail into the park. The British and American fortified lines are clearly marked with stakes so orientation to battle landmarks is fairly easy. Allow 2 hours at least to do the car drive if you want to get a real feel for the battlefield. We visited in October and the foliage was spectacular - along with the frequent deer sightings. This park has something for everyone, history buff or nature lover it is well worth the visit. Please take time to pause and reflect on the lives lost here - it is a place to connect with the past.

I recently made my third trip in less than a year to Saratoga National Historic Park. The grounds are beautiful and seeing them during the different seasons is just lovely. The park is open all year. In the winter you can go snowshoeing and in the spring, summer, and fall you can hike trails, ride your road bike, or go horseback riding. The car tour is closed in the winter, so be sure to check their website to see when that cut off date is. I like history, but I am not an American Revolution buff, so I had a lot of learning to catch up on. The video and the LED battle display are very helpful to have a good understanding of the importance of the battles that took place here. I highly recommend viewing both if you, like me, didn't retain the specifics of American Revolution history after high school, BEFORE making the drive around the battlefield. The cell phone tour and the various stops then have more perspective. You will have seen and heard how it all happened and then you can picture it out in the field. If you are running short on time, the best place to stop on the car tour is stop #2, the Nielson Farm House. It is a picturesque location.Fall is particularly lovely here. Even past peak foliage was still amazingly beautiful.I recommend Saratoga National Historic Park for those looking to learn more about American history and American Revolution buffs. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy it as well.

The place is huge we were not aware their were 10 miles of driving through the national park. You pay $5.00 as an entrance fee, the ranger provides you with a map and information of all the different spots. We were only able view the 20 minute film they provide which by the way is very good, and walk the grounds behind the building.

I am a history buff and have visited many battlefields and military sites. By comparison, virtually every Civil War site is better done than this. The Rangers are knowledgeable and helpful and the Visitor Center is very well done. However, the park itself is not. Quite honestly, it needs maintenance. The signs need updating. They look like they were put there 100 years ago, and they are severely weather-worn. In many cases, you park your car at a site and have to walk a distance that is not indicated. If you start walking, is it short or long? You want to know. Sometimes it is even confusing where to walk from your car. And there are far too few signs and markers explaining the battle. I make these criticisms by comparison to the many Civil War battlefields I have been to. I guess Americans just have more interest in the Civil War and there are more private groups providing support. The event that happened here has far more significance than virtually anything that happened during the Civil War, but sadly, Americans just do not know and appreciate that fact. If guess if you like a battlefield left in its pristine condition, this it, but driving the battlefield is not a learning experience.

My husband and I recently visited during our vacation. He's a history buff, I'm not. But I must say that we both enjoyed this stop very much. The rangers on duty were very friendly and knowledgable. There is an introductory movie and various exhibits in the visitor center. There is also a fiber optic display with narration explaining in detail the events surrounding the second battle of Saratoga. There is also a driving tour of the battleground along with a cell phone/mp3 narrative for each stop on the tour. There are also hiking/biking/horse trails. Quite an enjoyable day!

My family has been visiting the Saratoga National Battlefield for decades. We go to walk, hike, ride bikes, picnic, and relax. The views are beautiful, the battlefield is well maintained, the park rangers are friendly, and the park is so relaxing. It's a perfect spot to enjoy a beautiful day, year round.

Located outside of Saratoga Springs. It's a little bit of a drive, through scenic countryside. Unfortunately the day we went, we did not realize how big this battlefield is and did not leave ourselves near enough time to see all we wanted. There is a roadway through the battlefield for a self tour in your car. We paid for the audio tour on the phone. (Small fee - 5 or 10 dollars) It was super easy. We just punched in the number and listened. I recommend that when you go. It adds so much to the visit. We got out of the car and read the informational plaques. Like I said, we only left ourselves a couple hours, so we rushed through. We are definitely going back next year to take our time. It's the kind of place you can go and learn each and every visit. The Visitors Center is staffed with friendly, knowledgeable people. You can tell they love their jobs. Hang around there first and listen to what they have to say. View the short movie - it enhances the experience.

What a great way to learn about such an important event in our nation's history. The visitors center had a short documentary that we saw before heading out to the battlefields. We loved the audio tour that was available through the phone...we just punched in the number of the stop and listened to an explanation of the site. The views of the area and the Hudson valley were stunning. How fortunate we are to have this preserved...

As well as the main part of the park where the Visitor Centre is located there is also the Monument and the Philip Schulyer House. I thought both of these were more interesting than the battlefield tour. There are steps inside the Monument and it is possible to climb to the top. There are guided tours of the house. I found the tour really interesting. The film at the Visitor Centre was good but I found it difficult to get excited by the fields.

The national historical park is located on u.s. Rt. 4 between schuylerville (formerly named old saratoga)and Stillwater. There is a second entrance on the west side of the park located a few miles from saratoga lake. Arriving by either route, be sure to visit the visitors center. Adequately staffed, the employees are quick to answer your requests. Your first activity should be the slide show that provides the historical perspective to the revolution war battle. It is well done, you will leave with an accurate understanding of the good fortune and failures of both the British and American armies. There are several exhibit rooms in the visitors center. The visitor center sits atop a knoll offering good views of some of the battlegrounds. If time permits, pay the toll and take the self directed motor tour of the park. Great effort has been expended to restore the fields as they once were. There are many stops and overviews with signs that describe what you are viewing. Allow at least 1.5 to 2 hours for the complete experience.