Gettysburg offers a wide range of accommodations with so many choices that I’ve included a separate chapter on bed-and-breakfasts and guesthouses and one on campgrounds and RV parks. This chapter will focus on the hotels and motels in the area, from which there are many to choose. I’ve also included two resorts, one with skiing and one with golfing, which are located next to each other about 10 miles west of town.
Competition to attract business compels most area hotels and motels to offer a wide range of services as standard fare. Although motels don’t have as many amenities as hotels, many people prefer the ease of parking right at their front door. Expect most motels in the area to offer phones and cable or satellite TV in the rooms, free coffee and free newspapers, and microwaves and refrigerators available for a fee. Most hotels include these motel amenities as well as offering in-room hair dryers, irons and ironing boards, coffeemakers, a pool, free local calls, and pickups for battlefield tours. Almost all offer smoking rooms; I’ll tell you if an establishment offers only smoking or smoke-free rooms. All the businesses in this chapter accept credit cards and, if you’re eligible, make sure to ask about AAA or AARP discounts when making reservations. The hotels listed here are wheelchair accessible, but although most of the motels have ground-level rooms, the rooms are not really equipped for wheelchair access. You should assume that pets are not welcome unless specifically mentioned.
Since there are a good number of hotels and motels available in Gettysburg, I’ve first broken them down by geographic location from Lincoln Square and then listed them alphabetically. I realize that many travelers decide what sites they want to be close to and then pick a hotel or motel based on its location in relation to those sites. Although there is nothing wrong with this method, remember that walking in Gettysburg can be an experience in itself, and the trolley is also available to zip you around town.
Bed-and-breakfasts and country inns abound in the Gettysburg area. At last count, there were more than 40 within 20 to 25 miles of Gettysburg. For the purposes of this book, an establishment will be considered a country inn if it offers breakfast to nonguests as well as guests. The accommodations included here are either within or very close to Gettysburg proper. They include in-town homes and homes surrounded by acres in the country. At the end of the chapter, guesthouses that are available for rent are also included. These are not bed-and-breakfasts; you rent the entire house and you take care of your own meals.
Many of the bed-and-breakfasts included here were built in the 1700s, and some retain parts of the original homes, such as wide plank flooring. Some of the homes have bullet holes and bloodstained floors to attest to the role they played during the Battle of Gettysburg. Others are Victorian charmers, with period antiques gracing the rooms. Still others are rural nirvanas, with a lot of open space and outdoor activities to keep you busy. Each bed-and-breakfast has unique qualities, with history and location playing only one part. Some innkeepers run small, intimate abodes, with guests receiving individual attention, while others are bigger establishments, with group activities offered.
Once you’ve narrowed your choices, you might want to employ the services of one of the bed-and-breakfast associations available to you. These organizations allow you to find out about vacancies, special offers, and the nuances of their member inns. See the Gettysburg Bed-and-Breakfast Associations box within this chapter for contact information.
Web sites are given for all the bed-and-breakfasts; if possible, take the time to visit these sites. Most have views of the rooms available to guests as well as pictures of the house and common rooms. This allows you to get a good idea of where you’re going to feel the most comfortable during your stay.
This chapter is arranged geographically, with the inns categorized by their direction from Lincoln Square. You can count on all the bed-and-breakfasts to have a two-night minimum stay during the season (April through December) and to impose an additional charge for more than two people in a room. Most offer customized packages and special-event deals, as well as off-season savings, so be sure to ask!
Unless otherwise noted, assume that smoking and pets are not allowed. Also assume that an accommodation isn’t wheelchair accessible unless that fact is specifically noted. If credit cards aren’t accepted, that will be mentioned in the establishment’s entry. (Be aware that some inns require a personal check rather than a credit card to hold your reservation.) For those readers who sneeze when they are around a dog or cat, I’ll let you know if a home has a resident pet.
The degree to which a bed-and-breakfast welcomes children varies widely. Some have set age limits, and just about all request that children be “well behaved.” Since this term is subjective, it’s probably best to talk directly to the innkeeper as to whether you and your child will find the accommodations suitable.
Here’s one bit of advice you need to remember: Check on cancellation policies before you book. These vary considerably, depending on your time and length of stay.