Andersonville National Historic Site in Georgia, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-23. Check linked official notices before travel.

Andersonville National Historic Site in southwest Georgia preserves the site of Camp Sumter, a Confederate prison for Union soldiers, and commemorates American prisoners of war. A visit brings together the National Prisoner of War Museum, the historic prison grounds and Andersonville National Cemetery. Use the museum entrance on POW Road, rather than navigating to the cemetery's funeral gate.

Three parts of the prisoner-of-war story

• National Prisoner of War Museum: exhibits explore captivity through experiences shared across different wars.
• Historic prison site: the landscape helps explain the Civil War camp and the conditions prisoners endured.
• National Cemetery: a place of remembrance that remains an active burial ground.

Plan around the museum's shorter hours

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for heat and exposed ground

The outdoor prison site can be hot and humid. Bring drinking water and check the weather before walking the grounds. Thunderstorms can develop in the afternoon; move away from the open prison landscape when lightning threatens. Watch for uneven ground, insects and snakes, and leave wildlife undisturbed.

Treat the cemetery as an active place of remembrance

Respect funerals and other visitors. Do not climb or sit on monuments, cannons, walls or headstones, and do not make headstone rubbings. Use only the designated picnic area for meals. The park's site regulations explain these restrictions.

Keep pets attended and on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Pets may use paved cemetery surfaces but cannot enter its grassy or landscaped areas or park buildings. Service animals are permitted where visitors may go.

Arrange a group program in advance

Request a guided group visit at least two weeks ahead through the NPS guided-tour information. Groups of 15 or more must reserve a dedicated interpretive program. The park also accepts guided-tour requests from groups of 10 or more. Programs depend on staff availability; a request does not guarantee a tour.

Navigate to 760 POW Road

For the public entrance and museum, use 760 POW Road, Andersonville, Georgia 31711. The site is on GA-49, about 12 miles north of Americus and 11 miles south of Montezuma. The cemetery gate is reserved for funerals and is normally kept closed. The mailing address, 496 Cemetery Road, is not the recommended navigation address.

Use the official visitor maps to locate the museum, prison grounds, cemetery and monuments.

Two other stops for a regional drive

• Jimmy Carter National Historical Park: the visitor center at Plains High School is reached via Americus and US-280 toward Plains.
• Georgia Veterans State Park: a separate Lake Blackshear destination near Cordele, reached from US-280. Check the selected site's opening arrangements before combining visits.

Combine the museum with the outdoor landscape

Start with the museum if you want context before exploring the prison grounds. Its main gallery groups artifacts and interpretation by prisoner experience rather than assigning a separate gallery to each war. Some areas have dim lighting to protect artifacts.

An audio driving tour covers the prison site and cemetery. Ask at the museum about access and return times for loaned equipment, or use the online version. Ranger talks and walks depend on staffing, so check the day's schedule on arrival. Leave time for a quiet cemetery visit without treating it as a recreation area.

Museum access and outdoor route limits

The museum has accessible restrooms and two family restrooms. Videos are captioned, and hearing assistance is available on request. Paved roads serve the prison site and cemetery, but parts of the outdoor landscape are sloping or uneven. Providence Spring House has steps without a railing.

Read the park-specific accessibility guidance and call about the routes you need. Plan meals outside the museum: the park does not provide food service or an ATM. There is no general visitor campground.

About Andersonville

Camp Sumter and its human cost

The first prisoners arrived in February 1864. During the camp's 14 months of operation, about 45,000 Union soldiers were imprisoned there. Nearly 13,000 died amid overcrowding, disease, inadequate food and poor sanitation. The historic site preserves this Civil War history while interpreting the wider experience of American prisoners of war.

Nature around the commemorative landscape

Beyond the maintained lawns, natural areas include oak, hickory and pine woodland. Deer, squirrels and birds such as hawks and owls occur in the park. Observe them at a distance and keep the visit focused on protected routes and memorial spaces.

Andersonville visitor information

Call 229-924-0343 for access, programs and route questions. Check the official NPS visit planner before traveling.