The Battle of Bentonville, fought March 19-21, 1865, was the last full-scale action of the Civil War in which a Confederate army was able to mount a tactical offensive. This major battle, the largest ever fought in North Carolina, was the only significant attempt to defeat the large Union army of Gen. William T. Sherman during its march through the Carolinas in the spring of 1865. The battle was fought over an area of six thousand acres. More than four thousand men were reported killed, wounded, or missing during the 3-day battle. 

At Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site over six miles of hiking trails wind through flat county-side and farm-land, some of which saw active fighting in 1865. History buffs can enjoy signage detailing the event as they walk and those just looking to hike can do so on beautiful and well-maintained trails. Bentonville is even part of the state's Mountains to Sea Trail. Segments 11 to 12 of this trail, which stretch 1,200 miles across the state, extend from Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center down to Bentonville. 

What to Know Before You Go - updated 5/29/24

Map Info: check in at the Visitors Center to be oriented by staff and/or for a physical map. If you'd like to view/print the map before you arrive you can find it here. You can find a supplementary map from the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail provided below. 

About the Trail: some trails have markers and some don't - but all trailheads have signage, all Bentonville trails are natural surface, hard-pack terrain which can leave many of the trails very wet or unpassable after hard rain, all trails are 5ft wide except for Bull Pen Loop which is 3ft wide. The Cole Plantation Loop trail involves stairs. 

There are benches along some of the trails but sporadically and they are not marked on the map. Dogs are allowed on leash, but please clean up after them. Keep in mind that none of the trails or trailheads have trash receptacles - those are only located at the Visitors Center. All trailhead parking lots are gravel. There is no biking allowed on the trails, only hiking, and don't forget to bring water, bug spray, and sunscreen.

The Visitors Center: there is handicap parking available at the center but it is gravel with no concrete pad, the center is ADA accessible with a handicap bathroom, and the picnic shelter at the center is not ADA accessible. In addition, the historic Harper House is not ADA accessible. Many of the Driving Trail pull-offs are paved and flat, though a few still have packed gravel surface. 

Getting There: Bentonville is just a few miles off I-95, exit 90 and is open year-round. Please note that cell service can be spotty in the Bentonville area.