Fort Donelson National Battlefield: Alerts, Map, Weather & Trailie Planner

About Fort Donelson National Battlefield

Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donelson elated the North, and stunned the South. Within days of the surrender, Clarksville and Nashville would fall into Union hands. Grant and his troops had created a pathway to victory for the Union.

Weather Information

Fort Donelson National Battlefield traditionally experiences mild to moderate winters and hot summers with an average high of 90 degrees

Summer
and 40 in winter; average lows
Winter
are 30 degrees but single digits are not unusual.

Rainfall in the area averages 53 inches a year with an additional 6 inches of ice/snow. Violent thunderstorms and severe weather can take place at any time of year but are most common in December and spring time.

Operating Hours

Fort Donelson NB Visitor Center is open daily 8:30 am - 4:00 pm CST. Dover Hotel hours are 8:30 am - 4:00 pm CST daily. The park is closed Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. Hours change seasonally. The park tour route is open: Spring time change to Memorial Day: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm CDT Memorial Day to Labor Day: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm CDT Labor Day to fall time change: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm CST Fall time change to spring time change: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm CST

Monday8:00AM - 4:30PM
Tuesday8:00AM - 4:30PM
Wednesday8:00AM - 4:30PM
Thursday8:00AM - 4:30PM
Friday8:00AM - 4:30PM
Saturday8:00AM - 4:30PM
Sunday8:00AM - 4:30PM

Planning Fort Donelson National Battlefield

The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts for live updates.

Reservation rules vary by season and activity for Fort Donelson National Battlefield. See Overview on this page for fees, timed entry, and campground details before you travel.