Pea Ridge National Military Park is a 4,300 acre Civil War Battlefield that preserves the site of the March 1862 battle that saved Missouri for the Union. On March 7 & 8, nearly 26,000 soldiers fought to determine whether Missouri would remain under Union control, and whether or not Federal armies could continue their offensive south through the Mississippi River Valley. Major General Earl Van Dorn led 16,000 Confederates against 10,250 Union soldiers, under the command of Brigadier General Samuel R. Curtis. Van Dorn's command consisted of regular Confederate troops commanded by Brigadier General Benjamin McCulloch, and Missouri State Guard Forces commanded by Major General Sterling Price.

The Confederate force also included some 800 Cherokees fighting for the Confederacy. The Union army consisted of soldiers from Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio. Half of the Federals were German immigrants. The park also includes a two and one half mile segment of the Trail of Tears. The Elkhorn Tavern, site of bitter fighting on both days, is a NPS reconstruction on the site of the original. The park is one of the most well preserved battlefields in the United States.

 Directions 

Plane - Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) now serves the NW Arkansas metro area and is 20 miles southwest of the park. Daily service to St. Louis, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and Chicago O'Hare International is available. TWA Transworld Express, Delta Connections, and American Eagle serve this facility. Rental cars are available at the airport. The park can be reached by traveling from XNA to AR Highway 12 to Bentonville and I-540, then north one exit to US 62 East and following the signs to the park.

Car - The park is 80 miles southwest of Springfield, MO. Take US 60 to Monett, MO, then south on MO 37 to Gateway, AR. Go west on US 62 to the park. The park is 90 miles northeast of Fort Smith, AR. Take I-44 east to I-540. Go north to Fayetteville, AR. Continue north on I-540 to the US 62 exit and follow signs to the park. The park is 150 miles east of Tulsa, OK. Take the Cherokee Turnpike to US 412 to Siloam Springs and Springdale, AR. Take I-540 north to US 62 East and follow signs to the park.