If you want to dive into American history, two of the most significant Civil War battlefields — Fort Donelson National Battlefield and Shiloh National Military Park — are an easy road trip from Nashville, Tennessee.

After flying into Nashville, I made the quick drive to Clarksville, about 40 minutes from Fort Donelson National Battlefield in Dover. It’s a great overnight stop to get an early start exploring. These two battlefields were my 245th and 246th units of the National Park Service. I explored the two battlefields on a beautiful spring day.

Fort Donelson National Battlefield

The Battle of Fort Donelson took place in February 1862, marking one of the first major Union victories of the Civil War and opening the door for the Union’s advance into Tennessee. Starting the driving tour, I visited a series of significant stops including the Confederate Monument and Fort Donelson itself — a 15-acre earthen fort constructed over seven months to protect the critical Cumberland River batteries. A reconstructed log hut gave a glimpse into the living quarters of soldiers and enslaved laborers who built hundreds of such structures inside the fort’s walls. For me, the most intriguing stop was standing at the Lower River Battery, imagining the thunderous roar of artillery defending this vital waterway. The river was truly the lifeline of the battle, and seeing the placement of the cannons overlooking the Cumberland made it easy to understand why controlling the river was crucial to both sides.

Continuing the tour, I explored sites 7-11 scattered around the town of Dover. Stops included the remnants of Graves and French’s Batteries and the old Forge Road, the escape route Confederate soldiers tried to secure. The two places that stood out most for me were the Dover Hotel, known as the Surrender House, and the Fort Donelson National Cemetery. It was inside the Dover Hotel that Confederate General Buckner surrendered to his old West Point friend, Ulysses S. Grant — a moment that helped launch Grant into national fame. The nearby cemetery is deeply moving, with rows of headstones including 512 unknown Union soldiers, offering a solemn reminder of the heavy cost of this important battle.

Before hitting the road to Shiloh, I made a quick stop at Cattle & Bakes in Dover for an iced latte and a delicious pimento cheese croissant — the perfect fuel for the next part of the historic journey.

Driving to Shiloh National Military Park

From Fort Donelson to Shiloh, it’s about a 2-hour and 15-minute drive through peaceful, rolling Tennessee countryside — a striking contrast to the fierce fighting that took place in these fields more than 160 years ago.

Shiloh National Military Park

The Battle of Shiloh, fought in April 1862, was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The Union victory here helped solidify Northern control over western Tennessee and parts of the Mississippi River.

Driving into the park, you’re immediately greeted by impressive memorials to Ohio, Illinois, and Iowa regiments. I started my visit at the Iowa Monument, which marked Grant’s last line of defense on April 6, 1862. The Confederate Memorial honors the Southern soldiers and the “Lost Cause” legacy, marking the spot where Confederates captured more than 2,250 Union troops early in the battle.

Duncan Field, Ruggles’s Battery, and the site of the Shiloh Log Church were powerful to walk through, each marking key moments of the brutal two-day fight. Some of the heaviest fighting took place around the Peach Orchard and Bloody Pond, two stops where the violence and human suffering of the battle truly hit home.

One of my favorite parts of the drive was through the Indian Mounds area — a lush, peaceful landscape that predates the Civil War by centuries. Finally, I reached Pittsburgh Landing, a vital point on the Tennessee River that was key to Grant’s strategy.

After finishing the park tour, I found myself passing through the town of Savannah, Tennessee, which lies along the original Trail of Tears route — adding another powerful layer of American history to the day’s travels.

Plan Your Road Trip

Fly into Nashville International Airport (BNA)

While you can do both sites in a day trip from Nashville, staying in Clarksville gives easy access to Fort Donelson

Drive Fort Donelson to Shiloh: ~2 hours 15 minutes

Allow 1–2 hours at Fort Donelson and 3–4 hours at Shiloh for a thorough visit.

This road trip is a powerful reminder of how the Civil War forever shaped American history — and how easily you can explore it from a vibrant city like Nashville.