Fredericksburg's historic district is compact enough to cover on foot. The colonial house museums — Rising Sun Tavern, Hugh Mercer Apothecary, James Monroe Museum, Mary Washington House — are clustered within a few blocks on Caroline and Charles Streets. Kenmore is a 10-minute walk from the commercial center.
The Civil War battlefields require more planning. The Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park manages four separate sites; the Fredericksburg battlefield is walkable from downtown, but Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania require a car. Chatham Manor, across the river, is a short drive or a long walk.
Ferry Farm and Gari Melchers Home are both a few miles from downtown and require a car or a rideshare. The Fredericksburg Area Museum in the old Town Hall is the logical starting point for a first visit.