Antietam National Battlefield, in Sharpsburg, Maryland, is the site of the September 17, 1862 battle that the NPS calls "the single bloodiest day in the history of the United States." It is a separate national park from Harpers Ferry, about 17 miles away. The two places belong together: the battle at Antietam came two days after Stonewall Jackson captured the Union garrison at Harpers Ferry, and some of the troops who fought there marched straight from one to the other. This guide covers getting there from Harpers Ferry, current fees and hours, and a day that links both battlefields.
Know before you go
| Distance from Harpers Ferry | 17 mi (Antietam NPS page); about 16 mi and 35 min (Harpers Ferry NPS page) — NPS |
| Visitor Center | 5831 Dunker Church Rd, Sharpsburg, MD 21782; 301-432-5124 |
| Entrance fee (Nov 2026) | $20 per vehicle, $15 motorcycle, $10 per person; valid 3 days; 15 and under free — NPS fees |
| Payment | Cards only, no cash |
| Harpers Ferry pass | Not valid here; the $80 America the Beautiful pass covers both |
| Visitor Center hours | 9am–5pm daily; closed Thanksgiving, Dec 25 and Jan 1 — NPS hours |
| Battlefield | Open year-round, during daylight hours |
| Auto tour | Self-guided, 9 miles, starting at Dunker Church |
| Coming up | Fee-free day Nov 11, 2026; Memorial Illumination Sat, Dec 5, 2026 |
How far is Antietam from Harpers Ferry?
Antietam National Battlefield is about 16 to 17 miles from Harpers Ferry. The Antietam directions page lists Harpers Ferry National Historical Park at 17 miles, and the Harpers Ferry nearby attractions page puts Antietam about 16 miles and 35 minutes away. Set your navigation to the visitor center, 5831 Dunker Church Road, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, about a mile north of the town of Sharpsburg.
What is the best route from Harpers Ferry to Antietam?
The simplest route to describe runs through Shepherdstown, which also gives you a lunch stop. The NPS doesn't publish directions from Harpers Ferry, so this is built from its other route descriptions and the state road numbers:
- Harpers Ferry to Shepherdstown (12 miles, per NPS). From the Harpers Ferry stoplight, take US 340 west toward Charles Town, then turn right onto WV 230 north to Shepherdstown.
- Cross the Potomac. In Shepherdstown, WV 480 crosses the river on the James Rumsey Bridge and becomes Maryland Route 34.
- Into Sharpsburg. Follow MD 34 into Sharpsburg, where it becomes Main Street.
- North to the visitor center. Turn north on Maryland Route 65 (Church Street); the NPS says the visitor center is on the right about a mile north of Sharpsburg.
A navigation app may suggest a different route depending on traffic, which is fine. If you want to check directions with the park, call 301-432-5124. Driving is not affected by the footbridge closure, which only cuts the walking and biking link from Lower Town into Maryland.
How much does Antietam cost, and when is it open?
As of November 2026, Antietam's standard entrance fee is $20 per private vehicle, valid for three days. The park takes credit and debit cards only, no cash (NPS fees).
| Pass | Price (Nov 2026) | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $20 | Driver and passengers, 3 days |
| Motorcycle | $15 | 3 days |
| Per person | $10 | Walkers and cyclists, 3 days; 15 and under free |
| Antietam annual pass | $35 | One year, Antietam only |
| America the Beautiful, resident annual | $80 | Entrance at federal sites, including Antietam and Harpers Ferry |
| Senior annual / lifetime (62+) | $20 / $80 | Entrance at federal sites |
Harpers Ferry and Antietam are separate fees. Harpers Ferry also charges $20 per vehicle for three days (parking, fees and shuttle guide), so a day at both costs $40 per car. If you visit national parks several times a year, the $80 America the Beautiful pass pays for itself quickly.
Fee-free day: Antietam's 2026 list of fee-free days for US citizens and residents includes Wednesday, November 11 (Veterans Day).
Hours: The visitor center is open seven days a week, 9am to 5pm, and closed on Thanksgiving (November 26, 2026), December 25 and January 1 (NPS hours). The battlefield is open year-round, and the trails page says the park is open during daylight hours.
Memorial Illumination: On Saturday, December 5, 2026, the park holds its annual Memorial Illumination, with 23,000 candles on the battlefield, one for each soldier killed, wounded or missing. Check the Antietam home page for details and traffic arrangements.
How did the 1862 Harpers Ferry surrender lead to Antietam?
Harpers Ferry and Antietam were two parts of one campaign. In September 1862, Robert E. Lee invaded Maryland and split his army, sending Stonewall Jackson to capture the 12,500-man Union garrison at Harpers Ferry. Jackson took the town, and A.P. Hill's march from Harpers Ferry then decided the last hours of the fighting at Sharpsburg. Here is the sequence from the NPS Harpers Ferry Civil War chronology:
| Date (1862) | What happened |
|---|---|
| Sep 13 | Jackson's Confederates take the hills surrounding Harpers Ferry |
| Sep 14 | The Battle of South Mountain delays the main Union army. That night Jackson sends A.P. Hill's division to the Chambers Farm to outflank the Union line on Bolivar Heights, and about 1,500 Union cavalry slip out of the trap |
| Sep 15 | About 12,500 Union troops surrender at Harpers Ferry, the largest surrender of U.S. troops in the Civil War |
| Sep 17 | The Battle of Antietam. Hill leaves one brigade at Harpers Ferry and marches his Light Division 17 miles to Sharpsburg, arriving just in time to counter the final Union advance |
| Sep 18 | The remaining Confederates evacuate Harpers Ferry |
| Sep 19 | The campaign ends with a battle at Shepherdstown as Lee recrosses the Potomac into Virginia |
| Sep 20 | Union troops reoccupy Harpers Ferry and begin fortifying the heights |
| Sep 22 | Lincoln issues the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation |
| Oct 1–2 | Lincoln reviews Union troops on Bolivar Heights and Maryland Heights |
At Antietam itself, the NPS says 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing in twelve hours of fighting. The battle ended Lee's first invasion of the North and gave Lincoln the opportunity he wanted to announce the Emancipation Proclamation. Hill's arrival came late in the day: Burnside's Union corps began its final attack at about 3:30pm, and "just as the Federals reached the end of Lee's line," in the NPS overview's words, Hill's infantry arrived from Harpers Ferry.
For the Harpers Ferry side of the story, including the town changing hands eight times, see our Harpers Ferry Civil War guide.
What should you see at Antietam?
Start at the visitor center for the park film and to buy your pass, then drive the self-guided 9-mile auto tour, which begins at Dunker Church. The NPS driving tour lists these stops in order:
- Dunker Church
- North Woods
- East Woods
- Cornfield
- West Woods
- Mumma Farm and Cemetery
- Union Advance
- Sunken Road (Bloody Lane)
- Lower Bridge (Burnside Bridge)
- Final Attack
- Antietam National Cemetery
If you are coming from Harpers Ferry, stop 10, the Final Attack, is the one that ties the two parks together: it is where Hill's division arrived from Harpers Ferry.
To get out of the car, the NPS lists these walks among others (hiking page):
| Trail | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Antietam Remembered | 1/4-mile loop | Paved |
| West Woods | 0.9-mile loop | Mostly shaded |
| Cornfield | 1.25-mile loop | — |
| Bloody Lane | 1.6-mile loop | The sunken road |
| Final Attack | 1.7-mile loop | Where Hill's division arrived |
| Snavely Ford | 1.8-mile loop | Mostly flat and shady, one climb at the end |
The Pry House Field Hospital Museum is also part of the park; ask at the visitor center for its hours. Rangers give talks daily, with more programs in summer. Wear good shoes, stay on the trails, and watch for poison ivy, stinging insects and groundhog holes.
Can you see Harpers Ferry and Antietam in one day?
Yes. With 17 miles between them, you can follow the 1862 campaign from the capture of Harpers Ferry to the battlefield at Sharpsburg in one day, in the same order it happened. Here is a plan that works with the current hours:
- Morning: Harpers Ferry's 1862 battlefield. Park at the Visitor Center (171 Shoreline Drive) and pay the $20 vehicle fee. Walk the Murphy-Chambers Farm trail (1 to 3 miles), on the Chambers Farm ground where Hill's division outflanked the Union line on the night of September 14, or Schoolhouse Ridge North (1.7 miles, a row of antique cannons), then drive to the Bolivar Heights overlook (small 8-space lot on Whitman Avenue), where the Union garrison was posted. Trail details are in our Harpers Ferry hiking guide.
- Late morning: Lower Town (optional). If you have time, ride the shuttle to Lower Town for John Brown's Fort and the river confluence. Check our footbridge closure guide first if you were hoping to cross into Maryland on foot.
- Lunch: Shepherdstown. Drive 12 miles to Shepherdstown, which has the most restaurants along the way. See our Shepherdstown guide.
- Early afternoon: Antietam Visitor Center. Cross the Potomac into Sharpsburg and buy your Antietam pass (cards only). Watch the film.
- Afternoon: the auto tour. Drive the 9-mile tour and walk at least one trail, ideally the Final Attack loop. The visitor center closes at 5pm, and in November the light goes early, so don't start the tour much past mid-afternoon.
- Evening: Dinner back in Shepherdstown, or return to Harpers Ferry. Your Harpers Ferry pass is still good the next two days if you want to come back for Lower Town or Maryland Heights.
If you'd rather split it over two days, stay in the area; our where to stay guide covers inns in Harpers Ferry and chain hotels in nearby Charles Town. For other day trips, see the nearby towns and day trips hub.
