Charles Town, West Virginia, is the Jefferson County seat and the closest town of any size to Harpers Ferry. For history visitors it finishes the story that starts at John Brown's Fort: Brown was jailed, tried and hanged here in 1859. For everyone else it is where the area's chain hotels and the Hollywood Casino racetrack are. It is 8 miles from Harpers Ferry and easy to combine with a park visit.
Know before you go
| Distance from Harpers Ferry | 8 mi via US 340 — NPS directions |
| John Brown's trial | Jefferson County Courthouse, 100 E. Washington St; trial began Oct 27, 1859 |
| John Brown's execution | Dec 2, 1859, on the lawn of the Gibson-Todd House, Samuel St; private residence |
| Courtroom access | Part of the courtroom may be viewed during business hours — Landmarks Commission |
| Jefferson County Museum | 200 E. Washington St; John Brown's execution wagon; check hours — museum |
| Hollywood Casino | 750 Hollywood Dr; 21+ to wager; live racing year-round |
| Chain hotels | Charles Town and Ranson — where to stay |
| Population | 6,534 (2020 census) |
How far is Charles Town from Harpers Ferry, and how do you get there?
Charles Town is 8 miles from Harpers Ferry on US 340, according to the NPS. From the Harpers Ferry stoplight, drive west on US 340 to Charles Town. Coming back, follow US 340 north and turn right at the Harpers Ferry stoplight for the park Visitor Center at 171 Shoreline Drive.
Most visitors drive, and we could not verify a public bus between the two towns. If you are staying in Charles Town and visiting the park, note that the Harpers Ferry vehicle pass is valid for three consecutive days, so one $20 pass (as of November 2026) covers a long weekend of driving in each morning. Details are in our parking, fees and shuttle guide.
Where was John Brown tried in Charles Town?
John Brown was tried at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 100 E. Washington Street, after his October 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry. His trial began on October 27, 1859. He and six of his men were tried there for treason against Virginia, murder and inciting a slave insurrection, and all were found guilty. Charles Town was then in Virginia; West Virginia became a separate state in 1863.
The core of the present courthouse dates from 1836–37, so it is the building Brown stood trial in, although the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission notes it was "severely damaged during the Civil War." According to the Commission's John Brown's Trail, "you may enter into the Courthouse during business hours to view part of the courtroom where the trial took place." It is a working county courthouse, so expect a security check and avoid busy court days if you can.
The courthouse has a second national story. In 1922, miners charged with treason after the Battle of Blair Mountain, among them Bill Blizzard, were brought here for trial on a change of venue. That role in West Virginia's mine wars is why the building was designated a National Historic Landmark in December 2023.
What happened between Harpers Ferry and Charles Town
John Brown's raid ran from the night of October 16 to the morning of October 18, 1859, when U.S. Marines under Col. Robert E. Lee stormed the engine house now called John Brown's Fort. Brown and the captured raiders were taken to the jail in Charles Town, which stood diagonally across from the courthouse, where the post office is today; the jail was torn down in 1919. The full story is in our John Brown's raid guide, and the engine house itself is covered in John Brown's Fort.
Where was John Brown hanged?
John Brown was hanged in Charles Town on December 2, 1859, shortly before noon, on what is now the lawn of the Gibson-Todd House on Samuel Street. That is the description given by the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission, which adds that a marker for the hanging site was built from stones of the demolished jailhouse. John Thomas Gibson, who had commanded Virginia militia in Jefferson County during the raid, built the house later and put up the monument.
The Gibson-Todd House is a private residence. View the marker from the street and don't walk onto the property. Other raiders were hanged in Charles Town after Brown, including John Anthony Copeland Jr., a free Black man and Oberlin College student, on December 16, 1859.
In past years Harpers Ferry National Historical Park has held a program at the execution site on December 2. Check the Harpers Ferry NHP website in late November to see if one is planned for 2026.
What else is there to see on the John Brown trail?
The Jefferson County Museum, at 200 E. Washington Street a short walk from the courthouse, has the wagon that carried Brown to his hanging, along with pikes Brown brought for people he hoped to free who could not use guns, documents taken from Brown after the raid, and items from the jail and courthouse (museum exhibits).
The museum's website lists hours of Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, plus Saturday mornings, but its Saturday times are not consistent across the site, so call (304) 725-8628 or check jeffcomuseumwv.org before you go.
To put it all together, follow the Landmarks Commission's self-guided John Brown's Trail. In Charles Town, its stops are:
- The jail site (now the post office), diagonally across from the courthouse
- The Jefferson County Courthouse, where the trial was held
- The execution site on Samuel Street, at the Gibson-Todd House
- The Jefferson County Museum, with the wagon and other artifacts
What is Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races?
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is a casino and thoroughbred racetrack at 750 Hollywood Drive in Charles Town. According to the Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau, it has more than 1,400 slot machines, more than 70 table games including a live poker room, a sportsbook, live horse racing year-round, a steakhouse, Asian dining and live entertainment. You must be 21 or older to wager.
The track opened in 1933 as the Charles Town Race Track and took its current name in 2010. Race days vary through the year, so check the Hollywood Casino Charles Town website for the live racing calendar before you go.
If you are planning an evening at the casino after a day in Harpers Ferry, remember that park trails close 30 minutes after sunset and the last park shuttle runs at 5:30pm in standard time, so collect your car first.
Where can you stay in Charles Town?
Charles Town and neighboring Ranson are where the Harpers Ferry area's chain hotels are, according to the Harpers Ferry–Bolivar Merchants Association. The Inn at Charles Town, at the casino at 750 Hollywood Drive, is part of the Hollywood Casino complex (Jefferson County CVB).
| Stay in | Why | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Town or Ranson | Chain hotels and familiar brands, the casino | 8 miles from the park; drive and park at the Visitor Center |
| Harpers Ferry | Walk to Lower Town; small inns and cottages | Few rooms, no large hotels |
| Shepherdstown | More restaurants; inns in town | 12 miles from the park |
Our where to stay guide compares inns, cottages and camping in more detail, and our Shepherdstown guide weighs that town as a base.
Where should you eat in Charles Town?
Charles Town has diners, taco shops, coffee and the casino's restaurants. The Jefferson County CVB's directory lists, among others:
- Charles Town Family Diner, 903 E. Washington St: American classics and Greek specialties
- Grandma's Diner, 227 W. Washington St: an American and Spanish diner with breakfast all day
- Ortega's Taco Shop, on W. Washington St downtown
- Sibling Coffee, a small specialty coffee roaster downtown
- Hollywood Casino restaurants, including a steakhouse and Asian dining
- Charles Town Farmers Market, a seasonal weekly market at 100 S. Samuel St
We have not verified hours or prices. Check each listing in the Jefferson County CVB directory or the restaurant's own site. For food closer to the park, see where to eat in Harpers Ferry.
Is Charles Town worth a stop?
Yes, if John Brown's story is part of why you came, or if you need a chain hotel. The courthouse, the jail site, the execution site and the museum are all in town and easy to see in one stop, and the museum adds the most tangible link to the raid outside Harpers Ferry. Pair it with a morning in Lower Town at John Brown's Fort, or see the nearby towns and day trips hub for Antietam and Shepherdstown.
