Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, sits where the Shenandoah River runs into the Potomac, and most of what visitors come for is inside Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
Know before you go
| Open | Daily, except Thanksgiving, Dec 25 and Jan 1 — NPS hours |
| Trails and parking lots | 30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset |
| Visitor Center and Lower Town museums | 9am–5pm daily |
| Entrance fee | $20 per vehicle · $15 per motorcycle · $10 per person 16+ (under 16 free), valid 3 days — NPS fees |
| Payment | No cash. Card at the entrance station, or online via Recreation.gov |
| Where to park | Visitor Center, 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 |
| Shuttle | Every 10–15 min; last bus 5:30pm in standard time (as of Nov 2026) |
What is closed at Harpers Ferry right now?
As of November 2026, the footbridge over the Potomac is closed, cutting Lower Town off from Maryland Heights and the C&O Canal towpath.
Current closures (as of November 2026)
- Goodloe Byron Memorial Footbridge: closed since July 27, 2026, first for stair replacement, then for deck safety repairs. The NPS expects it to stay closed this fall, with no reopening date. A limited shuttle runs from the Visitor Center to C&O Canal Lock 34. NPS footbridge page
- Four Lower Town museums are temporarily closed: Master Armorer's Quarters, Black Voices (African American history), the Civil War Museum and Harper House. John Brown's Fort, the John Brown Museum, Allies for Freedom, A Place in Time and the Boarding House are open. The Lower Town Information Center is not staffed; get maps at A Place in Time.
- Schoolhouse Ridge South: southern loop closed (sinkholes).
- No trash cans in the park. Carry out everything you bring in.
- Cashless park. No cash for entrance fees.
Live alerts: current conditions.
For the dated timeline, every detour and the Lock 34 shuttle limits, see our Harpers Ferry footbridge closure status page.
Is Harpers Ferry a national park?
Not in name: it is a national historical park, a National Park Service site set aside mainly for its history, including the armory, John Brown's 1859 raid, the Civil War and Storer College. It was created as a national monument in 1944 and renamed in 1963. It works like a national park, with an entrance fee and America the Beautiful passes accepted. It covers 3,682 acres across three states (NPS, 2022).
The town is separate and very much lived in. All food, lodging and shopping are in Harpers Ferry and Bolivar, not in the park.
When is the park open?
Every day except Thanksgiving (November 26, 2026), December 25 and January 1. Trails and parking lots open 30 minutes before sunrise and close 30 minutes after sunset; the Visitor Center and Lower Town museums are open 9am to 5pm.
How much does it cost to visit?
As of November 2026, $20 covers a private vehicle and everyone in it for three consecutive days. Motorcycles pay $15, walk-ins and cyclists $10 per person aged 16 and up, and under-16s are free. The next fee-free day is November 11, 2026 (Veterans Day), for US citizens and residents. Every pass and lot is on the parking, fees and shuttle guide.
How much time do you need in Harpers Ferry?
Half a day covers Lower Town, The Point, John Brown's Fort, a couple of museums and the climb to Jefferson Rock. A full day adds a walk such as Bolivar Heights and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy visitor center on Washington Street. The NPS puts Maryland Heights alone at 3–4 hours, and while the footbridge is closed you reach it by the Lock 34 shuttle.
For timed half-day, one-day, two-day and rainy-day plans, see our Harpers Ferry itinerary.
If you only have three hours
Skip the long hikes and spend it in Lower Town: The Point, John Brown's Fort and the stone steps up to Jefferson Rock. Save Maryland Heights for a day when you can start early.
When is the best time to visit Harpers Ferry?
Fall is the classic choice: Eastern Panhandle foliage usually peaks in late October, sometimes into early November. Summer is river season, with commercial tubing mainly from Memorial Day to Labor Day. In December, Olde Tyme Christmas fills Harpers Ferry and Bolivar; in 2026 it opens Friday, December 4, then runs December 5–6 and 12–13 (subject to change). The NPS gives an average annual high of 63°F and low of 40°F. See the seasons guide.
Dated festivals and NPS programs are on the Harpers Ferry events calendar.
My favorite season
Fall. The color on the hills around the rivers is at its best then, and it makes for beautiful pictures. Book early, since it's the busiest season too.
How do you get there and where do you park?
Most people drive: Harpers Ferry is about 66 miles from Washington, DC, and 20 miles from Frederick, Maryland. Weekday MARC trains and one Amtrak train a day also stop in town; see getting there and day trips from DC.
Park at the Visitor Center lot (about 1,000 spaces) and take the shuttle, because Lower Town parking is extremely limited. Enter 171 Shoreline Drive, not just "Harpers Ferry," since many navigation apps send drivers into town.
Every lot, trailhead and restroom with GPS points is on our Harpers Ferry map and locations page. Bringing a dog or kids? Pets can't ride the shuttle; see Harpers Ferry with dogs and kids.
Where can you stay and eat?
Rooms in town are few: small inns and guest houses on High Street and Washington Street, with chain hotels in Charles Town and Ranson. See where to stay. Cafés, pubs and bakeries are on High, Potomac and Washington streets; see where to eat.
What is there to do in Harpers Ferry?
Start at The Point, where the rivers meet and you look out on three states, then walk to John Brown's Fort and Jefferson Rock. Beyond Lower Town are Bolivar Heights, Loudoun Heights, the towpath and the rivers. See things to do.
Day trips beyond town, including Antietam, Shepherdstown and Charles Town, are in our guide to towns and day trips near Harpers Ferry.
