Camping is not allowed anywhere in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park or in the town of Harpers Ferry, so every tent, RV and cabin option is just outside. The good news: a large KOA and a riverside campground sit within a few minutes of the park entrance, and the C&O Canal and the Appalachian Trail add free, primitive sites for people arriving on foot or by bike. This guide compares them, using only details we could check on each operator's own site as of November 2026.
Footbridge closed: it changes which sites make sense
The Goodloe Byron Memorial Footbridge, the walking link between Lower Town and the Maryland side of the Potomac, has been closed since July 27, 2026, with no reopening date as of November 2026. Campers at Maryland-side sites (the C&O Canal hiker-biker sites, Brunswick and Cross Trails Hostel) can't walk into Lower Town. A limited NPS shuttle runs between the Visitor Center and C&O Lock 34. Details and the latest status: footbridge closure guide.
Know before you go
| Camping in the park or town | Not allowed — NPS, ATC |
| Biggest campground | Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday, 343 Campground Road; open all year (KOA, Nov 2026) |
| Riverside option | River Riders' Harpers Ferry Campground, 408 Alstadts Hill Road |
| Free sites | C&O Canal hiker-biker sites (Maryland side): first-come, one night — NPS |
| A.T. shelters in West Virginia | None; nearest is Ed Garvey Shelter in Maryland, about 6 trail miles north |
| Sleeping in your car | Not allowed in park lots — NPS |
| Overnight parking | A.T. hikers and C&O cyclists only, Visitor Center lot, up to 14 days with a permit |
Can you camp in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park?
No. The park compendium prohibits camping, and the NPS says there is no camping within Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy adds that there is no camping in the town of Harpers Ferry either. Private campgrounds are outside the park boundary, and the NPS points campers to other national parks within driving distance, including the C&O Canal.
You also can't sleep in your vehicle in park lots. The only overnight parking is for Appalachian Trail hikers and C&O Canal cyclists, in the Visitor Center lot, for up to 14 days with a permit. Details are on our parking, fees and shuttle guide.
How do the campgrounds near Harpers Ferry compare?
The KOA is the full-service choice, River Riders is the riverside choice, and the C&O Canal and A.T. sites are for hikers and cyclists. This table compares what each operator publishes, as of November 2026. Rates change often, so we don't list them; check each site.
| Place | Where | Ways to stay | Season (as of Nov 2026) | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday | 343 Campground Road, Harpers Ferry, WV | Full-hookup RV sites (pull-thru and back-in), camping cabins, deluxe cabins with bathrooms and kitchens, tent sites | Open all year; pool is seasonal | KOA, 304-535-6895 |
| Harpers Ferry Campground (River Riders) | 408 Alstadts Hill Road, Harpers Ferry, WV | Riverfront full-hookup RV sites, luxury tent sites, trailside and hike-in island tent sites, cliff-top cabins | RV sites and cabins year-round; ask about tent sites | River Riders; check-in at the main office |
| Brunswick Family Campground (River & Trail Outfitters) | 40 Canal Road, Brunswick, MD | RV sites, basic cabins, tent sites | Not posted; ask | River & Trail, 301-834-9950 |
| Maple Tree Campground (The Treehouse Camp) | South Mountain, Maryland, beside the A.T. | Tree houses, tree cottages, specialty houses, tent sites | Tree cottages and specialty houses year-round; tree houses three seasons | Its website |
| Huckleberry Hill hiker-biker site | C&O Canal towpath mile 62.9, Maryland | Primitive tent site | Water off Nov 15–Apr 15 | No reservations; free, one night |
| Antietam Creek drive-in campground | C&O Canal towpath mile 69.6, Maryland | Tent sites near a parking area; no RVs | Check with the park | Required, via Recreation.gov; $20 per site per night |
| Ed Garvey Shelter | A.T., about 6 trail miles north of Harpers Ferry, Maryland | Trail shelter | Check with PATC | First-come |
| Cross Trails Hostel | 19123 Sandy Hook Road, Knoxville, MD | Dorm bunks, private rooms, lawn camping | Not posted; call | Online, or 240-778-9369 |
What is the Harpers Ferry KOA like?
The Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday is the largest, most developed campground near Harpers Ferry, and KOA lists it as open all year. It is at 343 Campground Road, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, and its host is Recreational Adventures Co. KOA's page describes:
- Ways to stay: pull-thru and back-in RV sites with full hookups, rustic Camping Cabins, Deluxe Cabins with full bathrooms and kitchens, and tent sites.
- Facilities: bathrooms with hot showers, laundry, a camp store, Wi-Fi and cable TV.
- For families: a heated pool (seasonal), mini golf, an arcade, a playground, a jumping pillow and an indoor theater.
- For dogs: pets are welcome, and a fenced KampK9 area allows off-leash play.
- Getting to the river: KOA says River Riders will pick up campers at the campground for free for its activities.
KOA's own pages give two different pool seasons and two different maximum RV lengths, so confirm both when you book. For prices, use KOA's booking page; rates vary by date and site type. The campground sits off US 340 near the park entrance, so most campers drive to the Visitor Center, pay the park entrance fee and take the shuttle into Lower Town.
Is there a campground on the river?
Yes. River Riders' Harpers Ferry Campground is on the Potomac at 408 Alstadts Hill Road, the same address as River Riders' main office, where check-in happens. River Riders lists riverfront full-hookup RV sites, luxury tent sites, trailside and hike-in island tent sites, and cliff-top Riverview cabins. River Riders says its RV sites and cabins are available year-round with heat and air conditioning, and that a 1.5-mile walking and biking trail connects the campground to the town of Harpers Ferry. Ask about flood policies when you book a riverside site, because the Potomac rises fast after heavy rain. For river trips from the same base, see our tubing and rafting guide.
What other campgrounds are within a short drive?
Two Maryland campgrounds are worth a look if the West Virginia side is full:
- Brunswick Family Campground, 40 Canal Road, Brunswick, MD 21716, is run by River & Trail Outfitters. It sits between the C&O Canal and the Potomac, and River & Trail describes it as 15 minutes from Harpers Ferry. It offers RV sites, basic cabins and tent sites. River & Trail doesn't post a season online, so call 301-834-9950.
- Maple Tree Campground (The Treehouse Camp) is on Maryland's South Mountain beside the Appalachian Trail, and describes itself as near Harpers Ferry. It rents primitive tree houses (no mattresses or electricity), tree cottages with woodstoves, three specialty houses with electricity, and wooded or field tent sites. It says it is pet-friendly. Its website doesn't list an address, so get directions when you book.
For a developed campground run by the NPS, Antietam Creek on the C&O Canal is the nearest drive-in option (see below). There is no camping at all in Harpers Ferry itself.
Can you camp on the C&O Canal near Harpers Ferry?
Yes. The C&O Canal National Historical Park runs free hiker-biker campsites along the towpath on the Maryland side of the Potomac, plus reservable drive-in campgrounds. The NPS rules for hiker-biker sites, as of November 2026:
- Free, first-come, first-served, no reservations.
- One night per site, per trip.
- Each site fits five to ten tents, depending on the site, with a chemical toilet.
- Well water is non-potable. Faucets are typically turned off around mid-November.
The closest hiker-biker site is Huckleberry Hill, at towpath mile 62.9. That is about 1.3 miles upstream of Lock 34 (mile 61.6), where the footbridge-closure shuttle stops. The C&O Canal Trust says its water is turned off from November 15 to April 15 each year. The next site downstream is Bald Eagle Island, about 12.5 towpath miles toward Washington.
The nearest drive-in campground is Antietam Creek, at towpath mile 69.6 near the mouth of Antietam Creek. The NPS charges $20 per site per night, by reservation only, with an eight-person limit per site. The C&O Canal Trust notes that you park and walk to the sites, and that RVs are not permitted.
Cyclists riding the towpath into Harpers Ferry should read our C&O Canal biking guide. As of November 2026, you can't walk your bike across the footbridge into Lower Town.
Are there Appalachian Trail shelters near Harpers Ferry?
Not in West Virginia. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy lists no shelters on the 2.4 miles of A.T. in West Virginia, and no camping is allowed in town or in the park. The nearest shelters are in Maryland and northern Virginia:
| Shelter | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ed Garvey Shelter | Maryland, at Weverton Cliffs | About 6 trail miles north of Harpers Ferry; owned by the NPS (Maryland DNR) |
| Crampton Gap Shelter | Maryland | 4.1 trail miles north of Ed Garvey (PATC) |
| David Lesser Shelter | Northern Virginia | Next shelter south of Ed Garvey on PATC's list, 15.6 trail miles from it |
In Maryland, the ATC says camping is allowed only at designated overnight sites, so plan to stop at a shelter or campsite rather than pitching a tent where you like. The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club maintains these shelters; check PATC's shelter list or contact the club before relying on one. Northbound hikers also need a way across the Potomac during the footbridge closure: the ATC recommends arranging a shuttle. See our Appalachian Trail at Harpers Ferry guide and Weverton Cliffs guide.
Is there a hiker hostel in Harpers Ferry?
The nearest hostel we could find is Cross Trails Hostel, at 19123 Sandy Hook Road in Knoxville, Maryland, across the Potomac from Harpers Ferry. The hostel says it stands above the A.T. and the C&O Canal, where those trails meet the American Discovery Trail and the Potomac Heritage Trail. Its booking page lists a women's dorm, a men's dorm, private rooms and lawn camping overlooking the Potomac.
We could confirm only that its website was live with online booking on November 8, 2026. It posts no season or rates, and some listings still use an older name, the Harpers Ferry Hostel. Call 240-778-9369 before you count on a bed. The ATC's Harpers Ferry Visitor Center at 799 Washington Street is the best place to ask about current hiker lodging in town.
If you'd rather have a bed than a bunk, see where to stay in Harpers Ferry for inns and guest houses.
Which camping option is right for you?
- Family trip with a car or RV: the KOA, for hookups, cabins and the most facilities.
- Close to the river and a walk into town: River Riders' Harpers Ferry Campground.
- Cabin without the KOA scale: River Riders' cabins, Brunswick Family Campground or the Treehouse Camp.
- Cycling the towpath: Huckleberry Hill (free) or Antietam Creek (reserve ahead).
- Hiking the A.T.: Ed Garvey Shelter to the north, or a bunk at Cross Trails Hostel once you have confirmed it is open.
Before you book: questions to ask
- Is my site type open on my dates? Some sites are seasonal even where the campground is open all year.
- What is the water situation? C&O Canal water is off in winter, and hiker-biker well water is non-potable.
- Can I bring my dog? Pets can't ride the park shuttle, so a dog means driving into the park. See visiting with dogs and kids.
- How will I get to Lower Town? Most campers drive to the Visitor Center, pay the entrance fee and take the shuttle. See parking, fees and shuttle.
More planning help
- Where to stay in Harpers Ferry: inns, guest houses and chain hotels
- Harpers Ferry hiking guide
- Footbridge closure: what's affected
- Harpers Ferry fall foliage: the busiest camping weekends
