Harpers Ferry is an important historical site in West Virginia. It preserves the site of an important event that catapulted the Union and Confederate armies into the U.S. Civil War.
It is also home to an adorable downtown area, impressive, mountainous scenery, and a breathtaking river confluence.
Harpers Ferry is somewhere I frequented as a child on field trips and family weekend getaways. It is truly the perfect outdoor-sy family destination.
Walking along the streets of Lower Town just fills me with nostalgia!
So, read on for a guide on how to visit Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. In this post, we’ll be covering…
- Practical Info for Visiting Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
- A Brief History of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
- How to Get to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
- Things to do in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
- Additional Tips for Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Practical Info for Visiting Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry National Park Parking and Fees
Harpers Ferry does have an entrance fee, though those who have an America the Beautiful Pass can enter for free. As of 2023, the entrance fee is $20 per vehicle, $15 per motorcycle, and $10 per person on foot.
Frequent visitors can purchase an annual pass for $35!
The Harpers Ferry National Park parking lot is right outside of the entrance station and visitor center. In front of the visitor center is a bus stop, where the shuttle bus arrives every 15-minutes to take visitors to Lower Town.
When to Visit Harpers Ferry National Park
Harpers Ferry is not just for history buffs. There are plenty of scenic hikes, fun shops and restaurants, and not to mention, incredible natural beauty!
For those adrenaline junkies out there, the park even offers watersports and ziplining down the Potomac.
The best time to visit the park is during the fall or spring months. These months promise mild weather and less crowds.
The Fall is an especially great time to visit and view the stunning fall foliage along the mountains.
If you visit during the summer, expect more crowds than usual. And unless you’re planning to go snow tubing, the winter usually isn’t the best time to visit.
A Brief History of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
The small town of Harpers Ferry played an important role in history, and the events that happened here sparked the gruesome flame of the United States Civil War.
In Harpers Ferry, abolitionist John Brown led a raid against a federal armory. He had goals to start an armed revolt of enslaved people in order to confront slavery.
His raid was an unfortunate failure, yet it distilled fear in the Southern slave states of what may come next.
John Brown was later executed, though his legacy lasts forever. His raid ultimately changed the course of history.
Prior to the Civil War, Harpers Ferry was an important location to the African American population. The town was an important stop along the Underground Railroad, and many freedom seekers sought refuge there.
Frederick Douglass and W.E.B. Du Bois, civil rights heroes, were drawn to Harpers Ferry for its focus on black excellence and success. Many African Americans also sought education in Harpers Ferry, which led to the foundation of one of the first schools to offer education to African Americans- Storer College.
After the Civil War, Harpers Ferry continued to develop as an industrial town along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. As it developed, it became known as a safe haven for African Americans, and many were hired to work on the railroad.
To this day, Harpers Ferry holds significant importance to the African American community, and a large number of the populations’ families moved to the area for safety generations and generations ago.
How to Get to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
The easiest way to get to Harpers Ferry is to drive. The national park entrance is about an hour away from Washington D.C. or Baltimore, and nearly 3 hours from either Richmond or Philadelphia.
There is also a train that runs from Washington DC to the Harpers Ferry station, located by the river confluence in Lower Town.
At the entrance of the park, there is a visitor center and a large parking lot. The visitor center is a great source of information, whether you need a park map, have questions for a park ranger, or want to get your NPS passport book stamped.
There is not much else to see there though, so from that point, you will want to focus on getting to Lower Town. Lower Town is where you will find Old Town Harpers Ferry, the numerous hiking trails, the iconic Jefferson Rock, and the beautiful river confluence at the Point.
To get to Lower Town, you can either walk the 1.6-miles to the town’s entrance or ride the free Harpers Ferry shuttle bus. The bus comes to pick up passengers every 15-minutes, and the ride is only about 5-minutes long.
Things to Do at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Engage in the History of Harpers Ferry
As mentioned before, there is so much to do here! History buffs will love how much history is embedded in this park.
There are many preserved forts and buildings to find in Lower Town. The most iconic one would be John Brown’s Fort, which has a museum to go alongside it.
Speaking of museums, there are plenty of museums and exhibits located in Lower Town that celebrate and delve into the town’s history. A few examples of the museums they have offered are the Civil Rights Museum, the Restoration Museum, the Place in Time museum, and the Black Voices Museum.
All of these museums are free, and you could spend an entire day visiting all of them!
There are also plenty of historical stores that offer a glimpse of what life was like in the 19th century. Lower Town has a blacksmith shop, an old clothing store, a dry goods store, and a jewelry store, to name a few.
Visiting these shops is an interesting and immersive way to learn about what people wore, ate, and did on a day-to-day basis.
Eat and Shop Your Way Around Lower Town
For those who have had enough history class in high school, don’t worry, there are plenty of other fun things to do in Harpers Ferry National Park! Lower Town is so charming, and it’s lovely to walk around to explore the shops and restaurants.
Among the few shops to peruse, there is a local bookstore and a candy shop (my favorite!). True Treats is a great place for children and sweet-tooths alike who are interested in trying actual Civil-War era candy.
It is my assumption that the candy recipes are modeled after 19th century candy recipes, so the candies aren’t really from the Civil-War era. Well, I hope not at least!
Lower Town is also home to some fantastic restaurants that are conveniently located by Harpers Ferry’s biggest attractions! Country Cafe is a delicious, family owned restaurant with outdoor seating- perfect for enjoying the nice weather.
If you’re searching for a refreshing craft beer or cider, check out Almost Heaven Pub and Grill, but keep in mind that they close at 4pm.
Creamy Creations is a lovely place to visit for ice cream on a hot day, assuming you haven’t had enough sugar at the candy shop!
Harpers Ferry National Park Hiking
As you walk around Lower Town, you may notice the incredible natural beauty surrounding the town.
Thomas Jefferson referred to Harpers Ferry as “worth the journey across the Atlantic.” And back then, the journey across the Atlantic was much more difficult than just hopping on a plane!
There are plenty of nearby Harpers Ferry National Park hiking trails to get out into nature. A short and simple hike perfect for families is the Virginius Island hike.
This 1-mile abandoned trail runs along many ruins of old homes, warehouses, and mills. This relaxing hike also offers great views of the Potomac river.
Another short hike is the Appalachian Trail loop. In my opinion, this hike is the most scenic in the park.
This 1.8-mile section of the Appalachian Trail is one of the most popular sections, and many hikers are blown away by West Virginia’s subtle beauty. This hike leads to the iconic Jefferson Rock and boasts a view over the mountains that will blow you away.
If you are looking for a longer day hike, try your hand at the Maryland Heights hike.
This 6.6-mile, difficult hike will take you to upper Harper’s Ferry, where you will have a view of the town below. On the way, you will see remnants of the Union Army’s base camp.
Take in the Sights
If you’re not much of a hiker, there are plenty of other incredible sights to see in Lower Town. The Point is a great place to relax, have a picnic, and take in the views.
The Point is where the Shenandoah and the Potomac rivers meet, forming a beautiful confluence. There is also a pedestrian bridge that crosses over the Potomac, offering a different perspective, if you’re brave enough!
Adventurous Fun!
Lastly, there are many outside companies that offer activities in Harpers Ferry that are meant to get your adrenaline rushing. River Riders is one of these companies, offering a variety of activities.
Visitors can ride their 1,000 foot zipline over the Potomac, or they can take a 3-hour zipline guided tour of the Potomac river and the nearby forest. The company also offers tubing down the river.
Speaking of tubing, Harpers Ferry is home to the largest snow tubing hill on the East Coast!
Additional Tips for Visiting Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
The hike to Lower Town is easy and worth the walk, but I always end up riding the cozy shuttle bus on the way back! The trail is marked as difficult, but don’t let that deter you.
It starts to the left of the visitor center behind the parking lot, and it takes you along a beautiful river before you reach a staircase. At the bottom of the staircase, you’re led across the road, where you follow the sidewalk until you reach the town.
It is more of a stroll than a hike at this point, and there are plenty of sights to see along the way, like the flowing Shenandoah River or the ruins of the Shenandoah Pulp Factory. I’m not sure what a Pulp Factory is, but the ruins are an interesting stop nonetheless!
Also, while visiting the park, having a vehicle can be useful. This will allow you to drive out to all of the viewpoints that are further away from Lower Town and the park entrance, such as the Bolivar Heights viewpoint.
Having a vehicle is not necessary, though! Lower Town is very walkable, and you will be able to reach most of the hikes and points of interest on foot.
Finally, there are plenty of hotels in Lower Town ensuring you don’t have to go far to get a good night’s rest. There are so many hotels in Lower Town with a variety of price ranges.
I stay at The Town’s Inn every time I visit Harpers Ferry National Park, and I’m never disappointed with their convenience and prices. The Town’s Inn has their own cafe and shop, and the building is absolutely gorgeous!
I hope you enjoyed this guide to Harpers Ferry National Park!
Let us know in the comments if there are any more Harpers Ferry National Park recommendations we should add to our guide!