Antietam National Battlefield

Burnside Bridge -

5831 Dunker Church Road
Sharpsburg, MD 21782
Phone (301) 432-5124

Explore Antietam

23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia’s first invasion into the North and led to Abraham Lincoln’s issuance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

Antietam National Battlefield is well known for its role in American history. Established in 1890 to commemorate the single bloodiest day of the American Civil War (23,110 casualties), the park attracts an estimate of 205,000 visitors each year. The battlefield, located in the Great Valley region of the Appalachian Ridge and Valley province, encompasses over 3,250 acres of farmland, pastures, woodlots and limestone forests.

In 1992, the Antietam National Battlefield General Management Plan was approved, outlining goals for restoring the battlefield to its 1862 appearance. The plan includes projects such as replanting of historic woodlots and orchards, re-establishing original fence lines, lanes and trails, as well as maintaining the integrity of the historic farmsteads.

The areas in natural cover at the battlefield offer a haven for many different species of plants and animals, and also provide a number of secondary benefits including water and air quality enhancement, ground-water recharge, storm flow moderation, and recreational enjoyment.

Things to Do

Bicycling is permitted on paved park tour roads and parking lots. Riding is prohibited on all sidewalks, agricultural land, and the Snavely's Ford Trail. Maryland law requires riders under the age of 16 to wear an approved D.O.T. helmet. Cyclists are subject to Maryland Traffic Law.

Camping at the Rohrbach Group Campground requires a permit. Only organized groups (such as Boy Scouts, Church, and School Groups) are permitted to camp. Applications are available at the Visitor Center. Camping in other park areas is prohibited. Fires are prohibited in all park areas except for the Rohrbach Campground and areas approved for use by NPS living history employees and volunteers.

Horseback riding, in groups of ten or less, is permitted on all paved roads and the Snavely Ford and Final AttackTrails. Riding on paved foot trails, parking areas, or on agricultural lands is prohibited. Groups of eleven horses or more must obtain a Special Use Permit. Horse trailers must park in the field south of the Dunker Church. For more information click here for a copy of the park's Horse Riding Policy.

Fishing is allowed on the Antietam Creek with a valid Maryland Fishing License. Fishing from or within 500 feet of the Burnside Bridge is prohibited.

Hunting and/or harassing wildlife is prohibited. Firearms and other devices capable of launching a projectile are prohibited. Discharging any weapon from private land onto the park is forbidden. Possession of an edged-weapon which exceeds six inches in length is prohibited. Trained and inspected National Park Service living history volunteers may possess firearms and edged-weapons in accordance with park regulations.

Picnicking is prohibited in the Antietam National Cemetery, Mumma Cemetery, inside the Dunker Church, inside the Observation Tower, on the Burnside Bridge, and on any monument.

Boating or tubing on the Antietam Creek is permitted. Docking, removing or putting in a boat or tube, or loading a person within 500 feet of the Burnside Bridge is prohibited.

Relic hunting and/or the use or possession of a metal detector is prohibited. Federal law prohibits the theft of artifacts. Fines can reach $250,000 and/or 5 years in jail and may include the confiscation of materials used.

Because of the historic nature of the battlefield, the following activities are prohibited: kite flying, ball games, sunbathing, model airplane or rocket flying, and frisbee. Permitted campers may conduct these activities at the Rohrbach Group Campground.

Directions

Traveling East on Interstate 70:
Exit 29A onto Rt. 65 south. Ten miles south on the left is the Visitor Center.

Traveling West on Interstate 70 from the Baltimore/Washington area:
Exit 29 onto Rt. 65 South towards Sharpsburg. Travel about 10 miles south to the Park Visitor Center entrance which will be on your left side.

Optional Route: Exit 49 onto Alternate Rt. 40 West towards Middletown. Continue through Middletown, over South Mountain to Boonsboro. Turn left onto Rt. 34 to Sharpsburg. When you enter town, turn right (north) onto Rt. 65 and the Park Visitor Center will be on your right a mile north of Sharpsburg.

Traveling North-South on Interstate 81:
Exit 1, Rt. 68, six miles east to Rt. 65. Turn RIGHT at light on Rt. 65. Five miles south on the left is the Visitor Center.

Open All Year

Open From Memorial Day To Labor Day 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Open From Labor Day To Memorial Day 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day

Special Programs

Memorial Day Commemoration, Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend
Anniversary of the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg), September 17.
Independence Day Commemoration (Saturday closest to the 4th)
The Memorial Illumination on the 1st Saturday in December.

Did You Know?
Henry Kyd Douglas, the youngest staff officer for Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was a native of the Sharpsburg area. His family home was just 4 miles west of the Battlefield. His uniform and personal library are part of the Battlefield collection.

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