About Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your connection to the struggle for freedom, education, and civil rights at Storer College. Discover miles of trail in the Blue Ridge and along Civil War battlefields.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Harpers Ferry experiences all four seasons - the cold and snow of winter, the rain and flowers of spring, the humidity and sunshine of summer, and the chill and leaf change of fall. We will strive to keep you up-to-date as Harpers Ferry's landscape changes with the seasons. To see…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Entrance Fees
For a single, private vehicle. Excludes group tours and 7+ passenger vans. Entrance passes are valid for three consecutive days, beginning on date of purchase and are required in all park areas. Fees are payable at the Entrance Station near the park's visitor center, Bolivar Heights, Maryland Heights, Harpers Ferry Train Station, and River Access Parking Lot.
Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Entrance passes are valid for 3 consecutive days, beginning on date of purchase and are required in all park areas. Fees are payable at the Entrance Station near the park's visitor center, Bolivar Heights, Maryland Heights, Harpers Ferry Train Station, and River Access Parking Lot.
Persons arriving on foot or on bicycle are required to pay the per-person fee. Entrance passes are valid for three consecutive days, beginning on date of purchase and are required in all park areas. Fees are payable at the Entrance Station near the park's visitor center, Bolivar Heights, Maryland Heights, Harpers Ferry Train Station, and River Access Parking Lot.
Operating Hours
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is open year-round with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Park museums/exhibits, the Visitor Center, and restroom facilities are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park passes may be purchased at the entrance station Thursday through Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you would like to purchase a nationwide America the Beautiful pass, we encourage you to call 304-535-6299 before you come. Park shuttle bus hours are currently 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Activities
Current Alerts
The Goodloe Byron Memorial Footbridge to the C&O Canal NHP towpath is CLOSED for repair and construction to improve the stairway. A shuttle with very limited space will run between Harpers Ferry NHP Visitor Center and C&O Canal Lock 34. This will impact access to Maryland Heights, the Appalachian NST, and the Potomac Heritage NST. We strongly advise considering other trails when possible.
Facilities staff are doing repair work on several buildings in Lower Town. Please follow signs for alternate entrances and heed temporary closures.
Getting There
Harpers Ferry NHP's Visitor Center is located off of US Route 340 in West Virginia. The park entrance is 8 miles east of Charles Town, WV and 20 miles southwest of Frederick, MD.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Entrance Passes
Valid for one year from month of purchase for Harpers Ferry NHP only. Admits pass-holder and passengers in a single, private vehicle (excluding groups) or immediate family if entering by other means. Nontransferable. Hard copies of the annual pass can be purchased at the Entrance Station near the park's visitor center. The digital version of the annual pass can be purchased online at the link above.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Hike Civil War Skirmish Lines at Harpers Ferry
Did you know the park has over 20 miles of hiking trails? The trails vary from easy, riverside strolls to…
Step Back in Time at Jefferson Rock
Jefferson Rock is a popular destination in Harpers Ferry. It is situated along the Appalachian Trail between the Lower Town…
Visit John Brown's Fort
A visit to John Brown's Fort is more than seeing the building where John Brown and several of his followers…
Visit Jefferson Rock
Hike along the Appalachian Trail in Harpers Ferry, WV to see the view Thomas Jefferson once described as "one of…
Visitor Centers
Harpers Ferry NHP Visitor Center
The Visitor Center is located at the main entrance of the park at 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. Visitors may ask questions, pick…
Lower Town Information Center
The Lower Town Information Center is currently closed. Maps and information are available at the nearby "Place in Time" exhibit, a few doors down the…