Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Reviews

seeing the river for the first time in real life it was super fun experience to see for your self it

We enjoyed our visit. It was a beautiful day to walk around and it wasn't crowded. Park at the visitor's center outside of town and they shuttle you to the Park area. The John Brown museum was on Shenandoah St. at Potomac St. John Brown's Fort is across the street. There are pictures and plaques to tell the story in the museum and a few videos. Nothing elaborate. A few other building to go into that tell different parts of the Harpers Ferry story. Some of the buildings along Shenandoah are for atmosphere and you can't go inside. There was one guided walking tour during the day, but we didn't do it. Maybe there would be more during the summer months. Bathrooms are few and far between. Don't count on the one at the train station. It was closed on a Saturday when we went. Lots of hiking options in the area. Not a good place to go if the weather is bad. Not enough to do inside to make it worth your time.

Harper’s Ferry is packed with history! You need to be bussed in to Harper’s Ferry from the Visitor center which is about a half mile down the road. There are old historical buildings, the remains of buildings, history boards to read, cobblestone roads, the bridge crossing the Potomac & Shenandoah Confluence. The C&O channel lock 33, not to mention you are on the Appalachian train. There are tiny shops and restaurants lining High street, which is a cobblestone hill road. This place is a gem for history buffs, but I did not find them handicap friendly, which is the reason for 4 stars vs 5.

We were visiting my daughter who just moved to Loudoun County VA. Harpers Ferry is one of our favorite little. There were several events going on fo the holiday season. The vistas are lovely and the history is interesting. We had a great day!

The term Harpers Ferry will often conjure up memories from high school history class where John Browns raid took place prior to the Civil War, and while that’s one of the focal points that you should absolutely stop at, it’s just part of the park. Your journey at Harpers Ferry NHP will begin at the visitor center after paying the entrance fee. There is a small visitor center there where you can stamp your parks passport, use the restrooms, then catch the shuttle to the lower town where the park really begins to get amazing. You are instantly transported to the past where the town is very much preserved. You will have great views of the Shenandoah River up at Jefferson rock which isn’t for those who don’t love cardiovascular activity but the views are absolutely worth it. The town itself is very hilly so I will say that if you’re someone who doesn’t like walking it’s not optimal, as you’ll need to walk a lot to get the most out of the park. There are countless small shops and restaurants in the town to eat so make sure to come hungry, or work up an appetite heading up to Maryland heights to get the famous view you are in tons of photos of the park. Right where the trolley drops you off is where the gift shop and restrooms are located. There are also no trash cans in the park so make sure to pack it in and pack it out if you have garbage. This place has a ton of history from Thomas Jefferson to the Civil War, something for anybody to enjoy.

Be where the events of 1859 started the Civil War. Walk in the steps of John Brown. Rangers are very knowledgeable.

Amazing park! So historic, the shuttle bus was amazing. All the restaurants were nice and the shops were amazing. Most exhibits were closed but the John Brown one was amazing! I will definitely be coming back!

We loved how this “Sunken” town is situated in the bend of the meeting of the Potomac and the Shenandoah Rivers!!. You catch a nice bus; they drive you to this area of the town. The streets are cobblestone so watch your step. We walked the lower area. Saw John Brown’s Fort, watched a short movie. This is a beautiful area to see the two rivers and watch trains cross the rails. Excitatory see a section of The Appalachian Trail here!!! It was a little bumpy ride for our 93 year old friend in her wheelchair but she enjoyed every minute of the walk.
This is a must see, stepping back in time, in history. Even if your not into history, this is just a beautiful area by the two rivers.

A very interesting town, but the National Park Service seems to be all about making the visitor suffer. There are no garbage cans. The NPS wants you to pack all your garbage back with you. If I was in a wilderness area or camping, I would consider this perfectly acceptable. However, this was during the tour of the historic buildings in Harpers Ferry. We rode the shuttle bus to the town. I guess they want us to pack garbage bags with us. Hint: There are garbage cans in the restrooms, so you can dispose of your gum and used Kleenex in there.
We sat down to watch the 15 minute video but came in towards the end. No problem, we thought to ourselves. We will just wait for the video to restart. The theater was informal with bench seating for maybe 30. There were about 15 of us waiting for the video to restart but the video was on an automatic cycle and wouldn't start for another 20 minutes. Our group of 15 disgruntled taxpayers thought this was the epitome of Government idiocy. It costs nothing to re start the video after maybe 2 or 3 minutes giving those that watched from the start a chance to clear the room. We were left scratching our heads at who thought it was a good idea to make a roomful of people wait and wait and wait when it would be advantageous to have as many viewings a day as possible. Several people gave up and left. There were no employees in the facility so we couldn't ask for a manual start if that was even an option.

My favorite part was going to the island as well as hiking the Maryland Trail. The displays are informative, and strolling around the town was fun.

We had no idea that you parked your vehicle and were driven by bus to Harpers Ferry. The transportation ran every 10 minutes and was a short comfortable ride with courteous drivers. We saw 4 well made and brief videos about Harpers Ferry and John Brown. There were static exhibits, in different buildings.

The Firehouse or John Browns’s fort where he and his men held there last stand was a seminal piece of American history. There were the remind of the arsenal.

The point where the two great rivers converged was a short walk from the Firehouse. Incredible beauty! We saw everything we wanted to see in an hour and 15 minutes.

Harpers Ferry is a beautifully preserved town at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, with many historic buildings, including John Brown's fort. Due to covid we were understandably not allowed to go inside of the Civil War era buildings, but it was lovely to walk around the aesthetically pleasing town and its surroundings.

My wife and 7 year old daughter and I got a kick out of walking across the pedestrian path on the train bridge between West Virginia and Maryland, which represents the psychological half way point of the famous trail from Georgia to Maine. We saw t-shirts bragging about having walked the "entire width" of the Appalachian Trail, which we in fact accomplished. Maybe one day we'll do the length, but I doubt it! In the meantime, we're very glad to have spent a day in Harpers Ferry.

We used our senior Park Pass to park at the train station lot. Apparently now there is something one can buy to hang it from the mirror, but I lay it on the dash. It was good enough.

Though we were there in late October and some of the historic collections were not open, we were able to see enough. I believe both of us learned a bit more about John Brown's failed raid.

Depending on one's wont, visitors conceivably could stay all day.

On so many levels, this place is impressive. The historical park is well-maintain and well-organized. The National Parks Pass is honored here. Have your identification ready. Overflow parking in the adjacent field accommodates RVs. The Visitor’s Center is splendid. Be prepared to take the shuttle bus. Plenty of walking occurs. Wear comfortable shoes. Have water and snacks on hand. Go, and learn about American history. Enjoy the architecture and scenery as well.

I signed up for a 2 hour tour with the Harper's Ferry Park Association. It was a great deal at $80 total for my family of 6 (and actually ended up being almost 3 hours).

When reserving your tour, you are asked to suggest any areas of interest for your group. I chose Civil War, John Brown and Black History. Our tour guide, Andrew, did a great job weaving all those topics together. He explained how abolitionist John Brown’s raid began the war that ended slavery. My favorite part of the tour was actually Storer College, something I knew nothing about.

The tour required driving to a few locations, and we ended up parked in a gated area very close to the town. We were allowed to leave our vehicles there after the tour while we grabbed some lunch and did a little more exploring. Very convenient!

Patti and I booked our tour on line & by phone. Our guide, Mike Vidmar, met us promptly at 9 and off we went. We were the only couple on the tour and stopped at several sites, the last being the actual town. Mike was very informative. We particularly enjoyed learning about John Brown. Tour lasted about 2 1/2 hrs. Well worth the time. Highly re: this tour!

Small town at the corner of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Walking/hiking for all levels along the C&O Canal and mountain trails. Very pretty. Restaurants are tourist-focused. Museums and walking tours are informational.

We had a wonderful time on our visit to the Harpers Ferry National Park. We were 3 couples, who enjoyed all the history. Our tour guide was Jim Prentice . He was a wealth of information! He was interesting and enthusiastic and he even added more time to our 2 1/2 hour tour. He came in our van and we made several stops to explain sites along the way.

Geographically, this place is unique. It's beauty lies in the hills and rivers surrounding it. The Shenandoah and Patomic Rivers meet at this historically well preserved town . The heights surrounding Harpers Ferry look down upon a snap-shot of what life might have looked like in the 19th Century. It is worth your time to explore this historically significant and visually beautiful American town.

I read the book “Cloud Splitter” which is historical fiction based on John Browns life. I grew up in the DC suburbs back in the day and we used to come up to Brunswick in Maryland to go fishing. My father had friends there. So I had been to Harpers Ferry before. It is a very small town. But if you are interested in going, I would suggest that you read some account of John Browns life and / or interaction with the town. It will make the trip more meaningful.

Come ready to walk, stroll and hike. What a fantastic setting with great hiking trails and a wonderful historical "city".

Loved, loved spending the morning and early afternoon here. Sure there's an entrance fee ($20), but it's well spent leaving your car at the visitor's center and taking the shuttle bus in with no worries about parking. VC Ranger was helpful and after we got passport stamps, let us know where in town to get more stamps. Will come back. Lots to see and do here, and we could have spent the while day here if we didn't have to get back home. Just a nice time walking around and taking in the history. Recommended.

Very close to the DC area, beautiful location in a river convergence rich in history. Hike down to the well preserved town, learn more about the Civil War history and have your choice of lots of great dining options.

We took the free tram down from the upper park area. It was a nice area and the busses ran often. This lite historic town was a cute area for some shopping, maybe a bite to eat, and ice cream. The river provides a beautiful place for a walk or picnic. Well worth the stop.

This is a must-visit park! There are so many things to do that suit all interests (outdoors, dining, history, shopping, hiking, water sports, and more). Each season has something special to offer, so I would definitely suggest visiting multiple times a year if you live locally.

Like an open-air museum. Even knee-deep in snow this place was well worth the detour if not just for the dramatic mountainous views. Steeped in American history- it was great to see where such important events took place.Parking a little confusing- the payment system baffled us a bit at first- it's a bit like an honesty box if I remember rightly. Putting cash in an envelope and then posting said envelope.We were able to get a spot by the station though as we had the place to ourselves due to the weather conditions. Saw a huge cargo train come through too which was cool and took several minutes to completely clear the station.

HARPERS FERRY holds a significant role in the history of the abolition of slavery. From Storer College, the John Brown Raid the formation of the Niagara Society and NAACP Harpers Ferry has played a role.
Anyone studying the Abolition Movement should make the trek to HARPER FERRY NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK.

Harpers Ferry played such a key role in several historical contexts--Civil War (Gen. Washington had the Federal Arsenal built here), John Brown abolitionist raid, transportation via rail, water, and overland, as well as a major stopping point on the Appalachian Trail. Take the time to go through the museums, hike over the water and up the various trails, spend time in town on Potomac and Shenandoah streets. Start at the Visitor's Center at the top of the hill and have the rangers provide you with an overview of the area. If the film is available, take the time to see it.

This historic site should be better. It needs more tours. It needs more historic plaques. There needs to both better information on John Brown and the Civil War fighting, even though the Confederates won the fighting in the area.

What a wonderful place to walk around and enjoy history as well as the beauty of nature. We liked the easy parking and shuttle ( The driver, Brian, was very personable and efficient ) We also interacted with a ranger named Isaac, who was very knowledgeable and friendly. Beautiful environment for walking and eating and shopping.

Modern hotel, strategic location, easy to go everywhere, souvenir location, very close to the hotel, restaurant, nice to hang out, there is karaoke, also nice to bring the family to this hotel.... Thank you Harper

Lightly drowsy village to explore some history of the U.S.
Pretty nice nature sceneries and beautiful historic spots with historical railroad bridges over Potomac River where Shanandoah River enters Potomac River.

I enjoyed my visit to Harper Ferry National park, It was very scenic and full of historical facts and figures. It’s only $7.00 to get in, but you are pretty much on the honor system when it comes to paying. There was a free bus shuttle service to lower Harpers Ferry that runs every 15 minutes. A lot of walk in buildings like mini museums to see. There is quite a bit of walking so were comfortable shoes. A lot of hills but worth the walk. It’s a very beautiful scenic place.

My wife and I drove to HF from Alexandria, VA on a weekday afternoon in late August. Having scoured through the TA reviews we made our mind up to park at the visitors center and take the bus over. Avoiding the nightmare parking situation was paramount. Except. . . this place was a ghost town. We could have parked anywhere in the town. 5 people on the bus and then we probably witnessed another 15 people in the three hours we spent walking around. We went to a bar/restaurant and there was one person there. I wondered if the ghost of John Brown was coming back to raid the armory! So, if you come during the week you might want to drive down and see if you can park close.

With crowds, this would have been a 3-star affair. Having the city to ourselves was awesome. I suggest you check out all the old buildings/structures and read about the history. We also took a walk over the bridge that heads to the rail tunnel in Maryland. I understand there is some good hiking and views over on the Maryland side if you have a few hours. We also enjoyed going to the Shenandoah River. So peaceful and beautiful. All in all, a fun little town and inexpensive to visit.

We visited during the Covid 19 closure. through the Vistor's center and other buildings were closed along with park's busses, we were still able to enjoy the outdoor sights of the park.

We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the town, visiting the shops and restaurants; and walking the bridge across the river and hiking to Jefferson's rock.

Visited this NP landmark on a sunny day. Parked car on new parking and took free bus to the old city. Walked around quite a lot, it was interesting and trip in time... Especially recommend walking across Potomac and visiting old church (which was sadly locked).

This was my first visit to a National Historic Park. WOW, it's absolutely breathtaking & VERY well maintained! You are asked to keep the park clean & dispose of trash properly. If there aren't receptacles nearby, please take it with you (Keep it as you found it:).

Paid admission is valid for (3) days. This is good, as you may need /want to visit multiple times during your stay with so much to do there!

Shuttle service runs every 10-15min. taking you into the park (shops & restaurants there, as well as walking trails). Don't forget to get your passport book stamped while there (at the bookstore). They're available for purchase if you don't have one.

The former train station is also worth seeing.

The Harpers Ferry National Historic Park is one of the must visit place for history as well as scenic and outdoor adventures. The park is historic significant that at the onset of American Civil war, it was strategic location for North for supply line to west via C&O canal and the railroad, where Amtrak still has rail service to Pittsburg – Chicago that stops here. North and south fought and took town 8 time, while at the beginning it was Union’s biggest one day loss of 14,000 soldiers.
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, located in WV (171 Shoreline Dr, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425) about an from DC and Baltimore. The park is actually a town of Harpers Ferry, WV. Its historic downtown located in far east where Shenandoah river and Potomac river meets.
This area is very popular year round where during spring and summer, you will have river tubing and Kayaking by nearby outfitters, while the park and the town is frequent by visitors year round.
Area is divided into old historic town to far east where you will see old town, Amtrak station, walk path next to the train station across the Potomac river, up hill with various shops, visitor area, and eateries; south National Park parking and shuttle with couple trails, one to Harpers Ferry and one to Murphy Farm; West is Bolivar Heights for Scenic overlook and battle field with couple trails.
Parking in the old town is hard to find, street parking (Pay), by Amtrak station (NP parking fee), or street parking up a mile into the town for free, or park at the National Park Visitor center by south (near the highway) for fee and take a fee shuttle bus to old town (about ½ mile walk)
Visitor center at the NP parking area, historic downtown, and Jefferson County Visitor center opposite of NP visitor center.

We've been to Harpers Ferry before, but it's been about 20 or so years. What a difference! We rode the bus into the historic area, a nice way to arrive, and sure keeps the car traffic down! We started at the visitor center and got excellent advice and directions from the volunteer! Enjoyed walking around and visiting the different historic areas. We were at the point where the two rivers meet when a CSX freight train came out of the tunnel -- this was a highlight!! It's also beautiful place to stand -- fun to watch the kayakers on the river too.

We had a great visit here on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Great balance between historical facts and nice walks. I had taken my camera managed some nice photographs of the park. Bus from the car park to and fro worked very well. Take time out to visit Bolivar ridge as well. Great views.

We visited the park on the anniversary weekend of the battle/surrender. We'd tried to get a personal tour thru bookstore but guides never responded to their emails, so we decided to go it alone. Stopped by the vis ctr friday night just to see what was avail. Ranger told us about tours next day. We took a tour given by a former ranger who'd come back for the anniv weekend to give a talk/hike/tour of Bolivar Heights which included a hike (which we didn't know about up front). The guide was fabulous! Really knew his stuff (can't remember his name) and made it really clear the impact of the battle and what took place. Good stories mixed in. Was really conscious of those in our group who struggled to keep up on the hike part, but he made sure they were not left behind or alone until they caught up with the rest of us. The only downside was the gnats. Really enjoyed it.

Great history, beautiful surroundings .It is also a good visit for biking or a good sports car. Watch for slick curves.

We decided to stop by Harpers Ferry National Historical Park on our way up north. We paid $15 to park in the national park and ride the shuttle into town. You can drive straight into the town of Harper’s Ferry without paying the $15 at the park, but I think parking could be limited. I didn’t look at what parking was in town, but be prepared to pay for parking if you drive straight there. We had our camper with us, so that wasn’t really an option for us. I think the shuttle runs every 15 minutes or so. We had a friendly driver and there was audio that played as an introduction to the park. Once you get to Harpers Ferry, there are walking and biking trials. We saw a staff member sharing history about the park. We listened for a while and learned quite a bit! The old buildings in town are beautiful, and we enjoyed going to some of the shops. When we were finished, we rode the shuttle back to the visitor center. It was a beautiful day, and I only wish we could’ve spent more time there.

Our first visit to West Virginia...busy area on weekends! We picked up a map at the Visitor's Center, took the free shuttle to the Lower Town and walked the streets for scenic views of the rivers, historic sites and toured the small museum. The scenery was beautiful with the rivers, rocks and mountains.

My wife and I recently visited Harper’s Ferry with friends. This was our first time there. The National Park is really a cool place to go with a lot of important historical value. We were lucky to have wonderful spring weather during our day there. We enjoyed walking around the town and shops as well as hiking the trails in the area. We would recommend this place.

Harper's Ferry needs to become handicap accessible. We went there with my granddaughter who is in a wheelchair and the streets are terrible.
The National Park basically told us the trails are not handicap accessible.
What a waist of $20.

Excellent visit. We stopped in here on a whim abut glad we did. The history is relevant and excellent. The town we really cool and the area was absolutely beautiful.

We were traveling through three area and made a rather unplanned stop. The town and scenery is beautiful. We spent about three hours going through the exhibits but more time could have been spent there.

We hiked the Maryland Heights Trail! Great view! It took me about 1 hr and 15 minutes to get up the trail, I am also not in shape. I'd recommend a walking stick. Make sure to have water and a camera (or phone). WORTH IT!

We took the shuttle from the visitors center which took about 5 mins to get there. There was a line but the shuttles came fairly fast. I did not realize until later we could have drove there. There’s a big parking lot at Harpers Ferry.
We loved visiting all the shops & stores, both the historical and those with items for sale.
Take a walk on the old train tracks that are now foot bridges. Train still passes & uses the tunnel. Lots of people were tubing below. That looked like a lot of fun. So much history to learn and read about. So much more than I was expecting. I wish we had had more time to explore the nature side of things there. Just under & pass the trestles seemed to be the hiking, fishing & other parts. We were here about 3 hours. Could easily have stayed longer had we not had other sights to see. We Really enjoyed this location.

We went to Harpers Ferry just because it was there with not a lot of research. The central area is along side the river. While we went on a hot day, it was hotter than I expected. I have to declare that I have some balance issues and use walking sticks to walk. You go to the parking area with $20.00 entrance fee and get on a park bus that will deliver you into central area of the town. Much of the town goes up from the main road. It is a little less than a one half mile walk from the bus delivery point to the area of the town. If you go up you will find a better view from a restaurant.

The only close parking is in the "Railroad Station". However, the railroad Station is filled early with the staff of the many restaurants. There are still some open spots, but you have to arrive before 9:00AM to have any hope of parking @ The Train Station. The whole central area is relatively small and much of the area is up !! It is filled with restaurants & other shops. Because I would have trouble with the hill, we had lunch at one of the lower restaurants in the front area.

We had lunch at The "Coachhouse Grill N Bar ( #160 High Street)

I do not have any info about on the other walking available. The anger station in the bus arrival section of the park can address that issue.

Come prepared to walk uphill !!! Interesting Place.

We visited Harpers Ferry today and wish we could get our $20 back. The ranger told us there were some parking areas closer to town but that they were more than likely full. They were not. We were also told that from the visitor’s center parking lot was a 1.6 mile “hike.” This hike was almost completely downhill over extremely rough ground for the first 0.4 miles. A heads-up about that hike is needed. Once we reached the town, almost none of the historical buildings were open just privately owned shops and restaurants. On our way back to the car (using the rigorous path), we crossed paths with people who should have been better advised to the strenuous hike to town. We tried to tell people not to finish the hike and just drive through town. We will not be going back to Harpers Ferry and we will tell others to stay away. We understand that COVID-19 is a problem but more information at the ranger station would have made a huge difference.

Before going there, I’d never heard of a battle at Harpers Ferry, only about the John Brown Raid. I learned that Harper’s Ferry was a critical and strategic location because: 1-Three state borders meet there; 2-The confluence of the Potomac and the Shenandoah Rivers is at the edge of the town; 3-It is a crucial place for the B&O Railroad and the C&O canal system; and 4-It was right on the border between the Union and the Confederacy. The nasty battle up the ridge from Harpers Ferry took place in Sept. of 1862. It is often overlooked because it was in close time to other significant battles, but what happened there had an effect on other battles, and directly contributed to the battle at Antietam.. The view from the ridge is beautiful over the valley below on the opposite side from where the town is. Our guide detailed the battle from the ridge, amidst the cannons set up there. We then went into the town, and heard history about the railroad and growth of the town, and how it was affected by the war. This was quite interesting and I would recommend.

Great little historical town tuck away in WV panhandle. Harpers Ferry provides adventure, hiking paths, and the history of John Brown and how he played a major role in the Civil War. Check out the white water rafting, tubing , and zipline with the local outfitters.

Very well organized. Parking lot is up the hill from the town, with the visitor center. To get into town, you can walk or take the shuttle. We choose to walk down and took the shuttle back up. Several buildings & historic sites along the way and in town to visit. Beautiful area. Highly recommend.

Enjoyed this trip, great little history spot. Learned a lot about John Brown's quest to abolish slavery, and the brave people who tried to help him. We appreciate learning about American (or any) history, and this is a piece that we hadn't learned much about yet, even though we studied the Civil War while homeschooling the kids and went to Gettysburg. Nice day out.

great park for exercising and walking, fantastic riverside views and rock s and romance and old canals and ramps and foundations, history around every corner, great helpful staff, very nice and talkative

Harpers Ferry is such a huge—and beautiful—national park! So many wonderful picture stops, and you can collect stamps from several national sites in the general store here. It's $20 a vehicle, though, so be prepared to spend money, unless you have a national park pass. The plus side is that your payment allows you unlimited access to the park for three days!

This town is well worth a visit as it straddles 3 states (Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia) and 2 rivers (Potomac and Shenandoah). Harper's Ferry itself is like a town you would see in a western movie and the view over the confluence is breathtaking. The trails up in the mountains are worth doing although the blue trail has no views because of the tree coverage and could be better marked. The red trail has great views over the town and the 2 rivers. Hard to believe a canal used to run through there. There is also a short walk up to Jefferson Rock.

No parking. Not one person we met smiled. Restaurants were limited and unaccommodating. All in all disappointing crowded. A real tourist trap. Don’t go here instead go somewhere fun.

Nice place to visit and a lot of history. Some of the videos in the exhibits were pretty bad. 3 hrs will cover the town. Couple nice lunch places and some junk shops. I wouldn’t label it a “gotta see” stop or worth going too far out of your way to visit.

Our visit was to see the site of John Brown's raid so we didn't really take advantage of the park for any other purpose. It was a 2-3 hour visit through museums and the actual building where he was finally captured.

This important national historic site exceeded our expectations. The town was well laid out and small enough to walk about. Visitors park at the visitor center and take a shuttle to the town; parking is extremely limited in town. There was a lot of fascinating history, and plenty of shops and places to eat!

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is one of my favorite places to visit in the DMV area. The park is located in the town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, at the border of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, as well as being overlooked by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The city's situation makes it a pivotal industrial hub in West Virginia where coal was mined and transported through the CSX railroad bridge in the city. Going to the actual historic site near the river from the visitor center requires a 5 minute bus ride. The park is run by the National Park Service and it being open from 9 to 5 makes it a perfect destination for families, and the site is perfect for people willing to immerse in local history due to its guided tours, endless trails, and exhibits.

The city is known for John Brown's 1859 slave raid, a key moment that fueled the start of the American Civil War, as well as the Battle of Harpers Ferry, a vital Confederate victory in the war. The historic part of the city in the park contains historic brick buildings such as the railway station and museums, the remnants of the arsenal where John Brown led his slave raid, restaurants and local shops, and lastly scenic hiking trails along the Potomac River or in the mountains, such as the Maryland Heights trail. The historic architecture in its museums and railway station paired with the city's peaceful natural beauty provide visitors a deep understanding of the town's significance, culture, and roots.

At first, I anticipated the park would specialize in Civil War History. However, on my visit to Harper's Ferry National Historical Park, I was mystified by the area's effortless natural beauty along with its historical significance in the Civil War period and even today. The situation felt alive with stories and narratives relating to education and resistance, and the site complimented the situation perfectly. However, the park could be improved with a more advanced visitor center and more coordinated signs. Overall, I would recommend Harpers Ferry National Historical Park to anyone interested in a day trip that has a great historical significance in the United States and also breathtaking views.

Haven't been to Harper's Ferry since I was a kid. Was so happy to see it again. I am a big history buff so seeing places where John Brown has his raid was really intriguing to me. The place is clean and the rangers we met were nice. I wish there was more parking, but it's a historical town.

Outstanding tour provided by historian James Beckman. He brought us all around the National Park and spent time on lesser known stories of abolitionist John Brown. He answered all questions and pointed out so many facts . He had excellent visuals to illustrate the history.

We enjoyed Harper's Ferry very much. The scenery was beautiful and the historical aspect was very interesting. We also drove around to the other battle sites in the area. You could almost picture what transpired just my bring there!

Loved visiting here on a day trip with the family and dog. Well organised parking by the visitor centre which was closed and regular shuttle buses available at social distance to the lower town. We had a small dog so we had to walk which was quite a trek back and forth so something on the website about no animals allowed on the bus would be handy. My dog could of fit in my coat he is so small but we took the trail. The walking trails were great with clear direction and signs of interest. The weather was very cold but clear so it made for such picturesque photos. We will be back.

Enjoyed the history and the views. Especially were the Shenandoah River and Potomac come together. Excellent place for history buffs, couples (who put locks on the bridge) and families . Though I would not recommend for someone disabled because the streets are cobblestone

This was beyond expectations! The town is so cute, with lots of historical stops and cute shops mixed together. Some weren’t open because of Covid but there was still plenty to see. The trails were lovely and had such amazing views! Unfortunately it started raining too hard to explore as much as we would have liked but I’m so glad for our time here.

This was a pleasant visit to the old town of Harpers Ferry. When we went through the entry station the ranger told us that the shuttle buses weren't operational because of Covid and that we'd have to walk about a mile and a half to the village. They didn't tell us we could have driven to the village. That aside, it was a fun visit. We didn't take advantage of any of the restaurant but they smelled mighty good.

Park at the visitors center and take the shuttle down in to town. You get to go in to the old building and get lessons on the history of the area. Go in to the musuem, there is a good film with history. There are lots of unique little shops and eateries. Walk across the bridge, take in the view of the river and rocks.

The shuttle bus was very convenient and easy to use from the Visitor Center to edge of town. Park was fun to walk back in time to the different stores and buildings. For the most part it is very walkable yet there are some stairs and steeper grades in some areas.

This was my first trip to Harper’s Ferry. On Saturday morning we parked at the visitor’s center for the shuttle, but could easily have driven into town and parked there in the small lot. There was still room! When you pay the $20, it’s good for 3 days, which was a happy surprise for me! The park itself has beautiful scenery. I learned so much I didn’t know about the history of the town and our country! I’d say some of the exhibits could do with some maintenance. Several were literal pieces of paper staples to fabric, and two at least literally had errors scribbled out and fixed in pen. Not sure if buildings were closed due to covid or if that was normal, but many buildings around town were empty. The town of Harper’s Ferry is super quaint and has lots of little shops and restaurants that are definitely worth a stop! We came back on Sunday morning and were able to park in the lot in town, although it was starting to fill up. I’d definitely return!

Historical town with some great restaurants and hiking trails. No parking in town so catch the bus they're running continuously all day.

When the weather is beautiful and a weekend, I recommend taking the shuttle down to the town - there is very little parking. The shuttle is free and easy to access.

This park includes the historical lower town in Harper's Ferry and steep woods on multiple sides of 2 converging rivers. Great place for hiking to several overlooks to the remarkable confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. The park has multiple historical sites commemorating both Civil War battles and Civil rights events, including both John Brown's rebellion and an early meeting of the Niagara Society, forerunner of the NAACP. A friendly ranger at the gate gave us great tips to see both natural and historical sites. Much of the historical town and hiking are fairly steep, although the canal towpath adjacent to the Potomac is flat and easily traversed.

So many trails to hike. Maryland Heights will kick your butt. The lower town trail has a nice uphill to Jefferson rock and an easy lower trail along the river. You can hit parts of the Appalachian Trail all over. We also did zip-lining and white water rafting

This town has been lovingly restored and is just amazing. Walking around on a beautiful day. Do a little fishing in either the Shenandoah or Potomac Rivers. Bike the C&O tow path or hike the surrounding mountains.
It's a must see for any Civil War buff or anyone interested in this areas history.

This is a nice place to walk and enjoy the history. It does cost $20 to get in the park but this includes shuttles down into historic Harpers Falls and all the access to the hiking trails the park has to offer. The history of the Civil War in this area is humbling. There is multiple trails to chose from of different levels. It's a good place for families.

This site is very accessible and easy to walk through. I recommend parking in the lot provided and take the shuttle into the site itself as there is limited parking.
Many of the building are from the Civil War period and well maintained. The area is chock full of history, including John Brown's assault on the federal armory, the reason it was a ket site for both the Union & Confederates during the Civil War.
The old church on the hill is well worth the uphill climb to get to!

We thoroughly enjoyed visiting West Virginia and especially Harper’s Ferry National Park. Definitely park at the Visitor Center and ride the shuttle to the historic district, as parking is very limited, and we heard that parking tickets are liberally dispersed. We also did the driving tour on our own, which I recommend, since it puts into perspective what you learn at the park. And, it will only take you about an hour to do it. The directions that the Visitor Center hands out are very precise so we had no problem following them. It’s a beautiful area, and any history buff will enjoy the time spent there.

My husband and I went here early on a Friday to take photographs of the town and fall colors. Parking was a nightmare. Forget parking in the town. The visitor center offers parking and a shuttle bus into town but costs $20.00! An Uber would be cheaper. For $20 admission there should at least be a movie, gift shop and a cafe like other places.

Super fun things to see. Great food. Lots of history. Thanks Ranger Connor for the guidance. Visit Grace at the Rabbit Hole.

Since I'm from John Brown's home town, this was a great stop for us while traveling. It's walking and walking up hills depending how far you want to venture. There is a lot of information about the abolitionist movement. We ate lunch at a cute restaurant there. Bring your walking shoes. Probably boring for young kids though.

Note: We parked in the train station and did not display our National Park Pass (NPP) so we got a ticket. However, you can write your NPP # on the ticket and they accept it. You place your ticket in the receptacle near the exit to the parking lot. The lot filled up early. There is also a bus that shuttles people.

There are a few things you should know before you go to the Park. Most important thing is that it is not a vehicle friendly place. Plan to walk everywhere! You'll want to arrive early, park at the Visitor's Center, then ride the Shuttle Bus to the actual town. The shuttle runs constantly so you don't have to worry about missing one. (It cost us $20 a carload to gain entry and the Shuttle service is included. There was no other cost except purchasing food, gifts, etc.)
Make sure you wear comfortable shoes, preferably hiking boots or shoes. Its not necessary to dress up because everyone else is wearing casual attire, and the main vibe is hippie-hiking-boho-family. There are only a few places to eat, and they are usually packed. I suggest wearing a backpack, taking a picnic lunch/snacks, your own water bottles, and eating on the green- especially if you are on a budget.
If you can find a Ranger, follow them and learn about the history because really so much happened in this one tiny place its amazing. There are a few history buildings that are open from 8am-5pm all the time. They can be found on several placards located inside the park. Also, grab the pamphlets from the Visitor's Center.. they are super helpful in finding out where everything is.
It's a nice casual atmosphere where you can wander around and explore everything at your own pace. We were not able to hit everything we wanted to so we will be making a few more trips just to take it all in.
Tons of beautiful scenery, hiking trails, things to do in the vicinity!

THe NP was helpful by answering all of our questions. We did like being able to park our car and take the bus.

We came as a family & enjoyed both the historic park & shops nearby. Seeing the historic spot up close brings it alive. Well worth the stop.

The scenery is amazing and they're are lots of things to do including shipping and restaurants. There's also a bike path as well.

This town made us feel like we went back in time. So many of the buildings have been rebuilt like how they looked during the Civil War. Even the inside of the buildings are set up that way. As we were there in Sept, it wasn't very busy and it was easy to find parking.

So cool to see the Potomac and Shanendoah Rivers and where they meet. Great pictures! There are 2 Junior Ranger programs to complete here. One is the Appalachian Trail one which you can find online and print beforehand and then the Harpers Ferry packet which you have to pick up at the Visitors Center.

Good facilities, comfortable, in accordance with what is offered. easy access to the city center and the toll door is suitable for vacation.

We visited in mid-September, after schools were back in session. Usually would need to park at the visitor center and take a shuttle down to the village, but due to the time of year we were lucky to find one available parking spot left by the railroad depot. Dogs are not allowed on the shuttle, and we did not want to leave her in the hot car at the visitor center parking lot, so we were glad to find a parking spot so she could walk with us on her leash.

Harpers Ferry is not easy for those with mobility problems. Sidewalks are sometimes uneven stone, gutters are cobblestone, it is a steep uphill walk. There is no parking very close to town and the shuttle stop is a fair distance. That being said, my 84 year old mother has always wanted to visit. She walks with crutches, managed to see the visitor center and some historical buildings and exhibits. She was quite pleased with her day there

The main visitor center has a shuttle to the edge of Harpers Ferry. There is limited parking in a second lot. Payment is on the honor system. The Appalachian Trail is accessible if you want to hike

John Brown and the insurrection. It's hard to imagine another place with such a powerful impact on our nation as this. Easily walkable. Plenty of exhibits. Modern and clean restrooms. We allowed one afternoon but will return to continue learning about this place and her history.

There’s always something to do in Harpers Ferry. We went hiking from Harpers Ferry visitors center to the Weverton Trail. There’s an entrance fee ($20/ vehicle) but I don’t mind. The trails are well kept. I love crossing the bridge and the views are breathtaking.

Harpers Ferry is a wonderful, historic town. If you are in this area, you should definitely take an afternoon and stop, and enjoy the view, the history and maybe lunch.

Park at the top of the hill and take the shuttle bus as there is very little parking in the historic town. Nice building and museum displays within. Plenty of great views of the rivers with good hiking. Lots of small shops and eateries. Plan on half a day unless you're doing a lot of hiking.

Two rivers converge, key Appalachian Trail crossing, a canal system and a historic Civil War era town are all here in Harper’s Ferry. Great for light hiking, exploring history or just enjoying the views.

Nicely done historical self tour, close to town with local shops and good restaurants with friendly locals. Parking is nearby and walking around town is no problem. Would visit again.

When researching Harpers Ferry it was unclear what there was "to do." Upon arrival I realized its a kin to a ghost town outwest. Super cute. The "stores" are open during national park hours and you can go in and see the old spaces. The John Brown Museum, right across from the fort is excellent. It does a great job explaining the importance and history of John Brown. Wonder the town and enjoy the outside - and inside of the buildings. We spent about 3 hours wandering around.

A really beautiful setting that matches the historic significance of a town that is pretty much now a living museum. lots of nice walks and the lack of cars makes it a safe place too. We took the park up option and trolley bus down from the Historic Park entrance but we did see a lower car park if you need to get closer. Give yourself a good 2/3 hours here!

Harpers Ferry is a one-of-a-kind town at the point where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet. We pulled into town around 4pm on a Sunday so things were starting to close down, but we did our best. We saw John Brown's Fort, the old train bridge, and took a stroll among some truly unique brick buildings. From armories, to John Brown, to the Appalachian Trail Harpers Ferry is definitely worthy of a stop. We would have loved to hike to the top of Maryland Heights but we had neither the time nor the energy. If you go, devote the better part of a day to Harpers Ferry. You'll be glad you did.

What a great National Park to visit with so much history. It really encompasses the town. Lots to do and explore. When you get to the Visitor's Center, there are regularly running shuttle buses that take you into the town since parking there is very tight and the streets are narrow. There are places to walk and hike that run along the canal and are part of the Appalachian Trail. There are several restuarants and shops to visit. There is a museum and various spots marked that are of historical importance, including the spot where John Brown was "hiding" and eventually caught.

Beautiful scenery and a fascinating story of the town's growth and demise and it's crucial role in American history.

Detailed and amusing storytelling by the park ranger during our tour gave us a clear insight and feel for the town. Well done and thank you Creighton Waters,

Quaint small town on the border of VA and MD in WV. Great to wonder around the old buildings and shops .

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is a great place to begin your tour of all the historic events of Harpers Ferry. The second US Armory and Arsenal was located here (100,000 arms were stored here) as designated by President Washington. Meriwether Lewis visited this place for arms and other supplies he would need on his historic quest to lead the Corps of Discovery on the Lewis and Clark trail of the newly acquired territory (Louisiana Purchase) of the United States. John Brown came here to capture the arsenal to arm troops for the fight against slavery. It's located at the confluence of two rivers and the meeting of three states. The civil war was in full swing here to begin a quest by the Confederate Army to invade Maryland starting with Antietam. The NAACP was born here by calling the John Brown Fort hallowed ground for his willingness to die to free slaves. They have very nice gift shop in the historic book store. All of the park service personnel are very knowledgeable and excited to tell you about this great city and present talks during the day. Maybe schedule a nice informative tour. They have living workshops in their original buildings and furnishings and a driving tour of the battlefields. I will attempt to break this post in various stages to compliment the feeling we experienced here beginning with a few post at every stop walking around and following up with more detailed description. We really enjoyed visiting here of all the places we have traveled full time in an RV over almost eight years.

Visited the park on Monday, June 13th and so glad we did it’s a very nice National park in Harper’s Ferry WV. They had a free shuttle bus that runs into lower town every 10 minutes. Once your town you get to see the Point where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet. Nice walking path and bridge too! Highly recommend visit! Enjoy

Lots of history…was passing through. Wish I could’ve stayed longer and done the Maryland Heights hike.

Get there early; parking fills up fast and is limited

My husband and I decided to once again put our National Park passes to use and took a day trip here. They have parking at the National Park Visitors center where you can take a shuttle to the lower part of town - you can also walk there as it's only about a mile from the visitor's center. Harpers Ferry has a number of restaurants, stores and historic buildings from the civil war era. Cars are allowed to drive through the National Park and private houses are there, so it’s not entirely owned by the park. This park sits where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet. It’s also where the states of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia meet. In fact, they even have a footbridge that you can cross from West Virginia to Maryland with active railroad tracks next to it. The Appalachian Trail also runs through here along with other well-known trails. While I thought it was scenic and pretty, I'm not into civil war history and this was well-known for its past with the civil war. The Jefferson Rock is also rather underwhelming as you cannot even stand on the rock and the view has two highways that are obstructing the view now, so I imagine much has changed since he was there. Although our passes made admittance free, paying $15 for what you get is rather steep.

If you love history and being outdoors this is a beautiful place to visit. See the old train station and tracks still used in Harper's Ferry today. Enjoy a walk by the river or through the trees. I have never been there in the fall but have seen pictures of the changing foliage. Regardless of the time of year, if you enjoy nature and a peaceful stroll, this is the place for you. Be sure to stop and read historical markers while filling your other senses.

Harper’s Ferry is a beautiful quaint town with lovely scenery. Armory Quarters A is a rustic house that preserves the history of the town and is situated on a lovely property. The check in was very easy and there are some lovely eateries right across the street. However, the place is in dire need of refurbishment as the rustic look starts to come across as worn out and dilapidated. The furniture was worn out with creaky doors and broken door knobs. There were cobwebs, brick dust, and pet hair all over the living room. Additionally, it would have been nice to provide a welcome basket for the guests since there are no grocery stores nearby unless you have a car. The groceries provided in the kitchen seemed to have been left behind by the previous guests. There is a feeling of neglect in the cottage and overall it was a disappointing booking.

Harpers Ferry is a great place that you can emerse yourself in Civil war history. It has amazing views, shopping, and great food. Its a great living history museum. We visited for 3 days and didnt run out of things to see and do.

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, is one of my favourite places in the world. No matter the time of year, it has a beauty and atmosphere that’s hard to match. Nestled at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, it’s a place steeped in history, yet it feels peaceful and timeless.

The national park is simply fantastic. Walking through the town, exploring the old buildings, and imagining life as it once was makes the experience feel almost like stepping back in time. The town is wonderfully preserved, with its historic streets, museums, and little shops all adding to the charm. Every corner has a story, and you can really feel the weight of history here – from John Brown’s raid to the Civil War battles that shaped America.

One of the highlights for me was walking up to St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church. The view from there is stunning, especially as you take a moment to catch your breath and look back over the town and rivers. And just a little further up, Jefferson Rock offers an even more spectacular vantage point. It’s easy to see why Thomas Jefferson himself stood there and declared that the scene was "worth a voyage across the Atlantic."

Another favourite part of my visit was the walk along the side of the railway tracks. There’s something special about strolling next to the mighty rail lines, knowing how many people and goods have passed through this critical junction over the centuries. The sound of a distant train rolling through just adds to the atmosphere.

But beyond all the history, Harpers Ferry is simply a beautiful, peaceful place. The blend of nature, history, and small-town charm is just perfect. Whether you’re here in the heat of summer, the golden hues of autumn, the crisp air of winter, or the fresh bloom of spring, it’s always stunning. If you love history, scenic walks, or just a quiet place to reflect, you’ll love Harpers Ferry. I can’t recommend it enough.

This park, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, is both the town and the surrounding area, so visiting feels like stepping back in time while also being outdoors. Parking in the town itself is very limited, but the park makes it easy with a large lot outside where you can leave your car and take a shuttle bus in. The shuttle buses run continuously on most days with less than 15 min wait for a bus to go to the town or back to the visitor’s center. The ride is short and drops you just s hort walk west of the historic town. You could also walk the roughly 1.5 mile from the center to the town. We took the shuttle when we visited. When you get to the town, there are several sites to see from the railroad station and bridge at the lower lever to the Church and Jefferson rock at the higher level. There are restaurants and shops on both the lower and upper levels along the streets as well as several shops dedicated to the history of the town. It has an active railroad track with trains passing every few hours across the bridge and through the town. The bridge and overlook gives a good view of the rivers and the various groups taking the water route. Overall, it is a great place to visit and learn the history of the town and it’s people and how they helped America become the country it is today. Enjoy!

Part of the (amazing) National Parks Service.
Great fun for exploring & learning about a 'historical crossroad' in our nation. Park at the visitors center (about $20 per carload for the day). Take the free shuttle bus/coach down to historic 'downtown' Harpers Ferry, which changed hands 8 times during the civil war! The streets and buildings are basically the same. You get to wonder in and out of buildings with displays and/or 'guides' dressed up in period costumes, who tell you all about their immediate location. For example, we went into the "Marshall's Office" and heard what it was like to be the marshall (kind of a sheriff) during the war. Outside there was a soldier with tent, campfire & paraphernalia talking with tourists. The view from the Point is quite photogenic and lovely to enjoy. There is a great little gift shop, and if you go around the corner and up the street there are several ice cream shops, a shop for hikers, bikers & campers, and at least one full service restaurant with kid-friendly menus. One can learn about many historical figures of the past, including John Brown's rebellion of 1859, along with the industrial history of the location.

Nice Park and Visitor Center, with great trails that lead you into town and beyond. Interpreters and buildings related to John Brown in town.

PROS
* Fantastic spacious modern brightly lit visitor center
* Wonderful enthusiastic helpful informative and interesting staff people
* Plenty of parking at its location off of WV route 340
* Bus transport between the center and the historic Lower Town
* Wonderful wooded Appalachian Trail hike in densely forested yet scenic area and more than an hour between those two places
* Amazing history of the town and its origins and its functionings and of course the famous John Brown raid of 1859.
* Friendly pleasant educated and informed National Park Service personnel are in the area and give impromptu interesting historical talks
* Exciting recreations of the Lower Town from the 1800s
* Wonderfully restored and active stores and mini museums
* Beautiful downtown area which is trash free and almost car free
* Fantastic recreated and still somewhat functional Harpers Ferry Station with passenger train service twice a day- fun to watch the freight trains speed past about twice an hour.
* Fantastic train bridge from West Virginia to Maryland is open for walkers, hikers, joggers and cyclists (and those pushing baby carriages)
* Beautiful scenic surroundings of forests and green hills and two rivers converging- watching the water and those rafting
* A few restaurants and places to eat
* Possibility of water rafting with private company

CONS
* Trash free park has a downside- what do I do with my trash?

"I VISITED THIS PLACE"...
... as an area for continued hiking after several days in Shenandoah National Park. What a great idea!! I loved my full day here.

After failing to find the starting point for the Maryland Heights hiking trail, I dejectedly returned to visit the Lower Town but found a sign for the Visitors Center off or WV route 340, and nowhere near the historic city. What a great discovery, which turned my dejected mood about the Maryland Heights trail into an adventure that was the most unexpected and fun and fulfilling of my 4 days of hiking.!!

The guides at the visitor center were so helpful and friendly and directed me to the Appalachian Nature Trail hike which I simply loved!!

I passed and visited the historic harper Cemetery from the 1700s and also Jefferson Rock, the destroyed church and the Roman Catholic one before entering the city and seeing Harper House.

The Lower City is so fantastic!! I loved it so much- so many small restored stores, shops, dwellings and mini museums with so many artifacts and articles from the mid 1800s. What amazing living history!!

The train station is quaint, and I loved standing close on the platform (under the watchful wary eyes of the National Park Service rangers while watching the freight trains of more than 100 carriages speed by.

The stuff about John Brown and his 1859 revolt and the intact building and the memorial- all invigorating and exciting to be at a place of real history (of which I obviously didn't know enough and learned much while there).

I visited this place a number of times in the late 1970s, with my last visit being in April 1982 for rafting on the Shenandoah River, when I fell in, much to the dismay and consternation of the newly-married Mrs. Place.

But this current visit was a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!

WAS IT WORTH THE COST? It's part of the one-time once-a-year USD$30 National Park Service.

ADVICES
If you've managed to read up to this point, you know how much I loved this place (read my many reviews of the individual places also).

Be sure to visit Harper Cemetery (even if you don't do the hike) with Jefferson Rock and also the train station and walk across the bridge over the water to Maryland and visit the actual and restored John Brown Fort.

Harpers Ferry is uniquely situated -- physically and metaphorically -- at the intersection of US history. Lewis & Clark! Burgeoning industry! Railroad expansion! John Brown! Civil War! And, of course, the Appalachian Trail! Learn something about all of these with a visit to Harpers Ferry. Because I had trouble figuring this out until visiting . . . the town is within the park. Yes, parking in the town is scarce and can be trouble if there are crowds -- but parking within the park is super simple. Shuttle buses run frequently, and you have the benefit of chatting with park rangers to help plan your visit.

We didn’t bring our kids this trip but tons for everyone, light shopping for those that like too.. several restaurants, history for the kids and fellow historians. Hope they open all features soon, parking very limited be prepared to hike.

We are so glad we made an unplanned trip to Harpers Ferry. We absolutely loved it. From the history, hiking, shops that are still in tact and have been revamped to show what it would have looked like in the 1800s to the quaint and charming homes and buildings, this is a place you don't want to miss! Pay the $20 for the visitors center parking and shuttle. It's so worth it.

I'm so glad we took a side trip here while vacationing in the DC area. We learned so much and the area was beautiful. From the visitor center, two of us took the shuttle bus while the other two hiked the mile to the quaint town. Most things were open and we could have spent the entire day here. I liked that some of the old buildings housed small museums: one on John Brown, another on Storer College and another on the local area. Other buildings showed what stores in the town (including a tavern and a dry goods store) would have looked like in the 1860s.

We arrived from out of town around 11am and soon realized no parking downtown and the streets were lined with cars a mile plus out of town.

We drove to the visitors center, which we knew was closed, but you can still park there, use restrooms and get maps from the park rangers. You pay $20 to park here, which is good for 3 days.

Most people parking here were walking to downtown using the Little town trail. It’s a 1.7 mile walk into town. The first .4 of mile was in the woods and a somewhat steep decline, with some stone steps. We saw a lot of people on this path that shouldn’t have been. Parents with strollers, elderly, women in heeled sandals. Park rangers should not recommend this path for everyone. For people prepared it was a nice walk.

As many others have stated, all museums are closed and restaurants are in limited capacity so if you are walking, bring water and snacks. Bathrooms are open downtown. If you don’t like to,walk, there isn’t much for you to do. We walked to the point, across the bridge, saw Jefferson rocks, Appalachian trial and the trail conservancy.

The next day we were at the train station parking lot at 8am to hike Maryland heights and got one of the last parking spots.

One of my favorite places to Hike. The view from the Top to the trail is one of the BEST things you'll ever see. Also tons of things to see and do in the historical little town below museums, Cafe's, great food, ect. I live close to here and always seen people are visiting the area to check it out

History has become important to us and seeing Harpers Ferry is intense! To see a town that changed hands between the North and the South 8 times during the war is just incredible.

Easy to walk aroung the park. Bus/tours are available. Information is you want to go it on your own also.

Such a wonderful park. Gorgeous from every view. Hiking the Appalachian trail, visiting a 19th century cemetery, the shops, history, views. . . everything about this place was attractive. Our 10. 13 and 16 year old all loved it.

A lovely place to visit with an abundance of natural beauty and historical significance. Parking is a bit of a nuisance on weekends.

The park service has done an excellent job with this park. A blend of restored buildings and those they’ve left as artifacts. This would be a tough place to navigate if you’re disabled. We loved the John Brown museum especially. Plus the building where it’s being excavated for historical artifacts just down the street. Well done!

If your a History Buff, you'll love West Virginia. There is a great deal of Civil War History in this area. Antiatam is just north of here and the scenery is great. Thomas Jefferson even thought it was beautiful here. Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Jeb Stewart are just some of the soldiers that were here. The Ghost tour was great too because the leader Rick Garland knew so much about the area and Civil War History. He lived in Gettyburg and gave tours there previously. Good Luck

I visited Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in April. It is a beautiful and scenic area especially with the views of the Shenandoah River and the Potomac River. I had my National Park Pass so I did not have to pay any entrance fee. I parked in the parking lot of the Visitors Center and debated about whether to walk on the hiking trail to the center of town. I decided to take the shuttle bus. The town of Harpers Ferry is well preserved from a historical perspective and you feel like you are in a time warp. I walked around the town for a couple of hours and visited Brown's Fort, the scenic outlook with a view of the river, the streets with shops and restaurants and Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church. Then I took the shuttle bus back to the Visitors Center. It was a very nice and interesting visit.

Very unique National Park. There is the park, rivers and then an historic town, with restaurants and shops. Be sure to pay the $20 national park fee, even if just parking in town or along the river. They do come around and check. You can pay on your phone. The town is very cool, lots of history and then food/shopping. If you are able to climb the steep steps to Jefferson's Rock, you will be rewarded with a wonderful view of the mountains and rivers meeting.

History buffs will be regaled with stories of colonial pioneers scratching a living in a hostile wilderness. They will hear and see what many argue was the spark that lit the fuse that led to the American Civil War. Read about the taking and retaking, and retaking, etc., of the city during said war. See the recovery from Reconstruction, and the integration that was unheard of in the South.

History not your thing - check out the Point for one of the prettier sites you can see. Walk the bridge to Maryland and see the white water of the Shenandoah. Walk the downtown and marvel at the architecture, eat at a 19th century tavern, check out the wax museum, an antique shop, or a candy shop that specializes in 19th century candy.

Incredible spot that begs you to come and begin your own adventure - just do it!

Harper Banjarmasin is really cool, nice, the staff are very friendly and friendly, greeting guests every time they come here, they are greeted with kindness and warmth like their own home...the best, really, thank you Harper...

There is lots of history here from the town's founding, to the John Brown raid to civil war battles. The old buildings are interesting, and the walk along the river is very pleasant. There are some interesting little museums, shops and restaurants. Parking is very limited so definitely park at the visitor center and ride the bus.

As a history buff I had always wanted to visit Harpers Ferry and did so this year. It was a rainy day but after parking and getting information at the welcome center we took the tour bus down to the lower town where you can take a self guided tour of the site and historic buildings. The signage is good and puts the events that took place there into a clearer perspective. There is a nice gift and book store. Highly recommended.

Well organised shuttle, both lady drivers were extremely courteous and helpful.
Liked the commentary on the bus, very professional.

Today I experienced the negative impact that Trump’s shenanigans are making on our National Park Service. My husband and I visit the park about 6 times a year. Today, a very crowded Saturday, I only saw three park employees other than the bus drivers. I saw the man at the parking booth, a cashier and a park ranger. I wanted to participate in the Bark Dog Program at the visitor center. I discovered that the visitor center was no longer in town, but was now only at the parking lot which is located 1 1/2 miles from town. I was told that it was a short bus ride from town. However, Harper’s Ferry doesn’t allow dogs on their buses.

Neither my husband nor I had been to Harpers Ferry in many, many years. We recall parking in the area but you have to park about 2 miles away for $20 and take a shuttle. It is a quaint and charming town but not sure we would pay $20 to go back! mostly it is just scenic views, a few historic buildings, a few tiny resturants and a few shops.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the HFNHP.
I now have an appreciation for John Brown and his courage to "do the right thing" during a period in our American History when it was not easy for anyone to speak out about the sin of slavery. Even Thomas Jefferson was against it, but didn't have John Brown's courage to fight his contemporaries at the time.
John Brown truly deserves more recognition by our country including some greater appreciation of his greatness. He belongs to be alongside of Martin Luther King. Possibly on one of our dollar currencies. He truly was a visionary with a strong moral compass.

Great national park with battlefield locations and a downtown area with old buldings and shops, restaurants. There.are also hiking trails. Entrance fee for vehicles is $20. Parking down by the old buildings by the train station costs money and is limited. Shuttles take visitors to areas. This is a great park, but the fee to park and limited parking can be issues during busy times.

Like stepping back in time, old world experience! Very easy to park at the visitor center and board the shuttle to town. Even can “hike” the Appalachian trail stone steps to the Catholic Church that survived the war by flying the British flag. Highly recommend this gorgeous mountain side town at the convergence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers.

We went here on a Friday as part of our RV trip to the Shenandoah Mountains and Skyline Drive. Harpers Ferry is where the Potomac River cuts throught he Blue Ridge. From the point, where the two rivers meet, Maine is to the left and Georgia is to the right. We parked the RV at the visitors Center park entrance, where we paid $20.00 and caught the shuttle to and from. We took the hike to the Jefferson Rock and the C&O Canal towpath. If you go on a nice day, bring a lunch and enjoy the view on the river. There's lot to see and alot of walking, too. The train coming out of the tunnel was great.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, which is located at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, has something for every National Park lover. The area is both scenic and rich in history, with an abundance of walking trails.

From the visitor's center, I took the shuttle bus down to historic Harper's Ferry. The short ride gives a brief history of the area. The old downtown area is preserved, with several old buildings that are open to the public. There are also great views of the confluence.

I walked across the railroad bridge to Maryland, and was lucky enough to see a train going down the tracks. The Appalachian trail runs through Harpers Ferry, and for a short section follows the same path as the Potomac National Heritage Trail and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath. I was thrilled to be able to walk three national trails simultaneously. The trail follows Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which is now dry, but the locks are still visible.

Harpers Ferry also has a self-guided driving tour of the Civil War sites in the park. I didn't do the full tour, but I stopped at two of the sites, the Murphy-Chambers Farm and Bolivar Heights. The later offers a good view of the town and the river beyond.

MUST SEE for any civil war buff or student of history. Great park just to enjoy the outdoors and natural beauty of West Virginia.

The only place where original 1900 build houses/buildings in a town setting are available to tour. Inside each building is a museum about this historic town.

I really enjoyed a walk through this town! Lots of history here, and many of the old buildings are open to walk in to or sometimes just look in from the door. Just the right amount of touristy stuff added in but not intrusive.

Lots of photo ops here. Good hiking in area. The town itself is only a few blocks but has a ton of history. Liked it.

We hiked a couple trails and checked out some of the historical sites. We spent about 9 hours there.

This trails really need better signage.

The historical town center could use more park staff narrating the history.

We hiked the trail to the lookout over the railroad bridge. People need to be aware that is a real upgrade hike as opposed to walking path. Bring water

We missed the shuttle bus closing time and had to walk 2+ up to the visitors center.

If you're taking a long trail park in the lower lots near Virginus Island

The best time to be in Harpers Ferry is Fall. The town has a romantic atmosphere, the trees’ leaves changing of color makes it even more magical.

I live close enough to take a day trip to this lovely park. You can visit the exhibits, hike, or just enjoy the park and the sunshine. You can walk to restaurants for a meal, a drink, or some ice cream. Parking is challenging if you want to go to the old town, but if the park is running buses from the visitor center, the buses take you to the old town for free.

We love Harpers Ferry and come here frequently to hike and enjoy the ambiance. The hiking is wonderful and everything from flat and easy to quite challenging. The views from the upper vantage points are fantastic and worth the effort. The town itself is quaint and chalk full of history.. all interesting and very well presented. This time of year it can get quite busy and if you want to park by the train station you need to be there before 8 am in the weekend. Otherwise you can park in the big lot and shuttle in. There are several restaurants and we’ve never had to wait when dining mid afternoon. There is also an vintage candy shop, which is fun.

We didn't realize the whole town was a national park and it was great to explore all the museums and ruins and trails while in this cute little town. Although there is a shuttle from the visitor's center to the town, the walk is really nice along the river and you get really great exercise going back up the steep stairs on the way back. There are ruins along the river and then you can walk on the bridges and see the trains and there is plenty to do to keep all ages occupied. The museums are small, but very informative and not overwhelming. Plus, you can hop on the Appalachian Trail for a little bit, or even go down the C&O Canal towpath. What a fun little town!

Harpers Ferry was such a beautiful experience! The scenery, the town, the people....just amazing! I had no idea this town excited, but I would go back in a heart beat!

We stopped here on our road trip to Tennessee. Use your national parks pass and the carload can get in for 15 dollars. Lots of historical buildings to explore,shops and hotels that are quaint for a visit. I think next time I might stay in town. Check the calendar for reenactments and lectures. It's worth your time.

Harpers Ferry is such a beautiful place! We went water rafting here down the Shenandoah river which was such a unique experience for us. Floating down the river on a beautiful sunny day is heaven. There was lots of nature around. Passing under the train bridges was very fun! Beautiful Beautiful location. Would love to go again and explore around as we did only see the river! :)

One of the most beautiful places i ever saw in West Virginia. Highly recommended.will come back for sure.

This quaint, tiny town has history, beautiful scenery, and many hiking trails. Parking is limited, so drive to the park headquarters and ride the shuttle into town.

The NPS does a great job and there are some many options in the park, hike, walk, meander or take in all of the history. They have done a great job of both preserving it and making it accessible.

I have visited Harpers Ferry many times without a guided tour. Jim took us on a 2.5 hour tour and I learned so much history. He was a pro and very patient with the nine of us.

We planned this visit as a break from our recent trip from Florida to points further north. It's an easy drive to the downtown area or the park above for that matter. We found easy parking near the train depot, paid the parking fee via the phone app, and began wandering about town. The town itself strikes us as similar to St Augustine (which we love) with its rich history and restored buildings. We loved the confluence of the rivers, watched all the kayakers go by, and meandered along a few of the paths around town. We visited a couple of nice shops, including one that wouldn't take credit cards as the owner refused to pay their fees. Wonder how that will work?
We found a very nice taproom that we chose for lunch in the Rabbit Hole.
Enjoy!

This is a great little historical city surrounded by natural beauty. But it is packed. Be mindful of when you decide to visit. I wanted fourty minutes just to find parking.

I guess when we arrived we didn't know that parking was limited if you could find any inside Harper's Ferry so we ended up doing a big loop and parking at the Visitors Center and paying the entrance fee, which I believe is good for 3 consecutive days. Taking the bus was easy although be sure to keep track of time as the last bus is like at 5pm or something. The signs are posted when the last bus runs back to your car. Lots of nice shops and places to eat. Lots of Civil war history with John Brown's fort and Museum.
Trash cans are not located in the park so bring a plastic bag and don't leave your trash behind.

Wonderful views of the mountains. Very nice bridge to walk accross to see the water, mountains, boat dockside and to take it all in.

There’s so much history in Harpers Ferry, WV! The park is beautiful, so many things to see, tours are available and shops are opening again too!

Best to visit in the Autumn for Fall foliage. Very nice historical park with buildings and shops from the mid 1800's. A little bit of everything with several museums, cafes and restaurants, two rivers and plenty of hiking and walking opportunities. Parking is very limited. There are a few spots available at the train station, but they fill-up fast. Next is another small parking lot right off of US340 and Shenandoah Street where the walk from this parking lot to Lower Town is about 1/4 mile. The largest parking lot is located at the visitors center where you can catch a shuttle bus to the park. Due recommend a walk across the railroad bridge and up to Maryland Heights for awesome aerial view of the town.

We came here on Veteran's Day, hence admission to the visitor's center parking lot was free. We used a combination of hiking and the free shuttle bus to get between the town and the parking lot over the course of the day.

There were certainly some elements of Harper's Ferry that we enjoyed, such as Jefferson Rock, and also seeing the convergence of the rivers, trails, and railroads at the point. Both of those provided great views, and there were information signs posted there (as well as throughout town).

However most of the rest of the town was a bit of letdown. There really isn't much going on here beyond a couple remaining old buildings, and some cobblestone streets. While we had planned to spend whole day here, we pretty much got tired of seeing stuff after a few hours.

We're happy we visited the site, but also happy we came on a free day and didn't have to put down an admission fee for it.

A definite must see location if you are in the area. Everything is well maintained and explained, with placards throughout the park. The views of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers are spectacular. Wear your walking shoes, as you’ll put a lot of stepsin.

National Park Service has done a great job of maintaining the old buildings in town and providing information on the immense amount of history that has occurred in such a small town. We got there early and were able to park in the parking lot at the train station. Much better option than parking at the visitors center and taking the bus.

Nice day trip from the DMV area. Lots of history and things to do if you are a history buff. Drive from Virginia was scenic.

I would not suggest to eat at the local restaurants. I will describe the them as high priced below average food in old depleted buildings. The place we ate served us in dirty dishes. Place was not kept clean with cobwebs everywhere.

Lots of places to picnic. Green grass under shade and picnic tables. Best is to pack a lunch and save your money.

Our trip to Harpers Ferry was both educational and beautiful. The history of Harpers Ferry is well documented and explained when visiting the Visitor Center (ample parking here) and the John Brown Museum (down the hill in Harpers Ferry). The Park Rangers are very knowledgeable and happy to spend time with you talking about this time in our US history. You can take the shuttle from the Visitor Center down to the town of Harpers Ferry (best bet) or drive to it (though parking is very limited there). The town is quaint and beautiful and rugged. It sits in West Virginia at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. There is a railroad bridge that runs from West Virginia to Maryland. You can walk across the people bridge (next to the actual railroad) and you are in Maryland. Some of the buildings in Harpers Ferry are hundreds of years old, built on the side of a mountain and are still solid and very charming. There are many shops to visit for local crafts, souvenirs, and treats. There are also many restaurants and cafes where you can sit a spell and enjoy some good food. The shop keepers and workers there are very friendly and helpful. Be prepared to walk a good bit and climb some awesome stairs constructed of stone slabs, most of which were built by hand. This whole area is part of the Appalachian Trail, actually sitting about halfway on the trail which runs from Maine to Georgia. This is a good trip for anyone who wants to be outside on a beautiful day, see some beautiful scenery, and get in some good walking, all while learning a bit of history. Great trip!!

We learned so much about John Brown and the raid on the armory and loved exploring the buildings and exhibits. It is a very picturesque stop and the displays and rangers are hugely informative. It was a very enlightening visit and offered an additional perspective on the lead-up to the Civil War. Recommend visiting.

Come for the scenery and the history. You won't be disappointed!!! Trails, demonstrations, historic buildings and special events abound. Great restaurants within walking distance and who doesn't love trains?

Very informative park. Learned more about the raid on Harper's Ferry, John Brown's discussions with Frederick Douglass, and Merriwether's visit to Harper's Ferry in 1803, preparing for the expedition to the Louisiana Territory. There is a lot of information available. You can see "John Brown's Fort" as well. Nearby are some nice shops and restaurants. The tricky part is parking. Probably best to park at the Visitor's Center and take the shuttle. There is a parking lot much closer, but it is often full. You can park off Washington Street, but then you have a long walk uphill to get back to your car.

This was our first visit to Harper's Ferry, and we found it to be a beautiful, historic little town. We visited on a somewhat drizzly and warm day, which really brought the mosquitos out! We did some wandering around, and really liked the confluence of the rivers and subsequent bridges (including a walkable railroad bridge). There was too much history/sightseeing to take-in on our short visit (3-4 hrs?), so we'll have to plan another one. Any park staff we encountered were very friendly and knowledgeable. Two "surprises", were the abundant mosquitos (so be prepared if necessary), and the distance of the main parking area from the town (shuttle busses provide transportation to-and-from the town). The bus service was convenient and pleasant, but the two-way trips added to our overall time at the park (so plan accordingly).

Went with my husband and enjoyed it. Limited free parking. They have shuttle buses to and from the visitor center. Several restaurants to choose from. Good if you like walking/hiking.

Harper's Ferry is located in a beautiful setting. The history of the village is very interesting alone but add the John Brown Raid as a percursor to the Civil War, and it's truly worth a visit. Parking is almost non-existant so I highly recommed parking at the Visitor Center and using the very convenient shuttle service to the Lower Town which constitutes the park. Lots of beautiful scenery!

So much history in such a compact area. I spent the better part of a day here and didn't even scratch the surface.

From John Brown and his group of abolitionists to Lewis and Clark stooping here to prepare for their journey to explore and document the Louisiana Purchase, there are a number of great historical sites in this park.

Plan for plenty of time to fully enjoy this park/area.

This is a great place to visit. A National Parks Pass comes in handy for the park entrance fee. There is plenty of parking up at the visitors center, which I recommend you park at right off the bat. The parking in town by the train station was a madhouse to say the least. Grab a site map in the visitors center, it will help a lot if this is your first visit. Shuttle buses run frequently and will take you down into the historic area from the visitors center. There is quite a bit to see here on so many levels I won’t go into it. I was there to see where the arsenal had been located and got to see so much more. This sight is well worth the visit and supporting our long underfunded National Parks.

If you have never visited this area, be certain to put it on your bucket list! So much pre-civil war history that most are not aware of. Fantastic displays detailing what transpired in this valley. All locals and Park employees are very friendly and helpful. Considerable walking involved in the historic area and the sidewalks, streets and hills make the use of wheelchairs nearly impossible. Don’t be discouraged with the walking as there are many benches to rest upon. Couple of interesting places to eat but I would highly recommend the Rabbit Hole. Excellent service, good eats and the walls are loaded with artifacts!

Visiting this little town is like taking a step back in time. The small town sits at the intersection of the Potomac and Shenandoh Rivers. The rivers also separate it from Maryland and Viriginia. It's almost like a meeting point of 3 states, though in West Viriginia.

The park service did a great job with 2 parts of the park. The first in Old T
own.They have old buildings that you are free to check out from the time pre-civil war to see how they looked and people lived. Then there is the famous John Brown's raid that is given to you in detail. these buildings are all right next to the sort of heart of the town that is filled with little shops and restaurants. All houses in the colonial style.

The next part of the park is the outdoors. Its a beautiful area to admire nature with lots of outdoor activities. There are trails, ruins, and outdoor formations. I head about Jefferson Rock but did not do that on this trip. Plus part of the Appalachian Trail goes through here. Companies nearby offer activities for those who want to get out on the water. I saw kayak's and people just lounging in tubes. The water did not appear deep when we were there early October.

We went on a beautiful Saturday and the town was busy. We paid $15 to park at the park service visitor center which sets a few miles out of town up on a hill. However, they have a free shuttle bus to take guests from the parking to the town (and back), which was convenient and nice.

The Harpers Ferry area, landscape, town and businesses are just awesome, some cool stuff to do, very historically significant, pretty places, and some neat old buildings.
But this a review for the National Park, and I can’t help but say that the park portions of the area were unfailingly disappointing. There were dozens of audio/visual displays throughout the park maintained buildings, NONE of which were functional. the park buildings, to include a large number of administrative type buildings with no public access were poorly maintained, chipping paint, cobwebs in all the windows, signage was confusing, staff were not particularly helpful, visitor center all closed up still, for those getting started early, no busses run until nine, (which means they show up about 920). For the amount of $$ that taxpayers have invested in the facilities and staff there, I would expect better… way better.

We were on our way to the Antietum Battlefield and we thought we would take a side trip to Harpers Ferry. Wow. What was a quick look turned into a 2 hour tour. So much to see. The old town is built on a hillside. There are shops, restaurants, old homes, bed n breakfast site, a beautiful old amtrak station(The Capitol Limited runs here, 2 stop west of DC), Shenandoah River and the junction with the Potomac. Massive rocky mountains and a railroad tunnel and railrod bridge over the Potomac. there is a walking bridge to the other side. This place is definitely a must see. I would come back here and stay longer.

If you take the time to go to Harpers Ferry go to the National HIstorical park. It is absolutely stunning. Amazing place to get photos and take a wonderful walk.

A pleasant town that has contributed so much to the history of our country, not just once but a few times. The town is quaint and has a different museums, shops, and dining options.

George our park ranger gave an amazing talk about Harpers Ferry. He not only brought the story to life, he was funny and entertaining while keeping his eye on the goal of teaching us about the battle. Well done and thank you George for making our day great.

Was able to attend a lecture from one of the rangers - very informative and great history lesson - shuttle bus is helpful and clean.

Great stop on our road trip South..Friendly and not at all busy while we were there. Bus ride to site featuring the history on a tape loop was helpful. Everything is beautiful clean and preserved..Well marked sites with information boards..A couple nice placed open for lunch but the ice cream at the Copper Deli was the best. Shout out to the lovely lady working there..

Plentiful parking and shuttle service. Great history, trails and more. Beautiful area surrounded by nature, history. Trains, rivers, shops, etc.

Lots of walking, very interesting sites and museums, gift shops line the off roads and streets so lots to see also in that interest. Great educational place to take kids, and family to see and learn about how the American civil war started and the first shot was fired here.

We returned to Harpers Ferry because our first visit was during the Covid 19 shutdown. This time we got experience the visitor's center and shuttle bus service to the town. The bus service is much more convenient than trying to find parking in town. Visitors should use this if possible. The bookstore was large and had a nice selection of books and apparel out purchase entitled us to a free poster.

We had a gorgeous spring day at Harpers Ferry. It was a Saturday morning, so we arrived early, and parked at the train station at 8:30. (which was almost already all full!). Don't arrive late on a weekend, as there is not too much parking near by.

We crossed the pedestrian bridge and hiked to Maryland Heights. The views along the way were amazing. The hike was not too crowded in the morning, and overall was moderate. There were some inclines/declines, but the trail was not too rocky, and was well maintained. View was excellent!

We got back to the train station around 11:15, and then had an excellent outdoor lunch in town. After lunch, we walked up to Jefferson Rock for some more excellent views, and finished with ice cream. We departed around 1:15.

This is an excellent place to visit, and definitely should be on your site to see in Maryland (though technically in West Virginia)

Everything I saw online before we went said the John Brown Museum was closed, but when we got there it was open. I wish I had allowed more time for our visit!

Checked the website this morning and there was no mention of being closed and no one answered the phone. We drove over three hours just to discover that they are closed.

There is a bus provided from the national park entrance to downtown. Use this option! There is no parking downtown and it’s very hilly. The historical buildings are open to walk through at your convenience, not for those mobility impaired though. Very quaint, historical town.

Great visit to Harpers Ferry National Park. Was way more than I had expected and the ability to go in the houses, learn about life there and why it is there as well as the stunning scenery and the excitement heralded by the trains horns - I love the American trains - just added. The site is well managed by the NPS and we really recommend parking at the NPS entry car park / point and taking the shuttle bus in and out. $20 dollars for a 3 day pass is great value especially if you plan to go back to do the bits you might have missed. There was no reenactment when we were there - I think this would have just added to an already great experience.
My one err on the visit is that cars who don’t use the NPS service facility can drive down and around the historical areas: I get this is a town where residents live but having a flow of traffic passing through this historical site detracted and sort of took the moment away. We went in a Thursday so traffic might be more busy on weekends. You have to pay to park in the town, so why not use the bus service?
So interesting to hear and see and read about the artefacts for John Brown and learn more about the emancipation.
It’s really worth, if you are able, to take the short walk up the steps to the Jefferson rock, and in to the cemetery and to the college and then wander back to the town along the Appalachian Trail. A wonderful place.

Although most of the museums are closed due to covid, but there is still plenty of things to see and hike. You can still cross the bridge and go to the C&O canal trail or just walk around the town. A great visit on a week day.

If you love history - GO. Plan for 2 hours. I have been there many times. Original history as much as possible. The War took it's toll as have multiple floods. Plan on going to the visitor center and taking a bus in. It's a National Park so I used my Senior Pass. Several small museums, a bookstore and displays. There are a few delis and craft shops. Fairly busy during the summer. You can no longer park at the site. NO trash cans.

At the recommendation of our Rafting Guide Jeff from River Riders, we decided to stop at the Harpers Ferry National Park and we were glad we did. It was a nice place, very beautiful and unique architecture. Exploring the old town and walking across the truss bridge over the Potomac River was cool. They had shops and restaurants there so we stayed for dinner at the Rabbit Hole and that was very good.

Enjoyed the view where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet. Nice place to hike along the Shenandoah River. Enjoyed the old town.

What a wonderful place, words cannot describe Harpers Ferry, it is absolutely beautiful and so full of history, as far as I am concerned, if you are within a decent distance of here, yous simply have to visit. A truly memorable day :)

Two areas for parking: Park entrance has visitor's center and large parking area- they provide shuttle to lower town. Limited parking at the Ferry Amtrak Station. Both charge $20.00. America the Beautiful pass holder- parking is free. Where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet. Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Applachian Trail and the Point is 3 states- West Virginia, Virgina and Maryland. President George Washington, selected Harpers Ferry for a national armory. Building of the Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry" began in 1799. Site chosen for the access to water and railroad. It became known as the "U.S. Musket Factory." The raid of 22 men led by John Brown and his three sons, abolitionists, in 1859 took the armory by force and held 60 people hostage in this building. Brown’s plan was to seige the arsenal and armory and use the weaponry and supplies to arm an abolitionist army and the enslaved people. John Brown and his men were captured in the building and Brown was hanged in Charles Town on December 2, 1859.
1861 the US Troops destroyed the buildings to prevent the weapons falling into the Confederate hands. The Armory buildings were located on the land near the river and the depot called Armory Canal. By the end of the war, the Armory's fire engine and guard house – John Brown's Fort – is all that remained intact.
Walking self guided tour of town attractions/historical landmarks, on-line scavenger hunt for children-print PDF. Every Saturday park offers 1 hour guided tour- 10:30-11:30. Clean public restrooms on Shenandoah Street.

We visited on the recommendation of a local resident. We got there early on a Saturday morning and had no trouble parking. We took the shuttle to the lower town and thoroughly enjoyed the walk, the views and the exhibits. We went back to the upper section and had a picnic under a tree in the parking area. As we were leaving there were lines of cars to get in and parking looked tight.

Excellent day out . Town small but interesting . Main attraction was the walk along the old Canal and the hike . We parked in the town centre at railway station as it was a quiet Monday . 20 dollars for a day parking .

The "Visitors Center" is little more than a parking lot and bus stop. The Park Rangers had no presentations there. If you are close enough to the lower town, no need to go to the Visitor's Center, just walk in and see the sites.

Nice historical town. There seems to be a lot of things to do and check out. It’s good to get there early in the day if it’s the in season to find a parking space closer to the train station or you might have to shuttle bus or walk in

Our visit was OK. It was not fantastic, but something quick to do. I was expecting much more honestly. We were thinking that we could plan a whole week in Harper's Ferry but there is definitely not enough to do there. The little town is adorable but again, there isn't much to do. It only took us like 2 hours to see everything which again was unexpected. I think I was expecting something larger. We ended up staying in Charles Town and driving to other parts of WV during our stay because besides river tubing and the historical part, there isn't much to do.

Great improvements in the past few years make this a true destination. Costumed interpreters are a wealth of knowledge, and it's fun to see the way life used to be. Learned so much about the civil war, Lewis and Clarke, and John Browne.

There are multiple things to appreciate and see when in this area. Ensure that you visit all the historic buildings and get a guide to help you with what happened where.

The old bridge pillars are still standing and there is a bridge over the river that actually is part of the Appalacian Trail. There is a local hiking office that Appalacian Trail walkers visit and you can see a three dimensional model of the area.

There is a trail that goes up to an overlook. I’ve included pictures from this spot. If you get lucky like we did a train will be coming through the city when you are up on the overlook.

Parking is a premium in this area, but there is a lot a short walk away. There are little restaurants and ice cream shops that re all nice.

A very interesting location for history and nature. Lack of parking. Many buildings grubby and In poor repair. Needs better signage.

This is a cute little historic town. The best known history is John Brown's raid of the armory in a failed attempt to cause a slave revolt. The armory is gone and an open field is in its place. Billboards line the field to explain more about the armory. The Fort Brown was captured in still exists but was moved to a different location, with a small monument marking the original location. Other things to see is Jefferson Rock, a rocky observation area once visited by Thomas Jefferson who called one of the most scenic views. Along the way see the remains of Saint John's Episcopal Church. Restaurants, gift shops, and museums line the town. Some were open and others were not (Covid-19) Be sure to check out the point, you're the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers meet. Next to there you can walk towards Westchester and Potomac Bridge to access Maryland Heights. The big issue is parking. $20 at the visitor center then a bus ride into town. Yes the pass is for three days but I wasn't there three days. Parking in town isn't much better. The train station fills up quickly and spots next to it are expensive.

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Great grounds. Well maintained and historically significant.

Beautiful views of the river and bridge.

Well worth a visit.

Harper’s Ferry is a neat town. The old buildings have been converted to museums and shops. People inside the National Park Owned buildings were wearing masks. If you only have time to visit one or two shops, be sure to stop at True Treats Historical Candy for candy from the 1700s and 1800s and the bookstore where all proceeds benefit upkeep of the park.

Don’t bother looking for parking in town as there is hardly any there. Park at the visitor’s center and take the shuttle. Hope to be back again someday to visit the museums that were closed.

We just happened upon this national park and was so glad we did. We thoroughly enjoyed the history of it. We watched their Informational video, which was very interesting. We walked thru the historical town, had supper and then went up to Jefferson’s rock for beautiful scenery. We loved everything about this National Park.

A wonderful place to visit. So much history here. Very well maintained. The National Park Service does an excellent job. Providing the shuttle bus is great. Leaves every 10 minutes and it's a quick ride to lower town. Also a very scenic place.

wonderful experience! we parked in the lot kind of at the top of the hill and took the bus down to the town, which was a super easy and comfortable ride. we walked all over the town and went through the museum buildings at our leisure, got some lunch (there were a lot of options, even some places that had gluten free stuff, and all different price points), and hiked up to see the church, rock, and cemetery, which gave us a great view of the rivers and railroad track. we are not very athletic or regular hikers, so although it is a bit steep, there are steps that make it manageable. it was hot the day we went, so the occasional escape into the a/c of the museums was much appreciated. we could see people tubing on the river, which looked really fun, so I would like to go back and try that and see the town in fall colors.
great experience, lots to see, would return!

This park was absolutely amazing! Loved the nature park and the history part and it is so wonderfully preserved. The park is extremely dog friendly as well and they also participate in the National Park Service Bark Ranger Program. Their book store had amazing merchandise and National Park memorabilia.

Went here and absolutely loved it. The area of Harper's Ferry is amazing and super easy to walk around and explore the area. The Maryland Heights hike was wonderful to look out over Harper's Ferry. It's a must do

Excellent! Only issue was the KOA Dump Rv park
Next to Historic Property
Koa advertising as park of Park!!!
Koa is NOT part of park and should be banned from using the Historic Park Name!

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is a hidden gem for history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts alike! Nestled at the junction of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, this place oozes history from every corner. The quaint town, with its charming 19th-century buildings, feels frozen in time. Exploring the historic streets, visiting the Civil War-era museums, and hiking the nearby trails that offer panoramic views is like stepping back into the past. However, it's important to know that it can get a bit crowded during peak tourist season. Finding parking and maneuvering through the narrow streets can be a bit of a hassle. Nevertheless, the historical significance and natural beauty of Harpers Ferry make it a must-visit destination for those eager to dive into America's past.

The historic town of Harpers Ferry is amazing and we will go back but..... do not go and pay $20 to park at the National Park which is a challenging walk. The shuttles are not running due to Covid. The 1st part of the trail is very rough and steep with multiple rough hewn rock steps. The park ranger said “gentle slope“ followed by 1.6 mile walk to town. There were a lot people who by the time they got to the bottom of the steep path realized they had no option to get back to their cars except to climb back up. We ended up shuttling people in our car that were not able to do the return trip. Seriously! There is one small parking lot about .6 miles from town but it was full. Until Covid restrictions os lifted this park is a challenge.

We stopped at Harpers Ferry for a couple of hours, but could rightly have spent more. The picturesque town is nestled along cliffs, hills and rivers, and it is a National Historical Park with extensive signage explaining what you see and what was there. It is also beautiful and family friendly. We took our dog with us, and had no trouble. We joined an excellent talk by one of the Park Rangers, who vividly brought to life the setting and developments of the siege at the armory, now John Brown's Fort. Had a nice lunch at the Rabbit Hole on High Street: nice food and beer, pleasant outside setting, great views.

Pleasant walk from and back to the River Access Parking Lot, at Shenandoah Street and US-340. Wish we had had more time.

CAVEAT: It had rained a lot in the previous days, and the gnats were in force on the trails along the river.

So much to see! We hiked the area and highly recommend doing so during your visit. Its a great way to see the area. Everyone is friendly and the park rangers made good recommendations.

We visited this wonderful NHP on a misty February day and really enjoyed the experience and location. Happily for us, it was the off season as we understand in the summer they can be visited by 8000 visitors per day! For those visitors there is a NHP parking area on Shoreline Drive from which a shuttle takes people to the Lower Town. In February we were able to park at the railroad station in Lower Town. The road descending from the main road to Lower Town allows for one to feel transported back into another era. Pick your era, it is all there. Just off the road on the way is Bolivar Heights that was an important Civil War battlefield. The weather was not condusive to hiking, but it looks like it would offer interesting and varied hiking with signage about the area.
The location is strategic as the Shenandoah and Rivers meet here at what is known as The Point. This is a place suited for leisure strolling, railroad buffs, civil war history enthusiasts, and even those interested in the Revolutionary era. A self-guiding walk illuminates the many sites that are part of this park. Don't miss the museum and videos about John Brown located just across John Brown's Fort. Plan at least 3 hours to get a feel of and learn about the history from this area.
Ranger Jeff is extremely knowledgeable and offers an excellent Ranger talk about the history of Harper's Ferry. We learned a lot. There is a Junior Ranger program.

Steeped in history. As we were sitting in John Brown's fort a guide dropped in and gave an amazing accounting of the history of the place. The shuttle bus made it easy to get to the lower town without stress. Close to all kinds of trails, including the Appalachian and C&O towpath. A great (and pretty uncrowded during the week, anyway) national historical site.

Beautiful small town full of history. So many places to visit within the town not to mention several trails and paths. We spent the night nearby then got up early Saturday to visit. The parking lot at the train station/visitor area fills fast! We were parked before 9 and the lot was nearly full, so get down there early if you want to park close.
Many of the buildings are well preserved and give a real hint to life at the time of the Civil War. Many things to see, so plan for a day. Make a trip across the foot bridge to the MD side and walk some of the trails, the riverside is beautiful. HF is certainly not for those with disabilities related to walking. Many stairs, uneven paths, and a bit rough terrain, likely not friendly to wheelchairs or strollers. The people were friendly and the NPS staff were helpful.
A bit put off by many flags in town but, HF is a place where freedom was fought for, I just chose not to spend money in places that didn't align w my values. HF is worth the trip!

Harpers Ferry is a quaint little town sort of frozen in time but it is for the history minded. It is close enough to Washington, DC for a day trip for tourists visiting there. This lends itself to crowds during the tourist season and those not truly interested in history will grouse about their fellow tourists. The National Park Service provides shuttle service to and from the visitor center but there is a fee which comes nowhere close to offsetting any of the operating costs the NPS incur. This is a must for Civil War buffs and students of American History. To understand our national story and how we arrived where we did as a nation in 1861, you must understand John Brown and his raid. Additionally, Harpers Ferry played a role in Antietam as well. Views from Jefferson Rock are worth the hike and the importance of the railroad, canal and rivers cannot be understated.

I went here with a class trip and would love to come back on my own and spend more time. The guide at the office was very helpful and suggested that if we only had an hour, we should definitely go to the museum. It was very interesting, and held the interest of our 13 year olds, as well as adults. Lots of clear explanations and artifacts. The grounds are also beautiful, so I would have loved to walk from the welcome center to the town and its buildings, but it was pouring rain when we went, so we took the shuttle.

Very well done historic park, giving history of Harper's Ferry from 1700s through present day. Wish more of the Civil War era building had been preserved but worth the visit

Super fun town to explore. Lots of restored buildings from civil war era. You can walk across the bridge from West Virginia to Maryland on the Appalachian trail and we did a quick hike to a battery that was easy and fun.

Great day trip. It was suppose to be our 'light' day and my husband said - let's hike up this trail - Maryland Heights Loop. They say the view is amazing and life altering...2 hrs later what he said was "a few hundred yards" was about a mile and a half up. And what goes up must come down. It was great and I am glad we did it, just wish we were better prepared, for the distance and terrain. Glad we did it in the afternoon though. If we did it in the morning, I think we would have been done for the day!

Harper's Ferry was the second leg of our weekend trip. Cool town with lots of history. John Brown museum helped with discovery of the town. A few other buildings that you see from the outside only other than the Harper House. Also took part in the ghost tour which was awesome. As far as time, I would give it about three hours to tour the town, at most. There are a lot of shops. There are a few restaurants, ice cream, coffee, pizza.

After visiting the Gettysburg National Park the day before, this was a real downer. First, you have to pay just to get into the park-BEFORE you get to the visitor center. Payment is taken at the gate and is inefficient. Good side is the admission is good for three days and covers the shuttle as well. If you want to go into the historic town itself, take the shuttle. Streets are narrow and steep and there is no parking. Not easy to navigate with a walker, so we skipped most everything except to drive by. They could really use some mentoring from their Gettysburg neighbor. As it is, all that really is better than the internet is the view of the mountains.

If you like history this is a great place to go. The staff was knowledgeable, the museums were well organized and interesting. There were trails to walk if you want more than just history. Nice views. There were good eateries although some were closed because of the time we went.

Enjoyed our visit to Harpers Ferry. However it was impacted by the National Park closure due to the pandemic. So frustrating that this park cannot design a plan to enables it to open with social distancing.

Over the years we have consistently enjoyed superior content at sites operated by the National Parks Service. Harpers Ferry National Historic Park was the exception as our vist was very disappointing. Many exhibits were closed because they were closed, under construction, or not operating. Most disappointing was the lack of staff to provide any overview or interpretive context for the John Brown Raid in 1859. This was made all the more striking because just two days earlier we had enjoyed a terrific presentation af Lee's surrender to Grant at the Appomattox Court House NHP.

While we enjoyed being at the site of Brown's Raid, we left feeling that the NPS could have made it a much richer experience.

Yes, I knew the basics of Harper's Ferry - John Brown's raid. What I discovered was that Harper's Ferry was so much more! Over it history they produced over 600,000 weapons! For a long time it was an industrial power house. It was the site of multiple Civil War battles. The Niagara movement met here. (If you have never heard of this organization - check it out. Great history of the B & O Railroad and the C & O Canal that pass through here. Ever heard of the Storer school or college? Another great part of our American history.

Taking the shuttle from the visitors center was easy - they have at least four buses running and the wait is short. Due to Dept. of Transportation rules you must wear mask on the buses. Maybe one day that will go away.

Take time to go in all the open Park buildings - sadly several were closed during our visit. From the shuttle to the majority of old town, it is level and not bad even if you have mobility issues.

Scenic park with beautiful views of groups tubing down the Potomac. Crossed the bridge, watched trains go by & took in all the history.

Large park with information, bus pick up and drop off for downtown Harper's Ferry, restrooms and information about the park. This area was part of the Civil War and is the actual battlefield that still has a couple of cannons and an old homestead. You can park your car and walk to the end of the battlefield and you will see where the rivers come together. Very interesting. Wear comfy walking shoes!!!

We spent two days here. We did 3 ranger talk/walks. Each was interesting and gave great insight into the area. Be sure to check the information center to get times and subjects. Thomas Jefferson was here and boasted of the great view; George Washington established an armory. Lewis and Clark came to get outfitted before their long trip. John Brown attempted a slave uprising, taking matters into his own hands and planning to launch a new nation. At the riffle factory artisans made beautiful artillary. But any repairs had to be done by the maker. Harper's became the first place to make assembly goods, with all parts interchangeable. Many of the buildings are restored and now contain small museums. Be sure to watch the video presentations. The bookstore has a great selection. I bought a book about Civil War medical practice. We also climbed to Jefferson Rock and the old cemetery.

A must-see. John Brown's Raid is the focal point of Harpers Ferry. However, H.F. is the half way point on the Appalachian Trail and the views are, as Thomas Jefferson wrote:" Worth the trip across the Atlantic."

History: John Brown's raid is covered in great detail, but not boring. The park ranger tours are worth the wait. There is a wide variety of ranger-lead tours for all ages and interests. Take a day to get it all. H.F. can be covered in a day with time for excursions to the battlefield in Bolivar, Camp Hill, St. Peter's church, and Jefferson Rock.

The sights. The view from Jefferson Rock should not be missed. However, it is a hike to get there. If you do not have the legs or lungs to get there from 'downtown'. Take the car up to Camp Hill and walk down to it. Be careful, you have to step across the A.T. and hikers will not stop - they are on a mission. My only regret about the view is that I will not be there in the Autumn. The hills will be a palette of color that I can only imagine. It may rival the mountains of VT and N.H.

The Appalachian Trail. The hikers off the trail are some of the happiest people I have ever seen. I think they are glad to be off the trail and can relax. However, once on the trail, they are focused and do not look like the type to be interfered with. Do not try to talk to them. They have to get to Maine and they are only halfway there.

A word of caution about downtown. Traffic can be heavy. The streets are narrow and crowded. Drivers cannot see everywhere all the time. Look both ways, keep your hands on your toddlers, and you will be fine. Most drivers will yield to jay walking pedestrians.

Harper’s Ferry is gorgeous. The cliffs, rivers— I wish I had stayed longer. And the history—John Brown. This is a hidden treasure and I would go back.

So you can read all about what happens in history or you can visit and add some additional perspective. The Harpers Ferry National Historic Park allows you to explore more than the John Brown Raid. You see what was going on in the area, why it was important and much perspective on John Brown and his raid. The facilities are first class and they are improving them constantly. Add in the hiking and scenic aspects of the converging trail systems and it makes for a great place to visit.

The parking is very hectic even though we were there on a weekday, so we parked at the top where the visitor center is. (free) Its such a cute, historic little town. We heard you can go tubing for about 20$ down the river, so that's another trip to take. Amazing sight! So worth it!!

This is a cool place to visit. It had the best of both worlds which includes areas to hike, small museums, and lots of places to eat. I would say come earlier for better parking and take the bus from the visitor center. Easy can spend 2-3hrs there.

Great area and so much to see but the National Park being closed is making it a mess. Even if they do not want to be totally open they could open the parking lots and the bathrooms. It's a shame when you can not find parking due to all government owned lots being roped off. We ended going way up High St. and using meter parking but beware it's a long climb back up. Ate lunch on High St and it was very good and very social distancing.

The history brought me here, but I stayed for the view. It is set in a river canyon at the tri-border of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia where the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers meet. There are great opportunities for hiking, biking, and picnicking by the river.

We spent the entire day exploring Harpers Ferry and can now say we hiked the Appalachian Trail in two states😊. Highly recommend sitting in on Park Ranger talk provided near John Browns Fort, very informative. It’s a stunning area with spectacular views. Town is quite hilly if you explore beyond the National Park area but well worth the walk.

My wife and I made a return visit to the Harper's Ferry National Historic Park. Thirty years ago we stopped with our small children to tour the city. Much has changed.

The lower town is quaint and eclectic. Many of the buildings are old and hold museums and shops. Other shops not part of the tour also offer a variety of foods, drink and trinkets to enjoy and remind you of your visit. Be prepared to walk and climb. The roads are moderately steep, which presented a minor problem to me as a result of a foot injury I was in the process of recovering from. Steep steps were a bigger problem, and cut off direct access to the various parts of town.

There is plenty to see and enjoy. The scenery of Shenandoah and Potomac River valleys was beautiful. Hiking is possible for the able bodied.

The best way to gain access to the town is to visit the Visitor Center run by the NPS. They offer "free" shuttle buses every 15 minutes; although, it will cost you $15 to gain access to the park. There are also hiking tours to Civil War sites on the Park grounds. Of course, if you have a park pass then it truly is free!

Some of the NPS parks make it clear that veterans get discounts, but you may have to ask about that here.

Strollers can be an issue given the steep roads, stairs and crowds during peak season.

We'll go back when my foot recovers and take in some of the hikes, and places we weren't able to get too.

The Harpers Ferry area is a nice historical area where you have to walk the town instead of it being a modern town with street parking (although residents have their parking zones and public parking needs a parking pass for where the shuttle bus is or by the train depo). Some places was shut down mostly because of the pandemic which was a bummer but there’s a lot to see. It does have a lot of trails and the Appalachian trail goes through nearby

This was a great place to visit. Parking is available at the Visitors Center, and a free shuttle bus takes you to the area with attractions downtown (or you can walk, should you choose to do so). There is an entrance fee, but heads up to families with 4th graders - you can sign up through the National Parks website to get a free pass, which saved us $15. Volunteers at the visitors center were very knowledgeable and helped us decide what were "must sees."

There are several places around the town to park at no cost, but this parking had a shuttle service to the town if that parking is unavailable. The park charges an entrance fee for this parking. Be sure to check the park site for rates.

Get ready to walk, but so worth it. So much history, nice shops, churches, enough restaurants and many museums. Wax museum was interesting. The point, walk across the bridge. We walked from our hotel to Washington St (near Bolivar to the west) eastbound into town and we're glad we did, as there were lots more historical markers and sites.

Out of the way but worth visiting. Save time and park at the town rather than take the shuttle bus. Interesting exhibits - good hiking as well.

A small, historical, national park. A small parking lot in the town itself, or you can park by the visitor center and pay $20 for the shuttle (per car), free if you have the America the Beautiful NPS pass.

We spent a few hours walking around, having some snacks, climbing to the Jefferson Rock (steep stairs), and getting great pictures.

You can do as much or as little as you want, the park rangers are always happy to answer any question and their vast knowledge about every nuance is impressive, a real testament to the American public sector. There is a tour but we missed it, but from the little we overheard it was very interesting.

This is a very well-maintained and pleasant park. The town is cute and has a lot of interesting historical sites and shops/restaurants. We found the food to be better-than-average for a touristy-place and the prices WAY less than we expected. Suggest you go on the website and print out your parking pass ($20 for a car) to save time and get there REALLY EARLY if you want some of the limited and coveted downtown parking. Otherwise it's a short shuttle ride which is really no big deal. Just a really enjoyable day.

Be prepared to do a lot of walking because the town of Harpers Ferry is inside the park. When you follow the signs for parking, you may think it is a long way from the main attractions in town, but there is a free shuttle bus that runs every 15 minutes. Entrance fee is $15 per car & is good for 3 days. The town & park is full of history & reproduction buildings depicting life in the civil war era. Our first activity was climbing up to Jefferson's Rock to take in the amazing views. This trail is well maintained but is strenuous & uneven. Later we walked around town, had lunch & then crossed the pedestrian bridge that goes from WV into Maryland. I wish we had another day to explore the park. It was fabulous & we have some amazing photos to help us remember.

We enjoyed lovely town and history, but no parking for evening tour near church and not handicap friendly due to the hills and rough sidewalks.

Two Seniors visited Harpers Ferry National Historic Park on a Friday in late May 2023 and had a wonderful day. The Park Service has done an excellent job with this site from having a small Visitor Center with a huge parking lot just off Route 340 to running frequent shuttle buses down to the Lower Town to the exhibits hosted in many of the buildings. One entrance fee of $20 per car (valid for 3 consecutive days) covers all of the Park exhibits. There is an excellent short introductory film and many static exhibits ranging from the actual “John Brown’s Fort” to the detailed descriptions of the1862 battle for the town to multiple hiking trails. We have visited twice recently and participated in the 2pm Ranger walk and talks. Both were different and both were outstanding. There are restaurants available towards the upper town a short walk away from the Park and Jefferson Rock is a short and very steep climb up past the Catholic Church visible from all over the town. The Park is much more than just the story of John Brown’s raid in 1859 and well worth spending the day here.

First, bring an empty plastic bag and be prepared to take any and all of your own garbage away with you in your car when you leave. They do not provide garbage cans. They have several signs posted asking guests to do this.
We enjoyed our visit because of the natural beauty of the area, beauty of the day, and important history associated.
We did not enjoy how curt and brisk the park employees were to us and other visitors. When inside the park office. the guest in front of us asked if she could pay the $20 entrance there (no one was at the gate), the red-headed lady very stone-faced said, “Don’t give it yo me. I’m not bonded and don’t handle cash”. When I asked this same lady a few questions about the park, she gave me the feeling as though my questions were unwise and I was bothering her. I asked a park employee who was outside restocking bathroom supplies how often the shuttle bus to the town ran. He never looked at my but pointed and said, “Over there. Ten minutes I guess”. Even the bus driver was not friendly when guests said, “Hello” and “Thank you”. Are these in reality nice people who are instructed to be rude, or was it just a bad day for all 3 of them? Their lack of kind and welcoming customer service left me feeling blah about ever coming back.

This is one of our favorite NP’s!!!

So much to see and do. Places to shop, eat, learn and explore! We love it here. The views are amazing!! You could definitely spend a couple days walking the trails, the streets and everything in between. Great place for kids too!!

Having grown up hiking in Harpers Ferry, our two daughters planned an outing with the grandchildren on a gorgeous Saturday in November. We enjoyed the fall foliage and breathtaking vistas. People were wearing masks and making an effort to socially distance. We hiked through the cemetery to Jefferson rock, descended into the lower town and then to “the point” where we watched two rafting boats ride by. Walking across the train trestle added greatly to the adventure. We had a little picnic and then returned up the main street to the Appalachian Trail conference center. The children were great sports and walked most of the way! I have posted pictures of our day for all to enjoy!

One of the main reasons to come to Harper's Ferry is the rich history here. Take the time to tour buildings. If you have time, get a guided tour from one of their guides. Chris was our guide and he knew the area and history well. Learned a lot we didn't know before.

This is such a historic town with quaint buildings. It's a national park, part of national park pass. We entered early in the morning before it got packed. We paid $20 per vehicle. We parked our car and took a park shuttle to the town. It's very frequent. It avoids driving down trying to find parking. The shuttle dropped us right into town. It's a short ride. We walked around the town, checking out the old buildings. There are also shops and dining as well. We enjoyed the hike to Maryland Heights overlooking the confluence of the rivers Potomac and Shenandoah. The hike was steep and tiring but views gorgeous. Wear good hiking shoes and carry water. We enjoyed the museums and history. Definitely do the junior ranger program.

My family loved Harpers Ferry National Park! The tours were great and filled with information. The sites has amazing views! It was a lovely day as we took our time enjoying the historical walk through tour, then we had a great outdoor lunch at a restaurant in the town!

Start at the visitor's center and get the free shuttle to Harper's Ferry sites since there is limited parking. Trees were turning fall colors so we had beautiful views.

I love supporting the National Parks. Harpers Ferry has a $20 fee but that includes a roundtrip bus ride from the visitor's center to the town. If you like American history, you will love this place. For me, it filled in some blanks for the Civil War. You can visit several historic buildings and museums and if hiking is your thing, you can do that too. The Appalachian Trail even passes through the town. If you are into water sports, two rivers meet here and people were canoeing and rafting. The park pass is good for 3 days. The weirdest thing is there are NO trash cans in the town or at the visitor's center and signs to remind you of that.

Enjoyed the atmosphere and the town was friendly. Great place to explore with your dog. I wish the trail maps were easily accessible to find the trails, because the visitor center was closed. But still had a great time!!!

We have visited Harpers Ferry NP numerous times. In the very hot afternoon in June, we parked car in front of the Harper’s Ferry train station. We walked down the Bridge to the entrance of 1931 train Tunnel. Overseeing the confluence of Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. Exploring John Browns Raid against slavery.

Still by far the best hike around. If you're willing to try this challenging trek leading to a phenomenal overlook, you absolutely won't be sorry for having done so. Awesome view at the top. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the breeze, the view, and your incredible accomplishment. Be careful on the ascent, as there are plenty of switchbacks, change in terrain and surface. Make sure to bring plenty of water as well; hot and humid days will dehydrate you quickly. Highly recommend!

When you're done, return to the town across the river and explore some of the architectural gems preserved. Stop by for a bite to eat or a cool snack at one of the eateries in town.

Parking in the lot by the rail terminal or elsewhere. $20 to park and explore. Very much worth the trip.

The scenery is awesome. The exhibits are good. There are several restaurants and shops. There is a bus to take you from the visitor center to the historical area. Wear good walking shoes and be prepared for some uphill walking.

This stop was not on our schedule but we love our National Parks, came upon it on the road and decided to visit. There is a large parking lot with restrooms in a separate building from the Visitor Center. The Park Rangers were friendly and helpful. We used our Lifetime Senior Pass and got in for free. Ycan check the National Parks website for pricest

You can drive the Park on your own or take a shuttle bus on which I believe you would see more places than we did. It was spitting rain, so we drove through the beautiful old town, along the river and the old railway and through the old shops, only a few of which were open this time of year. The Ranger said they were doing an re-enactment while we were there, but unfortunately we were on a schedule so couldn't join in on that activity.

We would definitely like to come back when we have more time to explore further. The fall colors had not appeared yet, and I can only imagine how beautiful it would be when it happens. It's a big part of American History.

The old town which flourished during last century was kept in tact and the history is retold. The mansions and buildings so vibrant at that period are very remarkably maintained and preserved for our visits. The Provost Marshall's office, Gun factories, Graneries, foundaries, gun shops, uniforms of fighters, soldiers, the old church ontop, the immortal Jefferson' s Rock, etc are quite a feast to eyes and bring back the civil war period...The visit is a must to everyone who like the historical preserved city...I an very happy and proud to visit the historical place.

This was my first time visiting here. We visited on a Saturday. Parking downtown on the street was not available, therefore we had to park at the remote Harpers Ferry National Park parking lot. We took a shuttle bus back to downtown. This National historical park is located at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people. We observed the confluence of the two rivers from the observation point. See my pic and video. Here you can also 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. Many of the structures here are historical. We arrived here at noon, therefore we enjoyed lunch at the Coach House Bar N’ Grill, which I reviewed separately prior to this review.

After our lunch at the Coach House Bar N’ Grill and after walking around the town, we visited the historic active Harpers Ferry railway station, which I will also review separately next after this review. There are lots of local shops here for visiting tourists. Lots of tourists were visiting here during our visit.

We took a day trip from west of the DC beltway. It was a beautiful fall day to spend outdoors. The town itself is small, historic and in a beautiful location. You park at the Visitors Center and take the bus in to town, where there is another Visitor Center and small Museum. There is a lot of history here, mostly around the Civil War. The Appalachian Trail goes right through town, and there is some nice hiking around town as well.

This was almost a full day.. We enjoyed the history. The park rangers and volunteers were really fun and helpful. They really tried to help out with all your needs. Even the visitors were super friendly. The shuttle bus was very good. Coming on regular intervals. Thou when we got to Jefferson Rock someone was standing on it. It is people like this who will eventually make it so it will be behind a fence or have the trail closed to the public. Overall worth the visit.

Creighton was one of the best guides I’ve ever experienced! He made history come alive. Loved his sense of humor and ability to read and engage audience. Kudos!

So the park is open but you can’t park there. I don’t know why. The town is open to visiting but parking is restricted to a handful of lots creating a headache on the weekends. Overall we enjoyed walking through the park but can be a little treacherous at the battlefield park as the employees no longer maintain the trails or clean up any board or information area. The downtown area was nice as well as the river and bridge sections. But again your on your own to figure out where the sites are and you are gonna have to hoof it to get from location to location.

Every US history class I took over the years mention Harpers Ferry and John Brown. Finally visited and was not disappointed . Two rivers converge at Harpers Ferry which adds to it's beauty. Older buildings, museums, food, and shops add the the history of the city. You likely will also see people the Appalachian Trail taking a break. Well worth a stop if you are in PA.

Recommend you go early. Very limited parking in town. As you drive down the hill look left there is parking at the train depot.

There is an App the city uses for parking versus meters.

Nice, Clean, and very informative displays. Some museums were closed for renovations- bummer. Places to eat or drink. Easy organized bus ride from the visitor center. Large parking area there. Pricey for a National Park, but we get America the Beautiful pass every year as a donation to our lovely NP system, so free entrance is just a bonus.

I got here via C&O towpath, so the park not a destination as such. I enjoyed the historical exhibits in the downtown core, especially about Black history and the college.

With the huge crowds and parking, including riding a bus from a remote parking lot, I don't think I'd ever choose to drive here though. C&O towpath access is via stairway, so you either get to hoist bike and gear from landing to landing OR leave you bike locked to a rack by a public road.

Amazing little town, with lots of history. we stayed downtown in a historic hotel and walked around quite a bit. lots of buildings and places to explore. There are a few restaurants, ice cream places. shops that sell jewelry to tshirts. Parking is very difficult. You will need to park up at visitor center and ride park bus down. there is parking at train station but lot is always full.
learned alot about John Browns raid and the Civil War.

Our first visit to Harper’s Ferry will likely not be our last. We took advantage of the shuttle bus that brings you from the visitor center down to the center of the old town. It is not difficult to feel you are walking the streets of 1859 America. The building interiors and displays are very well arranged and we came away with a much better appreciation of the actions and ideals of John Brown in the broader context of the times. We highly recommend the mildly strenuous walk up to Jefferson Rock which also allows you to say you walked part of the Appalachian Trail. The maze of trails along and near the river presented good birding opportunities.

Pros:
- There’s a decent shuttle bus that will transport you from the parking lot to the town.
- There are 2 different movies to watch about Harper’s Ferry and John Brown.
- There are a few interesting buildings you can walk in with historical items shown.
- There are a fair number of restaurants.
Cons:
- It’s difficult to find parking in town, so you have to pay $20 for the car off lot with the shuttle.
- They have signs letting you know about the afternoon cannon demonstration. It didn’t happen the day we were there, so I can’t comment on that.
- There’s really nothing left of the fort. There are just a lot of placards to read. Ok, if you’re an adult, but if you have kids expecting to check out a fort, they would be bored.

Be sure to park at the visitor's center and take the bus downtown. $20 parking fee for weekday, July 6, 2023. Not real crowded. A couple of nice outdoor patio pubs to grab a cold drink and burger.

Absolutely love Harper's ferry it is a beautiful quaint town with tons of history and things to see. Walking the railroad bridge and seeing the tunnel was fantastic. Also walking along the river and the canal locks was beautiful and a nice walk. Seeing the fort,train depot, church, old town and walking all the way up to Jefferson rock was a must do. Loved stopping at the buildings and stores and checking them out. I would enjoy getting another opportunity to return to Harper's ferry

We started off at the main NPS parking, followed the trail to Harpers Ferry, up the hill to Jefferson’s Rock, the cemetery, the former HBCU Storer College, the ruins of the Hilltop hotel (and great lookout), down through Bolivar and back to the parking lot, passing by Bolivar battlefield at the end. Superb walk any time of the year. Highlight def Storer College...

Great place to visit, with amazing information about John Brown. His raid had a great effect on the times leading up to the Civil War. His attempt at slave rebellion escalated tensions that led, a year later, to the South's long-threatened secession. Lots of historical markers and good info, a few nice shops in Lower Town, and beautiful scenery with the Potomac right there. Parking/getting started was atrocious, if you can handle the shuttle ride you should go for it. The parking at the train station is impossible to get a hold of, but the parking down along the canals really isn't too far of a walk.

Great for a day or weekend trip.
Aside from the lower town, plenty of stuff to see in a covid safe environment.

My husband and I hiked to the overlook of the Maryland Heights Trail in the Harpers Ferry historic national park the weekend before the Labor Day. It took us about two hours to get to the overlook point. It’s a pleasant hike and the view was great. You can see the many people were tubing in the Potomac river from the overlook. Besides, sometimes you would came across cargo train whistles while passing by. It’s an amazing experience. We awarded ourselves by having three scripts of ice cream at the Creamy Creation. It’s just made my day.

Park at the train station for convenient, walking-distance access to the attractions in town and of course, the active rail line.
Restored buildings with the typical informative signage. Historical town for several different reasons.

We had a lovely visit here on a Friday in early Oct. We arrived around 10 AM and decided to not even try parking in Lower Town; instead, we took the park shuttle that leaves from the visitor center every ten min. or so. Honestly we never had to wait for a shuttle - not going down or coming back. They run multiples and they will sit and wait for a bit to see if others want to hop on before taking off.

The first thing we did in Lower Town was go to the Point to see the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah. A beautiful area to take pictures! We also walked across the footpath of the bridge and from there, you can continue walking on the Appalachian Trail for really as long as you want! Once back across we visited the little bookshop to get my park stamp and buy some souvenirs. We then visited some shops and climbed to get a higher viewpoint. Everything here is hilly! Be prepared to climb hills and staircases. The roads are very steep - reminded me of San Francisco.

There are many stores to go in and a handful of restaurants to pick from. We ate a pizza place that was pretty good. There is some downtown parking, but it's very limited so unless you arrive very early, I'd probably just take the park shuttle and not worry about it. There are public restrooms right next to the bookshop and in the train station (plus the visitor's center). Obviously if you eat at a restaurant you can also use theirs.

One tip I have is to also take a short walk on the trail that runs behind the shuttle stop. We didn't notice it until we were leaving. It's nice and shaded, very flat and runs along the river back there. Peaceful!

We loved the town, the Appalachian Trail, the trails, Virginus Island, and St. Peter’s church where we attended Oalm Sunday mass. It was such a wonderful weekend.

Lots of walking trails and interesting things to see. A lot of history to learn about. Super close to lots of restaurants and shops for when you are done.

Normally, there are shuttle buses to bring visitors down to Lower Town. As many folks have noted, shuttles aren’t running due to COVID-19.

The lack of shuttles make Harpers Ferry a HUGE challenge to visit if you are physically unable to walk an almost 2-mile-long trail, a portion of which was down steep, uneven stone steps. Let me be clear: this trail is dangerous for anyone not able to climb the full length up and down.

There’s no reason why Harpers Ferry can’t run shuttles socially distant, with masks, and with reduced capacity. Parking is a nightmare. On a weekend, you cannot find parking anywhere except for the $20/car Visitors Center lot, which defeats the purpose if you can’t handle the walk on the trail.

Save your visit until after COVID.

Beautiful historic area. Lots of walking to do while you learn about the Civil War. So must history. The town is so cute with lots of little shops and eateries. I suggest you go in cooler weather if you plan and walking the entire area. We enjoyed ourselves even though they were having record heatwaves of 90+. Parking is hard in town. Can park at the National Park visitor center for $20 but it’s good for 3 days.

Definitely go early, by 9am to get good parking and avoid crowds. We arrived by 8:45am and managed to park at the train station (limited number of spaces, and you pay by dropping cash off in a little slot by the entrance of the parking lot, and putting a slip of paper on your dashboard).

The view is nice, but not mind blowing, in my opinion. And there were tons of people at the lookout point by 12pm.

Food options are in historic town are a bit limited, but there are a few. Plenty of vineyards within 15-20 minutes drive from the historic town.

I've always wanted to visit West Virginia and now I have!
Harper's Ferry was cool because there is literally something for everybody!

When the water level is high there is white water rafting, but as you can see from the photos that's not in September;)

The photo of the parking lot is one of two lots the other is a mile out of town and you walk/hike in along the river, seeing the old building footprints, and then walking into the town, which is a history museum of itself.

Many of the buildings have placards out front and the insides are set up as they would have been at the height of use/popularity.

The street along the parking lot and the walk to the waterfront are both fairly level but the rest of the town is built on a steep hill so wear comfortable shoes. It's so very worth it. Vintage candy shop, WV artisan gift shops, cafes, restaurants, ice cream shop, and a general store that's frequented by hikers on their way through.

The other cool part of this town is that the Appalachian Trail, the C & O canal tow path, and another hiking trail all converge here. If you zoom in to the top right of the parking lot photo you'll see a whole bunch of hikers over looking the water!

So really there's nature, history, hiking, biking (the tow path is 186 miles and goes all the way into DC), shops, and food. What more could a person want for a cool fun day trip that's easily accessible!

Nice place to explore leisurely and walk the trails. Note to those who may be traveling with a stroller and a dog...the first time we went on a Friday morning and were lucky enough to get a parking spot at the river access lot. But the second time was a Sunday around 10 and we had to park at the visitors lot. We tried to take the lower town trail down but it is definitely NOT stroller friendly. There is a road (shoreline Dr?) That the visitor center buses take. You can walk the shoulder down to town. Dogs aren't allowed on the shuttle.