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Before you go
Your trip to Harpers Ferry.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Harpers Ferry – West Virginia Destination Shenandoah and Harpers Ferry
How to get there
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Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) 55 km
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Harpers Ferry Station 1 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
Long‑distance trains and, on weekdays, Washington regional trains stop at Harpers Ferry station in the lower town. By car, take US‑340; it is about 55 km from IAD airport and 100 km from Washington.
How many days
One day for the lower town, Jefferson Rock viewpoint and a short hike; two days to include the Maryland Heights trail or a bike ride along the canal.
When to go
From spring through fall. In October the slopes turn colorful. In summer there are tubing and kayaking trips on the rivers. In winter some lower‑town museums reduce their hours.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Help getting there is useful, but the lower town is explored on foot. Parking is at the park visitor center, with shuttle buses to town; parking spots in the lower town are few.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Harpers Ferry
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Morning
Lower town
Park at the visitor center, take the shuttle to the lower town and visit the park museums, the firehouse where John Brown fought, and the 19th‑century streets.
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Afternoon
Jefferson Rock and Maryland Heights
Climb the stone steps up to Jefferson Rock and, if you have the energy, cross the footbridge and take the Maryland Heights trail to the viewpoint.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Harpers Ferry?
Walk the lower town in the national historical park, climb Jefferson Rock, hike Maryland Heights, walk or bike along the C&O Canal, and float or kayak the rivers.
How to get from Washington to Harpers Ferry by train?
By long‑distance trains or, on weekdays, regional trains that depart Union Station; the trip takes about an hour and a half.
Harpers Ferry is in which state?
In West Virginia, at the meeting point with the borders of Virginia and Maryland, across the rivers.
What time zone is Harpers Ferry in?
Harpers Ferry follows Eastern Time: UTC‑5 in winter and UTC‑4 in daylight saving time, from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.