Antietam National Battlefield
Sharpsburg, MD Hours and Location

Learn and Explore

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Our Mission

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I obtain a park entrance pass?

Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

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About this location:

National Battlefield

Operating Hours & Seasons

Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center

The visitor center is open daily 9am to 5pm. The grounds are open to drive from sunrise to sunset.

Standard Hours

• Sunday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Monday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Tuesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Wednesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Thursday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Friday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
• Saturday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM

Additional Information View More

• Christmas Day:
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• New Year’s Day:
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• Thanksgiving Day:
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Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees:

• $5.00 – Antietam National Battlefield Entrance Fee
  3 day pass – $5.00 per person (age 16 and older, 15 and under, free) This is the entry fee to the battlefield proper, museum, movie, and ranger programs.
• $10.00 – Antietam National Battlefield Entrance Fee
  3 day vehicle pass. This pass covers everyone in a vehicle, ie. family. The pass covers entry to the battlefield proper, museum, movie, and ranger programs.

Entrance Passes:

• $10.00 – Interagency Senior Pass
  Interagency Senior Pass: Valid for life. This is a lifetime pass for U.S. Citizens or permanent residents, age 62 or over. This pass provides access to, and the use of Federal recreation sites that charge an Entrance or Standard Amenity Fee*. This pass admits the pass holder and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle areas and pass holder plus 3 adults at per person fee areas.
• $0.00 – Interagency Access Pass
  Interagency Access Pass: Valid for life. This is a lifetime pass for U.S. Citizens or permanent resident with permanent disabilities. Documentation is required to obtain the pass. This pass provides access to, and use of Federal recreation sites that charge an entrance fee.
• $30.00 – Antietam National Battlefield Annual Pass
  Valid for one year from month of purchase for Antietam National Battlefield only. Admits pass holder and passengers in a single private vehicle.
• $0.00 – Interagency Military Pass
  This is a free pass to active duty military personal and their dependents. In order to qualify for the pass, the military member must present a valid Department of Defense, CAC Card. Dependents must present a valid Department of Defense ID (DD Form 1173) that identifies the dependent and his or her sponsor. Some members of the Military Reserve might not be eligible.

About

The Bloodiest One Day Battle in American History

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

Directions

Ten miles south of I-70 on Maryland Route 65

Visitor Centers

Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center

The park visitor center has a theater, exhibits, observation room, and museum store. The audiovisual program is a 26- minute orientation film narrated by James Earl Jones which is shown on the hour and the half hour. Interpretive talks are conducted daily by park rangers. During the summer season, ranger programs are expanded and scheduled more often. Check at the visitor center for a daily schedule.

Weather

The weather is fairly mild. Summers can be very warm and humid and winters cold and snowy. We have four distinct seasons with the fall and spring being the best times to visit the battlefield.

Permits and Reservations Information