Antietam National Cemetery

302 E Main St, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, USA

Address:	302 E Main St, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, USA
Phone:	+1 301-432-5124
Site:	nps.gov
Rating:	4.7
Working:	9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 9

Jason Boothe

The little brother to Gettysburg is often overshadowed and overlooked but is well worth it. The park sits just outside of Sharpsburg, just a bit south of I-70 and a bit east of I-81, signage off of both and on the roads leading clearly marked. So getting to it from either DC or Baltimore isnt much of a hassle. Parking looks like it could be an issue on days where they could be really busy, but for the sunday afternoon i went, with perfect weather, i didnt have any issues finding a space. The main parking area sits just outside of the visitors center, which i cant say much on being i have yet to step a foot in it. Right from the get your within spitting distance of several monuments and battlefield sites. But dont let this fool you, this park is expansive. I would recommend getting a map from visitor center. The main tour is a self guided auto tour, youll see the blue markers around the roadways. Dont stay in your car the whole time ,get out and explore the sites and monuments. There are also a number of trails that run though the park, many of which are interconnected. Most will run you though parts of the battlefield, while others (like the farm trails) will take you more into the wilderness areas along Antietam Creek. Speaking of the wilderness, dont think Antietam is all about the battle. This is a great spot for enjoying nature in Western Maryland. The views from many of the high points of the park into the surrounding areas are stunning. On top of it, there is a lot, and i mean a lot of wildlife to observe. A number of species of butterflies pass through or are residents of the parks. Not uncommon to see dear or rabbit as well. Also a number of bird species, all of which the Park Service can help you out in identifying. But the most ubiquitous furry creature is the groundhog, and you will see many of them in the summer. If you see a big hole in the ground somewhere, its more than likely a groundhog burrow. One of the big things i like about Antietam as opposed to Gettysburg is that the area surrounding it isnt significantly developed. Not a number of hotels, resorts, shops, and related things. The area has kept its small town, Western Maryland, rural character. With that, i would also recommend checking out the small (and i do mean small) town of Sharpsburg if you have a chance, its right adjacent to the park. The town is quaint and small with a couple of shops and taverns on the main drags. Your also not to far away from Shepherdstown, Boonsboro, Williamsport, and Hagerstown (it being the largest of the communities).

Paul Bartow

I absolutely loved Antietam. After having read much about this in school, it was a pleasure to be able to see the single bloodiest day of battle in the Western Hemisphere. As part of Robert E Lees Peninsular Campaign, it is extremely significant and the NPS does a great job interpreting the battle in its larger historical context. You can do a driving tour of the park, and I would recommend making several stops along the road. You will probably need around 2 hours to see the park at a modest pace, but can do it in a short a time as 45 minutes if you move quickly. Be sure to see The Bloody Lane, where the most vicious fighting occurred. The area is scenic, beautiful, and heavily adorned with historical monuments and markers. There is also a great tower where you can get a great vantage point of the entire battlefield. The battlefield is a brief drive away from Harpers Ferry, another great sight to see.

Matt H.

This quiet and remote battlefield – a monument to the sacrifices made in a war that now seems so distant – is highly recommended as a place to visit for anyone with an interest in American history. The park is beautifully maintained and there is clear respect for what happened here. Historical information abounds; signs, statues, and relics all tell the tale. One can spend a day hiking the trails amid the mix of forest and open farmland with the blue mountains of western Maryland rolling away into the distance; or, stop by the visitor’s center on the north end of the park to see a historical movie, talk with rangers, and gain a better perspective on what happened here. About the only recommendation I have is to improve the signage that directs people to the visitor’s center when approaching from the east (Boonsboro); when coming from that direction, the visitor’s center was tricky to find.

Michel Vaudroz

Ce site nest pas plus intéressant que les autres champs de grandes bataille. Toutefois, comme les Nordistes ont remporté la bataille, Lincoln a pu saisir cette occasion pour déclarer que lesclavage serait désormais totalement aboli. Antietam est donc un lieu important qui mérite le détour.

Robert Andrews

Took a day trip here from DC after seeing the movie "Lincoln" and starting on a Civil War kick. There is so much history in the DC area and I hope to see much more. Antietam is a fascinating and very sad place to visit. Hard to imagine that in this now bucolic place such an awful tragedy took place. The movie is very informative at the visitor center and we did the self-guided auto tour through the battlefield which was a great way to see the area. Did not do a ranger tour because of our schedule but I am sure that would be great, as they were very helpful in the visitor center.

Jim Reamer

I was here 3 or 4 years ago. It was an excellent trip. While I was familiar with the battle, I hadnt studied it. Still, I could understand the layout pretty well. Since then I have read more about the day and Im anxious to return to give it another look. It is a huge area, there were really three separate battles that were fought during the day. The scale makes it all difficult to absorb, but the separateness of the fights, north, south, and central, helps to get your head around it. If you are interested in the Civil War, this is a must see battlefield, in my opinion.

Rick paton

A must visit for anyone interested in American history. It has the size and impact of Gettysburg without the large crowds. An incredibly important battle in the war, the field has been wonderfully maintained and recreated. The area is also stunning in its beauty with the quaint little town of Sharpsburg nearby. Camp along the Potomac at Antietam Creek Campgrounds for an immersive realistic experience. The campsite is a few minutes drive from the battle and is located only a few yards from where the Confederate Army crossed the river prior to the battle.

David Thompson

Very well marked tour through the battlefield. The Visitor Center is near the Dunker Church, and the marked tour takes you chronologically through the battle, from the Cornfield-Dunker Church area, past the Sunken Road, and around to Burnsides Bridge. Just being there gave me a new appreciation, for instance, of what the men in the Sunken Road must have felt like, looking up that slope, or how Burnsides men must have felt having to go past the embankment at the end of that bridge.

RNMorton

Nice clean park, the driving tour is off the main roads, everyone was nice at the main office. Only complaint was the CD that came with the field book sort of babbled about other stuff and didnt really focus on what happened at the spot you were at, so Im still not quite sure how and why the battle developed as it did. I would give it a big ole 5 if it had a Gettysburg-quality auto CD.