NPS · Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park · Williamsport, MD

Antietam Creek Campsite

The Antietam Creek Campground is located at Mile 69.4 on the C&O Canal Towpath, a few miles south of Shepherdstown on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. The campsites are nestled in the woods between the Canal and the Potomac River and they are a short distance from many recreational opportunities. Fishing, boating and hiking are but a few possibilities while staying at Antietam Creek Campground. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

Reservable · Recreation.gov20 sitesPets okFires okTents only

More like this: reservable in Maryland · tent only in Maryland · pets allowed in Maryland

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Antietam AqueductPotomac River near Antietam CreekVault Toilet and Campsite in backgroundTowpath near Antietam Creek
Photos courtesy of Steve Dean, NPS Photo (Monica Larcom) · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Tent-only20
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

20 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
001PartialRiverfront8 / –YesStandard
002PartialRiverfront8 / –YesStandard
003PartialRiverfront8 / –YesStandard
004PartialRiverfront8 / –YesStandard
005PartialRiverfront8 / –YesStandard
006PartialRiverfront8 / –YesStandard
007PartialRiverfront8 / –YesStandard
008PartialRiverfront8 / –YesStandard
009PartialRiverfront8 / –YesStandard
010PartialRiverfront8 / –YesStandard

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

The campground has 20 single campsites each with a picnic table, fire ring and grill. Each campsite will accommodate up to eight campers. Protected pit toilets are located between campsite #6 and campsite #7 adjacent to the towpath. A second set of chemical toilets are available down the towpath. Potable water is along the towpath at pumps (may not be available during cold winter months). No vehicular traffic is allowed on the towpath and access to the campsites is by foot only. Parking is allowed on the shoulder of Canal Rd only.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Antietam Creek Campsite30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 3.13 inches of precipitationFebruary: 2.41 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.72 inches of precipitationApril: 3.60 inches of precipitationMay: 4.57 inches of precipitationJune: 4.16 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.28 inches of precipitationAugust: 3.27 inches of precipitationSeptember: 4.40 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.41 inches of precipitationNovember: 3.08 inches of precipitationDecember: 3.46 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 31.2°F averageFebruary: 33.6°F averageMarch: 40.7°F averageApril: 51.7°F averageMay: 61.2°F averageJune: 70.1°F averageJuly: 74.2°F averageAugust: 72.9°F averageSeptember: 65.9°F averageOctober: 54.4°F averageNovember: 43.9°F averageDecember: 35.1°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Sharpsburg 5 S, 2 miles from the campground at 400 feet, station USC00188207 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 43 inches a year.

Getting there

From Hagerstown MD: Take MD-65 to Sharpsburg. Make a right on Main St. then left on Harpers Ferry Road for a few miles. Before you cross the Antietam Creek bridge, make a right on Canal Rd. Campsites are across the canal and towpath from Canal Rd. From West Virginia: Take WV-480 through Shepherdstown across the Potomac River.

Nearest townWilliamsport, Maryland
Coordinates39.4191° N, 77.7465° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearHarper's Ferry General Store ↗6.6 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗7.3 mi
RV sales & serviceRV sales & service ↗19.8 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Solo Camping at the Antietam Campground, MD

Worth a stop

Antietam National Battlefield, South Mountain State Park and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park all provide additional hiking and history adventures specifically about the Civil War Era.

Natural features

Antietam Creek Campground is just south of Sharpsburg, MD. Antietam Creek is a typically mild and slow moving creek which feeds into the much larger and faster Potomac River directly adjacent to the campsite. River rise and floods can modify conditions quickly here.

Recreation

Popular activities at Antietam Creek include boating and fishing. Kayaking the creek and surrounding areas, the scenery changes at various times of the year. Nearby boat ramps at Dargan Bend and Snyders Landing provide motor boat access to the river. Fishing is also a popular pastime in both the watered sections of the C&O Canal the Potomac River. Be sure to acquire a Maryland Fishing License for those age 16 or older. West Virginia Licenses are approved for fishing in the Potomac only.

Guidebooks for Maryland

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Antietam Creek Campsite?

Sites at Antietam Creek Campsite are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Antietam Creek Campsite?

Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Antietam Creek Campsite have?

20 sites, including 20 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Antietam Creek Campsite?

Antietam Creek Campsite is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Antietam Creek Campsite?

Yes, pets are allowed at Antietam Creek Campsite. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Antietam Creek Campsite?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Antietam Creek Campsite?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Antietam Creek Campsite?

Popular activities at Antietam Creek include boating and fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Antietam Creek Campsite?

Williamsport, Maryland. Antietam National Battlefield, South Mountain State Park and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park all provide additional hiking and history adventures specifically about the Civil War Era.

Source: Getting there

What if Antietam Creek Campsite is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Rohrbach Group Campground (3.8 mi), Killiansburg Cave Hiker-Biker Campsite (3.9 mi, first-come), and Horseshoe Bend Hiker-Biker Campsite (4.9 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby

Which national park is Antietam Creek Campsite in?

Antietam Creek Campsite is a Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.

Source: Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park