Antietam National Battlefield
Park Civil War battlefield commemorating the bloodiest single day
Antietam National Battlefield preserves the 1862 battlefields near Sharpsburg, Maryland, with interpretive trails, monuments and a visitor center. People visit to walk the preserved lines, study monuments and learn about the bloodiest single-day battle in American history.
Antietam National Battlefield preserves the site of the Civil War engagement fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland. The battle is known as the single bloodiest day in American military history.
The park contains a visitor center with exhibits and a self-guided driving tour that connects monuments, monuments, and the principal landmarks such as Burnside Bridge and the Sunken Road. Interpretive markers and short trails provide access to key points of fighting.
Union and Confederate forces clashed at Antietam as General Robert E. Lee’s Maryland Campaign culminated in a day of intense combat that halted Lee’s northward advance. The outcome influenced President Abraham Lincoln’s decision-making on emancipation and military policy.
The battlefield lies near the town of Sharpsburg in western Maryland along the Antietam Creek, managed as a National Park Service unit and accessible from regional highways.
- Battle Date and Distinction: The Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17, 1862, and is recorded as the bloodiest single-day battle in American history.
- Visitor Access: The battlefield is preserved with marked routes and short walking trails that lead to major engagement points and monuments.
What to See #
- Key Battlefield Landmarks: Burnside Bridge, Dunker Church, and the Sunken Road are prominent on-site features tied to key moments of the September 17, 1862 battle.
- Visitor Center and Driving Tour: A visitors center provides battlefield orientation, interpretive exhibits, and a driving tour that links principal engagement sites.
How to Get to Antietam National Battlefield #
Antietam National Battlefield is near Sharpsburg, Maryland. The site is readily reached by car from nearby Hagerstown (about a 15-20 minute drive) and from the Washington, D.C. area in roughly 1.5-2 hours (depending on route and traffic). Access to the battlefield and visitor center is from US‑340 and Maryland routes (such as MD‑65).
There is limited public transit directly to the battlefield; most visitors arrive by car and the park provides parking at the visitor center.
Tips for Visiting Antietam National Battlefield #
- Begin at the Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center to pick up a map and the auto-tour instructions, then drive the numbered stops early in the morning to avoid tour-bus crowds.
- Visit Burnside Bridge and the surrounding creek area before mid-morning when guided groups tend to arrive, and carve out time for smaller interpretive stops like the Pry House-those quieter sites are often rushed.
Best Time to Visit Antietam National Battlefield #
Spring and fall offer the best weather for walking the battlefield and interpretive trails; avoid midday summer heat.
Weather & Climate near Antietam National Battlefield #
Antietam National Battlefield's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -6°C to 30°C. Moderate rainfall (986 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 4°C and lows of -6°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm).
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February
February is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -5°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm).
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March
March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 0°C. Regular rainfall (84 mm).
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April
April is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 4°C. Regular rainfall (84 mm).
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May
May is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 10°C. The wettest month with 100 mm of rain.
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June
June is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 15°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm).
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 30°C and lows of 18°C. Regular rainfall (91 mm).
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August
August is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm).
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September
September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 13°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm).
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October
October is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (80 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 2°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm).
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December
December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (71 mm).
