Antietam National Battlefield Tours

Antietam National Battlefield Tours

Antietam National Battlefield tours are a fantastic way to reflect on the sacrifices made during our Nation’s greatest struggle.  My son had just recently learned about the bloodiest one-day battle in U.S. military history and when we saw that the Antietam Battlefield wasn’t too far from Washington D.C., we knew right away we needed to visit.

My son and I had such a great time the day before both at the Gettysburg Battlefields and just in the car talking during the trip there and back from our hotel in Arlington.  We talked about things that bothered him, we talked about things that were stressful at home, we talked about our dreams and what we’d like to do in the next few years.  We talked about a lot of real personal things.  My son is one to internalize things and so getting him to talk was a special treat for me.  We talked, we cried, and we laughed.  It was a special trip.

Naturally, visiting the Antietam Battlefield the next day felt like a good idea.  We lucked out and got to see a little re-enactment of the cannons being shot before we took our auto tour.  I had purchased an audio tour that we could play from the car’s CD player from the visitor’s center so that my son and I could listen to it while touring the battlefield in our car.  It is our favorite way to take tours of this nature.

About Antietam National Battlefield Tours

The Antietam National Battlefield tours are open year round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s days.  The Visitor’s Center is open from 9am to 4pm.

You can purchase a three day pass for $10 per individual, or $20 per vehicle.  An annual pass is $35 per person.  Children 15 years old and younger are admitted for free.  The entrance fee for motorcyclists is $15.

Commercial fees for busses are $100 for 26 or more people, $40 for 7-25 people, and $25 for 1-6 people.  Step on tour guides can be hired from the visitor’s center.  Bus driver’s are admitted for free.

Pets are allowed but must be kept on leash at all times.

Points of interest within the park are the Antietam Battlefield Clara Barton Monument, Bloody Lane, Burnside Bridge, Dunker Church, Mumma Farm, Observation Tower, Philip Pry Farm, Private Soldier Monument, Roulette Farm,  Sunken Road, the Cornfield, the East Woods, the Joseph Poffenberger Farm, the Miller Farm, the Newcomer House, the North Woods, the West Woods, and Union Advance.

The Antietam National Battlefield is located 70 miles from Washington DC at 5831 Dunker Church Road, Sharpsburg, MD 21782.  Their phone number is (301) 432-5124.

Sidenote:  This site is reader-supported.  When you purchase anything through links on this website, we may earn a small commission with no cost to you at all.  For more information, please read our full disclosure.

Summary

My son and I both enjoy checking out battlefields and historic places like that.  My son seems to be drawn to the history of the Civil War and knows a lot about the battles fought during that war.

It’s fun listening to him tell me what he knows about each site while we’re on our way to it.  And then, of course, discussing what we learned together on our tours.

This particular stop was another one where we bonded a lot.  And, much like the Gettysburg Battlefields, it was another humbling experience.

I highly recommend this stop, it’s an absolute must do at least once in your lifetime.

Have you been there?  I’d love to hear what you thought of it.

Please drop a few lines in the comments box below and let me know how your visit went.

In the meantime, safe travels!

~Kris M.

Written by Kris M.