Antietam National Battlefield is located in Sharpsburg, Maryland, USA. It lies between the Potomac River and South Mountain and is situated in western Maryland. The park is famous for being the site of the Battle of Antietam during the American Civil War, known as the bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history.
Antietam National Battlefield Location Map, Sharpsburg, Maryland
Maryland Related Maps and Info
Top Attractions Inside Antietam National Battlefield
- Burnside Bridge – Historic bridge site of a key Civil War battle crossing.
- Sunken Road (“Bloody Lane”) – Iconic battlefield trench site with interpretive markers.
- Antietam National Cemetery – Cemetery honoring soldiers who fell during the battle, with a visitor center nearby.
- Observation Tower – Provides panoramic views of the battlefield and surrounding landscape.
- Visitor Center & Museum – Offers exhibits, maps, and educational films about the battle and its significance.
- Burnside’s Advance Trail – Walking trail highlighting troop movements and key engagement points.
- Shepherdstown Pike Area – Area showing artillery positions and strategic roads used during the battle.
Antietam National Battlefield Facts
| Official Name | Antietam National Battlefield |
| Location | Sharpsburg / Washington County, Maryland, USA — along Antietam Creek and surrounding farmland |
| Latitude & Longitude (approx.) | ≈ 39.4690° N, 77.7410° W (central Sharpsburg area / battlefield reference) |
| Total Area | ≈ 3,230 acres (≈ 1,307 hectares) :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} |
| Established / Designated | August 30, 1890 (as a national military site) :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3} |
| Managed By | United States National Park Service (NPS) :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} |
| Historic Significance | Site of the Battle of Antietam (Sept 17, 1862) — the bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history, which ended the first invasion of the North by the Confederacy and provided the context for the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7} |
| Main Features & Landmarks | Historic battlefield farmland, preserved combat locations (e.g. Burnside's Bridge, Bloody Lane / Sunken Road, Miller's Cornfield, Dunker Church, wooded areas like West Woods), national cemetery, monuments, interpretive markers & tablets. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12} |
| Landscape & Geography | Rolling farmland & gentle hills of the Maryland Piedmont / Great Valley physiographic region; Antietam Creek runs through part of the park; mix of open fields, creek floodplain, and small forested areas — landscape remains largely similar to 1862 setting. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13} |
| Visitor Facilities & Amenities | Visitor center & museum, paved tour-road / auto-tour route through battlefield, interpretive & historic markers, walking/hiking to major landmarks, parking & access roads from Sharpsburg, informational material & guided tours (seasonal) :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14} |
| Significance / Why Visit | One of the best-preserved Civil War battlefields in the U.S.; offers immersive historic context & landscape nearly unchanged since 1862; important site for understanding U.S. history, Civil War, and the struggle over slavery and union — a place of memory, reflection, and education. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15} |
Distances from Antietam National Battlefield to Nearby Landmarks
- Sharpsburg, MD – 2 km (1.2 mi)
- Hagerstown, MD – 13 km (8 mi)
- Boonsboro, MD – 8 km (5 mi)
- Shepherdstown, WV – 10 km (6.2 mi)
- Frederick, MD – 40 km (25 mi)
- Williamsport, MD – 20 km (12.4 mi)
- Harper’s Ferry, WV – 35 km (21.7 mi)
- Leesburg, VA – 85 km (52.8 mi)
- Washington, DC – 110 km (68 mi)
- Gettysburg National Military Park, PA – 55 km (34 mi)
- Chambersburg, PA – 55 km (34 mi)
- Martinsburg, WV – 25 km (15.5 mi)
- Antietam Creek – 1 km (0.6 mi)
- C&O Canal National Historical Park – 20 km (12.4 mi)
- Boonsboro Historic District – 8 km (5 mi)
- South Mountain State Battlefield – 5 km (3.1 mi)
- Appalachian Trail (nearest access) – 3 km (1.9 mi)
- Washington County Museum of Fine Arts – 13 km (8 mi)
- Hager House – 14 km (8.7 mi)
- Antietam National Cemetery – 2 km (1.2 mi)
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