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Antietam National Battlefield

You can start your trip at the park visitor center where you can see "Antietam Visit," which is an award-winning film shown on an hourly basis. The short film, which runs for 26 minutes, recreates the battle as well as President Abraham Lincoln's visit to the Union Commander General George B. McClellan. If you get there by noon, you can watch the one-hour documentary about the battle of Antietam, narrated by James Earl Jones. It is shown in the visitor center theater each day.

It is said that the best way to view the battlefield is the self-guided driving tour. The tour road is about 8.5 miles long with 11 stops. Walking or riding bikes through the door is encouraged, but most people usually drive. In addition to the tour, you can rent or purchase audio tapes that enhance the experience. During the summertime, Park rangers have daily scheduled talks about the battlefield.

Operating hours in the summer are from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; in the winter months, it is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.