Antietam Creek Campsite

The site was poorly maintained and it appeared people were living there vice camping.

The site was poorly maintained and it appeared people were living there vice camping.

This campsite is located very conveniently between Sharpsburg/Antietam battlefield and Shepherdstown W. VA. It is bordered by the creek on one side and remnants of the C&O canal on the other. If approaching by Road, the only access is via a footbridge that crosses the canal from the road near campsite 8, which also happens to be near the latrines. Accordingly, I would recommend a campsite in the middle of the cluster to avoid carrying your gear very far. (This is not so much an issue for bikepackers as the towpath/bike trail runs the length of the campsite on the campsite side of the canal).

In early June, there are bullfrogs in the canal, but traffic along the road was light. You also heard occasional trains about a mile away. I did not find any water access, so you must bring your own.

At Sharpsburg, the Bloody Lane trail is quite good and interesting for kids as it passes a cow field and through wheat fields at the right time of year. The tower makes a beautiful scene. Shepardstown is quaint, with a few good places to eat and a Food Lion to stock on things you forgot. Sharpsburg has a great ice cream parlor--the medium cup gives you about a pint for $2.65 (2021 prices).

This campsite is located very conveniently between Sharpsburg/Antietam battlefield and Shepherdstown W. VA. It is bordered by the creek on one side and remnants of the C&O canal on the other. If approaching by Road, the only access is via a footbridge that crosses the canal from the road near campsite 8, which also happens to be near the latrines. Accordingly, I would recommend a campsite in the middle of the cluster to avoid carrying your gear very far. (This is not so much an issue for bikepackers as the towpath/bike trail runs the length of the campsite on the campsite side of the canal).

In early June, there are bullfrogs in the canal, but traffic along the road was light. You also heard occasional trains about a mile away. I did not find any water access, so you must bring your own.

At Sharpsburg, the Bloody Lane trail is quite good and interesting for kids as it passes a cow field and through wheat fields at the right time of year. The tower makes a beautiful scene. Shepardstown is quaint, with a few good places to eat and a Food Lion to stock on things you forgot. Sharpsburg has a great ice cream parlor--the medium cup gives you about a pint for $2.65 (2021 prices).

Nice campsite. Good tent spot. Great history nearby, and Shepherdstown across the river has a great downtown. Only downside: our grill had a hole rusted out of the bottom.

Nice campsite. Good tent spot. Great history nearby, and Shepherdstown across the river has a great downtown. Only downside: our grill had a hole rusted out of the bottom.

My girlfriend and I reserved campsite 9. When we got here, someone had already set up in our spot. They hurried and put out their fire and rushed into the tent and we never saw them for the rest of the night. We never got to stay at our site that night. People can be so rude!

The campsites are very nice and very pretty. A long paved path runs alongside the sites, so you can walk a long ways and enjoy the area. The only thing I'll say is that the camp manager site, is right across the road from the sites and they have a huge, very bright lampost, that stays on all night. So if you want the experience of actually camping in the dark, and not having a light shine in your eyes/into your tent, choose a site at either end of the row. The middle ones all get drenched in that light.

My girlfriend and I reserved campsite 9. When we got here, someone had already set up in our spot. They hurried and put out their fire and rushed into the tent and we never saw them for the rest of the night. We never got to stay at our site that night. People can be so rude!

The campsites are very nice and very pretty. A long paved path runs alongside the sites, so you can walk a long ways and enjoy the area. The only thing I'll say is that the camp manager site, is right across the road from the sites and they have a huge, very bright lampost, that stays on all night. So if you want the experience of actually camping in the dark, and not having a light shine in your eyes/into your tent, choose a site at either end of the row. The middle ones all get drenched in that light.