Harpers Ferry is everything a day trip should be: cute, accessible, packed with activities, and most importantly, has lots of great food (and beer 😏). As an avid hiker, I think it’s a great jumping off point for adventures and I find myself there often. Here’s how to make the perfect day in Harpers Ferry.
Getting There
It’s a one hour drive (although you may have to park out of town and take a free shuttle). Or, take the Amtrak from Union Station. The train ride takes an hour and costs about $15. The Harpers Ferry station is an easy five-minute walk from restaurants and hikes.
First, Coffee
A little up the hill from downtown is Epigram Coffee. Do not skip it. As a coffee snob, I was blown away by the quality of their espresso drinks, not to mention homemade pastries and syrups. It’s in an adorable refurbished old stone house and I left wishing we had one in D.C. If you can’t be bothered to walk up the hill though, Battle Grounds Bakery & Coffee serves perfectly acceptable coffee and egg sandwiches that have gotten me through many a morning hike.
Walking to the trailhead in Harpers Ferry. (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)
Where To Get Outside
As the symbolic halfway point of the Appalachian Trail, Harpers Ferry is the jumping off spot for hikes of all levels. Hike to The Point where you can take in the classic three-state view of Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. You can also climb the 1810s stone steps to Jefferson Rock or cross the famous pedestrian bridge to walk along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal towpath.
Find a list of longer hikes on the National Park Service page. If you’re a climber, there is also great top roping in the area, just steer clear of the falcon nesting areas!
Where To Eat
Roll into The Rabbit Hole for a post-hike burger and beer overlooking the river. Plates are loaded high with beer battered fries and towering sandwiches. For something lighter check out Kelley Farm Kitchen, an all-vegan comfort food restaurant with tacos, burgers, ramen and oat milk soft serve. Appalachian Snail Market is my favorite for grabbing a sandwich and snacks for the road (they also have the best ice cream in Harpers Ferry). And, of course, you have to stop by Harpers Ferry Brewing on the way out for a pint.
Appalachian Snail Market in Harpers Ferry. (Kaela Cote-Stemmermann/City Cast DC)
Take a Historical Detour
A history nerd's dream, Harpers Ferry has more than 20 small-scale museums all with their own historical niche. Visit John Brown's Fort where abolitionist John Brown and several of his followers famously barricaded themselves after a raid in 1859. Learn about popular industries of Harpers Ferry at the Industry Museum. Or walk the campus of Storer College, the only school in West Virginia where any person of color could receive secondary education for over 25 years.
