Late visits to Appomattox Court House and Harpers Ferry National Parks?
 

Hi all,

I'm planning a trip to the Virginia area and am hoping to get in visits to Appomattox and Harpers Ferry (on different days). My current itinerary has us getting to each place around 4 pm. I've read on the NPS site that the Appomattox vistor's center closes at 5 and Harpers Ferry also closes at 5.

I'm wondering if an hour is enough time to visit these places? Also, can one still stroll the grounds after 5 and it's just the buildings themselves that would be locked up then?

Answers appreciated!

We visited Harpers ferry in 2006 and the visitor centre is on the top of the hill were you leave by bus down to the town.(no cars allowed).It was raining cats and dogs.But the place is really very interesting.It's always good to be prepared so read up on the history of the place to get the most of your visit.Paul

Even though it is discouraged, you can drive to Harper's Ferry. I did and parked in the train station parking lot which was very convenient to the historical sites. And yes, you can walk around after 5.

I think an hour would be much less time than you would want at Appomattox. I am sure you have seen that the park web site recommends a visit of 3 to 4 hours. I don't know how quickly the grounds close after the center and buildings close. There is a 45 minute pod cast tour on the web site that might work for you.

I am sure that bus that takes you back to the visitor center in Harper's Ferry leaves the little town of Harper's Ferry at 5:00pm However, I agree with the above poster, we drove thru the town and could not find a parking spot and that is why we ended up in the park at the visitor center. If you can find a parking spot, you could stay as late as you want. We walked to where two rivers join (showing my ignorance here, don't remember the names of the rivers) then walked to a little restaurant with outside uppper deck seating for lunch but I am sure that it would also be open for dinner.

Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.

If you are going in May or June, there will be plenty of daylight to explore the parks. For Harper's Ferry, take the park service bus down, check things and then take the last one back to the VC and get your car. If there is more you want to explore perhaps you could park somewhere above the town but closer than the VC and return to finish exploring on foot. I would expect the park service buildings to be closed but some of the commercial places may be open.

For Appomattox, spend as much time in the McClain house and the other buildings while they are open and then explore the grounds. I'm not sure about Appomattox, but most of the national parks keep the grounds open until sunset.

If you don't have a national park pass, you might want to get one. If you are 62 it costs $10, is good for a lifetime and lets all in your car into all parks for free. If you are too young, it is more, maybe $80, is good for a year and also lets all in the car free.

Thanks tovarich!!!

Thanks for the replies. I think we'll chance trying to fit in as much as possible in the hour the buildings are open and just stroll around after the closings. Thanks also for the info on the Harpers Ferry parking. Very helpful!

Isn't there another part of town with a few little streets of antique and souvenir type stores? Anyone know where it is in relation to the National Park area?
I don't recall if its right in Harpers Ferry or maybe we saw it on the way in or out. It also had little cafes with outdoor upper deck seating.

Part of Harper's Ferry is in the Park and part isn't, so there are shops, restaurants, train station, etc. along side the Park.

My favorite activities at the national parks are always the ranger tours which you will probably miss in the last hr of the day. The rangers are extremely knowledgeable and add so much to the experience. I would ck the websites and call them if needed to find out their programming schedule. When the buildings close...esp at Appomattox Court House, you will lose all the explanations of the history that occurred there.