2 to 3 hours (Approx.)

Mobile Ticket

Instant Confirmation

Overview

Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

Explore and understand the Antietam Battlefield with this self-guided driving tour. See where Union and Confederate lines clashed, over and over, in a desperate struggle to maintain control. Feel the poignancy of the sacrifices made on the single bloodiest day in American history during the Civil War.

After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there.

This is not an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

New, extra validity — now, it’s yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

Description

Stop At: Antietam National Battlefield, 5831 Dunker Church Rd., Sharpsburg, Maryland 21782

Antietam National Battlefield is a National Park Service-protected area along Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, Washington County, northwestern Maryland. It commemorates the American Civil War Battle of Antietam that occurred on September 17, 1862.

Note: The 19+ mile tour covers the essentials of Antietam Battlefield in 2-3 hours.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Mansfield Monument, 6118 Smoketown Rd, Keedysville, MD 21756, USA

Our drive then brings us to a monument dedicated to Major General Joseph Mansfield. Just as the battle is beginning, Mansfield leaves his untrained battalion to scout the cornfield and ascertain the situation. When he comes back, he's slumped over his horse, having suffered a mortal chest wound. His soldiers, already spooked by the fighting, are aghast. How can they hope to survive without their commander?

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: West Woods Trail, W Woods Trail, Maryland 21782, USA

Our next stop is the West Woods. By now, the Union has a clear upper hand, but the battle is far from over. 5,000 Union soldiers charge into this forest, hoping to repeat the easy victory their comrades found in the East Woods. But Confederate cannons are waiting atop a nearby ridge. The guns rain hellfire on the Union, turning a siple advance into a desperate, life or death struggle.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Mumma Farm and Cemetery, 5923 Mumma Ln, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, USA

Keep driving until you see the Mumma farmstead. As Confederate troops retreat past this point, they light the place on fire so the Union can't use it for cover. The Mumma family had already fled, but they'll come home later to find nothing but ashes.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Irish Brigade Monument, Keedysville, MD 21756, USA

Next, we'll arrive at the Irish Brigade monument, which honors the Irish Americans who fought at the Bloody Lane. Many of them made the ultimate sacrifice for their country right here. Then, we'll hear about the importance of this battle, and how everything hinges on a Union victory.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Piper Farm, Piper Farm, 5537 Sharpsburg Pike, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, USA

Continue driving until you reach Piper Farm. While the fighting rages across the battlefield, Confederate generals use this farm as their headquarters, planning each attack, each defensive line, looking for a way to emerge victorious.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Burnside's Bridge (Lower Bridge), 18125 Old Burnside Bridge Rd, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, USA

Our drive takes us next to Burnside Bridge, where another wildly unbalanced struggle is taking place. 13,000 Union soldiers try to take the bridge while a mere 500 Confederates try to hold them back. But the Union men are sitting ducks trying to cross the bridge. Bodies pile up on the bridge as the Confederates mount a fierce defense.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Monument to William McKinley - Antietam, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, USA

Next, we'll arrive at the McKinley Monument, which honors the future 25th President of the United States, and recalls a story of the boy's odd brand of heroism following the brutal struggle on the bridge.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Burnside Bridge, Union Advance Trail, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, USA

Fun fact! Sideburns are named after General Burnside. Once you look at his portrait, there’s really no need to guess why!

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Final Attack Trail, Final Attack Trail, Maryland 21782, USA

Next, we'll arrive near the site from which the Union forces assemble and launch their final attack against the Confederate lines, which by now have been forced to fall back repeatedly. We will watch the tumult of battle and gunfire, hear the beating of drums and the war cries, and, finally, see what is left after the dust clears.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Hawkins’ Zouaves Monument, Harpers Ferry Rd, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, USA

This optional detour takes us to a monument honoring the 9th New York Infantry, who almost broke through the final Confederate line in an attack which could have changed the rest of the war--but didn't quite succeed.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Tolson's Chapel and School, 111 E High St, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, USA

Another detour takes us to Tolson Chapel, built by Black Americans just one year after the war ended.

Duration: 5 minutes

Stop At: Good-Reilly House, 107 E Main St, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, USA

Our next optional stop is Piper House, one of Sharpsburg’s oldest houses. It gives us a glimpse into what the town was like even before the Civil War put it on the map.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Mount Calvary Lutheran Cemetery, 200-208 MD-34, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, USA

This detour brings us to the Mount Calvary Lutheran Cemetery, which dates all the way back to 1768. During the battle, Confederates used the now-demolished church next to this cemetery to send orders and information to troops across the battlefield. And afterward, the Union used the same church as a field hospital!

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Antietam National Cemetery, Antietam National Cemetery, 320 E Main St, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, USA

The final optional stop is the Antietam National Cemetery, where the remains of 4,776 Union soldiers rest alongside about 200 dead from the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.

Duration: 10 minutes

Schedule

What's Included

What To Bring

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and an instructions email. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular
How to start the tour: Once onsite, open the Action's Tour Guide App: • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If there are multiple tour versions, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Amazing savings: • Driving Tours: Save money by purchasing a single tour for the entire vehicle, avoiding individual fees per person like on a bus tour. Connect your phone to the car speakers to share the audio.
Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It's perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.