EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

Harpers Ferry makes a popular excursion from Washington DC, served by several trains daily on the Maryland Rail Commuter network (tel 1-800/325-7245), and by one daily Amtrak service, which arrives at 5.15pm, en route to Chicago. Greyhound, however, comes no closer than Frederick, Maryland.

If you want to spend the night , the century-old Hilltop House Hotel and Restaurant on Ridge Street (tel 304/535-2132 or 1-800/338-8319, ; $50-75) may be showing its age, but still has reasonable prices and good views, while amiable B&Bs are sprinkled throughout the surrounding region, including Harpers Ferry Guest House , 800 Washington St (tel 304/535-6955, ; $75-100); nearby budget motels include the Comfort Inn on US-340 (tel 304/535-6391 or 1-800/228-5150; $50-75). The HI-Harpers Ferry Lodge , a couple of miles east at 19123 Sandy Hook Rd in Knoxville, MD (tel 301/834-7652, ; closed Nov-March; up to $35), has dorm beds from $14, and its own campground; there's plenty more camping along the Potomac River in the C&O Canal Historic Park. The park's visitor center has further details, as does the Jefferson County tourist bureau (tel 304/535-2627 or 1-800/848-TOUR), across US-340. As for eating , old-style cafés line High Street up from the historic area - both the Mountain House Café (tel 304/535-2339) and the Garden of Food (tel 304/535-2202) are good and relatively inexpensive.