Shepherdstown
Shepherdstown, WV
One of the oldest towns in the state, set on a bluff above the Potomac with a lively main street of cafes and bookshops. Park on the edge of town and walk down to the river towpath for a quiet stretch of shoreline.
Shepherdstown shares with Romney the title of oldest town in West Virginia; both were chartered on December 23, 1762. In 1734 Thomas Shepherd received about 90 hectares (222 acres) and laid out the settlement of Mecklenburg on 20 hectares (50 acres) of it. Springs and the Town Run attracted craftsmen, and about 1,000 people lived here by 1775. On December 3, 1787, James Rumsey tested his steamboat on the Potomac. In the 1790s the first newspaper and the first book in what is now West Virginia were published in Shepherdstown.
On September 20, 1862, after the Battle of Antietam, the engagement at Boteler's Ford followed. Today the town, with about 1,500 residents, also lives from Shepherd University (founded in 1871 as Shepherd College). Allow two to three hours for a stroll through the town center; it is best to park on the edge and walk.
- Nearest town
- Shepherdstown, WV
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 39.4326, -77.8036
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Harpers Ferry CampgroundCampsite7 mi from ShepherdstownTentsCaravansWaste disposal
- Greenbrier State Park - Dogwood CampgroundCampsite12 mi from ShepherdstownTentsCaravansWaste disposal
- Greenbrier State Park - Cedar CampgroundCampsite12 mi from Shepherdstown · 40 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityWaste disposal
- Greenbrier State Park - Birch CampgroundCampsite12 mi from ShepherdstownTentsCaravansWaste disposal
- Greenbrier State Park - Ash CampgroundCampsite12 mi from ShepherdstownTentsCaravansWaste disposal
- Brunswick Family CampgroundCampsite13 mi from ShepherdstownTentsCaravansShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
All campsites in West Virginia · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Shepherdstown?
Shepherdstown is in Shepherdstown, WV, at GPS 39.4326, -77.8036. It is about 8 mi from Harpers Ferry.
Can you camp near Shepherdstown?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Antietam Creek Campsite, about 3 mi away; within 25 mi there are 42 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Shepherdstown?
Places worth a stop nearby: Antietam National Battlefield (4 mi), Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (9 mi), Fort Frederick State Park (16 mi) and Cunningham Falls State Park (22 mi).
When is the best time to visit Shepherdstown?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)