Antietam National Battlefield | PICNIC AREAS

Picnic table under a wooden canopy at Antietam National Battlefield

Picnic table under a wooden canopy at Antietam National Battlefield

Picnicking with your own blanket or on the bare ground is allowed anywhere at Antietam National Battlefield except at Antietam National Cemetery, the Mumma Cemetery, the Observation Tower, Dunker Church, Burnside Bridge, or near park monuments. If you want access to a picnic table, they can be found in the following locations:

MAIN PICNIC AREA

The main picnic area at Antietam National Battlefield is located on Shepherdstown Pike east of Rodman Avenue and west of the Newcomer House. It is really not much of a picnic area, and you certainly won’t want to hold any events here. The spot is marked on the park brochure, but there are no signs along the road identifying it.

When I visited, the picnic area was in pretty poor condition with four dilapidated tables on cement pads, one of which was under a wooden canopy (actually, the one under the canopy is in decent shape). There are no grills. These tables look so old that I wouldn’t be surprised if they were here during the Battle of Antietam. You may well be eating at a table that General Lee himself ate at. The grass may be cut by the time you visit, but it’s anyone’s guess as to if and when the tables will ever be upgraded.

Dilapidated picnic table at the Antietam National Battlefield picnic area on Shepherdstown Pike

Dilapidated picnic table at the Antietam National Battlefield picnic area on Shepherdstown Pike

MUMMA FARM

There are two picnic tables situated under shade trees at the Mumma Farm. There are no grills.

Shaded picnic table at the Mumma Farm, Antietam National Battlefield

Shaded picnic table at the Mumma Farm, Antietam National Battlefield

NEWCOMBER HOUSE

There are a couple picnic tables on the grounds of the Newcomer House.

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Last updated on May 18, 2023
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