Harpers Ferry Hostel

Harpers Ferry Hostel provides budget-friendly lodging in a farmhouse at 19123 Sandy Hook Road in Knoxville, Maryland, just across the Potomac River from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Despite its Maryland address, the hostel sits within the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park boundary and directly on the Appalachian Trail corridor, making it one of the most strategically positioned budget accommodations in the Mid-Atlantic for long-distance hikers, cyclists on the C&O Canal Towpath, and visitors exploring Harpers Ferry's storied Civil War and John Brown history. The hostel is affiliated with Hostelling International USA and operates with the hallmarks of the AYH network: dormitory bunk beds in shared rooms, a fully equipped community kitchen, and modest common areas suited to the social nature of trail travel. A small number of private rooms supplement the dorm offering. Ample parking, secure bicycle storage, and trail access directly from the property serve the hostel's core constituency of active, gear-laden travelers. The Appalachian Trail crosses the Potomac River pedestrian footbridge adjacent to the Sandy Hook area, and thru-hikers use the Harpers Ferry Hostel as a traditional milestone stop — the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's national headquarters is located across the river in Harpers Ferry, making this the symbolic midpoint of many northbound thru-hikes. The C&O Canal Towpath, a flat 184-mile multi-use trail connecting Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, Maryland, passes through the Sandy Hook area and provides outstanding cycling. Day trips into Harpers Ferry's historic district, approximately 2 miles from the hostel via the river bridge, give access to the national park's preserved 19th-century commercial district, riverside overlooks, and Civil War interpretive sites.