Harpers Ferry is one of the few small historical towns in the mid-Atlantic accessible by train. MARC commuter rail operates daily service from Washington DC's Union Station and from Martinsburg, West Virginia; the Harpers Ferry station is a handsome old stone building right in the lower town. The journey from Washington takes about 90 minutes. Amtrak's Capitol Limited (Chicago-Washington) also stops here, making it reachable from Chicago without a car.
By car, Harpers Ferry is on US Route 340 at the junction of West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland, about 120 kilometers west of Washington. Parking is at the main visitor center on the edge of town, with a frequent shuttle bus to the historic district. US 340 coming from the east involves a dramatic crossing of the Potomac River with views over the confluence.