National Historical Park

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Mid-Atlantic

About Chesapeake & Ohio Canal

Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures.

From the National Park Service.

Region: Mid-Atlantic
States: District of Columbia, Maryland and West Virginia
Designation: National Historical Park
Entrance fee: $20, private vehicle

Trail data for this park is still being added.
Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.

Entrance fees

$20 Private Vehicle Pass is for one private, non-commercial vehicle — passenger cars, pickup trucks, RVs and vans — and is valid at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River and Great Falls Park on th…
$15 Motorcycle
$10 Per Person
$100 Non-commercial Groups

Passes

$35 Annual Entrance - Park

Hours

C&O Canal Towpath

Mon: Sunrise to Sunset
Tue: Sunrise to Sunset
Wed: Sunrise to Sunset
Thu: Sunrise to Sunset
Fri: Sunrise to Sunset
Sat: Sunrise to Sunset
Sun: Sunrise to Sunset

The towpath is open 365 days a year.

Weather and when to go

The Washington, DC, area has a four-season Mid-Atlantic climate. Summertime is warm and humid, while winter can be cold and snowy. Precipitation averages 2-4” monthly, year-round. The climate gradually gets cooler and wetter further west along the canal where the elevation is higher.

Getting there

The park has numerous access points. There is no main entrance. In Washington, DC, the C&O Canal begins at mile 0 in Georgetown near 29th St NW, south of M St, and runs alongside Canal Rd to the west. The entrance to Great Falls Tavern area is at MacArthur Blvd and Falls Rd in Potomac, MD. Park Headquarters and the Cushwa Basin Visitor Center are in Williamsport, MD off I-81 at exit 2. The Cumberland Terminus Visitor Center and mile 184.5 are off I-68 at exit 43C. See the maps page for more.

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address: 142 W. Potomac St., Williamsport, MD 21795
Phone: (301) 739-4200
Email: CHOH_Information@nps.gov
Official site: nps.gov/choh

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Chesapeake & Ohio Canal

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Things to do in Chesapeake & Ohio Canal

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

Multi-Park Loop

Hiking · about 2 hours

Park your car and stretch your legs! Visit four different National Parks in Washington, DC and begin logging miles on seven different National Historic or National Scenic trails!
Skiing and Snowshoeing the C&O Canal Towpath

Snowshoeing · about 45 min

During the winter months, the C&O Canal may accumulate enough snow for winter activities like skiing and snowshoeing. Visitors can step out onto the towpath and enjoy a short or m…
Take the Scenic Route on the Potomac Heritage Trail

Self-Guided Tours - Walking · about 3.3 hours

There are many places to access the Potomac Heritage Trail, including many connector trails from county parks.
Wildlife Watching - Oldtown C&O Canal

Wildlife Watching · about 2.7 hours

Head down the C&O Canal NHP towpath in Oldtown, Maryland into a rare ecosystem mirroring that of the West. Spot a variety of wildlife and dragonfly species in this secluded hotspo…
Take a Boat Ride on the Canal

Boat Tour · about 1 hour

Today, visitors can enjoy life on the canal during a free replica canal launch boat program at Williamsport. During the late 19th and early 20th century, 30-foot battery and steam…
Hike Along the Towpath Through the Paw Paw Tunnel

Hiking · about 15 min

Walk through the 3,118-foot Paw Paw Tunnel, a significant engineering feature along Mile 155 of the C&O Canal towpath.
Explore the C&O Canal Williamsport Visitors Center

Self-Guided Tours - Walking · about 35 min

Visit the Williamsport Visitor Center at Cushwa Basin for information about the Canal and the surrounding area, sites including an aqueduct, rail lift-bridge, lockhouse, and opera…
Explore the Georgetown Waterfront

Self-Guided Tours - Walking · about 1.6 hours

Explore the Georgetown Waterfront and imagine the changes the space has gone through.
Explore the Trolley Barn at Cushwa Basin

Museum Exhibits · about 30 min

The trolley barn is located across the parking lot from the Cushwa Building. In 1896, the first trolley line in Washington County, Maryland was built running from Williamsport to…

Campgrounds in Chesapeake & Ohio Canal

Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.

Bald Eagle Island Hiker-Biker Campsite

1 first-come site

Mile 50.3 - Hiker-biker campgrounds are located along the towpath approximately every 5-7 miles. No fee or reservation required. Overnight stays are limited to…
Big Woods Hiker-Biker Campsite

1 first-come site

Mile 82.7 - Hiker-biker campgrounds are located along the towpath approximately every 5-7 miles. No fee or reservation required. Overnight stays are limited to…
Calico Rocks Hiker-Biker Campsite

1 first-come site

Mile 47.6 - Hiker-biker campgrounds are located along the towpath approximately every 5-7 miles. No fee or reservation required. Overnight stays are limited to…
Cacapon Junction Hiker-Biker Campsite

1 first-come site

Mile 133.6 - Hiker-biker campgrounds are located along the towpath approximately every 5-7 miles. No fee or reservation required. Overnight stays are limited t…
Chisel Branch Hiker-Biker Campsite

1 first-come site

Mile 30.5 - Hiker-biker campgrounds are located along the towpath approximately every 5-7 miles. No fee or reservation required. Overnight stays are limited to…
Cumberland Valley Hiker-Biker Campsite

1 first-come site

Mile 95.2 - Hiker-biker campgrounds are located along the towpath approximately every 5-7 miles. No fee or reservation required. Overnight stays are limited to…
Devils Alley Hiker-Biker Campsite

1 first-come site

Mile 144.5 - Hiker-biker campgrounds are located along the towpath approximately every 5-7 miles. No fee or reservation required. Overnight stays are limited t…
Evitts Creek Hiker-Biker Campsite

1 first-come site

Mile 180.1 - Hiker-biker campgrounds are located along the towpath approximately every 5-7 miles. No fee or reservation required. Overnight stays are limited t…
Horsepen Branch Hiker-Biker Campsite

1 first-come site

Mile 26.1 - Hiker-biker campgrounds are located along the towpath approximately every 5-7 miles. No fee or reservation required. Overnight stays are limited to…
Irons Mountain Hiker-Biker Campsite

Mile 175.3 - Hiker-biker campgrounds are located along the towpath approximately every 5-7 miles. No fee or reservation required. Overnight stays are limited t…
Horseshoe Bend Hiker-Biker Campsite

1 first-come site

Mile 79.2 - Hiker-biker campgrounds are located along the towpath approximately every 5-7 miles. No fee or reservation required. Overnight stays are limited to…
Huckleberry Hill Hiker-Biker Campsite

Mile 62.0 - Hiker-biker campgrounds are located along the towpath approximately every 5-7 miles. No fee or reservation required. Overnight stays are limited to…