Camping, trails, maps & photo credits — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
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.
Camping & reservations
The booking button opens the official provider or park-specific camping instructions published by the NPS. Select the named campground and verify its dates, access and site rules.
Antietam Creek Campground ↗
Mile 69.4 (Washington County, MD) - The campground has 20 single campsites each with a picnic table, fire ring and grill. Each campsite will accommodate up to eight campers. Pit toilets are located between campsite #6 and campsite #7 adjacent to the towpath. A second set of chemical toilets are available down the towpath. Potable water is along the towpath at pumps (available mid-April to mid-November). No vehicular traffic is allowed on the towpath and access to the campsites is by foot only.
Reservations: April 15 - November 15 (Peak Season): $20/night; November 16 - April 14 (Non-Peak Season): $10/night
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
Fires: Fires are permitted only in established fire rings. Please ensure that your fire is extinguished completely each time you leave the area. The cutting or defacing of any live growth is strictly prohibited. Kiln fired or dried wood may be brought into the park. Fallen dead timber in the park may be used for on-site firewood. Bring handsaws to cut fallen wood. Chainsaws are prohibited. Park Rangers…
Bald Eagle Island Hiker-Biker Campsite ↗
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 one night. All sites include a chemical toilet, picnic table, grill, and water. Please Note: Water at hiker-biker campsites is non-potable. Water is not treated and not for drinking or cooking. If you use this water, you are advised to filter, chemically treat, or boil before use. Water is turned off from mid-November to mid-April each year.
Reservations: First-come, first served
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: N/A Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: No Roads.
Fires: Fires are restricted to the grills and fire rings provided or to portable grills positioned off the ground. Coals must be extinguished and removed from the park. Firewood may be collected from dead material on the ground but for use in campgrounds only. Do not remove wood from the campground. Firewood cannot be brought into the park.
Big Woods Hiker-Biker Campsite ↗
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 one night. All sites include a chemical toilet, picnic table, grill, and water. Please Note: Water at hiker-biker campsites is non-potable. Water is not treated and not for drinking or cooking. If you use this water, you are advised to filter, chemically treat, or boil before use. Water is turned off from mid-November to mid-April each year.
Reservations: First come, first served.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: N/A Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: No Roads.
Fires: Fires are restricted to the grills and fire rings provided or to portable grills positioned off the ground. Coals must be extinguished and removed from the park. Firewood may be collected from dead material on the ground but for use in campgrounds only. Do not remove wood from the campground. Firewood cannot be brought into the park.
Cacapon Junction Hiker-Biker Campsite ↗
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 to one night. All sites include a chemical toilet, picnic table, grill, and water. Please Note: Water at hiker-biker campsites is non-potable. Water is not treated and not for drinking or cooking. If you use this water, you are advised to filter, chemically treat, or boil before use. Water is turned off from mid-November to mid-April each year.
Reservations: First come, first served
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: N/A Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: No Roads.
Fires: Fires are restricted to the grills and fire rings provided or to portable grills positioned off the ground. Firewood may be collected from dead material on the ground but for use in campgrounds only. Do not remove wood from the campground. Firewood cannot be brought into the park.
Truck-camping & permitted overnight use
The listed hiker-biker sites do not have vehicle access. Confirm the rules for the particular developed campground before bringing a truck camper or RV; trail access does not authorize vehicle camping.
Backcountry camping and vehicle camping require park-specific authorization; National Park Service land is not generally open to unrestricted roadside camping. Confirm designated sites, permits and food-storage rules with this unit.
Activities, hiking & trails
Hiking, Front-Country Hiking. Official activities and trail-planning information ↗
NPS-listed recreation: Biking, Road Biking, Boating, Boat Tour, Camping, Car or Front Country Camping, Group Camping, Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, Guided Tours, Boat Tour, Hiking, Front-Country Hiking, Horse Trekking, Horseback Riding, Ice Skating, Paddling, Junior Ranger Program, Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching, Shopping.
Maps & road access
Use the official NPS directions and current alerts. Check vehicle restrictions and campground approach roads before traveling.
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. Official directions / site access ↗
Before you travel
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.
Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. National Park Service official information ↗
Photograph sources & licensing
Banner: Towpath along Lush Canal
Towpath along Lush Canal
Credit: NPS. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Second large photograph: Paw Paw Tunnel
Paw Paw Tunnel
Credit: NPS. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.