Closure
Closures: Detours; Towpath; Points of Interest
Multiple items are closed due to hazardous conditions or maintenance. See below for more details.
Posted or updated May 26, 2026 ·Details on nps.gov
National Historical Park
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia. The NPS currently lists 4 active alerts (1 closure), 37 campgrounds and 5 visitor centers; entrance fees start at $10.
District of ColumbiaMarylandWest Virginia National Historical Park America the Beautiful pass accepted
Updated · NPS Data API
About the 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.”
Active alerts
4
Closures
1
Campgrounds
37
Visitor centers
5
Current alerts and closures
4 active NPS alerts as of Oct 28, 2026: 1 closure, 0 danger, 2 caution and 1 information.
Caution
DC Water Sewer Overflow
DC Water is managing a sanitary sewer overflow from the Potomac Interceptor near Lock 10. Anyone with questions or in need of support can reach out to DC Water’s 24-Hour Command Center at (202) 612-3400 or visit https://www.dcwater.com/about-dc-water/media/potomac-interceptor-collapse.
Posted or updated Mar 1, 2026 ·Details on nps.gov
Caution
Hiking in Gold Mine Tract
Visitors are restricted to the designated trails within the Gold Mine Tract in the Great Falls area. This location is generally defined as that area bordered by MacArthur Boulevard and Berma Road and depicted on the Great Falls Maryland Hiking Map.
Posted or updated Mar 26, 2024 ·Details on nps.gov
Information
Equestrian Traffic Temporarily Prohibited - Mile 124.5 to 155
Horses are prohibited between Little Tonoloway (mile 124.5) and Paw Paw (mile 155) due to recent and ongoing towpath resurfacing. See more for details.
Posted or updated Jan 7, 2026 ·Details on nps.gov
Entrance fees and passes
The C&O Canal NHP is free to visit except the Great Falls Tavern area in Potomac, MD. Entrance passes for the Great Falls Tavern area of C&O Canal in Maryland are valid at Great Falls Park in Virginia.
| Fee | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $20 | 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… Buy online |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $15 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers to the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal… Buy online |
| Entrance - Per Person | $10 | Pass is for one person 16 years of age or older — entering on foot or by bicycle — and is valid at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal… Buy online |
| Entrance - Non-commercial Groups | $100 | Includes church groups, college/school groups, scouts, service organizations, military, etc... |
| Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach | $100 | The commercial pass is valid for date of purchase plus six days at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the… |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $40 | The commercial pass is valid for date of purchase plus six days at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the… |
| Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus | $40 | The commercial pass is valid for date of purchase plus six days at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the… |
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $25 | The commercial pass is valid for date of purchase plus six days at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the… |
| Pass | Cost | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Entrance - Park | $35 | Recreation.gov |
The interagency America the Beautiful pass is accepted here. This park is cashless — bring a card or buy your pass online. Fee details on nps.gov
Things to do
Explore the Georgetown Waterfront
Explore the Georgetown Waterfront and imagine the changes the space has gone through.
60-160 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed
Hike Along the Towpath Through the Paw Paw Tunnel
Walk through the 3,118-foot Paw Paw Tunnel, a significant engineering feature along Mile 155 of the C&O Canal towpath.
1-2 Minutes Pets allowed
Multi-Park Loop
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!
Year-round Pets allowed
See all 11 things to do in Chesapeake & Ohio Canal →
Activities the NPS lists for Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.
BikingRoad BikingBoatingBoat TourCampingCar or Front Country CampingGroup CampingFishingFreshwater FishingGuided ToursHikingFront-Country HikingHorse TrekkingHorseback RidingIce SkatingPaddlingJunior Ranger ProgramSkiingCross-Country SkiingSnowshoeingWildlife WatchingBirdwatchingShopping
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Operating hours
The towpath is open 365 days a year.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Tuesday | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Wednesday | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Thursday | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Friday | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Saturday | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Sunday | Sunrise to Sunset |
Weather: 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.
Contact and directions
- Phone
- 301-739-4200
- [email protected]
- Address
- 142 W. Potomac St., Williamsport, MD 21795
- Coordinates
- 39.0003, -77.2481· View on OpenStreetMap
Visitor centers
| Visitor center | Standard hours | Phone | Passport stamp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick Visitor Center | Mon Closed · Tue Closed · Wed Closed · Thu Closed · Fri Closed · Sat 10:00AM - 4:00PM · Sun 1:00PM - 4:00PM | 301-834-7100 | Yes |
| Cumberland Visitor Center | Mon Closed · Tue Closed · Wed 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Thu 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Fri 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Sat 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Sun 9:00AM - 4:00PM | 301-739-4200 | Yes |
| Georgetown Visitor Center | Mon Closed · Tue Closed · Wed 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Thu 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Fri 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Sat 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Sun 9:00AM - 4:00PM | 301-739-4200 | Yes |
| Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center | Mon Closed · Tue Closed · Wed 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Thu 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Fri 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Sat 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Sun 9:00AM - 4:00PM | 301-739-4200 | Yes |
| Williamsport Visitor Center | Mon Closed · Tue Closed · Wed 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Thu 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Fri 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Sat 9:00AM - 4:00PM · Sun 9:00AM - 4:00PM | 301-739-4200 | Yes |
Campgrounds
| Campground | Total sites | Reservable | First-come | RVs | Fee | Reserve |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antietam Creek Campground | 20 | 20 | 0 | No | $20 | Recreation.gov |
| Bald Eagle Island Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Big Woods Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Cacapon Junction Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Calico Rocks Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Chisel Branch Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Cumberland Valley Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Devils Alley Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Evitts Creek Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Fifteenmile Creek Campground | 10 | 10 | 0 | No | $40 | Recreation.gov |
| Horsepen Branch Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Horseshoe Bend Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Huckleberry Hill Hiker-Biker Campsite | 0 | 0 | 0 | No | Free | — |
| Indian Flats Hiker-Biker Campsite | 0 | 0 | 0 | No | Free | — |
| Indigo Neck Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Irons Mountain Hiker-Biker Campsite | 0 | 0 | 0 | No | Free | — |
| Jordan Junction Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Killiansburg Cave Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Leopards Mill Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Licking Creek Hiker-Biker Campsite | 0 | 0 | 0 | No | Free | — |
| Little Pool Hiker-Biker Campsite | 0 | 0 | 0 | No | Free | — |
| Marble Quarry Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Marsden Tract Group Campground | 6 | 6 | 0 | No | $40 | Recreation.gov |
| Mccoys Ferry Campground | 13 | 13 | 0 | No | $40 | Recreation.gov |
| North Mountain Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Opequon Junction Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Paw Paw Tunnel Campground | 10 | 10 | 0 | No | $20 | Recreation.gov |
| Pigmans Ferry Hiker-Biker Campsite | 0 | 0 | 0 | No | Free | — |
| Potomac Forks Hiker-Biker Campsite | 0 | 0 | 0 | No | Free | — |
| Purslane Run Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Sorrel Ridge Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Spring Gap Campground | 14 | 14 | 0 | No | $40 | Recreation.gov |
| Stickpile Hill Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campsite | 5 | 0 | 5 | No | Free | — |
| Town Creek Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| Turtle Run Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
| White Rock Hiker-Biker Campsite | 1 | 0 | 1 | No | Free | — |
Site counts and fees are from the NPS campground data. Fees show the first listed rate; availability is not shown here — check the reservation site.
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Nearest other NPS sites
Sources
- Park details, alerts, fees and passes, visitor centers and campgrounds: National Park Service Data API, snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.
- Official park page: https://www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm
- Data: National Park Service (NPS) Data API, U.S. Department of the Interior (developer.nps.gov). This product uses the NPS Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the National Park Service. The National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior do not endorse OpenParks. Photos are NPS images shown with their original credits; park descriptions are short excerpts credited to the NPS. Always confirm current conditions on nps.gov before you travel.