Reservable Campgrounds

 
C&O Canal Guide by Milepost

NPS Photo

Want to spend a night under the stars at the C&O Canal? Then you've come to the right place! The C&O Canal is a 184.5 mile long linear park stretching between Washington, DC, and Cumberland, Maryland. It is about a 4 hour drive end to end.

The park offers two different types of campsites: Primitive Campsites for hikers and bikers, and Reservable Campgrounds for individuals and groups. There are no RV hookups in the park. Read more below to find out which type of campsite will work best for you.

Private accommodations are available in many canal towns or stay in a refurbished lockhouse operated by the C&O Canal Trust.

Download the Recreational Guide by Milepost (pdf).

Well Water

Well water is generally available in across the park from mid-April (around the 15th) to mid-November (around the 15th).

Starting in spring 2023, the well water in hiker-biker campsites will be signed non-potable. Water from wells at paid campgrounds will remain potable and safe for drinking, cooking, or washing.

To ensure that there is a more reliable water source for visitors in the park and due to testing and treatment requirements and current staffing levels, the park is only able to maintain potable water a targeted number of wells in fee campgrounds. Visitors will need to bring their own water supply or water sanitizing equipment to treat well water before use. The wells will remain in the hiker-biker campsites and, as long as visitors bring their own sanitization equipment, there will be a more reliable water source as handles will not be removed from these wells.

Drive-In Campgrounds: Well water within the drive-in campgrounds is potable and treated with iodine - do NOT drink if you have any iodine allergies or if you are on medication for an overactive thyroid. In general, well water is clean and able to be used without additional treatment. However, as a general precaution for wells located in a flood zone, you are advised to boil or treat the water before use for your own protection.

Hiker-Biker Campsites: Non-potable water is available in hiker-biker campsites. Please plan to filter, chemically treat, or boil the water before use for your own protection. The wells will remain in the hiker-biker campsites and, as long as visitors bring their own sanitization equipment, there will be a more reliable water source as handles will not be removed from these wells.

Visitor Centers, park buildings, and comfort stations are provided water by the nearby municipality and do not require drinking water sampling by the park. Please note that the Swains Lock campsite draws on the same municipal water as the Swains Lockhouse and will remain potable. 

Water availability is subject to change. Always bring plenty of water with you as a backup option. Please plan your trip accordingly.

 

Drive-In Campgrounds

  • By reservation only. Make a reservation.
  • Stay is limited to 14 days between May 1 and October 1. Stay is limited to a total of 30 days for the entire calendar year.
  • No RV Hookups.
  • Trailer length may not exceed 20 feet.
  • All sites have: chemical toilet, picnic table, firepit, and well water.
  • Well water within the drive-in campgrounds is potable and treated with iodine - do NOT drink if you have any iodine allergies or if you are on medication for an overactive thyroid. In general, well water is clean and able to be used without additional treatment. However, as a general precaution for wells located in a flood zone, you are advised to boil or treat the water before use for your own protection. Water is turned off from mid-November to mid-April each year.
  • Antietam Creek and Paw Paw have adjacent parking, but visitors cannot park at the actual campsite. Visitors may not park and sleep in recreational vehicles in these parking areas.
  • Limit eight people per site.
 
 

Group Campgrounds

  • Reservation only, www.recreation.gov.

  • No RV Hookups.
  • Trailer length may not exceed 20 feet.
  • Campsites are equipped with grills, chemical toilets, and water.
  • Stay is limited to 14 days between May 1 and October 1. Stay is limited to a total of 30 days for the entire calendar year.
  • $40 per site per night during peak season, and $20 during non-peak season.
  • Groups with more than eight people need to use the group campsites or register for more than one site in the campground.

 

Reserve your Group Campsite

 

Camping Regulations

  • Camp only in designated sites.
  • No overnight permits required for vehicles in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal parking lots. The National Park Service is not responsible for cars or their contents; do not store valuables in cars.
  • This is a trash free park; take all trash away.
  • Quiet hours: 10 pm and 6 am
  • Pets must be leashed at all times.
  • Bring only kiln fired or dried wood into the park; it may also be collected from grounded dead material in park and used in campgrounds only, do not remove wood. Bring handsaws to cut to size.
  • Fires restricted to grills and fire rings provided or portable grills positioned off the ground. Coals must be extinguished and removed from the park.
  • Single campsites at drive in campgrounds allow a maximum of two tents and eight people.
  • Hiker-Biker campsites can fix a maximum of five to ten tents, depending on the campsite. Please refer to signage at the campsite for specific details.
  • Do not tie ropes to trees and structures.
  • The use of hammocks at the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal NHP is permitted at designated hiker-biker campsites and within campgrounds where reservations are required. If attaching to trees, hammocks must have straps that are at least one inch wide. Plastic zip cords, nails or screws are not permitted for the purpose of anchoring a hammock.
  • Do not wash dishes, bathe, or clean fish near wells.
  • Draining or dumping refuse from trailers or other vehicles is prohibited.

Last updated: December 13, 2023

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

142 W. Potomac St.
Williamsport, MD 21795

Phone:

301-739-4200

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