National Historical Park · District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia

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.

About under an hour from Washington and 1 hours from Baltimore by car.

$20 per vehicle Open · Sunrise to Sunset Cashless park 37 campgrounds 5 visitor centers

Photos: National Park Service

4alerts
active

Closures: Detours; Towpath; Points of Interest

DC Water Sewer Overflow · Hiking in Gold Mine Tract · Equestrian Traffic Temporarily Prohibited - Mile 124.5 to 155

All 4 alerts ↓

Alerts

Closure
Closures: Detours; Towpath; Points of Interest
Multiple items are closed due to hazardous conditions or maintenance. See below for more details.
NPS ↗
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.
NPS ↗
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.
NPS ↗
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.
NPS ↗

Fees & passes

Type	Covers	Cost
Private VehiclePass 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 the Virginia side of the Potomac River.	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 the Virginia side of the Potomac River.	$20
MotorcycleValid 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 National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River and at Great Falls Park on the Virginia side of the Potomac River.	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 National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River and at Great Falls Park on the Virginia side of the Potomac River.	$15
Per PersonPass 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 National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River and at Great Falls Park on the Virginia side of the Potomac River.	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 National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River and at Great Falls Park on the Virginia side of the Potomac River.	$10
Non-commercial GroupsIncludes church groups, college/school groups, scouts, service organizations, military, etc... Vehicles with passenger capacity of fewer than 16 persons, $20 for the vehicle. Vehicles with a passenger capacity of 16 or more persons, $10 per person age 16 and over. Removal of seats from a vehicle does not then qualify for the lower rate.	Includes church groups, college/school groups, scouts, service organizations, military, etc... Vehicles with passenger capacity of fewer than 16 persons, $20 for the vehicle. Vehicles with a passenger capacity of 16 or more persons, $10 per person age 16 and over. Removal of seats from a vehicle does not then qualify for the lower rate.	$100
Commercial tours · by vehicle capacity
Motor CoachThe 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 Maryland side of the Potomac River. Please note that fees are based on vehicle capacity and not actual occupants.	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 Maryland side of the Potomac River. Please note that fees are based on vehicle capacity and not actual occupants.	$100
VanThe 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 Maryland side of the Potomac River. Please note that fees are based on vehicle capacity and not actual occupants.	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 Maryland side of the Potomac River. Please note that fees are based on vehicle capacity and not actual occupants.	$40
Mini-busThe 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 Maryland side of the Potomac River. Please note that fees are based on vehicle capacity and not actual occupants.	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 Maryland side of the Potomac River. Please note that fees are based on vehicle capacity and not actual occupants.	$40
SedanThe 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 Maryland side of the Potomac River. Please note that fees are based on vehicle capacity and not actual occupants.	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 Maryland side of the Potomac River. Please note that fees are based on vehicle capacity and not actual occupants.	$25
Passes
Annual Entrance - ParkValid for one full year from the month of purchase. Permits access to the Great Falls area of the C&O Canal National Historical Park in Maryland and Great Falls Park in Virginia. The annual pass allows entrance for the pass holder and additional passengers in a single private non-commercial vehicle, or pass holder plus three adults when entering on foot or bicycle	Valid for one full year from the month of purchase. Permits access to the Great Falls area of the C&O Canal National Historical Park in Maryland and Great Falls Park in Virginia. The annual pass allows entrance for the pass holder and additional passengers in a single private non-commercial vehicle, or pass holder plus three adults when entering on foot or bicycle	$35

From the park

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.

Buy the $80 America the Beautiful pass, not this park's $35 annual pass, unless this is the only park you will see all year. It covers entrance at every federal site for 12 months. Compare the passes

Hours

C&O Canal Towpath

Daily · Sunrise to Sunset

When to go

Month by month, 1979 to 2025 →

September draws the most visits here and February the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.

Bars are the average recreation visits in each month over 2021 to 2025. The line is the average temperature at Vienna, 8 miles from the park's reference point at 418 feet, station USC00448737 in the NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals. The lower panel is monthly rain and snow from the same station, also 1991 to 2020 averages.

See every month and year since 1979.

Campgrounds

Bald Eagle Island Hiker-Biker Campsite	First-come · Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Big Woods Hiker-Biker Campsite	First-come · Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Calico Rocks Hiker-Biker Campsite	First-come · Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Cacapon Junction Hiker-Biker Campsite	First-come · Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Chisel Branch Hiker-Biker Campsite	First-come · Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come

Show all 37 campgrounds

Cumberland Valley Hiker-Biker Campsite	First-come · Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Devils Alley Hiker-Biker Campsite	First-come · Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Evitts Creek Hiker-Biker Campsite	First-come · Potable water · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Horsepen Branch Hiker-Biker Campsite	First-come · Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Irons Mountain Hiker-Biker Campsite	First-come · Potable water · Cell reception	Campsite Atlas →
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November.
Horseshoe Bend Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Huckleberry Hill Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water	·
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November.
Indian Flats Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Cell reception	·
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November.
Indigo Neck Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Killiansburg Cave Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Marble Quarry Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Pigmans Ferry Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Cell reception	·
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November.
Potomac Forks Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Cell reception	·
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November.
Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	5 sites
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 5 first-come
Turtle Run Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Jordan Junction Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Little Pool Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water	·
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November.
Licking Creek Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Cell reception	·
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November.
Leopards Mill Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Opequon Junction Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
North Mountain Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Purslane Run Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Stickpile Hill Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Sorrel Ridge Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Town Creek Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come
Antietam Creek Campground	Reservable · Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	20 sites
Peak Season: April 15 - November 15 \|\| Non-Peak Season: November 16 - April 14 · 20 reservable
Fifteenmile Creek Campground	Reservable · Vault toilets · Potable water · RV friendly	10 sites
$20 a night · Peak Season: April 15 - November 15 \|\| Non-Peak Season: November 16 - April 14 · 10 reservable
Marsden Tract Group Campground	Reservable · Potable water · Tent sites	6 sites
Peak Season: April 15 - November 15 \|\| Non-Peak Season: November 16 - April 14 · 6 reservable
Mccoys Ferry Campground	Reservable · Potable water · RV friendly · Cell reception	13 sites
$40 a night · Peak Season: April 15 - November 15 \|\| Non-Peak Season: November 16 - April 14 · 13 reservable
Paw Paw Tunnel Campground	Reservable · Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	10 sites
Peak Season: April 15 - November 15 \|\| Non-Peak Season: November 16 - April 14 · 10 reservable
Spring Gap Campground	Reservable · Potable water · RV friendly · Cell reception	14 sites
$40 a night · Peak Season: April 15 - November 15 \|\| Non-Peak Season: November 16 - April 14 · 14 reservable
White Rock Hiker-Biker Campsite	Potable water · Tent sites · Cell reception	1 site
Campground is open year-round. Water is generally available from mid-April to mid-November. · 1 first-come

Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works

Visitor centers

Brunswick Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
The Brunswick Visitor Center is located just off the C&O Canal towpath at mile 55 in Frederick County, MD. The visitor center shares a building with the Brunswick Heritage Museum. For over a century Brunswick has been a railroad town.
Cumberland Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
The Cumberland Terminus Visitor Center is located at mile 184.5 along the C&O Canal towpath in Allegany County, MD. Located in the Western Maryland Railway station, the visitor center features a spacious exhibit area full of interactive displays about the history of the C&O Canal and Cumberland.
Georgetown Visitor Center ↗
The Georgetown Visitor Center is located at mile 0.4 along the C&O Canal towpath in Washington, DC. Information about the National Park Service in Georgetown can be found at the Old Stone House (Rock Creek Park), located at 3051 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007.
Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
The Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center is located at mile 14.3 (Lock 20) along the C&O Canal towpath in Potomac, MD.
Williamsport Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
The Cushwa Basin Visitor Center in Williamsport is located at mile 99.8 along the C&O Canal towpath in Washington County, MD. Situated at the confluence of the Conococheague Creek and the Potomac River, Williamsport was first settled in 1740.

At a glance

States: District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia
Designation: National Historical Park
Coordinates: 39.0003° N, 77.2481° W
Campgrounds: 37
Visitor centers: 5
Visitors (2025): 4,579,704
Phone: (301) 739-4200

Cell signal

Verizon: 5G (fast)
AT&T: 5G (fast)
T-Mobile: 5G (fast)

Outdoor coverage as modeled by carriers in FCC filings as of 2025-12-31, at the park's reference point and its campgrounds. Terrain and trees change everything. This product uses FCC APIs and/or Data but is not endorsed or certified by the FCC.

Official links

All 11 links

Sister site

Campgrounds at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Every campground on federal land, whether it takes reservations or is first come.

Open Campsite Atlas →

Sister site

Patuxent Research Refuge

Every national wildlife refuge, wilderness area, national forest and BLM monument.

Open Wilderness Atlas →

Built from official data and refreshed daily. This site is independent and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. Confirm anything critical on the official park page before you travel. How the data is built

Explore

Things to do

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!
Opens on the Park Service site
Skiing and Snowshoeing the C&O Canal Towpath
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 multi-mile journey along the historic canal
Opens on the Park Service site
Take the Scenic Route on the Potomac Heritage Trail1-8 Hours
There are many places to access the Potomac Heritage Trail, including many connector trails from county parks.
Opens on the Park Service site
Wildlife Watching - Oldtown C&O Canal2-4 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 hotspot.
Opens on the Park Service site
Take a Boat Ride on the Canal1-1 Hours
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 powered launch boats traveled the canal for leisure and business.
Opens on the Park Service site
Hike Along the Towpath Through the Paw Paw Tunnel1-2 Minutes
Walk through the 3,118-foot Paw Paw Tunnel, a significant engineering feature along Mile 155 of the C&O Canal towpath.
Opens on the Park Service site

Show all 11

Bike the C&O Canal Towpath3-5 Days
By bicycle or on foot, try a short day trip or travel the entire 184.5-mile length of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath.
Opens on the Park Service site
Explore the C&O Canal Williamsport Visitors Center20-60 Minutes
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 operable locks.
Opens on the Park Service site
Explore the Georgetown Waterfront60-160 Minutes
Explore the Georgetown Waterfront and imagine the changes the space has gone through.
Opens on the Park Service site
Explore the Trolley Barn at Cushwa Basin15-60 Minutes
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 Hagerstown.
Opens on the Park Service site
Paddle the Middle Potomac2-4 Days
Paddle from Potoma (sic) Wayside, at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, or another launch site and take out at Algonkian Regional Park or Riverbend Park (both Virginia side).
Opens on the Park Service site

Films

C&O Canal Tour (Video) · 5.1 min · on NPS.gov ↗

C&O Canal Olympics: Recreate Responsibly · 1.4 min · on NPS.gov ↗

National Park Service productions, public domain.

Events

Guided Tours of Riley's Lockhouse10/17
01:00 PM · runs through Dec 12 · free
Fossil Day @ Cushwa Basin10/17
10:00 AM · free
Four Locks Walking Tour10/17
10:30 AM · free
Four Locks boat ramp parking lot is located near Clear Springs, Maryland.
Lockhouse 44 - Williamsport10/18
01:30 PM · free
Lock 44 is located 1/2 mile downstream from Cushwa Basin Visitor Center.
Sun Astronomy at Great Falls10/24
02:00 PM · free
Abner Cloud House Tour11/01
12:00 PM · runs through Dec 6 · free
4940 Canal Rd NW, Washington, DC 20007

Map

Interactive map by the National Park Service

Historic landmarks nearby

All District of Columbia landmarks on Register Atlas →

National Historic Landmark · 6 mi

Clara Barton National Historic Site

Glen EchoOpen to visit

National Historic Landmark · 9 mi

Benjamin Banneker: Sw 9 Intermediate Boundary Stone

ArlingtonOpen to visit

National Historic Landmark · 10 mi

Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory

Gaithersburg

National Historic Landmark · 11 mi

Healy Building, Georgetown University

Built 1877Open to visit

Public land nearby

All of it on Wilderness Atlas →

National Wildlife Refuge · 22.8 mi

Patuxent Research Refuge

FWS12,952 acres

National Wildlife Refuge · 24 mi

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge

FWS630 acres

National Wildlife Refuge · 24.5 mi

Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge

FWS2,274 acres

National Wildlife Refuge · 26.3 mi

Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge

FWS273 acres

National Wildlife Refuge · 38.7 mi

Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge

FWS32 acres

Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.

Guidebooks for the Mid-Atlantic

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Best Hikes of the Appalachian Trail
Matt Willen, 2016
Find at Bookshop.org
Rail-trails mid-Atlantic
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2015
Find at Bookshop.org
Scenic Routes and Byways Middle Atlantic
Randi Minetor and Nic Minetor, 2015
Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.

Reference

Wildlife

181

Bird species

Mammal species

Species seen this month

Seen this monthRed Fox 131× · Bald Eagle 31× · Osprey 13× · Belted Kingfisher 9× · Peregrine Falcon 7× · Barred Owl 7× · Coyote 3×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist

Full checklist: 181 birds, 37 mammals

Birds

Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Barred Owl · Black Vulture · Broad-winged Hawk · Cooper's Hawk · Eastern Screech Owl · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Merlin · Northern Harrier · Osprey · Peregrine Falcon · Red-shouldered Hawk · Red-tailed Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Turkey Vulture

Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Black Duck · American Coot · American Wigeon · Black-crowned Night Heron · Blue-winged Teal · Bufflehead · Canada Goose · Common Goldeneye · Common Loon · Common Merganser · Double-crested Cormorant · Great Blue Heron · Greater Scaup · Green Heron · Green-winged Teal · Hooded Merganser · Horned Grebe · Lesser Scaup · Northern Pintail · Pied-billed Grebe · Red-breasted Merganser · Ring-necked Duck · Ruddy Duck · Snow Goose (blue Morph) · Tundra Swan · Wood Duck · Yellow-crowned Night Heron · great egret

Shorebirds & seabirdsAmerican Woodcock · Bonaparte's Gull · Common Snipe · Great Black-backed Gull · Herring Gull · Killdeer · Lesser Black-backed Gull · Ring-billed Gull · Spotted Sandpiper

Gamebirds & dovesCommon Pheasant · Mourning Dove · Northern Bobwhite · Rock Dove · Ruffed Grouse · Wild Turkey

WoodpeckersDowny Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Northern (y-s) Flicker · Pileated Woodpecker · Red-bellied Woodpecker · Red-headed Woodpecker · Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Hummingbirds & swiftsChimney Swift · Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Also on the checklistAcadian Flycatcher · American Crow · American Goldfinch · American Redstart · American Robin · American Tree Sparrow · Baltimore Oriole · Barn Swallow · Belted Kingfisher · Black-billed Cuckoo · Black-throated Blue Warbler · Black-throated Green Warbler · Blackpoll Warbler · Blue Jay · Blue-gray Gnatcatcher · Blue-headed Vireo · Brown Creeper · Brown Thrasher · Brown-headed Cowbird · Canada Warbler · Canvasback · Carolina Chickadee · Carolina Wren · Cedar Waxwing · Cerulean Warbler · Chestnut-sided Warbler · Chipping Sparrow · Chuck-will's-widow · Common Grackle · Common Raven · Common Yellowthroat · Dark-eyed Junco · Eastern Bluebird · Eastern Kingbird · Eastern Meadowlark · Eastern Phoebe · Eastern Towhee · Eastern Wood Pewee · European Starling · Evening Grosbeak · Field Sparrow · Fish Crow · Fox Sparrow · Gadwall · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Golden-winged Warbler · Grasshopper Sparrow · Gray Catbird · Great Crested Flycatcher · Hermit Thrush · Hooded Warbler · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Indigo Bunting · Kentucky Warbler · Least Flycatcher · Louisiana Waterthrush · Magnolia Warbler · Mallard · Mangrove Warbler · Myrtle Warbler · Nashville Warbler · Northern Cardinal · Northern Mockingbird · Northern Parula · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Northern Shoveler · Northern Waterthrush · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Orange-crowned Warbler · Orchard Oriole · Ovenbird · Pine Siskin · Pine Warbler · Prairie Warbler · Prothonotary Warbler · Purple Finch · Purple Martin · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-eyed Vireo · Red-winged Blackbird · Redhead · Rose-breasted Grosbeak · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Rusty Blackbird · Sand Martin · Savannah Sparrow · Scarlet Tanager · Song Sparrow · Summer Tanager · Swamp Sparrow · Tennessee Warbler · Tree Swallow · Tufted Titmouse · Veery · Warbling Vireo · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · White-eyed Vireo · White-throated Sparrow · Willow Flycatcher · Wilson's Warbler · Winter Wren · Wood Thrush · Worm-eating Warbler · Yellow-billed Cuckoo · Yellow-breasted Chat · Yellow-throated Vireo · Yellow-throated Warbler · black-capped chickadee · cliff swallow

Mammals

Small mammalsAmerican Pygmy Shrew · BEAVER · Deer Mouse · EASTERN CHIPMUNK · EASTERN COTTONTAIL · EASTERN MOLE · EASTERN WOOD RAT · FOX SQUIRREL · GRAY SQUIRREL · HOUSE MOUSE · MASKED SHREW · MEADOW JUMPING MOUSE · MEADOW VOLE · MUSKRAT · NORWAY RAT · Pine Vole · SHORT-TAILED SHREW · SOUTHEASTERN SHREW · SOUTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL · WHITE-FOOTED MOUSE · smokey shrew

PredatorsCommon Otter · Cross Fox · GRAY FOX · RACCOON · STRIPED SKUNK

Hoofed mammalsWHITE-TAILED DEER

BatsBIG BROWN BAT · Eastern Small-footed Bat · HOARY BAT · KEEN'S BAT · LITTLE BROWN BAT · RED BAT · SILVER-HAIRED BAT · Tricolored bat

Also on the checklistCaucasian wildcat · OPOSSUM

Weather & climate

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.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to enter Chesapeake & Ohio Canal?

Entrance is $20 per private vehicle, $15 per motorcycle, and $10 per person on foot or bike. 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 the Virginia side of the Potomac River.

Source: National Park Service

Which passes work at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal?

The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Chesapeake & Ohio Canal-only annual pass is $35.

Source: Is the pass worth it

Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?

No. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal takes cards only at the entrance.

Source: National Park Service

When is entrance to Chesapeake & Ohio Canal free?

Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.

Source: Free entrance days

Do I need a reservation to enter Chesapeake & Ohio Canal?

No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.

Source: National Park Service

What are the hours at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal?

Standard hours are Sunrise to Sunset, every day.

Source: National Park Service

Can I camp in Chesapeake & Ohio Canal?

Yes. The Park Service lists 37 campgrounds in Chesapeake & Ohio Canal: Bald Eagle Island Hiker-Biker Campsite, Big Woods Hiker-Biker Campsite, Calico Rocks Hiker-Biker Campsite, Cacapon Junction Hiker-Biker Campsite, and Chisel Branch Hiker-Biker Campsite, and more. 6 take reservations through Recreation.gov; 10 are first-come, first-served.

Source: Every campground, on Campsite Atlas

Do any Chesapeake & Ohio Canal campgrounds have hookups or showers?

No. None of the 37 listed campgrounds report showers, electric hookups, or a dump station.

Source: Campgrounds

Do camping fees at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal include the entrance fee?

No. Camping is charged per night on top of the entrance fee or a pass; Fifteenmile Creek is $20 a night.

Source: Campgrounds

Is anything closed at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal right now?

4 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Closures: Detours; Towpath; Points of Interest; DC Water Sewer Overflow; and more.

Source: Alerts

How busy is Chesapeake & Ohio Canal?

4,579,704 recreation visits in 2025, number 14 of 387 units that report visitation.

Source: Most visited parks

Is there cell service at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal?

At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

Follow this park

Alerts feed (RSS): Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
Add dates to your calendar (.ics file): Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.