All parks › Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle entrance
- $20[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- September[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 4,579,704[3]
- Campgrounds
- 38[4]
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park is a National Park System unit that spans the District of Columbia, Maryland and West Virginia[5]. NPS lists a $20 private vehicle entrance fee for the Great Falls area, and the towpath is open every day of the year[1][6].
Entrance fees and passes
Fees as listed by the National Park Service. Fees change, so confirm on the park's official fees page before you go.
| Fee or pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Private Vehicle[1] | $20 |
| Motorcycle[7] | $15 |
| Per Person[8] | $10 |
| Non-commercial Groups[9] | $100 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[10] | $35 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[11].
Entrance fee payment is cashless (card or mobile payment)[12].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[13] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[13] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[13] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[13] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[13] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[13] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[13] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[13] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[13] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
NPS says you can use the towpath every day of the year, all 365 days[6]. NPS describes a four-season Mid-Atlantic climate, with warm and humid summers and winters that can be cold and snowy[14]. Precipitation averages 2-4 inches a month all year, and the climate gets cooler and wetter farther west along the canal[14]. In 2025 the busiest month was September with 489,393 recreation visits[2]. The quietest month was January with 229,151[2]. NPS lists 5 visitor centers, including Georgetown, Great Falls Tavern, Williamsport, Brunswick and Cumberland[15].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 229,151 |
| February | 236,849 |
| March | 373,619 |
| April | 412,270 |
| May | 436,110 |
| June | 422,101 |
| July | 429,674 |
| August | 447,061 |
| September | 489,393 |
| October | 464,380 |
| November | 370,610 |
| December | 268,486 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list 38 campgrounds in the park[4]. The largest listed is Antietam Creek Campsite with 20 sites, and many of the others are single-site hiker-biker campsites[4]. NPS lists nightly individual-site fees from $10 to $20[4]. Site counts can differ a little between NPS and Recreation.gov, so check the booking page[4].
- Antietam Creek Campsite, 20 sites[4]
- Spring Gap Campground, 14 sites
- McCoy's Ferry Campground, 13 sites
- Fifteen Mile Creek Campsite, 10 sites
- Paw Paw Tunnel Campsite, 10 sites
- Marsden Tract Group Campsite, 6 sites
- Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campsite, 5 sites
- Carderock Recreation Area Pavilion, 1 sites
- Bald Eagle Island Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Big Woods Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Calico Rocks Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Cacapon Junction Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Chisel Branch Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Cumberland Valley Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Devils Alley Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Evitts Creek Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Horsepen Branch Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Horseshoe Bend Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Indigo Neck Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Killiansburg Cave Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Marble Quarry Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Turtle Run Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Jordan Junction Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Leopards Mill Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Opequon Junction Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- North Mountain Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Purslane Run Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Stickpile Hill Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Sorrel Ridge Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
- Town Creek Hiker-Biker Campsite, 1 sites
Pets and dogs
Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet where they are allowed[16]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches, with service animals excepted[16]. NPS marks pets as permitted on 9 of its 11 listed things to do, but each park can close more areas to pets[17][16].
Before you go
- Entrance fees are cashless, so bring a card or mobile payment[12].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass for entrance[11]. The Resident Annual Pass costs $80 and the Senior Annual Pass costs $20[13].
- NPS lists an Annual Entrance - Park pass for $35[10].
- Entrance fees listed by NPS apply to the Great Falls area[1].
- Fees and hours can change, so confirm on the official park page before your trip.
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee?
- NPS lists $20 for a private vehicle, $15 for a motorcycle and $10 per person on foot or bicycle[1][7][8]. These fees apply to the Great Falls area[1].
- Is the park open all year?
- NPS says the towpath stays open all 365 days[6]. Winter can be cold and snowy[14].
- Can I bring my dog?
- Where pets are allowed, the national rule requires a leash no longer than six feet[16]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, and each park can close more areas[16].
- Can I pay entrance fees with cash?
- NPS says entrance fees are cashless, so cards or mobile payment are needed[12].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $20. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 5,005,217, 2022: 4,286,185, 2023: 4,470,592, 2024: 4,421,276, 2025: 4,579,704. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (list on this page). National Park Service
- Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Historical Park) in the District of Columbia, Maryland and West Virginia. National Park Service
- Operating hours, C&O Canal Towpath: The towpath is open 365 days a year. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $15. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $10. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Non-commercial Groups: $100. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $35. National Park Service
- Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- Entrance fees at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park are cashless (cards or mobile payment, no cash) according to NPS. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. National Park Service
- Visitor centers listed by NPS: 5 (Brunswick Visitor Center, Cumberland Visitor Center, Georgetown Visitor Center, Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, Williamsport Visitor Center). National Park Service
- National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
- NPS lists 11 things to do at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park: Multi-Park Loop, Skiing and Snowshoeing the C&O Canal Towpath, Take the Scenic Route on the Potomac Heritage Trail, Wildlife Watching - Oldtown C&O Canal, Take a Boat Ride on... National Park Service