Rate Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Learn and Explore
Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.
We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.
Taking care of the national parks and helping Americans take care of their communities is a job we love, and we need—and welcome—your help and support.
Our Mission
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I obtain a park entrance pass?
Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
About this location:
National Historical Park
Operating Hours & Seasons
C&O Canal Towpath
The towpath is open 365 days/year
Standard Hours
- Sunday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Monday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Tuesday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Wednesday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Thursday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Friday: Sunrise – Sunset
- Saturday: Sunrise – Sunset
Fees & Passes
Entrance Fees:
- $10.00 – Great Falls Entrance Fee- Per Vehicle
Per private, non-commercial vehicle (include motorcycles, passenger cars, pickup trucks, RV’s and vans)., Park passes are valid for the date of purchase plus two days at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. - $5.00 – Great Falls Entrance Fee- On Foot or Bike
Per person 16 years of age or older when entering on foot or bicycle. Park passes are valid for the date of purchase plus two days at the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. - $0.00 – C&O Canal Towpath
Entrance to the towpath from any access point other than Great Falls is Free. - $25.00 – Great Falls Commercial Tour Entrance Fee
1-6 passenger capacity plus $3 per person - $40.00 – Great Falls Commercial Tour Entrance Fee
7- 25 passenger capacity - $100.00 – Great Falls Commercial Tour Entrance Fee
26+ passenger capacity vehicle
Entrance Passes:
- $30.00 – Great Falls Annual Pass
Valid for one full year from the month of purchase. Permits access to Great Falls Park, Virginia and the Great Falls area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. 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.
About
184.5 Miles of Adventure!
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!
Directions
There are many access point along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. There is no main entrance. Please visit our directions page to determine how to get to your closest access point.
Visitor Centers
The Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center
The Great Falls of the Potomac have drawn people to the river’s shore for centuries. To Native Americans it was a gathering place, to George Washington it was an impediment to navigation, to thousands of visitors every year it is an awe-inspiring site. Tourists have been drawn to the Great Falls of the Potomac long before there was a canal. The Great Falls Tavern carries on a long tradition of hospitality for visitors to the C&O Canal. Williamsport Visitor Center
Situated at the confluence of the Conococheague Creek and the Potomac River, Williamsport was first settled in 1740. Williamsport is the only place on the canal where examples of major canal structures can be viewed within a half-mile stretch. A half-mile rewatered section of canal leads through the turning basin, under the only Railroad Lift Bridge on the canal, and continues to Lock House 44 and the adjacent lock. The Conocheague Aqueduct is located across from the turning basin. Brunswick Visitor Center
The Brunswick Visitor Center shares the building with the Brunswick Railroad Museum. For over a century Brunswick has been a railroad town. This once bustling company town is now a quiet place since the decline of the railroads. The remains of the rail yard are still visible from the canal towpath. There is an admission charge for the Railroad section of the museum. Ferry Hill Plantation Visitor Center
Come see exhibits depicting the history of the house, Henry Kyd Douglas, and the impact the families had on the C&O Canal as well as the surrounding communities. Hands-on area for children as well as models of the house help visitors experience the past. Hancock Visitor Center
Nestled along the towpath at milepost 123 in Hancock, Maryland, the charming Bowles House has seen its share of American history. This house is open seasonally. Cumberland Visitor Center
Located in the Western Maryland Railway station, the visitor center features a spacious exhibit area full of interactive and educational displays about the history of the C&O Canal and Cumberland. Pass through a model of the Paw Paw Tunnel and step back into the hey day of the canal. Awaiting you is a life size section of a canal boat. View exhibits on the canal’s construction, cargo, mules, locks, and crew.
Weather
The Washington, D.C. 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. Park areas above the Monocacy Aqueduct tend to have slightly cooler temperatures as well as higher precipitation. Washington and Allegheny Counties lie in the Ridge and Valley country of the Appalachian Mountains. Please plan for cooler weather and higher precipitation especially in the winter months.
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