Summary of the C & O Canal Towpath
This map illustrates the full length of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (C & O Canal), which extends 184.5 miles from Georgetown in Washington, DC, to Cumberland, MD. The Towpath along the canal serves as a popular destination for biking and jogging enthusiasts. There are six visitor centers located along the path, marked with green and black hiker icons on the map, offering several interesting points of interest. While multiple access points to the towpath are available throughout the region, the visitor centers provide the most ample parking and additional amenities. National Park Service rangers and volunteers are present to answer queries and lead guided activities. Detailed addresses of visitor centers and additional maps are provided below for a closer look at the locations.
Best Places to Access the C & O Canal Towpath
Map User Tips: The green line indicates the southern half of the canal towpath, the blue line highlights the northern half, and the red line marks the Big Slackwater detour, which connects the southern and northern routes via paved roads.
C & O Canal Visitor Centers
- Georgetown – 1057 Thomas Jefferson St., NW, Washington, DC (202) 653-5190 (currently closed for construction)
- Great Falls Tavern – 11710 MacArthur Blvd, Potomac, MD (301) 767-3714
- Brunswick – 40 West Potomac Street Brunswick, MD (301) 834-7100
- Williamsport – 205 W. Potomac St., Williamsport, MD (301) 582-0813
- Hancock – 439 E. Main St., Hancock, MD (301) 678-5463
- Cumberland – Western Maryland Railway Station, Room 100, 13 Canal St., Cumberland, MD (301) 722-8226
C & O Canal in the Washington DC Area
The C & O Canal runs parallel to the Potomac River, beginning in Washington DC and concluding in western Maryland. The Georgetown Visitor Center is situated at 1057 Thomas Jefferson St., NW, Washington, DC, south of M Street NW, nestled between 30th and 31st Sts. Access to the towpath is also available at various points along Canal Road heading northward. The Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, located at 11710 MacArthur Blvd in Potomac, MD, is situated 17 miles to the north and serves as the largest and most frequented destination along the canal. There is also access to the Brunswick Visitor Center, which can be reached after traveling 54 miles further north into Frederick County, located at 40 West Potomac Street, Brunswick, MD.
C & O Canal Towpath Mid-Section
The C & O Canal Towpath continues north towards Brunswick, where the visitor center is located at 40 West Potomac Street, Brunswick, MD, and then proceeds to Williamsport (near Hagerstown), with the visitor center situated at 205 W. Potomac St., Williamsport, MD.
C & O Canal Towpath in Cumberland
The C & O Canal Towpath continues further west to Hancock, where the visitor center is located at 439 E. Main St., Hancock, MD. The path ultimately leads to Cumberland, home to a sizable visitor center located at the Western Maryland Railway Station, Room 100, 13 Canal St., Cumberland, MD. Further details about the area can be procured from a guide on the Top 10 Western Maryland Attractions.
For additional insights into the sites and history of this national historic park, exploration through resources is highly recommended.
