Campsites along the C&O/GAP

This is a great camping trip because of the “hiker-biker” campsites along the C&O canal and the primitive camping at several points along the GAP. These trailside sites offer primitive camping (pump, chemical toilet, picnic table) shared with other hikers and bikers. They are located about every 5 to 10 miles from Swains Lock (C&O 16.7) to Cumberland (C&O 184.5) and at a few locations on the GAP. Water is from wells; at the Hiker-Biker sites, if the weekly test is suspect the NPS removes the pump handle, so carry plenty of water. These campsites are not accessible by car. Do not plan to use them unless you’re carrying all your camping gear on your bikes. If you have more than 6-8 people or 4 tents in your party, don’t count on using C&O Hiker-Bikers.

There are also car-accessible sites. The C&O canal offers primitive drive-in and walk-in sites (some without water). The walk-in sites are close to parking areas. In addition to the C&O sites, there are public campgrounds at Ft Frederick (C&O 112) and Confluence (Yough Dam Outflow, GAP 62). Several commercial campgrounds are located near the trail. Get directions to the campground when you make reservations. Be sure to ask for directions for biking from the trail, not for driving directions from the highway.

Our focus is on self-supported camping; these campgrounds are within easy biking distance of the trail (or the winter Savage Tunnel detour). Some are seasonal, others may be temporarily closed, so check on availability while you”re planning. Campsites marked “primitive, no cars” have no automobile access; these are for self-contained touring only. Numerous other campgrounds offer facilities for people who’re driving, but our emphasis here is on self-supported camping. We are not personally familiar with most of the campgrounds. We present this information as a service; it is not a review or recommendation.

trail MP  Distance  Name  Type  Phone 
C&O 0.0  6.8 mi   Fort Circle Park Hiker Biker Trail  Primitive   
C&O 8.4  5.6 mi   Robert C Mc Donell Campground  Comm  301 495-2525 
C&O 10.6  on Trail   Marsden Tract Group Campground  Group  301-299-3613 
C&O 16.6  on Trail   Swains Lock Hiker Biker  Drive-in  301 739-4200 
C&O 26.1  on Trail   Horsepen Branch Hiker Biker  Comm  301 739-4200 
C&O 30.5  on Trail   Chisel Branch Hiker Biker  Primitive   
C&O 34.4  on Trail   Turtle Run Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 38.2  on Trail   Marble Quarry Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 42.5  on Trail   Indian Flats Hiker Biker  Primitive  301 714-2201 
C&O 47.6  on Trail   Calico Rocks Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 50.3  on Trail   Bald Eagle Island Hiker Biker  Comm  301 767-3714 
C&O 53.9  0.1 mi   Brunswick Family Campground  Comm  301 834-9952 
C&O 58.1  2.5 mi   Harpers Ferry Adventure Center  Comm  540 668-9007 
C&O 58.1  4.5 mi   Blue Ridge Center For Environmental Stewardship  Comm  540 668-7640 
C&O 60.7  3.1 mi   Harpers Ferry KOA  Comm  800 562-9497 
C&O 60.7  4.4 mi   AT Campsite  Comm   
C&O 60.7  9.4 mi   David Lesser Memorial Shelter  Comm   
C&O 61.0  2.5 mi   Harpers Ferry Campground  Comm  304 535-2663 
C&O 61.0  4.7 mi   River Riders  Primitive  304 535-2663 
C&O 62.9  on Trail   Huckleberry Hill Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 69.6  0.3 mi   Antietam Creek Hiker Biker  Drive-in  301 432-6110 
C&O 69.6  8.9 mi   Treehouse Camp At Maple Tree  Comm  301 432-5585 
C&O 72.8  6.4 mi   The Compound: Historic Nature Preserve Park  Comm  304 279-9299 
C&O 75.2  on Trail   Killiansburg Cave Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 76.8  3.2 mi   Rohrbach Scout Campground  Comm   
C&O 79.2  on Trail   Horseshoe Bend Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 82.7  on Trail   Big Woods Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 90.9  on Trail   Opequon Junction Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 94.8  on Trail   Cumberland Valley Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 98.9  2.1 mi   Yogi Bear  Comm  301 223-7117 
C&O 98.9  2.5 mi   Safari Campground  Comm   
C&O 99.5  4.0 mi   Hagerstown / Antietam Battlefield KOA Holiday  Comm  301 223-7571 
C&O 99.5  6.9 mi   River Bend Membership Corporation  Comm  304 274-2811 
C&O 99.7  5.1 mi   Leatherman's/Falling Waters Campsite  Comm  304 274-2791 
C&O 99.7  5.1 mi   Hitch USA  Comm  304 274-0600 
C&O 99.7  5.3 mi   Falling Waters River Lots  Comm  304 676-1000 
C&O 101.2  on Trail   Jordan Junction Hiker Biker Campsite  Comm   
C&O 109.9  226 ft   McCoys Ferry Campground  Drive-in   
C&O 110.0  on Trail   North Mountain Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 111.9  0.6 mi   Fort Fredrick Campground  Drive-in   
C&O 116.0  144 ft   Licking Creek Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 120.6  0.3 mi   Little Pool Hiker Biker  Comm  301 739-4200 
C&O 124.0  0.5 mi   C&O Bicycle & Bunkhouse  Comm  301 678-6665 
C&O 124.4  6.7 mi   Happy Hills Campground  Comm  301 678-7760 
C&O 126.4  0.5 mi   White Rock Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 129.9  on Trail   Leopards Mill Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 133.6  on Trail   Cacapon Junction Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 139.2  on Trail   Indigo Neck Hiker Biker  Comm  301 739-4200 
C&O 140.8  1.0 mi   Little Orleans Campground  Comm  301 478-2325 
C&O 140.8  9.9 mi   Four Quarters Interfaith Sanctuary  Comm  814 784-3080 
C&O 141.0  312 ft   15 Mile Creek Campground  Drive-in   
C&O 143.4  on Trail   Devils Alley Campground  Comm   
C&O 149.4  on Trail   Stickpile Hill Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 150.0  0.1 mi   Bond's Landing  Drive-in   
C&O 150.0  5.0 mi   Green Ridge Forest Site 66  Comm   
C&O 154.1  on Trail   Sorrel Ridge Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 155.8  on Trail   Paw Paw Tunnel Campground  Drive-in   
C&O 156.2  8.2 mi   Avalon Resort  Comm  304 947-5600 
C&O 156.2  8.6 mi   Stoney Creek Country Store  Comm  304 947-5152 
C&O 156.2  8.6 mi   Stoney Creek Campground  Comm  703 229-1139 
C&O 157.4  on Trail   Purslane Run Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 162.1  on Trail   Town Creek Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 164.8  on Trail   Potomac Forks Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 166.7  0.3 mi   Schoolhouse Kitchen  Primitive  301 478-5189 
C&O 169.2  on Trail   Pigmans Ferry Hiker Biker  Primitive  301 739-4200 
C&O 173.3  near Trail   Spring Gap Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 175.3  on Trail   Irons Mountain Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 180.1  on Trail   Evitts Creek Hiker Biker  Comm   
C&O 182.6  8.7 mi   Eagle's Nest Campground  Comm  304 298-4380 
C&O 182.9  near Trail   Hillcrest River Kampground  Comm  301 777-3472 
GAP 0.1  6.2 mi   Union Grove Campground  Comm  301 777-0024 
GAP 0.7  1.1 mi   Cumberland YMCA (Riverside) (train noise)    301 777-9622 
GAP 20.6  near Trail   Trail Inn Lodging & Campground  Comm  301 689-6466 
GAP 24.0  3.3 mi   Mason Dixon Campground  Comm  814 634-5982 
GAP 31.9  0.4 mi   Festival Park Campground  Comm  814 634-0213 
GAP 43.8  4.5 mi   Hickory Hollow Campground  Comm  814 926-4636 
GAP 43.8  5.0 mi   Posey Corners Campground  Comm  814 442-1281 
GAP 43.8  6.6 mi   Lost Mountain Campground  Comm  814 352-7310 
GAP 43.8  7.7 mi   Laurel Hill State Park Camp Ground  Comm   
GAP 43.8  8.5 mi   Laurel Hills State Park, Group Camps  Comm   
GAP 43.8  9.7 mi   Pioneer Park Campground  Comm  814 445-6348 
GAP 43.9  6.9 mi   Scottyland Camping Resort Center  Comm  814 926-3200 
GAP 43.9  7.0 mi   Scottyland Campground  Comm   
GAP 59.0  7.2 mi   Somerfield Beach Campground (seasonal - no weekly / weekend rentals)  Comm  814 395-3528 
GAP 61.2  2.3 mi   Paddler's Lane Retreat B&B  Comm  814 964-0410 
GAP 61.4  525 ft   Outflow Camping Area  Comm  814 395-3944 
GAP 61.7  440 ft   Wendy world Bunkhouse  Comm  814 395-2474 
GAP 65.9  0.8 mi   Yough Lake Campground  Comm  800 472-3846 
GAP 71.9  2.5 mi   Scarlett Knob Campground  Comm  724 329-5200 
GAP 71.9  5.7 mi   Benner's Meadow Run Camping & Cabins  Comm  724 329-4097 
GAP 71.9  6.9 mi   Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park™  Comm  724 455-2929 
GAP 71.9  8.6 mi   Tall Oaks Campground  Comm  724 329-4777 
GAP 88.6  on Trail   Connellsville Adirondack shelters  Primitive   
GAP 88.7  8.3 mi   Indian Creek Camplands Inc  Comm  724 455-7900 
GAP 88.7  9.7 mi   Hemlock Hideaway Campground  Comm  724 455-7700 
GAP 92.2  479 ft   Uniontown / Adelaide KOA Campground  Comm  724 628-4880 
GAP 99.6  on Trail   Roundbottom Primative Camping area  Comm  724 872-5586 
GAP 109.9  on Trail   Cedar Creek Trekker Campground  Comm  724-830-3000 
GAP 110.3  223 ft   Cedar Creek Park Scout Camping Area  Comm   
GAP 114.0  0.2 mi   Gap Trail Campground LLC  Comm   
GAP 114.1  8.0 mi   Madison / Pittsburgh S.E. KOA  Comm  724 722-4444 
GAP 121.6  near Trail   Dravo landing / Apache Springs Campground  Primitive  724-872-5586 
GAP 121.6  194 ft   Queen Aliquippa Camp  Comm   
GAP 128.3  0.3 mi   Yough Shore Inn  Comm  412 754-0440