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 |