Marsden Tract Group Campground in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

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See the Camping web page for an interactive location map.

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The Marsden Tract Group Campground is open to organized civic and scouting groups only. A permit is required. Other groups can reserve sites at the McCoys Ferry, Fifteenmile Creek, and Spring Gap group campgrounds.

OPERATING SEASONS

The Marsden Tract Group Campground is open year-round.

LOCATION

No matter where you park, accessing the Marsden Tract Group Campground requires hiking. The closest overnight parking is either at the parking lot across the street from the Old Angler’s Inn or the north parking lot of Carderock. You have about a 1-mile hike from either of these. However, there is a small road-side parking area on MacArthur Boulevard near the intersection of Brickyard Road where you can drop off equipment and kids. The walk from MacArthur is less than a quarter mile. No overnight parking is allowed at this parking lot.

If walking from MacArthur Boulevard, take a left on the C&O Canal towpath and be on the lookout for the sign indicating the turn-off for the campground. There is also a turn for the Marsden Track Day Use Area, but this is not what you want.

Trail from the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath to the Marsden Tract Group Campground

TYPE OF CAMPING

Tents only.

NUMBER OF SITES

There are six group campsites, each holding up to 30 people. If you have more than 30 in your group, reserve two or more sites. You must have at least ten people in your group to use the campsite.

AMENITIES

Each group campsite has a picnic table and a grill / fire ring. Portable toilets are available for all campers to share. There is no running water, but there is a hand-pumped water spigot on the other side of the footbridge to the MacArthur Boulevard parking area. The water is treated with iodine so that it is drinkable, provided you are not physically adverse to iodine. The water is usually turned off from November 15^th to April 15^th, so keep that in mind.

Fire pit at the Marsden Tract Group Campground in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

TERRAIN

The campground is in a heavily wooded area, so there is plenty of shade. The ground is flat and covered with forest debris. There are no grassy areas.

FEES AND RESERVATIONS

Reservations are required to camp at Marsden Tract. You can make a reservation up to a year in advance online at Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. A credit or debit card is required.

For the latest fees, see the National Park Service’s official Camping web page for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Fees are also listed on Recreation.gov

CAMPGROUND RULES

• The C&O Canal National Historical Park is a trash free park. Please plan to take all trash with you.
• Check in time is 1 PM. Check out time is 12 PM.
• There is no campground host or formal check in / check out process, so you can arrive anytime after the 1 PM check in time, even at night. If you have any problems, call the U. S. Park Police at (202) 610-8737.
• Quiet hours are between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• Stay is limited to 14 days between May 1 and October 1. Stay is limited to a total of 30 days for the entire calendar year.
• Pets must be on a leash or under other physical control at all times.
• Firewood cannot be brought into the park.
• Except for hammocks, the tying of ropes to trees and structures is not permitted. Hammocks must have straps that are at least one inch wide. Plastic zip cords, nails, or screws are not permitted for the purpose of anchoring a hammock.
• Fires are restricted to the grills and fire rings provided or to portable grills positioned off the ground. Coals must be extinguished and removed from the park.
• Firewood may be collected from dead material on the ground, but for use in campgrounds only. Do not remove wood from the campground.
• For the protection of drinking water, campers may not wash dishes, bathe, or clean fish near wells.
• Draining or dumping refuse or waste from trailers or other vehicles is prohibited.
• Alcohol and marijuana are prohibited in the campgrounds.

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