Campsite #6 at the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

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NOTE: Sections of the towpath, locks and other historical structures, trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, boat ramps, and visitor centers are constantly being closed due to damage and/or repair. When planning an adventure within Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, make sure that areas you plan to visit are open by checking the National Park Service’s official Current Park Conditions web page.

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The Paw Paw Tunnel Campground is one of five “drive-in” campgrounds within Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park that is accessible to those in vehicles.

OPERATING SEASONS

Paw Paw Tunnel Campground is open year-round. April 15th through November 15th is considered peak season and camping fees are higher.

LOCATION

The Paw Paw Tunnel Campground is located right off of Highway 51 (Oldtown Road) just north of Paw Paw, West Virginia, but on the Maryland side of the Potomac. It is at Mile 156.2 on the C&O Canal towpath. See the Camping web page for an interactive location map.

TYPE OF CAMPING

Because vehicles cannot enter the campground and must park in an adjacent lot, the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground is for tent campers only. You cannot sleep in the parking lot in an RV.

NUMBER OF SITES

There are ten standard campsites. Standard sites allow up to eight people and two tents. There are no group campsites, so groups must rent multiple standard sites.

Campers must carry their equipment from the parking lot to their campsite. Sites are arranged in two rows on opposite sides of a field. Campsites 1 and 6 are the closest to the parking area (25 yards); campsites 5 and 10 are the farthest from the parking area (75 yards).

Campsites #1-3 at the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

AMENITIES

Standard campsites have a picnic table, grill, and fire ring. Portable toilets are available and shared by all campers. There is also a hand-pumped water spigot that produces water treated with iodine so that it is drinkable, provided you are not physically adverse to iodine. There is no electricity. The water pump operates from April 15th to November 1st.

The Paw Paw Tunnel itself is located .6 mile from the parking lot at the end of a level, well-maintained gravel path.

Gravel path from the parking area at Mile 155.8 on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath to the Paw Paw Tunnel

The house located on the property was once used by the superintendent for the western end of the canal. It is not open to the public.

Former canal superintendent’s house at the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Former canal superintendent’s house at the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

TERRAIN

The campground field is perfectly level and covered completely with grass. Sites 1-5 sit under shade trees while sites 6-10 are out in the open, so things can get hot on a summer day. Sites 6-10 are actually along the Potomac River, but there is so much vegetation in the way that you would never even know the river existed. There are no barriers between sites and thus no privacy.

Campsites #7-10 at the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

FEES AND RESERVATIONS

Reservations are required to camp at the Paw Paw Tunnel Campground and all other drive-in campgrounds at Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Paying cash upon arrival is not an option. You can make a reservation online up to six months in advance 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 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.
• 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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