Campsites along the Potomac River at the Spring Gap Campground in Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

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.

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

OPERATING SEASONS

The Spring Gap Campground is open year-round. April 16th through November 15th is considered peak season and camping fees are higher.

LOCATION

Spring Gap Campground is located right off of Highway 51 (Oldtown Road) in Oldtown, Maryland, at Mile 173.3 on the C&O Canal towpath. See the Camping web page for an interactive location map.

TYPE OF CAMPING

Campsites at Spring Gap Campground can accommodate tent campers, small RVs, and other self-contained sleeping vehicles. Trailers (sleeping unit or boat) can be no longer than 20 feet. The road through the campground ends in a loop, so turning around with a large vehicle is no problem. There is parking for two vehicles at each campsite.

There are two group campsites for tent campers only. There is parking for three vehicles at each site.

NUMBER OF SITES

There are 12 standard campsites and 2 group campsites. Standard sites allow up to 8 people and 2 tents, or an RV and a tent.

The two group campsites can hold up to 30 people each, and you must have a least 9 people to use the sites. There is no limit on the number of tents other than what space allows. If the group sites are taken when your group wants to camp, feel free to reserve multiple standard sites.

AMENITIES

Standard campsites have a picnic table and a grill / fire pit. Group sites have four picnic tables and one grill / fire pit. 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. Water is available from April 15th to November 1st. There is no electricity.

There is a boat ramp and separate picnic area within the same park as the campground.

TERRAIN

A dirt road runs down the middle of the campground. Standard campsites 1 through 8 and the two group sites (9 and 10) are on the Potomac River side of the road, and standard sites 11 through 14 are on the side of the road next to the forest. The sites are large, but there is nothing between them, and thus no privacy. All sites are shaded. The terrain is flat and the ground is covered with grass.