Paw Paw Tunnel Campsite

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park — riverside, fishing, hiking

Location: Williamsport, MD, MD

Price: From $10 per night

Rating: 3.8 out of 5 (42 reviews)

Season: May through October

The Paw Paw Tunnel Campground is located at Mile 156 on the C&O Canal Towpath on the Maryland side of the Potomac River, across from the town of Paw Paw in West Virginia. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.Continue your adventures at Green Ridge State Forest! The city of Cumberland, MD is just 25 miles (40 km) west on MD Route 51.This location is unstaffed.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/paw-paw-tunnel-campsite to be notified when sites open up.

Paw Paw Tunnel Campground offers primitive camping on the C&O Canal Towpath with direct access to a historic 3,100-foot canal tunnel and overlooks of the Potomac River. At $20/night with 10 sites featuring picnic tables and fire rings, it's an affordable base for hiking, biking, and fishing.

Wildlife alert: Eastern Whip-Poor-Will, Eastern Fence Lizard, Eastern/Gray Ratsnake Complex, Big Brown Bat, and Eastern Six-lined Racerunner documented in the area.

Insider tips for Paw Paw Tunnel Campsite: Wear good shoes and bring a flashlight for the steep path down to the river and uneven towpath to Paw Paw Tunnel. Book early as this is a federal campground with only 10 sites. Pack out all trash; no waste services provided. Reserve two adjacent sites if your group exceeds eight people per site.

Skip Paw Paw Tunnel Campsite if: You need electrical or water hookups at your site.. You prefer year-round camping; seasonal operations May-October only.. You have mobility concerns; the path to the tunnel is steep and uneven..

Best time to visit Paw Paw Tunnel Campsite: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October; hand pump water available April 15-November 1..

Nearby campgrounds: Fifteen Mile Creek Campsite (Williamsport, MD), Spring Gap Campground (Cumberland, MD), Mccoy’S Ferry Campground (Williamsport, MD), Robert W Craig (ELK GARDEN, WV).