Hotels, motels, campgrounds and B&Bs near the C&O Canal. Stay close to the Chesapeake and Ohio canal with these great options for sleeping in comfort at close by hotels, motels, campgrounds and B&Bs.

Overnight Accommodations Along the C&O Canal Towpath

Road trips offer the opportunity to hop in the car and explore America from its unforgettable backroads. Many will agree that a day trip can be spontaneous and delivers activities that reconnect the family. But, hitting the road with a suitcase in hand extends the fun and allows for some additional relaxation time. Planning an overnight adventure to the C&O Canal allows for more time to really explore the trail and dive into the cultural vibe of the historic canal towns. When making arrangements for overnight accommodations there are plenty of options. You might want to camp inside the C&O Canal National Historical Park, where you can choose to pitch a tent at a campsite or sleep in a fully-appointed lockhouse. Or, you may be looking for something a little bit off the trail -- there are ten charming towns that line the canal, where you’ll find hotels, B&Bs, boutique inns, and private campgrounds with tent sites and cabins. Here are some options to help with your planning.


The C&O Canal is a place with gorgeous views and tried and true trails. So go on -- take a road trip, while wearing this tee!  The Road Trip Mercantile offers unique and fun merchandise to commemorate your visit to the C&O Canal. Proceeds benefit the small towns located along the towpath. Check out more at www.rtmerc.com  

Canal Lockhouse

C&O Canal LockhouseLockhouse 28

Stay back in time! Choose from seven different lockhouses, all made available through the Canal Quarters program. Visit the Canal Trust website for more details and to book your stay. Please note that bedding and towels are not provided in lockhouses. Dish towels may be in some of the lockhouses.

Hotel Stay

C&O Canal Hotel StayCountry Inn and Suites by Radisson


Many of the Canal Towns have hotel accommodations convenient to the towpath. Check with the individual property to see if they have convenient amenities such as bike wash-and-repair stations.

Fairfield Inn and Suites in Cumberland, MD

Country Inn and Suites by Radisson in Hagerstown, MD

Bavarian Inn Resort and Brewing Company in Shepherdstown, WV

Quality Inn in Harpers Ferry, WV

Holiday Inn in Brunswick, MD

Park Hyatt in Washington, DC

Bed and Breakfast & Country Inns

C&O Canal Bed and BreakfastBay Farms Bed and Breakfast

Pamper yourself! B&Bs and Historic Inns offer some additional niceties to help make your stay memorable and enjoyable. A few options along the way include the Cumberland Inn and Spa (Cumberland, MD), Town Hill B&B (Little Orleans, MD), Bay Farms Bed and Breakfast and Elmwood Farm B&B (Williamsport, MD), Antietam’s Jacob Rohrbach Inn (Sharpsburg MD),  Light Horse Inn (Bolivar, WV), and The Georgetown Inn (Washington DC). 

Campgrounds

C&O Canal CampgroundBrunswick Family Campground


The national park has 31 hiker-biker campsites and five drive-in campsites. Hiker-biker campsites are first-come first-serve and do not require reservations. Please visit the Park’s website for more information on camping. Drive-in campsites are near parking lots and require a reservation. Visit www.recreation.gov to reserve a drive-in campsite. 

Privately owned campgrounds sometimes offer both campsites and cabins to choose from. Check out the Brunswick Family Campground, Harpers Ferry Campground, Happy Hills Campground in Hancock, and Little Orleans Campground

Maria Lane, Co-owner of The Road Trip Mercantile Author: Maria Lane

Maria Lane is Co-owner of The Road Trip Mercantile. She enjoys the creative process of designing merchandise to promote the C&O CANAL and the GREAT ALLEGHENY PASSAGE. View and shop her latest creations HERE.

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