Go if
You want a budget-friendly group site near Billy Goat Trail and don't mind hauling gear from parking.
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$20/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
6 campsites
Season
The hand pump well i...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$20/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
6 campsites
Season
The hand pump well i...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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Learn more about alerts →Marsden Tract Group Campsite
38.9787, -77.2161
You want a budget-friendly group site near Billy Goat Trail and don't mind hauling gear from parking.
You need developed facilities, alcohol is part of your group camping tradition, or airplane noise bothers you.
Context for the broader area surrounding Marsden Tract Group Campsite, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures.
The park has numerous access points. There is no main entrance. In Washington, DC, the C&O Canal begins in Georgetown on 29th Street NW, south of M Street, and runs alongside Canal Road / Clara Barton Parkway out of DC to the west. The entrance to Great Falls is at Canal Road and MacArthur Blvd in Potomac, MD. Park Headquarters and the Williamsport Visitor Center are located off I-81 at exit 2. Cumberland Visitor Center is off I-68 at exit 43C. See the maps page for more.
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Best season: fall. Fall offers the best combination of comfortable weather, peak foliage, and lower bug pressure — daytime highs typically range from the mid-40s to mid-60s°F (5–18°C) with crisp, cool nights. Trails around Great Falls and the Billy Goat Trail are spectacular as leaves change, making hiking, photography, and wildlife viewing prime activities; river paddling and fishing remain good through early November. Weekdays are quieter, but expect busy weekends due to the site's proximity to Washington, D.C., Peak months: October, September, November, May Avoid: January, February, March
Opens mid-April; spring offers mild weather, trail access and increasing activity.
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The Marsden Tract Group Campsite offers basic amenities tailored to group camping in a wooded environment. Each campsite is equipped with a fire ring and picnic table. Portable toilets are provided near Campsite 1, but their cleanliness has been criticized by users. Potable water is available via a hand pump well, accessible up the towpath and across a footbridge, although it is only operational from April 15 to October 31. Reviewers frequently note the need to carry supplies to the site due to its walk-in-only access, which is a significant logistical consideration for campers.
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