Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Byway
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Byway is a State Scenic Byway in Maryland. Within Maryland it covers roughly 230 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
This byway parallels the C&O Canal National Historical Park, which preserves the 184.5-mile towpath and canal that once carried boats along the Potomac from Georgetown to Cumberland. Highlights include the rapids at Great Falls, the historic canal town of Harpers Ferry just across the river, and the 3,118-foot Paw Paw Tunnel bored through a mountain. River, canal, and mountain history run together.
- C&O Canal towpath
- Great Falls of the Potomac
- Paw Paw Tunnel
- Harpers Ferry
- Georgetown to Cumberland
Plan a drive on Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Byway →
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Byway
18 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Byway.
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