Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center - Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

About Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center - Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

The Great Falls Tavern (also historically known as the Crommelin House) originally functioned as one of the many lockhouses along the canal and serviced thousands of cargo and excursion boats that passed through Lock 20 on the way to and from Cumberland, MD and Georgetown in Washington, DC. Today the Great Falls Tavern remains a hub of activity as it acts as one of C&O Canal National Historical Park's visitor centers. Here, visitors can get information about the park's programs, hiking trails, and history.

How to Get There

From Washington DC: Take M Street to fork. Follow either MacArthur Blvd, the right fork or take Canal Road, the fork to the left. MacArthur Blvd.: Follow MacArthur until the entrance to the Great Falls section of the park, approximately 8 miles. Canal Road: Follow to Chain Bridge. At stop light continue straight. Canal Road changes into Clara Barton Parkway. Follow Clara Barton Parkway to the end. At the stop sign, turn left onto MacArthur Blvd., and follow it for 3.5 miles until it ends at the park.

Plan Your Visit to Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center - Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Heading to Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center - Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)