Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center
Potomac, MD
The canal visitor center on the C&O towpath, with boardwalk overlooks of the Potomac thundering through rocky rapids. Walk the towpath and the overlooks, and stay well back from the cliffs and river.
The Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center in the C&O Canal National Historical Park was originally a lockhouse at Lock 20; from 1831 it also served as a hotel for travelers on the canal. Today it offers information on canal history, hiking trails and ranger programs. Rides on a replica canal boat pulled by mules are offered seasonally; check current times in advance (as of October 2026).
From the visitor center it is about 800 meters (0.5 mile) to Olmsted Island, where an accessible boardwalk leads another 400 meters (0.25 mile) to the overlook of the Great Falls of the Potomac. Allow about an hour for the round trip, or two to three hours if you add the towpath and the visitor center. Leaving the boardwalk on Olmsted Island is prohibited; the Potomac is unpredictable. Cell phone reception is unreliable, and dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk. An entrance fee is charged for the park.
- Nearest town
- Potomac, MD
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 38.9968, -77.2477
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. Cold, short days in January. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Lake Fairfax Family CampgroundCampsite5 mi from Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center · 55 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersWaste disposal
- Burke Lake Park CampgroundCampsite16 mi from Great Falls Tavern Visitor CenterTentsCaravansDrinking waterWaste disposal
- Cherry Hill ParkCampsite16 mi from Great Falls Tavern Visitor CenterTentsCaravansElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Little Bennett CampgroundCampsite18 mi from Great Falls Tavern Visitor CenterTentsCaravans
- Greenbelt Park CampgroundCampsite19 mi from Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center · 174 pitchesTentsCaravansWaste disposal
- Grant Family CampgroundCampsite19 mi from Great Falls Tavern Visitor CenterTentsDrinking waterToilets
All campsites in Maryland · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center?
Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center is in Potomac, MD, at GPS 38.9968, -77.2477. It is about 13 mi from Washington.
Can you camp near Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Lake Fairfax Family Campground, about 5 mi away; within 25 mi there are 20 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center?
Places worth a stop nearby: Great Falls Park (0 mi), Arlington National Cemetery (13 mi), George Washington’s Mount Vernon (20 mi) and Ellicott City Historic District (30 mi).
When is the best time to visit Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)