Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Byway
Driving Directions

Driving the Byway

The byway generally parallels the Potomac River, from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, D.C. It dips down into West Virginia from Paw Paw, WV to Hancock, MD.

Cumberland to Hancock

  • Start at the C&O Canal National Historical Park in Cumberland, Maryland.
  • Go south on MD-61, then turn east to follow MD-51 to the MD/WV border and the town of Paw Paw. The Maryland part of the byway ends at the MD/WV border.
  • Cross over into West Virginia on WV-9.
  • WV-9 becomes US 522 at Berkeley Springs, WV.
  • Cross back over into Maryland at Hancock to resume traveling the byway.

Hancock to Sharpsburg

  • Take US 40/I-70 east out of Hancock.
  • Stay on I-70, then take MD 56 past Fort Frederick State Park.
  • Just east of Clear Spring, turn onto Clearspring Road and continue to Williamsport.
  • Take Spielman Road and MD 63 out of Williamsport.
  • Turn south onto MD 65 or Sharpsburg Pike.
  • Continue past Antietam National Battlefield into Sharpsburg.

Sharpsburg to Point of Rocks

  • Stay on MD 65 out of Sharpsburg west to just shy of Sheperdtown, WV, where the road makes a sharp turn east onto Canal Road.
  • Continue to Antietam and pick up Harpers Ferry Road south. The byway does not continue south to Harpers Ferry, WV, but turns east to briefly parallel US 340 until picking up MD 478.
  • Take Point of Rocks Road or MD 464 east out of Brunswick.
  • Take the Catoctin Mountain Highway or US 15 into Point of Rocks.

Point of Rocks to Hughes Road Spur

  • Proceed on Tuscarora Road (MD 28) east out of Point of Rocks past the turnoff to Nolands Ferry.
  • Turn east (right) onto Dickerson Road to Dickerson.
  • Continue on MD 28 from Dickerson to Beallsville.
  • Continue on MD 109 from Beallsville south to Poolesville.
  • At Poolesville take Willard Road south to River Road.
  • Turn east to Hughes Road.

Hughes Road Spur

  • At this point a spur of the byway goes north to Seneca Creek State Park.
  • To get there, turn north on Hughes Road.
  • Turn east (right) on Sugarland Road and go north.
  • At the MD 107 junction take MD 28 north to Bucklodge Road.
  • Take Bucklodge Road or MD 117 north.
  • Turn sharply south (right) onto Old Bucklodge Lane just shy of where Bucklodge Road crosses the train tracks.
  • Turn south (right) onto MD 121 (White Ground Road.)
  • Turn left (east) onto Schaeffer Road just as you reach Little Seneca Stream Valley Park.
  • Continue to Seneca Creek State Park and the end of this spur of the byway.
  • Return to the byway the way you came, or take White Ground Road south past Little Seneca Stream Valley Park to join the byway again at Sugarland Road or River Road.

Hughes Road Spur to MD/D.C. Border

  • Proceed east (left) on River Road (MD 190) through Seneca to Potomac.
  • At Potomac to south on Falls Road to Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center.
  • After the Visitor Center retrace your route briefly to the junction of Falls Road and MacArthur Blvd.
  • Take MacArthur Blvd. then Clara Barton Parkway and then Canal Road south and east along the Potomac River.
  • The Maryland part of the byway ends at the MD/DC border.