About Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Number of accommodations: 6
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
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Reviews (43)
Review Summary
Kevin C
VerifiedMarch 7, 2021 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Site 5 is amazing! Really well done by the BSA Scouts! Flat and level and clean and lots of room. Even a bike rack. It is a bit of a hike to the parking. There is temp parking across the canal but then you have to move. Really great site!
Mike S
VerifiedFebruary 8, 2021 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: Marsden Tract Group Campsite
we had a great time.
Nathan C
VerifiedFebruary 8, 2021 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Toilets filthy, my campsite had a deer feeder that would turn on every so often in the middle of the night and wake me up. Access to the C&O canal towpath was very convenient. A restaurant was also very accessible. Don’t plan on packing too much in, the campsite is not convenient to parking (I knew this before I booked).
Aaron H
VerifiedJanuary 24, 2021 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Had a great winter campout here with Boy Scout Troop 58. Plenty of space to spread out, beautiful scenery right on the river, plentiful firewood, but also a lot of bird activity - beware! Also, the portapotties need to be cleaned out, but since we’re scouts – we didn’t use them anyway.
Stephanie L
VerifiedJanuary 10, 2021 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Loved the location and the site was well equipped for what we needed. It's a little hard to get to, but we brought a wagon and took multiple trips. We did notice a little bit of trash scattered about in the outermost premises of the site, but other than that everything was very neat and tidy on the site itself.
Stephanie M
VerifiedDecember 20, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Nice spacious campsite and great hiking. The bathrooms were filthy.
Sigmund Y
VerifiedNovember 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Overall, this is a good campground that is extremely convenient for those that live in Bethesda/Potomac. Note that one should consider this a hybrid between car camping and backpacking. The parking lot closest to the campground on MacArthur prohibits overnight parking but can be used as a staging area to setup camp. I was disappointed to see a lot of bottles and trash on the grounds area; I picked up over a dozen empty bottles of beer that someone else had littered on the campground. On non-busy weekdays, some campers have gotten away with camping at the grounds for free without a permit. My last complaint is that you can hear loud engine noise from sports cars and trucks driving on Falls Rd and MacArthur. That being said, the grounds themselves have everything that one needs for basic camping including fire pits, bbq racks, and flat spots for tents. The relatively secluded nature of the area minimizes beltway noise. The sites are extremely convenient for Billy Goat Trail hikes.
Sonja K
VerifiedSeptember 13, 2020 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: Marsden Tract Group Campsite
The site was great! I love that this isn't a drive-up campsite, so you have to work a little to get your stuff into it. It helps to emphasize the value of packing light!
Lisa T
VerifiedAugust 8, 2020 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Not having overnight parking nearby wasted hours just dealing with moving the car and making trips. Not handicapped accessible at all. Trail to site and site itself had litter (including tp and panty liner) so I had to clean up other people's potty mess during a pandemic with no running water...glad I brought gloves. Could hear the cars on the road and LOUD airplanes flying over. Beautiful park and love many wonderful trails and views so 3 stars mostly for that, big wooded site with nice flat places for tent, but overall not relaxing time camping due to mess, noise, and parking. We were at site 5.
Clay H
VerifiedJune 21, 2020 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Great camping experience close to DC. Parking is an issue but you can overcome it.
Location Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Address:
142 W. Potomac St.
Williamsport, MD, 21795
United States
You may park at either the Carderock Recreation Area or the gravel lots across from the Anglers Inn Restaurant. We recommend Carderock as it is slightly closer to walk the towpath to the campsite from there. Search "Billy Goat Trail C - North Parking Lot" on Google Maps for the best directions.
From I-495 in Maryland: 1. Take Exit 41 toward Carderock/Great Falls. 2. Merge onto the Clara Barton Pkwy and continue 1 mile to the Carderock exit (on the right is the David Taylor Model Basin-9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817). 3. Take the Carderock exit and at the stop sign, turn left to cross over the Clara Barton Pkwy. Follow the road until you reach a second stop sign. 4. Turn right and continue to the end of the road at Lot 4. Take the short walking path to the canal. Turn upstream and hike about a 1/2 mile.
From I-495 in Virginia: 1. Take Exit 41 (Carderock/Glen Echo) from the American Legion Bridge and at the fork, bear left toward Great Falls/Carderock. 2. Merge onto the Clara Barton Pkwy and continue 1 mile to the Carderock exit (on the right is the David Taylor Model Basin 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817). 3. Take the Carderock exit and at the stop sign, turn left to cross over the Clara Barton Pkwy. Follow the road until you reach a second stop sign. 4. Turn right and continue to the end of the road at Lot 4. Take the short walking path to the canal. Turn upstream and hike about a 1/2 mile.
From Washington (Georgetown): 1. From the intersection of Street and Key Bridge, go west for approximately .5 miles and bear left onto Canal Road. 2. Stay straight on Canal Road which turns into the Clara Barton Pkwy and follow the Clara Barton Pkwy for approximately 9 miles to the Carderock exit (on the right is the David Taylor Model Basin -9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817). 3. Take the Carderock exit and at the stop sign, turn left to cross over the Clara Barton Pkwy. Follow the road until you reach a second stop sign. 4. Turn right and continue to the end of the road at Lot 4. Take the short walking path to the canal. Turn upstream and hike about a 1/2 mile.
Directions from I-270 on reverse side. From I-270: 1. Take I-270 South toward Washington. 2. Keep right to take I-270 Spur South toward I-270/Washington/I-495 /Northern Virginia. 3. I-270 Spur South becomes I-495 South/Capital Beltway. 4. Take Exit 41 toward Carderock/Great Falls. 5. Merge onto the Clara Barton Pkwy and continue 1 mile to the Carderock exit (on the right is the David Taylor Model Basin 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817). 6. Take the Carderock exit and at the stop sign, turn left to cross over the Clara Barton Pkwy. Follow the road until you reach a second stop sign. 7. Turn right and continue to the end of the road at Lot 4. Take the short walking path to the canal. Turn upstream and hike about a 1/2 mile. Park Emergencies: (866) 677-6677 or 911
Latitude & Longitude: 38.9787 / -77.2161
Elevation: 46 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| General |
Parking and Access. Overnight parking is allowed only at the Carderock Recreation Area and the parking lot across from the Angler's Inn. Both parking lots are a one-mile (1.6 km) walk respectively. There is a temporary stopping area on MacArthur Blvd near the intersection of Brickyard Rd. This area may be used to off-load gear and be walked down the hill. However, overnight parking in this area is not permitted. |
| General |
Check-in. You may arrive anytime after check-in time (1:00 pm) regardless of light conditions. There is no campsite host or staff. Just have a copy of your confirmation email available on a phone or printed. If someone is squatting in your campsite and you need law enforcement assistance please call US Park Police - (202) 610-7500. Check-out. Check out time is 12:00 noon ET the day after the reservation. |
| General |
Campfires. Fires are permitted only in established fire rings. Please ensure that your fire is extinguished completely each time you leave the area. |
| General |
Firewood. The cutting or defacing of any live growth is strictly prohibited. Kiln fired or dried wood may be brought into the park. Fallen dead timber in the park may be used for on-site firewood. Bring handsaws to cut fallen wood. Chainsaws are prohibited. Park Rangers reserve the right to ban all fires during periods of drought. |
| General |
Quiet Hours. Please observe quiet hours between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. |
| General |
No Alcohol or Marijuana. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Marijuana is illegal on federal property. |
| General |
Pets. Pets are allowed in the campgrounds. They must be restrained by a 6 ft. leash at all times and their waste must be picked up and taken with the owner. |
| General |
Remove All Trash. The park is a 'Trash Free Park' and trashcans are not provided. Trash must be picked up and the area left in a clean condition before the group departs. Bring trash bags. |
| General |
No Swimming. Swimming and/or wading in the Potomac River or the C&O Canal is extremely dangerous and prohibited by law in this area of the park. |
| General |
Water. The hand pump well is turned on April 15 - October 31 and located up the towpath and across the bridge towards MacArthur Blvd. Please bring water for use if camping between November 1 - April 14. Portable toilets are located near Campsite 1. |
| General |
Emergencies. If someone is "squatting" in the campsite OR for emergencies, please call the National Capital Region Communications Center at 1-866-677-6677. |
