About Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Number of accommodations: 6
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Fishing
Hiking
Paddling
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Parking
Pet friendly
Cooking and Fire
- Campfire Ring
- Firewood Available
Parking and Transport
- Parking
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Reviews (88)
What Guests Are Saying
Marsden Tract Group Campsite offers a well-separated and clean site with ample firewood and nearby porta potties. While the steep hill for unloading can be challenging and water was unavailable in early April, the campsite is easily accessible and provides various activities like fishing and hiking. Overall, it’s a comfortable and enjoyable location for group camping experiences.
What Guests Are Saying
Marsden Tract Group Campsite offers a well-separated and clean site with ample firewood and nearby porta potties. While the steep hill for unloading can be challenging and water was unavailable in early April, the campsite is easily accessible and provides various activities like fishing and hiking. Overall, it’s a comfortable and enjoyable location for group camping experiences.
Review Summary
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 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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
Marsden Tract Group Campsite is accessible via I-495 (Capital Beltway) and the Clara Barton Parkway. The campground is located approximately 1 mile from the Clara Barton Parkway's Carderock exit.
Latitude & Longitude: 38.9787 / -77.2161
Elevation: 46 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
1PM
Check out time
12PM
- You can arrive anytime after check-in time with proof of your reservation, but there is no staff on-site.
- For squatters or emergencies, contact the National Capital Region Communications Center.
Vehicles & parking
- Overnight parking is allowed only in designated areas and is not permitted in the temporary stopping area.
Fires & fuel
- Campfires are allowed only in designated fire rings and must be fully extinguished before leaving.
- Cutting live plants is prohibited; you may use fallen timber for firewood and bring dried wood, but chainsaws are not allowed.
Safety & rules
- Quiet hours must be observed at the campsite.
- All trash must be removed by visitors; no trashcans are provided.
- Swimming and wading in the Potomac River and C&O Canal are prohibited due to safety concerns.
Local regulations
- Alcohol and marijuana are prohibited at the campsite.
Pets
- Pets must be leashed and their waste must be removed by owners.
Utilities
- Water from the hand pump well is available from April 15 to October 31; bring your own water from November 1 to April 14.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 4, 2026
