Openings · last 7 days
1
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 1 site opening here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-251544
When Marsden Tract Group Campsite reopens
Marsden Tract Group Campsite's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
7
Openings · last 90 days
9
Only 9 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027 · of 6 monitored sites
Of the 1,098 tracked site-nights (Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027): 1,028 open for online reservation · 70 reserved.
Where the open windows are
6.4% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 1,028 of 1,098 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027Not open online6.4%
Open site-nights1,028 / 1,098
Reserved (of online inventory)70 / 1,098
Weekday openings628
Weekend openings400
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 628 fall on weekdays and 400 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Nov 2026 – May 2027January holds the most room. 186 of 186 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 6 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 5 | Open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 4 | Open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 4 | Open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 6 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 6 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 6 | Open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 6 | Open | |
| Memorial Day | FRI May 28 | 0 | None open |
| SAT May 29 | 0 | None open | |
| SUN May 30 | 0 | None open | |
| MON May 31 | 0 | None open |
Thanksgiving: 4 sites are available for the complete three-night stay. Christmas: 6 sites are available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: 6 sites are available for the complete two-night stay. Memorial Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 002 | 174 |
| 004 | 174 |
| 003 | 172 |
| 001 | 171 |
| 006 | 169 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Nov 2, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Nov 2
Next open weekendFri · Nov 13
The next bookable night is Nov 2; the first open weekend starts Nov 13. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
1,028 open site-nights across 6 sites at Marsden Tract Group Campsite, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 41 2-night, 38 3-night, 15 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Nov 2 at site 001.
All 6 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Not recorded | None | 174 | 149 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18 +162 more |
| 004 | Not recorded | None | 174 | 145 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 13, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17 +162 more |
| 003 | Not recorded | None | 172 | 124 nights | Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19 +160 more |
| 001 | Not recorded | None | 171 | 124 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18 +159 more |
| 006 | Not recorded | None | 169 | 96 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 13, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17 +157 more |
| 005 | Not recorded | None | 168 | 103 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 13, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17 +156 more |
About Marsden Tract Group Campsite
Overview
Scouts built the Marsden Tract Group Campground to provide access to larger campsites within easy commuting distance of the D.C. Metro area. It is located at Mile 11.5 on the C&O Canal Towpath, between the Carderock Recreation Area and the historic Old Anglers Inn (private).
The group campsites are nestled in the woods between the Canal and the Potomac River and they are a short distance from many recreational opportunities. Fishing, rock climbing, paddling and hiking are but a few possibilities while staying at Marsden Tract. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Recreation
The most popular activity for Marsden Tract campers is hiking the three sections (A, B and C) of the Billy Goat Trail, one of the most popular and challenging rock hikes in the east. There are also many woodland trails for beginners and experts alike. Fishing is also a popular pastime in both the C&O Canal and the Potomac River. Be sure to acquire a Maryland fishing license for those age 16 or older. Virginia licenses are approved for fishing in the Potomac only.
Facilities
The campground has six group campsites; all will accommodate up to 30 campers at each site. Each campsite has a picnic table and a fire ring. Potable water is located a short walk up the towpath and across the footbridge heading towards MacArthur Blvd (water may not be available during cold winter months). Portable toilets are located near Campsite 1.
No vehicle traffic is allowed on the towpath and access to the campsites is by foot only.
Carderock Recreation Area or Angler's Inn are the two closest parking areas. Each is a one-mile walk respectively. There are flush toilets located at the Angler's parking area. 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.
Natural Features
Marsden Tract Group Campsite is just south of the Great Falls of the Potomac and Mather Gorge. These two stunning features provide an excellent example of local geology while showing the sheer force and power of nature.
Nearby Attractions
Marsden Tract Group Campsite is located about 14 miles (22.5 km) outside of Washington, D.C., providing affordable camping near the nation's capital. Many campers will base out of Marsden to see the sites such as the Smithsonian Institution, National Mall, Capitol and The White House.
6 monitored sitesNo hookups6 shadedWaterfrontRiverfrontPets OKFire pitsMax party 30
Getting there
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
142 W. Potomac St., Williamsport, MD 21795
BikingCampingHiking
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-251544 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-251544 · Marsden Tract Group Campsite · Williamsport MD12 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Marsden Tract Group Campsite?
Reservations for Marsden Tract Group Campsite are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 1,028 of 1,098 tracked site-nights are open (93.6%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 9 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Nov 2, 2026 18:20 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Marsden Tract Group Campsite?
Campsite Sniper detected 1 site-date opening at Marsden Tract Group Campsite in the last 7 days, 7 over 30 days and 9 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Marsden Tract Group Campsite?
38 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Nov 2 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Marsden Tract Group Campsite?
January 2027, with 186 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 186.
When is the next open date at Marsden Tract Group Campsite?
As of the Nov 2, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Nov 2 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Nov 13. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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