# Western Maryland: Antietam, the C&O Canal and Swallow Falls

> 3-day road trip of about 232 km (144 mi) with 7 stops, from Frederick to Oakland. About 2 h 35 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b20-western-maryland/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 232 km (144 mi) with 7 stops, from Frederick to Oakland. About 2 h 35 min of driving in total. From Frederick over South Mountain to Antietam, along the Potomac and the C&O Canal to Cumberland, then up to the waterfalls of Garrett County.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 232 km (144 mi) |
| Driving | 2 h 35 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 7 |
| Route | Frederick → Oakland |
| States | MD |
| Updated | April 30, 2026 |

## Route description

Frederick has a handsome downtown of church spires and brick rowhouses along Carroll Creek. Leave west on Alt US-40 over South Mountain, where the old National Road crosses the Appalachian Trail at Turner’s Gap, then turn south on MD-34 to Sharpsburg and Antietam National Battlefield, about 40 minutes. Drive the tour road and walk down to Burnside Bridge and the sunken farm lane known as Bloody Lane.

From Sharpsburg drive north to I-70 and west to Fort Frederick State Park near Big Pool, about 40 minutes. The stone walls and barracks date from the French and Indian War, and the C&O Canal towpath runs alongside, good for a flat walk or bike ride by the Potomac. West of Hancock, the I-68 road cut through Sideling Hill shows folded rock layers beside the highway.

For the Paw Paw Tunnel, the quickest way from Hancock is to cross into West Virginia on US-522 and follow WV-9 west to Paw Paw, then cross the river bridge to the tunnel lot on MD-51, about an hour. The walk through the tunnel and back takes about an hour. Then follow MD-51 north along the Potomac to Cumberland, a railroad town at the end of the C&O Canal and the Great Allegheny Passage trail.

West of Cumberland, I-68 and US-219 climb onto the Allegheny Plateau to Deep Creek Lake, the largest lake in Maryland, lined with vacation homes and a state park beach. Swallow Falls State Park is just north of Oakland, with Muddy Creek Falls and a loop through old hemlocks. Oakland is a small railroad town with a restored station. The route is about 290 km; snow is common here from December to March.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Frederick** (MD)
2. **Antietam National Battlefield** (Sharpsburg, MD): Site of the bloodiest single day in American history, 17 September 1862, with an 8.5-mile tour road past Bloody Lane and Burnside Bridge. Park entrance fee; the tour road has pull-offs with room for RVs.
3. **Fort Frederick State Park** (Big Pool, MD): A stone fort from 1756, built during the French and Indian War and restored with barracks, beside the C&O Canal towpath. Small entry fee; a quiet campground lies near the Potomac.
4. **Paw Paw Tunnel, C&O Canal** (Paw Paw, MD): A 3,118-foot canal tunnel lined with some six million bricks, finished in 1850. From the lot on MD-51 a flat towpath walk leads through it; bring a flashlight, as the path is narrow and often wet.
5. **Cumberland** (MD)
6. **Swallow Falls State Park** (Oakland, MD): Muddy Creek Falls, at 53 feet the highest free-falling waterfall in Maryland, plus smaller falls on the Youghiogheny along a 1.25-mile loop through old hemlocks. Park fee; the lots fill on summer weekends.
7. **Oakland** (MD)

## FAQs

**How long is Western Maryland: Antietam, the C&O Canal and Swallow Falls?**
3-day road trip of about 232 km (144 mi) with 7 stops, from Frederick to Oakland. About 2 h 35 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Western Maryland: Antietam, the C&O Canal and Swallow Falls?**
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 35 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Western Maryland: Antietam, the C&O Canal and Swallow Falls start and end?**
It starts in Frederick and ends in Oakland.

**Which states does Western Maryland: Antietam, the C&O Canal and Swallow Falls pass through?**
Maryland.