Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center

Enter at 11710 MacArthur Boulevard, pay or show a valid pass, park in the main lot, and follow signs to the white tavern beside the canal.

Use the entrance-station parking at Great Falls Tavern. The lot fills on pleasant weekends and during high-water viewing; arrive near opening, and never park on MacArthur Boulevard or block emergency access.

The building is currently open Wednesday-Sunday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and closes Monday, Tuesday, and listed holidays. Outdoor park access, entrance staffing, boat rides, and trail conditions use separate schedules.

Accessible restrooms and drinking water are available at the visitor complex during posted hours.

The Great Falls Tavern area is the C&O Canal park's fee area. Current standard passes cost $10-$20 by entry type and the annual Great Falls pass is $35; the site is cashless. Seasonal launch-boat tickets are free but limited and first-come.

Great Falls Tavern and its restrooms are wheelchair accessible, wheelchairs may be available, and the 0.25-mile Olmsted Island boardwalk is described as ADA accessible. Billy Goat Trail A is strenuous scrambling and is not an accessible route.

Leashed pets are allowed on much of the towpath but are prohibited on Olmsted Island, the Great Falls boardwalk and overlook, Billy Goat Trail Section A, and inside park buildings. Carried pets do not bypass those restrictions.

The Tavern, canal locks, towpath, Junior Ranger materials, and Olmsted overlook work well for many families. Billy Goat A requires rock scrambling beside cliffs and fast water and should only be chosen for capable, closely supervised hikers.

The building is currently open Wednesday-Sunday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and closes Monday, Tuesday, and listed holidays. Outdoor park access, entrance staffing, boat rides, and trail conditions use separate schedules.

There is no practical direct public transit to the Great Falls Tavern entrance. Rideshare pickup and cellular service can be unreliable; arrange the return before arriving.