Despite its impressive size and age, the Great Dismal Swamp remains a mystery to most, but still an American gem. See why George Washington, Robert Frost and many others were lured by Nature’s backdrop of emerald draping vines and sweet warbles of the songbirds which call the swamp “home”.

The modern day swamp retains its mystery, but we are able to explore its secrets, without the hardships endured by the pioneering spirits that sought to tame it. Home to one of the largest Black Bear populations on the East Coast, subtropical birds, butterflies, bobcats and white-tailed deer, it is easily understood why this land deserves our protection.

The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center and Dismal Swamp State Park are ideally located on US Hwy 17N, in South Mills, NC, 3 miles from the NC/VA border. Neighboring Elizabeth City, 15 miles to the south, provides many lodging venues. Camden County enjoys some great local eateries with home-cooking and also a campground.

View this great video to get a feel for the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JP5seN9sRg .

The Dismal Swamp Canal is an alternate route along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, connecting the Chesapeake Bay with the Albemarle Sound. The canal has a controlled depth of 6 foot and details of water levels can be viewed here. The AIWW provides pleasure boats with a protected inland channel between Norfolk, Virginia, all the way to Miami, Florida. The Canal is on the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic Landmark, noted as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, and has received the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Designation. The Welcome Center is home to a 150’ face dock that provides a rest stop to nearly 2,000 boaters yearly. Boaters are welcome to spend the night at the dock. There are no electric hook-ups but clean restrooms are open 24 hours a day. We invite boaters to stop in and sign the special Boater’s Log and pick up other boating information.

The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center provides a friendly face and tourism information to the traveling public. Whether by water or by land, the staff at this lovely complex aims to please, and assist with a variety of services.