Reviews: Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

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Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

2356 US Highway 17 N
South Mills, NC 27976
AIWW, Dismal Swamp Canal 28

Lat / Lon: N 36° 30.400' / W 076° 21.350'
Contact: Sarah Hill
VHF Monitored: 16
VHF Working: 13
Phone: (252) 771-8333
Fax: (252) 771-2055
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dismalswampwelcomecenter.com

4.53

(15)

4.53 out of 5 stars

Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: Lance Williamson on Nov 9, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.8'

Rating: 5

This is a "must" stop when traveling the Dismal Swamp. The state park visitors center had good info on the Dismal Swamp. The bridge across the canal closes at 4:30 (I think) and is in the open position so that boats can transit the canal even if the center is closed. The dock is at the highway rest stop - bathrooms are open all night. There is an information center that has travel information for the whole state of North Carolina.

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: Capt Maria Langer, Do It Now, on Apr 15, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

This is one of my favorite stops on the Loop so far. The dock is only long enough for 3-4 boats, but when boats came north from the last lock opening for the day, we rafted them 3 deep. The resulting dockside get-together was a ton of fun.

The Welcome Center staff is incredibly friendly. The director even stopped to say hello before leaving for the day; she took photos (with our permission) to put on Facebook. (I sent her a drone shot the next day.)

The whole area is steeped in history. George Washington's company -- when he was in his 30s and worked as a surveyor -- dug some of the original canals in the area in an attempt to drain it for farming. When that didn't work, they logged the area to make shingles and brought the wood out on canal barges. I learned all this in the Dismal Swamp Park Visitor Center across the river. You'll walk across a floating swing bridge to get there. There's also a boardwalk path through the swamp that's a great step into nature.

As for the bugs, I came through in mid-April and it was very warm in the afternoon I arrived. Bugs were not an issue during the day but some mosquitos did come out at night. Certainly not intolerable, but I was told it does get a lot worse.

The rest area restrooms are clean enough. There's no shower and no power. I didn't hunt out the hidden water spigot others have reported so I can't verify it. There is free WiFi, but since my Google Fi hotspot was working well enough for me, I didn't bother to try it.

The only drawback to this place: The one- night limit on stays. I could have stayed longer. I can't wait to come back next spring!

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: Julie Covert on Nov 29, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 78'
Draft: 4.4'

Rating: 5

Although amenities are limited here, the friendliness of the rest area staff is unbounded. Be sure to stop in the rest area center and register your boat, as you'll receive a special "I was here in 20XX Dismal Swam Canal" sticker that is only available to boaters who visit.
Plus, it's cool to say you stopped at the only rest area in the US that serves automotive and marine vessels!

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: Abroad Reach on Nov 13, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 37'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

Nice free dock. Be prepared to raft with others, the night we were there it was four boats deep. Free water but it's been moved to under the dock so it's a little hard to find. It's on the north end of the dock. The restrooms are clean for being a highway rest stop. The Dismal Creek State Park on the other bank is a must-visit and the short and easy boardwalk hike is fun! Plenty of trails on both sides to walk a dog or stretch your legs!

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: David Rowe on Sep 6, 2022
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Nice free dock along the ditch. No power, but there is a hidden water hose bib near the northern end of the dock, about 1/4-1/3 of the way in from the end. They hid it to avoid problems with people who wanted to cause trouble by turning it on and walking away (this is a highway rest area, after all). If you look for it, you will find it.

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: Bruce Krizmanic, S/V Inspiration, on Aug 30, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.7'

Rating: 4

We spent two nights here to explore, interesting place but rough getting here and leaving. We hit several submerged logs traveling at under 4kts with a 4.5' draft. It was on our bucket list but it's now once and done.

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: Brian Wicks on Apr 12, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 2.0'

Rating: 4

Great dock to tie up to for the night with clean facilities. No electricity and no water. Nice area to walk the dog. Great staff in the welcome center. Love the dismal swamp - what a historic experience!

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: Capt. Sterling on Jul 31, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great stop, T Mobile worked.

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: David Merchberger, Slo Pace, on Jul 22, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.8'

Rating: 5

Wonderful free dock along the canal. Co-located with a highway rest stop, but not really an issue. Staff in welcome center couldn't be nicer. Adjacent state park has nice trails to stretch your legs.

Room for three 40 foot boats along the fixed dock. No power/water. Canal wide enough to raft three abreast in needed.

Remember to go SLOW along the canal and enjoy the experience.

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: Bruce Stewart, Escape, on Apr 28, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 5

Nice stop for a slow crossing of the Swamp.

Visitor Center (just east of the dock) has great and helpful staff, bathrooms were clean, nice walking trails in the park (across the foot bridge) of just down the the east tow path.

The listed water hose bib is hard to find - look at far north end of the dock, below the decking level (10 ft' from north end 8" below decking, lean over the canal and look down)

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: Rob Dare, Liberty Call , on Apr 19, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 46'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

This is a great stop in the Dismal Swamp. Free Dock with room for four boats and more with rafting up. Docks are in great shape and WiFi is available. The welcome center staff are very friendly and helpful. Lots of trails to walk a dog.

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: Bob Cormier, Little Lady, on Jul 22, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

One of the best stops on the ICW. Friendly personnel at the center. A welcome center has restrooms, water fountains, a small gift shop and traveler info. Lots of walking trails and rental bikes and kayaks. A great museum there also. Can’t say enough good about this stop.

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: Sandra Kay on Nov 11, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

We frequently travel the Dismal Swamp Canal, stopping at the Welcome Center. The facilities are very nice, clean, safe, and open/attended, all the time. The Center is closed on Sundays, but the docks are always available. When open it is a nice center with an accompanying foot bridge across the canal to a small wildlife museum, and walking/biking paths. Although we motor south late in the season, this year there were other boaters that rafted with us. This was no problem for us and the comradery with the other boaters was also enjoyable. The lock masters and the Welcome Center staff work together to help keep everyone informed of the number of boater leaving a location and expected at the next. Along the canal keep your eyes open to avoid floating limbs. The canal was beautiful and easy to maneuver.

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: Terrance Godbold on May 6, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 3

This is a free wall hence, no power or water. Room for about 4 boats on the wall after which time you must raft. Also, it is remote. All in all, this is a good stop prior to getting into Portsmouth.

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Review for Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center

Reviewed by: Lucy Wilcox, Independence, on Nov 9, 2017
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 38'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

We pulled in November 3, 2017. There is space for about 4 cruising boats to tie directly to the dock. Additional boats raft up. No power or water at the dock, but clean restrooms and a water fountain are available. This is a highway rest stop as well as a State Park. There are plenty of options for pets and people to stretch their legs and learn about the history of the area. The Dismal Swamp is slow-going, so this is a great stop to break the trip before Norfolk and Elizabeth City.

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