Home / Rivers / Potomac River
405 miles

Potomac River

Formed from branches in the West Virginia and Virginia highlands, the Potomac flows past Cumberland, Hancock, Harpers Ferry and Shepherdstown, over the falls above Washington, D.C., then widens into a tidal estuary to the Chesapeake.

N20 mi
Course of the river, simplified. Orange dots are boat ramps and launches, blue squares are bait shops. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Weather at the Potomac River (National Weather Service) ↗

River facts

Length405 miles
SourceNorth Branch at Fairfax Stone, WV; South Branch near Hightown, VA
MouthChesapeake Bay between Point Lookout, MD and Smith Point, VA
StatesMaryland, Virginia

Jennings Randolph Dam on the North Branch, plus Dam No. 4 and Little Falls Dam on the main stem.

Boat ramps and launches

Orange dots on the map. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps. Public ramps and launches along the Potomac River in Virginia, from OpenStreetMap. The list may be incomplete, so check the state wildlife agency for current access.

Closest bait shops

Blue squares on the map. Tap a name to open the shop's website, or its location in Google Maps if it has none listed. Bait and tackle shops closest to the river's ramps, from OpenStreetMap. Call ahead for hours and live bait.

Fishing regulations

Check the state agency for river-specific rules, seasons and limits before you fish:

Facts from Potomac River (Wikipedia) ↗ · Boat ramps and bait shops: OpenStreetMap contributors · River course: U.S. Geological Survey

← Maryland rivers · All rivers

View on interactive map

Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map to follow the river past roads and towns. Red pins are boat ramps and launches; blue pins are bait shops. Tap a pin for directions.

Printing is disabled. © Max Creel™. All rights reserved.