Mail Drop Information
Below are notes from past thru-hikers.
Last Update 03/24/12
For summer gear get it sent around Pearisburg, then get your
winter gear back around Hanover
--------
Some mail drops that are convenient:
Neels Gap (charge a buck)
Budget Inn in Hiawassee
Budget inn in Franklin
Fontana Dam
Grand Prix Motel in Gatlinburg
Hot Springs
Damascus
Pearisburg
Daleville
Waynesboro (trail angel will pick you up, you want to go into town here anyway, very nice stop)
Harper's Ferry (post office is close and stores are far, far away)
Boiling Springs
Doyle Hotel at Duncannon
Curious, what kinda Master Blaster you be? Not the crazy sort that jumps out of airplanes.
Neels Gap (charge a buck)
Budget Inn in Hiawassee
Budget inn in Franklin
Fontana Dam
Grand Prix Motel in Gatlinburg
Hot Springs
Damascus
Pearisburg
Daleville
Waynesboro (trail angel will pick you up, you want to go into town here anyway, very nice stop)
Harper's Ferry (post office is close and stores are far, far away)
Boiling Springs
Doyle Hotel at Duncannon
Curious, what kinda Master Blaster you be? Not the crazy sort that jumps out of airplanes.
-------
Definitely send to hotels or outfitters as much as possible.
Better hours than Post Offices! And if you use flat rate boxes for anything you
might want to send ahead or send back or bounce around, you don't have to go to
a post office to mail them. Just get online and print a mailing label and then
leave it at the hostel or outfitter to be picked up. Worked great for me!
I had friends and family in several places on the trail so there are stretches here with no clear mail drop, but this is what I did (oh and I flip-flopped so the drops start in VA)
Cavern Inn -Luray, VA (not necessary) (had to get a shuttle to Luray - if I did it again I would go straight through the Shenandoahs without a maildrop)
Outfitter in Harpers Ferry (right on trail)
Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, VA (right on trail)
Garden Center near Pawling, NY (right on the trail)
Tyringham Post Office, MA (a little bit of a side hike, I think)
Mountain Meadows Lodge - Kent, VT (right on the trail)
Outfitter in Hanover, NH (right on trail, practically)
Libby House B&B (The Barn) - Gorham, NH (had to hitch)
Shaw's in Monson, ME (no hitching needed)
(Then flipped back to VA)
Barn Restaurant near I-81 in VA (right on trail)
Outfitter in Damascus, VA (right on trail)
Uncle Johnny's (Erwin, TN - right on trail)
Outfitter in Hot Springs, NC (right on trail)
Fontana Village P.O. (got a ride)
Haven's Budget Inn, Franklin (got a ride from Ron Haven)
Neel's Gap (right on trail)
Hope this helps - remember you don't have to send your stuff to a PO!
Cheers!
Zipper
VA-ME VA-GA '09
I had friends and family in several places on the trail so there are stretches here with no clear mail drop, but this is what I did (oh and I flip-flopped so the drops start in VA)
Cavern Inn -Luray, VA (not necessary) (had to get a shuttle to Luray - if I did it again I would go straight through the Shenandoahs without a maildrop)
Outfitter in Harpers Ferry (right on trail)
Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, VA (right on trail)
Garden Center near Pawling, NY (right on the trail)
Tyringham Post Office, MA (a little bit of a side hike, I think)
Mountain Meadows Lodge - Kent, VT (right on the trail)
Outfitter in Hanover, NH (right on trail, practically)
Libby House B&B (The Barn) - Gorham, NH (had to hitch)
Shaw's in Monson, ME (no hitching needed)
(Then flipped back to VA)
Barn Restaurant near I-81 in VA (right on trail)
Outfitter in Damascus, VA (right on trail)
Uncle Johnny's (Erwin, TN - right on trail)
Outfitter in Hot Springs, NC (right on trail)
Fontana Village P.O. (got a ride)
Haven's Budget Inn, Franklin (got a ride from Ron Haven)
Neel's Gap (right on trail)
Hope this helps - remember you don't have to send your stuff to a PO!
Cheers!
Zipper
VA-ME VA-GA '09
--------
I can tell you that Troutville (right by the AT) and Waynesboro Manchester
The church atCheshire PO is right
there at the corner.
The Sunset Lodge inHanover PO , but there is a
good co-op grocery store on the way out of town (a little pricey though)
No drop in the Whites? You can send either to Crawford Notch campground or Pinkham Notch.
The church at
The Sunset Lodge in
No drop in the Whites? You can send either to Crawford Notch campground or Pinkham Notch.
-------
I had my girlfriend send mine out around 10-14 days out.
Don't forget to write your real last name in bold letters on a couple adjacent
outside walls of the box since thats how the clerks look for packages on the
shelf.
Remember too, if anyone sends you a General Delivery letter or card along the way be sure to ask for it specifically since these are stored separately from parcels/boxes in the post office. I learned this after a sharp postal clerk told me about it.
Remember too, if anyone sends you a General Delivery letter or card along the way be sure to ask for it specifically since these are stored separately from parcels/boxes in the post office. I learned this after a sharp postal clerk told me about it.
-------
I liked getting my drops at:
NOC- hit or miss food stuff here
Fontana Dam- Can't rely on convenience store being stocked
Pearisburg, WV (Gear Swap - COLD gear OUT)
Harpers Ferry- It's just a big hassle for re-supply here. The bus system sucks too.
Glencliff , NH
(Gear Swap - COLD GEAR IN)
Hanover, NH (Gear Swap - COLD GEAR IN)
Pinkham Notch
Visitors Center
(Front Desk)
Caratunk , ME-
NOC- hit or miss food stuff here
Fontana Dam- Can't rely on convenience store being stocked
Pearisburg, WV (Gear Swap - COLD gear OUT)
Harpers Ferry- It's just a big hassle for re-supply here. The bus system sucks too.
Hanover, NH (Gear Swap - COLD GEAR IN)
-------
I'd do it at:
Neel Gap
NOC - the outfitter
Fontana Dam if not staying at the Hike Inn (they shuttle to Robbinsville)
Harper's Ferry - ATC office
DWG - po is right there
Salisbury - only b/c the grocery store there is really expensive, imo, and the po is right there, but that's up to you
Glencliff
You can send yourself a drop to the store at Crawford Notch if you want
Pinkham Notch - AMC
Caratunk po
Port Clinton now has a Wally World (I used to drop there) and a buffet place.
Neel Gap
NOC - the outfitter
Fontana Dam if not staying at the Hike Inn (they shuttle to Robbinsville)
Harper's Ferry - ATC office
DWG - po is right there
Salisbury - only b/c the grocery store there is really expensive, imo, and the po is right there, but that's up to you
Glencliff
You can send yourself a drop to the store at Crawford Notch if you want
Pinkham Notch - AMC
Caratunk po
Port Clinton now has a Wally World (I used to drop there) and a buffet place.
-------
COLD WEATHER GEAR SWITCH
Usually Pearisburg VA and Hanover
NH
-------
Convenient Mail Drops
--------
Wesser, NC (c/o NOC)
Fontana Dam, NC
Hot Springs, NC(c/o ELMER”S)
Erwin, TN (c/o Uncle Johnny’s)
Damascus, VA
Bland, VA (c/o Big Walker Motel)
Pearisburg, VA (c/o Rendezvous Motel)
Troutville, VA (c/o Red Roof Inn)
Waynesboro, VA
Harpers Ferry, WV (c/o ATC HQs)
Duncannon, PA (c/o Doyle Hotel)
Port Clinton, PA
Delaware Water Gap, PA
Bear Mountain, NY
Kent, CT
Cheshire, MA (c/o St. Mary Church
Manchester Ctr, VT
Hanover, NH (c/o Sunset Motor Lodge)
Glencliff, NH
Gorham, NH (c/o The Barn)
Andover, ME (c/o Pine Ellis Lodging)
Stratton, ME (c/o Stratton Motel)
Monson. ME (c/o Shaw’s Lodging)
----------
Definitely send to hotels or outfitters as much as possible. Better hours than Post Offices! And if you use flat rate boxes for anything you might want to send ahead or send back or bounce around, you don't have to go to a post office to mail them. Just get online and print a mailing label and then leave it at the hostel or outfitter to be picked up. Worked great for me!
I had friends and family in several places on the trail so there are stretches here with no clear mail drop, but this is what I did (oh and I flip-flopped so the drops start in VA)
Cavern Inn -Luray, VA (not necessary) (had to get a shuttle to Luray - if I did it again I would go straight through the Shenandoahs without a maildrop)
Outfitter in Harpers Ferry (right on trail)
Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, VA (right on trail)
Garden Center near Pawling, NY (right on the trail)
Tyringham Post Office, MA (a little bit of a side hike, I think)
Mountain Meadows Lodge - Kent, VT (right on the trail)
Outfitter in Hanover, NH (right on trail, practically)
Libby House B&B (The Barn) - Gorham, NH (had to hitch)
Shaw's in Monson, ME (no hitching needed)
(Then flipped back to VA)
Barn Restaurant near I-81 in VA (right on trail)
Outfitter in Damascus, VA (right on trail)
Uncle Johnny's (Erwin, TN - right on trail)
Outfitter in Hot Springs, NC (right on trail)
Fontana Village P.O. (got a ride)
Haven's Budget Inn, Franklin (got a ride from Ron Haven)
Neel's Gap (right on trail)
Hope this helps - remember you don't have to send your stuff to a PO!
Cheers!
Zipper
VA-ME VA-GA '09
----------
---------
Below CHART apparently current as of 03/27/12
Convenient Mail Drops
Neels Gap (charge a buck)
Budget Inn in Hiawassee
Budget inn in Franklin
Fontana Dam
Grand Prix Motel in Gatlinburg
Hot Springs
Damascus
Pearisburg
Daleville
Waynesboro (trail angel will pick you up, you want to go into town here anyway, very nice stop)
Harper's Ferry (post office is close and stores are far, far away)
Boiling Springs
Doyle Hotel at Duncannon
Budget Inn in Hiawassee
Budget inn in Franklin
Fontana Dam
Grand Prix Motel in Gatlinburg
Hot Springs
Damascus
Pearisburg
Daleville
Waynesboro (trail angel will pick you up, you want to go into town here anyway, very nice stop)
Harper's Ferry (post office is close and stores are far, far away)
Boiling Springs
Doyle Hotel at Duncannon
--------
Wesser, NC (c/o NOC)
Fontana Dam, NC
Hot Springs, NC(c/o ELMER”S)
Erwin, TN (c/o Uncle Johnny’s)
Damascus, VA
Bland, VA (c/o Big Walker Motel)
Pearisburg, VA (c/o Rendezvous Motel)
Troutville, VA (c/o Red Roof Inn)
Waynesboro, VA
Harpers Ferry, WV (c/o ATC HQs)
Duncannon, PA (c/o Doyle Hotel)
Port Clinton, PA
Delaware Water Gap, PA
Bear Mountain, NY
Kent, CT
Cheshire, MA (c/o St. Mary Church
Manchester Ctr, VT
Hanover, NH (c/o Sunset Motor Lodge)
Glencliff, NH
Gorham, NH (c/o The Barn)
Andover, ME (c/o Pine Ellis Lodging)
Stratton, ME (c/o Stratton Motel)
Monson. ME (c/o Shaw’s Lodging)
----------
Definitely send to hotels or outfitters as much as possible. Better hours than Post Offices! And if you use flat rate boxes for anything you might want to send ahead or send back or bounce around, you don't have to go to a post office to mail them. Just get online and print a mailing label and then leave it at the hostel or outfitter to be picked up. Worked great for me!
I had friends and family in several places on the trail so there are stretches here with no clear mail drop, but this is what I did (oh and I flip-flopped so the drops start in VA)
Cavern Inn -Luray, VA (not necessary) (had to get a shuttle to Luray - if I did it again I would go straight through the Shenandoahs without a maildrop)
Outfitter in Harpers Ferry (right on trail)
Doyle Hotel, Duncannon, VA (right on trail)
Garden Center near Pawling, NY (right on the trail)
Tyringham Post Office, MA (a little bit of a side hike, I think)
Mountain Meadows Lodge - Kent, VT (right on the trail)
Outfitter in Hanover, NH (right on trail, practically)
Libby House B&B (The Barn) - Gorham, NH (had to hitch)
Shaw's in Monson, ME (no hitching needed)
(Then flipped back to VA)
Barn Restaurant near I-81 in VA (right on trail)
Outfitter in Damascus, VA (right on trail)
Uncle Johnny's (Erwin, TN - right on trail)
Outfitter in Hot Springs, NC (right on trail)
Fontana Village P.O. (got a ride)
Haven's Budget Inn, Franklin (got a ride from Ron Haven)
Neel's Gap (right on trail)
Hope this helps - remember you don't have to send your stuff to a PO!
Cheers!
Zipper
VA-ME VA-GA '09
----------
---------
Below CHART apparently current as of 03/27/12
| Post Office Location | Alternate Location | Miles from Previous Town | Total Miles |
| Suches, GA 30572 | |||
| Blairsville, GA 30512 | Mountain Crossings | 10.6 | 30.7 |
| Helen, GA 30545 | 20.2 | 50.9 | |
| Hiawassee, GA 30546 | 16.6 | 67.5 | |
| Franklin, NC 28734 | 40.1 | 107.6 | |
| Bryson City, NC 28713 | 27.3 | 134.9 | |
| Fontana Dam, NC 28733 | The Hike Inn | 27.6 | 162.5 |
| Gatlinburg, TN 37738 | The Happy Hiker | 42.1 | 204.6 |
| Newport, TN 37821 | 30.2 | 234.8 | |
| Hot Springs, NC 28743 | Bluff Mountain Outfitters | 36.9 | 271.7 |
| Greeneville, TN 37743 | Hemlock Hollow* | ||
| Erwin, TN 37650 | Uncle Johnny’s Nolichucky Hostel | 68.1 | 339.8 |
| Unicoi, TN 37692 | 19.1 | 358.9 | |
| Elk Park, NC 28622 | 27.7 | 386.6 | |
| Roan Mountain, TN 37687 | Mountain Harbour* | 0 | 386.6 |
| Hampton, TN 37658 | 33.2 | 419.8 | |
| Shady Valley, TN 37688 | 26.5 | 446.3 | |
| Damascus, VA 24236 | Sundog Outfitters | 14.8 | 461.1 |
| Whitetop, VA 24292 | 21.3 | 482.4 | |
| Troutdale, VA 24378 | 27.9 | 510.3 | |
| Sugar Grove, VA 24375 | 14.6 | 524.9 | |
| Marion, VA 24354 | 0 | 524.9 | |
| Atkins, VA 24311 | 11.5 | 536.4 | |
| Bastian, VA 24314 | 44.7 | 581.1 | |
| Bland, VA 24315 | 0 | 581.1 | |
| Pearisburg, VA 24134 | 42.9 | 624.0 | |
| Catawba, VA 24070 | 72.9 | 696.9 | |
| Daleville, VA 24083 | Outdoor Trails | 19.8 | 716.7 |
| Cloverdale, VA 24077 | 0 | 716.7 | |
| Troutville , VA 24175 | 1.5 | 718.2 | |
| Buchanan, VA 24066 | 20.1 | 738.3 | |
| Big Island, VA 24526 | 35.1 | 773.4 | |
| Glasgow, VA 24555 | 0 | 773.4 | |
| Buena Vista, VA 24416 | 21.8 | 795.2 | |
| Lexington, VA 24450 | 0 | 795.2 | |
| Montebello, VA 24464 | Dutch Haus B & B | 16.3 | 811.5 |
| Waynesboro, VA 22980 | 39.0 | 850.5 | |
| Elkton, VA 22827 | 44.8 | 895.3 | |
| Luray, VA 22835 | 34.6 | 929.9 | |
| Front Royal, VA 22630 | 27.7 | 957.6 | |
| Linden, VA 22642 | 6.3 | 963.9 | |
| Bluemont, VA 20135 | 27.7 | 991.6 | |
| Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 | Harpers Ferry Hostel | 20.0 | 1011.6 |
| Boonsboro, MD 21713 | 17.4 | 1029.0 | |
| Smithsburg, MD 21783 | Free State Hiker Hostel* | 13.5 | 1042.5 |
| Cascade, MD 21719 | 10.0 | 1052.3 | |
| Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214 | 2.8 | 1055.1 | |
| Waynesboro, PA 17268 | 0 | 1055.1 | |
| South Mountain, PA 17261 | 10.6 | 1065.7 | |
| Fayetteville, PA 17222 | 4.7 | 1070.4 | |
| Mt. Holly Springs, PA 17065 | 30.5 | 1100.9 | |
| Boiling Springs, PA 17007 | 8.8 | 1109.7 | |
| Duncannon, PA 17020 | The Doyle Hotel* | 25.6 | 1135.3 |
| Pine Grove, PA 17963 | 46.3 | 1181.6 | |
| Port Clinton, PA 19549 | 23.7 | 1205.3 | |
| Hamburg, PA 19526 | 0.7 | 1206.0 | |
| Slatington, PA 18080 | 39.3 | 1245.3 | |
| Walnutport, PA 18088 | 0.3 | 1245.6 | |
| Palmerton, PA 18071 | 0 | 1245.6 | |
| Danielsville, PA 18038 | 5.0 | 1250.6 | |
| Wind Gap, PA 18091 | 15.4 | 1266.0 | |
| Delaware Water Gap, PA 18327 | 15.8 | 1281.8 | |
| Branchville, NJ 07826 | 28.2 | 1310.0 | |
| Unionville, NY 10988 | 23.1 | 1333.1 | |
| Glenwood, NJ 07418 | 9.5 | 1342.6 | |
| Vernon, NJ 07462 | 2.3 | 1344.9 | |
| Greenwood Lake, NY 10925 | 11.6 | 1356.5 | |
| Bellvale, NY 10912 | 3.4 | 1359.9 | |
| Warwick, NY 10990 | 0 | 1359.9 | |
| Arden, NY 10910 | 12.0 | 1371.9 | |
| Southfields, NY 10975 | 0 | 1371.9 | |
| Bear Mountain, NY 10911 | 17.8 | 1389.7 | |
| Ft. Montgomery, NY 10922 | 0.8 | 1390.5 | |
| Peekskill, NY 10566 | 5.8 | 1396.3 | |
| Stormville, NY 12582 | 24.5 | 1420.8 | |
| Poughquag, NY 12570 | 7.2 | 1428.0 | |
| Pawling, NY 12564 | 5.0 | 1433.0 | |
| Wingdale, NY 12594 | 9.2 | 1442.2 | |
| Gaylordsville, CT 06755 | 0.7 | 1442.9 | |
| Kent, CT 06757 | 10.8 | 1453.7 | |
| Cornwall Bridge, CT 06754 | 11.1 | 1464.8 | |
| West Cornwall, CT 06796 | 4.8 | 1469.6 | |
| Sharon, CT 06069 | 0 | 1469.6 | |
| Falls Village, CT 06031 | 9.3 | 1478.9 | |
| Salisbury, CT 06068 | 7.5 | 1486.4 | |
| South Egremont, MA 01258 | 18.5 | 1504.9 | |
| Sheffield, MA 01257 | 3.6 | 1508.5 | |
| Great Barrington, MA 01230 | 0 | 1508.5 | |
| Monterey, MA 01245 | 8.4 | 1516.9 | |
| Tyringham, MA 01264 | 11.0 | 1527.9 | |
| Lee, MA 01238 | 9.7 | 1537.6 | |
| Beckett, MA 01223 | 10.0 | 1547.0 | |
| Dalton, MA 01226 | 9.6 | 1556.6 | |
| Cheshire, MA 01225 | 8.7 | 1565.3 | |
| Adams, MA 01220 | 0.6 | 1565.9 | |
| Williamstown, MA 01267 | 14.0 | 1579.9 | |
| North Adams, MA 01247 | 0 | 1579.9 | |
| Bennington, VT 05201 | 18.4 | 1598.3 | |
| Manchester Center, VT 05255 | 40.1 | 1638.4 | |
| Danby, VT 05739 | 17.8 | 1656.2 | |
| Wallingford, VT 05773 | 8.8 | 1665.0 | |
| Rutland, VT 05701 | 23.2 | 1688.2 | |
| Killington, VT 05751 | 3.3 | 1691.5 | |
| Woodstock, VT 05091 | 20.4 | 1711.9 | |
| South Pomfret, VT 05067 | 1.5 | 1713.4 | |
| West Hartford, VT 05084 | 11.1 | 1724.5 | |
| Norwich, VT 05055 | 8.3 | 1732.8 | |
| Hanover, NH 03755 | 1.5 | 1734.3 | |
| Lyme, NH 03768 | 17.6 | 1751.9 | |
| Wentworth, NH 03282 | 16.0 | 1767.9 | |
| Warren, NH 03279 | 4.6 | 1772.7 | |
| Glencliff, NH 03238 | 5.0 | 1777.7 | |
| North Woodstock, NH 03262 | 9.5 | 1787.2 | |
| Lincoln, NH 03251 | 16.3 | 1803.5 | |
| Bartlett, NH 03812 | 27.7 | 1831.2 | |
| Mt. Washington, NH 03589 | 12.6 | 1843.8 | |
| Gorham, NH 03581 | 34.5 | 1878.3 | |
| Andover, ME 04216 | 41.4 | 1919.7 | |
| Oquossoc, ME 04964 | 23.4 | 1943.1 | |
| Rangeley, ME 04970 | The Maine Roadhouse | 13.1 | 1956.2 |
| Stratton, ME 04982 | The Stratton Motel | 32.2 | 1988.4 |
| Caratunk, ME 04925 | 36.6 | 2025.0 | |
| Monson, ME 04464 | Shaw’s Lodging | 36.7 | 2061.7 |
| *Booking not required for mail drop service. | |||
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