>>If you have the coin, you can stay in any number of inn/hotels B&B's north

The problem with spending money is I won't have the time to take in the ambience. I'd like to check in when its getting dark and be on the trail again early in the morning. I did the C&O a few years ago. camped 2 nights, it rained and the equipment was muddy so we got a cheap room, put the equipment in the bathtub washed it. The two other places sound great.