top of page

Food Supply & Mail Drops


If one were to either thru hike or do a long distance hike on the Mason-Dixon Trail tomorrow, the ideal situation would be to have a support person that would drop you off each morning at a certain place on the trail along with adequate food/water for that day. They would then meet you at the end of that day's hike, take you to a place where you can get a good meal, a shower, clean clothes and a comfortable bed to sleep in. They would then repeat this schedule every day. That would be the best way to thru hike the Mason-Dixon Trail. 

But not everyone has the luxury of having a support person available to them. So we will throw out a few definitions and give you a list of places where you can hopefully get some food along the trail. You need to have nourishment to sustain yourself. 


Short Term Supplies

These are usually found in convenience stores. Things like candy bars, energy bars, beef jerky, vienna sausages, water, soda and Gatorade. Sometimes they have sandwiches or grill items. Short Term Supplies will usually sustain you for a day or two but generally do not fulfill all nutritional needs. Most campgrounds that have camping supplies, with a few exceptions, will only have short term supplies. 

Long Term Supplies

Long Term Supplies are things that can be purchased at a grocery store such as pre-packaged meals, dried soups and noodle products, pre-packaged fruit and vegetable products. You can buy fresh meats, poultry, fish, vegetables and fruit from a grocery store but they must be consumed as soon as possible. You can also buy freeze dried meals, MRE's or energy bars from a number of outfitters. These also count as long term supplies and can last longer than just a few days. 

Mail Drops

These are boxes that contain both short and long term supplies (as well as things like changes of clothes, maps, etc) that you send to yourself along the trail. They can be sent to post offices close to the trail addressed as follows: 

Your Full Name
General Delivery
City, State Zip


List your return address on the box as well as on an index card inside the box just in case the label on the box comes off or is not readable. Also list on the box an ETA range that you will be picking up the box within. For example:

Hold for Mason-Dixon Trail thru Hiker Joe Smith ETA 06/01- 06/05 2018

 

Post offices will generally hold mail drops for 15-30 days. They will then return them to the return address on the box. Please note that some post offices in smaller towns have reduced hours or may be slated for closing. Call them to verify their hours and status to make sure that you can get your mail drop. It is advisable to send your mail drops out via Priority Mail and get a tracking number. If you have issues later on, the tracking number can be helpful in locating or returning your package to you. When checking on a mail drop or requesting to have it forwarded to another PO or back home, if you can't get through to a given post office, call the USPS customer service number at 800-275-8777. You will be issued a case number and hopefully someone will get back to you. Certain businesses along the M-DT will accept mail drops. But you should call them first to let them know that you want to send them one, ask if it's OK and tell them about when you will be picking it up. 

In order to have a successful long distance or thru hike of the Mason- Dixon Trail, one should utilize a combination of Long Term Resupply, Short Term Resupply, Restaurants and Mail Drops. 

Finally, you need a Mason-Dixon Trail Map Set to do any hiking on this trail but especially for long distance hiking. Order one elsewhere on this web site. Resupply information is listed from west to east. Mileage markers given are based on the M-DT 2016 map sets.

1

Appalachian Trail at Whiskey Spring, PA to

Pinchot State Park, PA

Mile 0.0

Western Terminous, Whisky Springs at the Appalachian Trail

Mount Holly Springs, PA is 4.9 miles from the current M-DT western terminus. One has to hike the AT south for 2.5 miles, then turn right onto PA94 northwest for 2.4 miles. It's a long, narrow, busy, steep down and dangerous road traffic wise but this is the closest town where you can find short term supplies:

 

Sheetz, 420 N Baltimore Ave, Mt Holly Springs, PA 17065. 717-486-6702

Dollar General, 406 N Baltimore Ave, Mt Holly Springs, PA 17065.

 

Restaurants include:

Cassell's Grille, 5 W Pine St, Mt Holly Springs, PA 17065. 717-486-8800

The Italian Taxi, 225 N Baltimore Ave, Mt Holly Springs, PA 17065.

 

The post office is at 16 W Pine St, Mt Holly Springs, PA 17065. 717-486-3468 M-F 8AM-1PM 2PM-4:30PM. There are no long term supplies within 5 miles of the trail. If you are starting a long distance hike from the western terminus of the M-DT at Whiskey Springs be sure to carry at least 2-3 days worth of food. 

Mile 6.3

US15 and Century LA S of Dillsburg, PA

 

The pickings for food are slim along this stretch.

 

Giant Food Store is 4.46 miles north on US15.

Sunoco gas station is around 2.5 miles north on US15

Discount cigarette shop 3 miles north on US15.

 

There are 2 restaurants 3 miles north on US15:

 

Pakha's Thai House restaurant

Flapjack's Restaurant & Pub serving American fare.

 

For mail drops there is a post office 3.7 miles from the trail at 28 N. Baltimore ST, Dillsburg, PA 17019 717-432-3035 Open M-F 8AM- 4:30PM and SA 8AM-12PM. 

Mile 7.8

PA 194 Franklintown, PA

For mail drops there is a post office within a block of the trail at 2 S Baltimore ST, Franklintown, PA 17323 717-432-9833 Open M-F 12:15PM-4:15PM SA 9AM-11AM.

Dolly's Wash House is a laundromat 1.9 miles north on PA194 in Dillsburg, PA. There are no additional services in Franklintown, PA. 

Mile 10.0

Mt. Zion RD and Cedar RD E of Dillsburg, PA

Warrington Farm Meats. Short term resupply here. They sell a selection of smoked beef sticks as well as a limited assortment of baked goods and snacks. 

2

Pinchot Park at Squire Gratz Road, PA to

Wago Junction at the Susquehanna River, PA

Mile 1.5

PA177 W of Gifford Pinchot State Park, PA

There are no known long term supplies within 5 miles of the trail. As far as short term supplies go there is the following:

 

Sunoco gas station and Family's Market .6 miles to the right at the intersection of PA177 and PA74 in Rossville, PA. In 1.7 miles there is a Dollar General store in Wellsville, PA. There are also 3 restaurants in Rossville: Subway, Country Corner Restaurant and the Chow Down Restaurant. In 1.8 miles there is a Momma's Pizza restaurant in Wellsville.

 

Limited non-food camping supplies available at Pinchot General Store, 7489 Carlisle RD, Wellsville, PA 17365 717-638-7026. For mail drops there is a post office .6 miles from the trail at 7489A Carlisle RD, Rossville, PA 17358 717-432-3388 open M-F 12:15PM to 4:15PM and SA 8:30-11:30 AM. There is also a post office about 2 miles from the trail at 224 Main ST, Wellsville, PA 17365 717-432-9823 open M-F 8:30AM to 12:30PM and 2:30PM to 4:30PM and SA 9-11.

 

Mile 19.7

Conewago Creek RD and N George ST EXT N of Manchester, PA

Instead of turning right, turn left and follow N George ST EXT over Conewago Creek (Note old bridge circa 1888 on your left). N George ST EXT becomes York Haven RD. Follow it 1.38 miles to Conewago Inn Restaurant and Pub on the right. American fare. This is not a lodging establishment.

Mile 20.3

N George ST EXT and Meetinghouse RD N of Manchester, PA

For long term resupply, instead of turning left onto Meetinghouse RD, keep going straight on PA181 George ST EXT for about 2 miles and there will be a Giant Food Store on the right side of the road at Glen DR in Manchester, PA. For short term resupply there is a Rutters convenience store .89 miles past the PA181 George ST EXT and Meetinghouse RD intersection on the left. There is a restaurant called Jim and Nina's Pizzaria, .8 miles past the PA181 George ST EXT and Meetinghouse RD intersection on the right. Emig Mansion Historic Bed & Breakfast , 4.1 miles from this intersection and on the right, accepts mail drops if one books a room there. There is a post office .7 miles from the trail on the right at 15 Manchester ST, Manchester, PA 17345 717-266-2466 open M-F 8AM-4:30PM and SA 8AM-10AM. 

Mile 20.6

Meetinghouse and Board RDS N of Mount Wolf, PA

For mail drops the Garden House Bed & Breakfast, about a half mile from the trail, accepts mail drops if one books a room there. There is also a post office 1.2 miles to the right at 94 S 4th ST, Mount Wolf, PA 17347 717-266-1418 M-F 8AM-11:45AM 1:15PM-4:30PM SA 8AM-10AM. 

3

Wago Junction at the Susquehanna River, PA to

Trinity Church Road South of Wrightsville, PA 

Mile 10.6

N River DR N of Wrightsville, PA

The Accomac Inn Restaurant offers a variety of food and drink. $$$$

Mile 10.9

River DR N of Wrightsville, PA

The Broken Oar Tavern appears to have closed so nothing between the Accomac and the John Wright Restaurant will offer food or drink.

Mile 14.1

N Front St. in Wrightsville, PA

John Wright Restaurant, Casual dining in a restored warehouse. $$$ 

Mile 14.3

PA462 Bridge and PA624, Wrightsville, PA

Long term supplies are available at Sue's Food Market, which is about .2 miles west on PA462. Long term re-supply is also available at Weis Market, 1786 Columbia AVE, Columbia, PA. This is 3.1 miles from this intersection and across the PA462 bridge in Columbia, PA.

 

These will be your last long term re-supply points until Havre de Grace, MD, which is 75 miles east. Burning Bridge Tavern, 108 Hellam ST, Wrightsville, PA. .1 miles from the trail on the right.

 

For mail drops there is a post office .3 miles west of the trail at 307 Hellam ST, Wrightsville, PA 17368 717-252-3411 open M-F 8AM-4:30PM and SA 9AM-12PM.

Mile 14.3

S Front St in Wrightsville, PA

The Wrightsville Inn is a Grill, Draft House and Catering Service and is located .2 miles past the PA462 bridge and right on the trail on the left. This is not a lodging establishment. They are closed on Tuesdays. $$ 

4

Trinity Church Road South of Wrightsville, PA to

Otter Creek Campground, PA 

Mile 5.4

S of Wrightsville, PA

There is no long term resupply within 5 miles of the trail. There is no short term resupply within 5 miles of the trail. Shank's Mare Outfitters has a seasonal cafe called the Lock 2 Cafe which has a limited menu that includes ice cream.

 

This outfitter also accepts mail drops mailed to: Shank's Mare, 2092 Long Level Road, Wrightsville, PA 17368. Please call them in advance at 717-252-1616 and let them know when to expect the box.

Mile 19.1

E of Airville, PA

There is no long term resupply within 5 miles of the trail. Otter Creek Campground has very limited short term supplies. They also accept mail drops. You can send your box to: Otter Creek Campground, 1101 Furnace RD, Airville, PA 17302. Please call them in advance at 717-862-3628 to tell them when to expect the box as well as when you expect to arrive.

 

It's not always easy to predict when you will be arriving when hiking long distance but they will work with you. You should carry 3-4 days worth of food from this point as it is 54 miles to the next long term resupply point and 40 miles to the next short term resupply and mail drop point. 

Mile 19.1

E of Airville, PA

There is no long term resupply within 5 miles of the trail. Otter Creek Campground has very limited short term supplies. They also accept mail drops. You can send your box to: Otter Creek Campground, 1101 Furnace RD, Airville, PA 17302. Please call them in advance at 717-862-3628 to tell them when to expect the box as well as when you expect to arrive.

 

It's not always easy to predict when you will be arriving when hiking long distance but they will work with you. You should carry 3-4 days worth of food from this point as it is 54 miles to the next long term resupply point and 40 miles to the next short term resupply and mail drop point.

5

Otter Creek Campground, PA to PA - MD State Line 

Mile 19.1

SE of Airville, PA

There is no long term resupply within 5 miles of the trail. There is no short term resupply within 5 miles of the trail. There are the following:

 

Delta Family Restaurant, 1.95 miles from the trail and just before the traffic circle and on the right, 5978 Delta RD, Delta, PA 17314, 717-456-5233.

Peach Bottom Inn, 2.18 miles from the trail and just past the traffic circle and on the left, 6085 Delta Road, Delta, PA 17314. 

 

When the trail turns left onto Paper Mill Road, continue straight on PA74. Be careful as this is a busy, narrow highway. There is a post office at 101 College AVE, Delta, PA 17314, 717-456-5512, M-F 8:15AM-1PM 2PM-4:30PM S 8:15AM-10:15AM. 

6

MD State Line to Quarry Road North of Havre de Grace, MD 

Mile 9.4

Darlington, MD

There is no known long term resupply within 5 miles of the trail.

 

Cliff's Liquors is 1.06 miles S on US1 on the left and has an assortment of chips, pretzels and other snacks (as well as beer, wine and assorted spirits).

Highs Dairy Store is 1.53 miles south on US1 on the left side of the road that has decent short term supplies.

Mr. Y's Pizza and Fries is located 3.11 miles S on US1 on the right. They deliver and their phone number is 410-457-4700. If you call them right before you reach US1 and give your address as the Conowingo Visitors Center (see below) you can have pizza delivered to you there and eat it on the picnic tables next to the visitors center.

 

The Conowingo Dam Visitors Center will accept mail drops for long distance hikers on the Mason-Dixon Trail. Address the box to: Conowingo Visitors Center, 4948 Conowingo Rd, Darlington, MD 21034. Please phone them at 410-457-5011 and let them know that you have a mail drop coming and about when you will be there to pick it up. Note that this visitors center is NOT in Conowingo, MD.

Mile 15.2

Susquehanna State Park, MD

There is no long term resupply within 5 miles of the trail. There is no short term resupply within 5 miles of the trail. There are no known restaurants within 5 miles of the trail. There are no known mail drop opportunities within 5 miles of the trail. Hopefully you have enough food to make it to Havre de Grace, MD. 

7

Havre de Grace, MD to North East, MD

Mile 1.8

US40 and Ontario ST, Havre de Grace, MD

For long term resupply there is a Weis Market about a mile west at this intersection. For short term resupply there is a Royal Farms store right across the street from this intersection. For restaurants there is a McDonalds right at this intersection. There is a laundromat called Fluff & Fold 868 Ontario ST, Havre de Grace, MD. And there is a post office .5 miles from this intersection at 301 N Juniata ST Havre de Grace, MD 21078 410-939-9507 M-F 8:30AM-5PM SA 9AM-1PM.

Mile 2.0

Perryville, MD

For long term resupply there is a Food Lion grocery store .4 miles from Pulaski and Aiken. For short term resupply there is a 7-Eleven .1 miles past Aiken AVE and Pulaski HWY on the S side of the highway. There is a Royal Farms store .1 miles past the intersection of Aiken and Pulaski on the N side of the highway. There is a Dunkin Donuts .2 miles on the north side of the highway. See below for a post office entry.

Mile 2.5

Perryville, MD

There is a post office at 620 Broad ST, Perryville, MD 21903 410-642-6012 M-F 9AM-5PM SA 9AM 11AM. 

Mile 3.0

Perryville, MD

There is also a business called Boxcar Avenue Ice Cream .1 mile west of the intersection of Broad and Roundhouse that has a limited food menu.

Mile 12.8

US40 and MD272, North East, MD

For long supply there is a Food Lion grocery store. As far as restaurants go, there are four of them: WendysWaffle House Ninos Pizza and McDonalds.

Mile 13.4

North East, MD

For long term supply the Northeast Grocer is one block S on S Main ST. For short term supply there is a Stop & Go at the corner of Cecil and Maudlin AVE. There is a post office at 406 S Main ST, North East, MD 21901 410-287-6644. M-F 9AM-5PM SA 9AM-12PM.

8

North East, MD to Pleasant Valley Road, DE 

Mile 11.3

Elkton, MD

Short term resupply available at Citgo gas station, .1 miles to the right at Landing LA and Pulaski HWY. The post office is at 137 W Main ST, Elkton, MD 21921. 410-398-4040. M-F 9AM-5PM SA 9AM-12PM.

9

Pleasant Valley Road, DE to

White Clay Creek Preserve at London Tract Road, DE

Mile 11.4

Newark, DE

There is no longer any long term supply at the intersection of Country Club DR and PA896 as the Superfresh Grocery store has closed. However, there is Jays Market, 50 Marrows Rd, Newark, DE, 3.9 miles from the trail. For short term resupply there is a Rite Aid drug store on the right. There are 2 restaurants to the immediate left in the shopping center: New No. 1 Chinese Restaurant, 302-368-0411 and Nick & Joes Pizza, 302-292-3736. The nearest post office is 2.3 miles away at 401 Ogletown RD, Newark, DE 19711 302-838-5006. M-F 7:30- 8PM SA 9AM 1PM.

10

White Clay Creek Preserve at London Tract Road, DE to

Chadds Ford, PA

Mile 5.0

Hockessin, DE

For long term resupply there is Harvest Market Natural Foods, .2 miles right at DE41. For short term resupply there is a Sheetz convenience store one block to the right when you reach DE41. This is your last chance long term and short term resupply point until the eastern terminous of the M-DT in Chadds Ford, PA 13 miles away. As far as restaurants go, there are many in this area. Here are 3 of them: Lettie's KitchenTwo Cousins Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant and The House of William and Merry. There are 2 post offices nearby: 651 Valley RD Hockessin, DE 19707 302-239-4240. M-F 7AM-4:30PM SA 9AM 1PM. It is 1 block past this intersection. See below for an additional post office.

Mile 7.3

Yorklyn, DE

There is also a post office .2 miles to the right at: 1149 Yorklyn RD, Yorklyn, DE 19736. 302-239-2702. M-F 8:30AM- 11:30AM 12:30PM-4:30PM SA 8AM-12PM.

Mile 13.9

Mendenhall, PA

Mendenhall Inn, 323 Kennett Pike, Mendenhall, PA 19357. 610-388-1181. At PA52 turn left, walk .95 miles, the inn is on the left. Restaurant serves lunch in December only. Open for dinner M-SA 4:00-9:00 and SU 4:00-8:00. This is also a lodging establishment. $$$ 

Mile 18.0

Eastern Terminus, Chadds Ford, PA

There is no long term resupply within 5 miles of the trail. For short term resupply there is a Sunoco gas station 3.2 miles from the trail at 1700 Wilmington PK, Chadds Ford, PA. Go N on US1 for about 3 miles, then turn right onto PA202 Wilmington PK. The closest restaurant to the eastern terminous of the M-DT is Hanks Place, about a half mile from the eastern terminous, N on US1 and at the intersection of US1 and PA100. This is where the locals eat. The post office in Chadds Ford is about a mile north on US 1 at 1620 Baltimore PK, Chadds Ford, PA 19317. 610-388-6284 M-F 8:00AM-4:30 SA 9:00AM-12:00PM.

 

If you find any of this information to be wrong or to have changed, or if you have information you'd like to see added to this page, please contact the webmaster.

Map 1
Map 2
Map 3
Map 4
Map 5
Map 6
Map 7
Map 8
Map 9
Map 10
bottom of page