Among hikers, there is little or no agreement on the number of mail deliveries to send. some will send dozens, others prefer not to send any. I side with the latter ideology and explain this reasoning here: “How many mail deliveries should you send on the Appalachian Trail?” The article describes why I think it’s better to send fewer emails as well as the exceptions to this rule.
mailing often translates to buying and shipping groceries before the hike instead of buying groceries during the hike. It sounds silly, and in most situations, it is. however, there are some places along the way that have limited and/or expensive resupply options. It’s these places where you can save some money and/or not be forced to eat trail mix and cheetos for three days in a row.
If you are going to mail, below are the cities that are most beneficial to do so.
The best cities to send mail on the Appalachian Trail
1) nantahala outdoor center (the noc)
mile: 137.3
where to send your mail: noc outfitters (13078 hwy 19w, bryson city, nc 28713)
although it’s a favorite spot for hikers to kick back and have a beer (mine too), noc’s refueling options are limited and expensive, and you’ll likely end up spending more than you’d like at one of its restaurants . this would be a good place to send a little drop of mail. Fontana Dam is only 27 miles down the trail. And speaking of…
2) fountain town
mile: 164.6
where to send your mail: fontana lodge (attn: front desk, 300 woods dr., fontana damn, nc 28733)
You’ll need to resupply at Fontana Village, as it’s on the southern edge of the Smoky Mountains. your only option to restock in town is at the general store, which has a moderate selection, but it’s expensive (because it’s the only option and you need to restock). plan to send 3-4 days worth of groceries if you stop in gatlinburg or 7 days if you walk all the way.
3) bland, wow
mile: 587.6
Where to send your mail: Post Office (Soso, VA 24315) or Big Walker Motel (guests only) (70 Skyview Lane, Soso, VA 24315)
although the 2014 awol guidebook mentions a general buck, soso was one of the villages the 2013 hikers most recommended mailing to. Garrett fondoules adds that it was what it was, “the biggest resupply disappointment.”
4) harper’s ferry, wv
mile: 1019.6
where to send your mail: atc hq (if sending usps send to po box 807, otherwise send to 799 washington st., harpers ferry, wv 25425)
harper’s ferry is picturesque, beautiful, and the unofficial midway point of the at. it is also one of the most difficult resupply locations. options at the outfitter and inn in town are expensive, and your only other option is a 7-11 within walking distance.
5) caratunk, me
mile: 2034.1
where to send your mail: post office (caratunk, me 04925)
Again, although Awol’s guidebook lists Berry’s General Store and Sterling Inn, Caratunk was one of the towns that 2013 hikers had the most trouble with. kyle bizzle says “caratunk has nothing”. james limey parker says “caratunk sucks”. you get the point.
6) monson, me
mile: 2070.8
where to send your mail: lakefront house – $5 uninvited fee (if sending usps send to P.O. Box 215, otherwise send to c /o lakefront house, monson, me 04464), shaw lodging: $5 for non-guests (if sending usps send to P.O. Box 72, otherwise send to 17 pleasant st., monson, me 04464).
Like Fontana, Monson requires a lot of resupply as this is the southern border of the 100 mile desert. A very worthwhile alternative to posting here is to refuel in Greenville (a short drive or bus ride from one of the hostels), which offers much better options.
There are others that could be added to this list (neels gap, standing bear farm, delaware water gap, salisbury, glencliff and more) but these are the six that I think present the biggest challenge in terms of not offering a convenient alternative. . less is more.
As always, we’re listening. Let us know in the comments below if we missed any essential places to drop off mail. It is also recommended to check out the Baltimore Jack Refueling Guide here. some of the information has changed since he wrote it in 2007, but it still presents a great overall picture for refueling at at.