It’s a real summer bummer: a beachy, Chesapeake Bayfront park like Maryland’s Sandy Point State Park fills to capacity on a beautiful sunny day, leaving your family high and dry.
It happens frequently at Maryland State Parks, so this year, the state is launching a new reservation requirement at its most popular parks, with more parks to follow.
Beginning Monday, May 19, all visitors will need to reserve day-use passes in advance during peak times at Sandy Point, along with Greenbrier State Park (a Washington County manmade lake with white-sand beach).
Here’s how it works: starting on May 19, the Maryland State Parks website will have a live link to the reservation system. The first day that reservations will be required is Saturday, May 24, in time for the high-traffic Memorial Day weekend. Advance reservations will be mandatory on weekends and holidays for the duration of the season, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The reservations must be made online, and are available starting seven days before the reservation date. You can edit or cancel a reservation until 8 a.m. the day before your reservation. Day-use fees must be paid at the time of reservation using a credit card or other online payment methods. Then, you check in with a QR code when you arrive. Discounts will be validated then for Maryland Park Pass holders, veterans and people with disabilities.
After the program begins at Sandy Point and Greenbrier, Maryland State Parks will add reservation requirements at Point Lookout and Newtowne Neck in St. Mary’s County, and at North Point State Park in Baltimore County. Note: As we recently reported, Point Lookout Lighthouse reopens this month after a seven-year closure for major upgrades.
The new reservation system aims to reduce overcrowding and traffic backups at park entrances. Maryland State Parks hopes to avoid having to close parks at maximum capacity as frequently, and to give visitors peace of mind that they will have a space before they make the drive to get there.
The Maryland Park Service says there has been a notable increase in visitors since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Those with public swimming access have been especially popular. The average number of park visitors went from 10.8 million in 2010-2019 up to an average of 18.7 million in 2020-2024. That has prompted many more sudden park capacity closures, leading to inevitable disappointment for the visitors who are turned away.
“The goal of this new day use reservation system is making our parks more welcoming and accessible to all,” said Maryland Park Service Director Angela Crenshaw. “By allowing visitors to plan ahead, we’re helping families make the most of their time outdoors—with less stress and more confidence that they’ll have a great day in our state parks.”
Check back with Maryland State Parks for reservation information when the link goes live beginning May 19 here. The park service emphasizes: on weekends and holidays, there will be no admission without a reservation.
