Maryland expands advance entry to five parks

Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources is expanding its advance-entry system for day visitors at five state parks ahead of the 2026 summer season. The requirement applies to Sandy Point, Greenbrier, North Point, Point Lookout and Newtowne Neck state parks on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, according to the Maryland Park Service. The change was announced May 20 as state officials prepared for peak summer traffic at some of Maryland’s busiest parks. Visitors in motor vehicles will need to reserve a spot in advance rather than drive up on those days. ### Which parks are now covered? The five parks in the system are Sandy Point State Park, Greenbrier State Park in Boonsboro, North Point State Park in Edgemere, Point Lookout State Park in Scotland and Newtowne Neck State Park in Leonardtown, the Maryland Park Service says. The reservation requirement is tied to day-use vehicle entry, not to every form of access. People who bike or walk directly into a park do not need a reservation, according to the agency’s FAQ. (dnr.maryland.gov) Maryland officials said those parks saw the sharpest crowding pressure after the COVID-19 pandemic. WYPR reported that Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz told the Maryland Board of Public Works that visitation spiked significantly at those locations during the summer season. ### When do visitors need a reservation? (dnr.maryland.gov) Reservations are required on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and the state’s booking site says they are not required until May 23, 2026. The Maryland Park Service says no same-day drive-up access will be allowed for motor vehicles on those required days. Visitors can reserve a day-use pass starting seven days before their visit. (wypr.org) The Maryland Park Service says reservations can be made online, and its FAQ says they can also be made by phone at 410-541-6991. At the gate, visitors receive or present a QR code for check-in. Day-use permits are valid for a single entry only, meaning visitors who leave cannot re-enter later that day on the same pass. ### Why did the state make the change? (parkdayuse.maryland.gov) Josh Kurtz told the Board of Public Works that the five parks had more than 166 unexpected capacity closures in 2024. He said the closures forced the department to shift park rangers to traffic control and bring in Maryland State Police and Natural Resources Police overtime, creating what he called nuisances and unsafe situations. (dnr.maryland.gov) The Maryland Park Service says visitation has surged since 2020, “nearly doubling in some locations,” while parking remains limited. The agency says the reservation system is intended to reduce traffic backups, overcrowding and the risk that visitors wait in line only to be turned away. ### What happened when Maryland tested it? In 2025, Maryland contracted with Kaizen Laboratories to run a pilot version of the program at the same five parks, Kurtz said. (wypr.org) He told the Board of Public Works that the state went “from 166 capacity closures to zero” during the pilot period and that visitor surveys showed support for expanding the system. (dnr.maryland.gov) WYPR reported that Maryland renewed its contract with Kaizen Laboratories through 2031 to expand the program to 15 additional Department of Natural Resources locations, with the option to add more later. The outlet said the revenue-sharing contract was approved by Gov. Wes Moore and Treasurer Dereck Davis, while Comptroller Brooke Lierman opposed it because she believed the work should have gone through competitive bidding. (wypr.org) ### What should visitors know before they go? Maryland’s reservation page says visitors pay the regular day-use fee when they book, using a credit card or other online payment method. Annual Park Pass holders, Golden Age Pass holders, veterans and people with disabilities still receive discounts, but the passholder must present the pass at check-in. Reservations can be modified or canceled until 8 a.m. the day before a visit. (wypr.org) Sandy Point State Park has an additional rule for boaters. The Maryland Park Service says the boat ramp is open 24 hours a day, but all visitors, including those towing boats, need a day-use reservation to enter on weekends and Maryland holidays between 7 a.m. and sunset. May 23 is the first date listed on Maryland’s booking site for required reservations this season, and the Department of Natural Resources says future launch dates for additional parks will be posted on individual park webpages. (dnr.maryland.gov) (parkdayuse.maryland.gov) (dnr.maryland.gov)