Maryland six parks require reservations

Maryland’s Park Service is requiring advance day-use reservations at six state parks starting Memorial Day weekend, extending a crowd-control system it said reduced traffic backups and eliminated surprise closures last summer. The requirement applies on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through Labor Day at Sandy Point, Greenbrier, North Point, Point Lookout, Newtowne Neck and Swallow Falls, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Visitors must book before arriving through the state’s park day-use reservation portal. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources said in a May 20 reminder that the program is aimed at easing overcrowding and preventing visitors from being turned away after parks hit capacity. FOX Baltimore and WMAR both reported the requirement ahead of the holiday weekend as Marylanders head to swimming and shoreline parks for the unofficial start of summer. (news.maryland.gov) ### Which parks now require a reservation? Six parks are in the system for Memorial Day weekend: Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, Greenbrier State Park in Boonsboro, North Point State Park in Edgemere, Point Lookout State Park in Scotland, Newtowne Neck State Park in Leonardtown and Swallow Falls State Park in Oakland. Maryland’s day-use reservations page lists the same parks and says the rule applies on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. (news.maryland.gov) Swallow Falls is the addition to the group this year. In 2025, the system covered five parks — Greenbrier, Sandy Point, Point Lookout, Newtowne Neck and North Point — before expanding for 2026. ### Why did Maryland keep the system in place? More than 67,000 reservations were processed between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day 2025, and the related call center handled more than 4,000 calls, the Department of Natural Resources said. (news.maryland.gov) The agency said those results led to “a dramatic reduction” in traffic backups and zero unexpected capacity closures at parks using the system. The department said the reservation requirement is intended to manage access on the busiest summer days, especially at parks with beaches and swimming areas that can fill early. FOX Baltimore’s earlier local report on the program said the state introduced reservations to reduce long entrance lines and limit sudden closures once lots reached capacity. (news.maryland.gov) ### When do visitors need to book, and for what kind of trip? Reservations are required for day-use visits, not just for Memorial Day itself but for Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through Labor Day, according to Maryland’s reservation page. The system reserves a parking spot in advance for eligible day visitors at participating parks. The state’s FAQ says the reservation system was created to manage capacity, improve the visitor experience and reduce traffic issues on surrounding roads. (news.maryland.gov) Park-specific pages, including Greenbrier’s, now carry notices telling visitors to reserve before arrival beginning Memorial Day weekend. ### Where do people make the reservation? Maryland directs visitors to its online day-use reservation portal, listed by the Department of Natural Resources as parkdayuse.maryland.gov. (dnr.maryland.gov) The May 20 state reminder said travelers planning Memorial Day weekend visits should make reservations before arriving at the park. WMAR reported on May 21 that the same reservation system used last year remains in place for the 2026 summer season. (dnr.maryland.gov) The state’s day-use page and FAQ remain the main sources for park lists, timing and booking rules as the holiday weekend begins on May 23. (wmar2news.com) (news.maryland.gov)