ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Department of Natural Resources announced a new system that aims to reduce overcrowding by requiring a day pass for visitors. Day passes will only be necessary at select state parks, including Sandy Point and Greenbrier, though more locations will eventually implement the reservation system.
Traffic backups and unexpected closures have become a big problem for state parks in Maryland. Families often arrive at their destination only to realize that the park is overcrowded, and in some cases, completely inaccessible. Many of the state parks implementing this program offer public beaches.
Throughout the summer, additional parks will implement this program. The following list includes every park that will eventually join the day pass program, including multiple locations in Southern Maryland:
- Greenbrier State Park
- Sandy Point State Park
- Newtowne Neck State Park
- Point Lookout State Park
- North Point State Park
When Will You Be Required to Reserve a Day Pass?
Visitors will soon be required to register for a day pass prior to the date they plan to attend, which begins on May 24 for Sandy Point and Greenbrier state parks. Reservations won’t be required every day, only on dates with high volume.
Day passes will be mandatory on all holidays and weekends between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. Visitors can register seven days or earlier in advance of their preferred date to secure a pass, and the reservation can be canceled up until 8 a.m. on the day prior to a visit.
Every visitor who registers for a day pass is required to pay a fee at the time of online registration, though the webpage hasn’t yet gone live. For cars carrying multiple people, the price may be increased.
What Are Marylanders and Park Visitors Saying About the Day Pass Program?
Since 2020, Maryland state parks have dramatically increased in popularity, with 18.7 million visitors on average per year between 2020 and 2024. The day pass system may be a necessary step to prevent park closures, so some local residents have taken to social media to discuss the new rule.
Tammy McCorkle posted a comment on Facebook to convey that while she believes there could be some minor hiccups with the reservation system initially, it’s a step in the right direction:
“Finally!! This has taken years to happen and I’m sure there will be some bugs to work out. In the long run it will be a good thing for traffic and people won’t be disappointed that they can’t get in after driving for a few hours to get to the park. It’s been working at some very busy national parks. This is good news!!”
On the flip side, Tonia Delozier suggested that there could still be traffic backups due to visitors who aren’t aware of the reservation system. She wrote, “I don’t think most will make reservations and the back ups will continue.”
The day pass program is intended to reduce overcrowding and traffic at Maryland state parks, but increased public awareness may be necessary for the reservation system to be effective.
To learn more about the new day pass system, visit maryland.gov.
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