From serene forested shores to stunning steep ridges, Maryland’s northwesternmost section is dominated by the awe-inspiring Appalachian Mountain Range. Most of the state’s environmental water drains through the picturesque Potomac River and into Chesapeake Bay. Glen Echo, Catoctin mountain, Greenbelt, Piscataway, and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad are just five of the many parks run by the National Park Service around the historic state of Maryland.
Here to be your river and mountain guide through the changing landscapes of the small state of Maryland is the one and only Jerry
, the car insurance super app
! While none of Maryland’s parks are officially considered to be national parks, there are many parks of various sizes owned and operated by the National Park Service in this historic state. We’ll take you through all the top destinations to hit on your road trip, and we’ll even make sure you’re covered by the right insurance before you leave. RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
Location: Dorchester County, Maryland
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm (Partially reopened with adjusted hours of operation)
What makes Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park special
Created by President Barack Obama in 2013, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park
and the National Monument located there commemorate the life of the legendary abolitionist Harriet Tubman, a former slave who found her life’s calling as an activist in the Underground Railroad just before the Civil War descended upon America. The park features a Visitor Center, which has museum exhibits, a research library, and seasonal interpretive programs, all dedicated to the mission of understanding the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman and the incredible wilderness she conquered along her journey to freedom.
What to do in Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
From historical walks and drives to some of the most important places in the life of an incredible freedom fighter to the informative and fun museum located at the national monument, there’s lots to do for everyone in the family!
Visitor Center: Opened in 2017, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center
is run by the Maryland Park Service and the National Park Service. The Center includes exhibits and a theater and is one of the many stops along the Tubman Byway. Don’t forget to pick up a Junior Ranger booklet for the kids to earn their Junior Ranger badges! Museum and Educational Center: A different location than the Visitor Center, the Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center
has been run by dedicated local volunteers since the 1980s, and features a nationally-renowned mural along with exhibits and a short film chronicling the inspiring life of Harriet Tubman. Scenic drives: The Tubman Byway is a self-guided driving tour that explores over 30 different historical sites with interpretive signs and markers that tell each location’s story.
When to visit Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
Naturally, most national parks see more traffic during the summer, but if you visit Dorchester County during the winter, you’ll get a more realistic picture of how intense Tubman’s work must have been during the coldest temperatures of the year, while the trees were dusted with snow and frost lined the shores of the water.
Piscataway Park
Location: 3400 Bryan Point Road, Accokeek, MD
Hours of operation: Sunrise to sunset, year-round
What makes Piscataway Park special
Piscataway Park gets its name from the local creek and Algonquin tribe of the same name. They are mentioned in John Smith’s infamous 1608 map of the Chesapeake region. They and their ancestors have protected these lands alongside other nations for nearly 10,000 years.
The park is located across the Potomac River from the Mount Vernon estate that once belonged to a guy you might have heard of named George Washington. The park’s goal is to preserve the view around this estate.
Piscataway is home to the National Colonial Farm
, a “living history” museum that transports visitors back in time to a colonial-era farm, where agriculture and sustainable farming practices are emphasized. What to do in Piscataway Park
Driving
is the primary way to see Bryce Canyon’s incredible natural scenery, but it’s not the only thing to do in the park. River adventures: At the Farmington Landing site, you can launch small boats or fish from shore.
Birdwatching: Accokeek Creek is a world-renowned location for birdwatching, featuring a serene boardwalk that weaves along the marshland.
Visit the National Colonial Farm: While it does function as a living museum, the National Colonial Farm is also a modern eco-farm, providing education about sustainable resource management and food systems—despite commemorating the violent history of colonialism.
When to visit Bryce Canyon National Park
If you’re hoping to hike through the hoodoos, visit in the spring or autumn to avoid dangerously hot temperatures. For bird enthusiasts, however, the perfect time to visit Bryce Canyon is December, when the annual Christmas Bird Count
takes place. Catoctin Mountain Park
Location: 14707 Park Central Road, Thurmont, MD
Hours of operation: Sunrise to sunset, year-round
What makes Catoctin Mountain Park special
The Catoctin Mountain ridge forms the northeastern stretch of the Blue Ridge Appalachian mountains that cuts through northeast Maryland. The name “Catoctin” or Kittocton means “place of many deer” in local indigenous dialects, and anthropological research suggests the area would likely have been considered a sacred hunting ground, as few of the local nations lived right along the mountain.
The park is famous for being the home of Camp David, the Presidential retreat that was first used by F.D.R. in the 1930s and has been featured in films like 1973’s The President’s Plane is Missing, The Sentinel (2006), and Olympus Has Fallen (2013). One-third of the mountain can be closed to the public on short notice to accommodate United States presidents in need of a weekend getaway near Washington, D.C
. What to do in Catoctin Mountain Park
Whether you’re looking for a rugged backcountry experience or a place to take vacation pics that will make your friends jealous, you’ll have a full itinerary at Canyonlands. Here are some of the many activities you can do:
Camping: Owens Creek Campground, Misty Mount cabin camping, and Adirondack shelters are located in the park, providing a variety of ways to camp at Catoctin.
Hiking, fishing, rock climbing, and horseback riding: Hiking trails of all difficulty levels weave around the park, leading to prominent trout fishing streams. There are six miles of riding trails, and rock climbing permits are available for Wolf Rock
. Cross country skiing: During winter months, if there’s at least three to four inches of base snow, roads otherwise closed to vehicle traffic are open to cross country skiers.
When to visit Catoctin Mountain Park
Every season has something unique to offer sightseers at Catoctin Mountain. Summer temperatures are comfortably moderate, but if you’re willing to deal with chillier fall temperatures, mid-October is the peak time for colorful fall foliage.
Winter temperatures stay around freezing during the winter, with about 5 to 12 inches of snowfall per month—perfect conditions for incredibly picturesque skiing adventures.
Glen Echo Park
Location: 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD
Hours of operation: 6 am to 1 am
Admission price: No fee to get in, but activities, shows, rides, and events will have fees. Parking is free.
What makes Glen Echo Park special
Started as an educational National Chautauqua Assembly in 1891, in 1911 Glen Echo had become the most notable amusement park in the DC area until its closure in 1968. In 1971, the park came under the ownership of the National Park Service and is now a prominent arts and culture hub offering various classes, art exhibits, independent markets, and music events.
While it’s owned by the NPS, Montgomery County’s Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture, a nonprofit organization running arts and culture programs as well as maintaining and interpreting the history of the location, has managed the area for 20 years now. Glen Echo Park is home to 13 resident artists and organizations committed to preserving grassroots culture and providing fun and educational activities for children.
The park also features iconic architecture influenced by the Art Deco movement which characterized the aesthetics of modern amusement parks in the U.S.
What to do in Glen Echo Park
One of the most iconic venues in the DC area, there’s something for every member of the family to get excited about at Glen Echo!
Ride the Dentzel Carousel: In April 2022, the Glen Echo Park carousel turned 101 years old—many events are held throughout the year offering free rides and activities around the carousel.
See a summer concert: There are a plethora of free concerts
to attend in the old Bumper Car Pavilion, featuring jazz, blues, and roots bands that are sure to get you dancing! Music festivals like the Washington Folk Festival
are always a key part of summers at Glen Echo. Go dancing: Glen Echo Park is known in part for its legendary social dances
held in the historic and iconic Spanish Ballroom.
When to visit Glen Echo Park
The spring and summer are the best times to go to Glen Echo Park, simply because this is when the bulk of outside events are held.
Pro Tip If you visit in early June during the Washington Folk Festival, you’ll see Glen Echo at its liveliest!
Greenbelt
Location: 6565 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD
Hours of operation: 24 hours, year-round
Admission price: No entrance fee, $20 per campsite with a limit of three tents and six people each
What makes Greenbelt Park special
Located just 12 miles out from Washington, D.C., Greenbelt was once a protected and sacred hunting ground for Algonquin nations and their neighbors. Colonization all but devastated this renowned place—Greenbelt is a land in recovery from the destruction brought to it by the hubris of European settlers.
In 1934, an $11 million investment was made under Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal’s Resettlement Administration to build Tugwell Town, a state-sponsored town in Greenbelt. The town would be sold to community cooperatives following World War II.
Today, Greenbelt is listed on the National Historic Registry and provides outdoor activities and camping grounds throughout the year.
What to do in Greenbelt Park
Hiking: Greenbelt features four different hiking trails—the most prominent is the 5.3-mile Perimeter Trail which begins at the park’s entrance.
Camping: Greenbelt Park is Maryland’s “Urban Oasis,” a perfect camping destination for those who don’t want to stray too far from DC.
Visit local attractions: The Greenbelt Museum, the Old Greenbelt Theatre, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and the College Park Aviation Museum are all within three miles of the campground.
When to visit Greenbelt Park
There’s not really any bad time to go to Greenbelt, although snow does fall in the winter, making hiking and camping more of a challenge. Whenever you visit, be sure to pay attention to the weather forecasts!
Pro Tip If you’re visiting from out of state and don’t want to stay in the city, Greenbelt is a fantastic place to set up camp and still be in close proximity to Washington, D.C. and its many historical sites and attractions.
MORE: Maryland electric vehicle incentives
How to prepare to visit Maryland’s national parks
Before piling the family into the vehicle and embarking on a trip to one of Maryland’s many iconic national parks, car insurance super app Jerry has some more hot tips for you:
If you’re planning a historic drive along the Tubman Byway, make sure that your car’s maintenance
is up to date and it meets any clearance requirements imposed by sites you may visit.
With Jerry, that last step is easier than ever! Want to add a towing and labor
provision to your plan in case you find yourself stranded in the Maryland wilderness? Jerry’s got you covered! Jerry
can search for customized insurance quotes from more than 55 of the nation’s top insurers so you can compare and find the best price on the sort of policy that’s perfect for you. The average Jerry user saves more than $870a year on their car insurance premiums, meaning you’ll have some extra spending money on your historical tour of Maryland’s “national” parks.
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was wonderful! I used it for my auto and renters policies. I trusted it so much that I signed up my homeowners insurance under Jerry as well. All of the agents are amazingly nice and knowledgeable.” —Mary Y.
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