It took me almost 5 years, but I finally finished visiting all of the National Park sites in Maryland (some were closed for a very long time!) In this blog post I’m going to rank them from my least to most favorite. Keep in mind the rankings are based solely on MY experience at each park. Just because I might not have had a connection with a park doesn’t mean you won’t – and vice versa.
No. 14 Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
This was tough to include because the Potomac Heritage NST is really just a collection of walking and biking trails throughout Maryland, Virginia, and DC. I’ve only been on bits and pieces of a few of them, so I feel bad ranking this so low. I’m not much of a biker, but if I was I’m sure this would rank much higher for me.
No. 13 Greenbelt Park
Greenbelt Park was one of the last 2 I needed to complete my Maryland National Park journey. I put it off at first because I was thinking maybe I wanted to try camping there. However, I eventually realized if I have time to camp, I’m going to Shenandoah. Just when I put the park on my radar for summer of 2022, it was shut down due to damage from a really bad windstorm. I saw it was opening March 2023 and took advantage of the first weekend I could visit.
Maybe it was because there weren’t leaves on the trees yet. Maybe it was because I knew the city was so close. Or maybe it was because the trails I picked were full of downed trees – but I just didn’t love Greenbelt Park. I’m sure it’s beautiful at the right time of year, but March wasn’t it for me. I doubt I go back, but I can see how it’s a great place for people who live close to the city!
No. 12 Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad NHP
I’m really sad about this because I was so excited to visit this park. Obviously the location was picked for a very specific reason, but there was nothing around. It is right next to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, which I did visit, but other than that there’s nothing. The museum was nice but had a lot of large 3D displays, so not a ton of information. There were no ranger talks and no park film. I just thought there could have been more to this park. I did not do anything along the scenic byway, so maybe that would have made my experience better.
No. 11 Monocacy National Battlefield
While the battle of Monocacy was very important, it’s hard to compare it to some of the other battlefields I’ve been to, some of which are favorite park sites (Gettysburg, Manassas, Fredericksburg). I enjoyed my day there and did everything the park offers. I went on a very hot day in the middle of August, which I don’t recommend for how much you will be outside.
No. 10 Clara Barton National Historic Site
This was the last of the Maryland parks I visited. It closed during Covid and then remained closed for structural repairs. It opened in March 2023 but will close again in fall 2023 for more repairs because they received a large amount of money from the Great American Outdoors Act. I didn’t want to miss my chance to cross this off my list, but I do hope to go back when it’s fully repaired. I was able to participate in a 45 minute ranger talk and learned a lot about Clara Barton, but the house was unfurnished and we were not allowed above the 1st floor.
No. 9 Piscataway Park
Now I’m getting into parks that I have nothing bad to say about, I just had better experiences at the others. When I visited Piscataway, it was a gloomy day and had just rained before I got there. This actually wasn’t a bad thing, as it was May and all the rain really made the new leaves and wildflowers pop. There were quite a few walking trails I wish I had time to do, but I was on a strict time schedule that day trying to get a few parks in. I’d love to go back some day.
No. 8 Thomas Stone National Historic Site
The only reason I ranked this higher than Piscataway was because I participated in a ranger talk of Thomas Stone’s house that I really enjoyed. I’m a sucker for a good ranger talk. The grounds are really pretty as well.
No. 7 Fort Washington Park
Fort Washington Park was way more than I expected it to be. It is HUGE and there is a lot to see. You can fish right there in park boundaries if you’d like, and there are some walking trails. I was hoping to do one of the trails but time did not allow because I spent more time in the fort than I thought I would.
No. 6 Hampton National Historic Site
I absolutely loved the Hampton House. I did not expect to, and was just looking to get into something for free that day. The mansion was beautiful, and I was able to participate in a 45 minute ranger tour of the that and the gardens in the back. What I really loved about the park was the 2 hour ranger talk I participated in about the slave quarters. The ranger was phenomenal and I learned so much. They decorate and do open houses for Christmas, I would love to make it to that some year.
Top 5 Maryland National Parks
No. 5 Assateague Island National Seashore
I think this has potential to climb the list closer to number 1, but I need to go back. I love the beach so obviously that’s all I really need. However, there are a lot of ranger programs offered and I didn’t make it to any of them because I wanted to make sure I got a good parking spot for the beach. I also think I would really enjoy camping at Assateague, but it is very hard to get a spot because they sell out as soon as they are released!
No. 4 Catoctin Mountain Park
When I want to hike but I don’t want to drive far, Catoctin Mountain Park is one of my go-to spots. I love how you can combine the trails any way you’d like, or do them all in one big loop and see multiple vistas. Cunningham Falls State Park is right across the street and it’s nice to go there to see the falls as well.
No. 3 Fort McHenry National Monument & National Shrine
My day at Fort McHenry was amazing. I went on July 4th, which is obviously a very special time to visit. I got to see the flag raising ceremony in the morning and participated in a flag folding ceremony in the afternoon. The fort is big and there is a lot to see, not to mention you can walk around the top of it and get nice views of the water. They had reenactments going on and a period marching band that went through at one point. It’s a special place and somewhere I think every American should visit.
No. 2 Antietam National Battlefield
I grew up going to Antietam on field trips, running there during college, it was the first place I went when things started to open back up after Covid – I could go on. It’s a very special place to me and a place I go any time I want something to do but don’t want to go far away. Every time I go I see something I’ve never seen before. I will continue to explore this battlefield as long as I live.
No. 1 Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park
I love the canal so much. It’s the park that keeps on giving, and has been giving to me my whole life. Technically, it’s the first national park site I ever went to. It’s flat, but there are so many cool sites to see along the way. There are locks, old buildings, caves, tunnels, you name it! The canal goes through several towns, so it’s easy to take a day trip to see the town and then hop on the canal for a walk. I grew up camping and fishing every summer literally right along the canal. I have special memories on the canal with my family that I hold very close to my heart.
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