National Parks of Maryland

There is currently sixteen official National Park Service Sites in Maryland and 6 associated sites.

Official National Parks of Maryland

1. Antietam National Battlefield
2. Appalachian National Scenic Trail
3. Assateague Island National Seashore
4. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
5. Catoctin Mountain Park
6. Clara Barton National Historic Site
7. Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
8. Fort Washington Park
9. George Washington Memorial Parkway
10. Greenbelt Park
11. Hampton National Historic Site
12. Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
13. Monocacy National Battlefield
14. Piscataway Park
15. Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
16. Thomas Stone National Historic Site

Associated Sites of Maryland

1. Baltimore National Heritage Area
2. Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
3. Chesapeake Bay
4. Civil War Defenses of Washington
5. Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
6. Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail

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Maryland National Parks

Antietam National Battlefield

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Depending on where you are from, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail either starts in Mount Katahdin, Maine and ends in Springer Mountain, Georgia, or starts in Springer Mountain, Georgia, and ends in Katahdin, Maine. The Appalachian Trail is 2,181 miles long and passes through 14 states (Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine).

There is 41 miles of trail in the state of Maryland.  This section of trail is some of the lowest in elevation ranging from 230 ft to 1,880 ft.  Most of the trail is in South Mountain State Park.

Every year several thousand people attempt to thru-hike the trail.  Tens of thousands of people will hike sections of the trail each year.  The trail was officially completed in 1937 but the improvement has been ongoing since then.  The trail is maintained by 31 different trail clubs and other partnerships.

Things to do in Appalachian National Scenic Trail: Hiking, Wildlife Viewing, Scenic Views

How to get to Appalachian National Scenic Trail: There are multiple access points along the trail. Many of which are driveable.

Where to Stay in Appalachian National Scenic Trail: Along the trail, there are numerous shelters and backcountry campgrounds. Hotels are available in towns along the trail.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail Entrance Fee: There is no entrance fee for the Appalachian Trail but the trail passes through numerous state and national parks, forests and public lands which may charge an entrance fee or have overnight permit fees.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail Official Website: Click Here

Map of Appalachian National Scenic Trail: Download

Assateague Island National Seashore

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Catoctin Mountain Park

Clara Barton National Historic Site

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Fort Washington Park

George Washington Memorial Parkway

Greenbelt Park

Hampton National Historic Site

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park

Monocacy National Battlefield

Piscataway Park

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

Thomas Stone National Historic Site

Baltimore National Heritage Area

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail is about 3,000 miles of water routes along the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  The rivers are located in the following states – Washington D.C, Deleware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The water routes follow the voyages of Captain John Smith between 160 -1609. Smith produced the first maps of the region.

The much of the Historic trail is included in the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.  The trail passes thru many state and local sites where you can rent canoes and kayaks.  Boat tours are offered in the bay.

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail was established on December 19, 2006.

Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network

The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network is a collection of over 150 parks, refuges, museums, historic communities, and water trails along the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  This network included sites in Washington D.C, Deleware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The Chesapeake Bary watershed drains into the large estuary called the Chesapeake Bay.  The Chesapeake Bary is a 200-mile long bay that connects the Susquehanna River and the Atlantic Ocean.  Over 15o rivers and streams drain into the bay.  The bay ranges from 2.8 miles wide to 30 miles.  There is an estimated 11,684 miles of shoreline.

Visitors to the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network can explore a range of sites and learn about the history, culture and natural importance of the area.

Civil War Defenses of Washington

Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail is a 680-mile long Historical Trail.  The trail is sometimes known as the Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route.  The route follows the road used by George Washington’s Continental Army and Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau’s Expédition Particulière took on their way from Newport, Rode Island to Yorktown, Virginia. Yorktown was the final battle of the American Revolutionary War.

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail is primary an auto trail.  While the route forces on the march to Yorktown, the trail passes thru or near many other important revolutionary war sites. Rhode Island sites include the Joy Homestead.

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail passes through Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Washington D.C, and Virginia.

Things to do in Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail: Auto touring, bicycling, walking, historical tours, guided tours, museums

How to get to Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail: There are major airports all along the route.

Where to Stay in Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail: The trail follows major highways and lodging is located along the route.

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail Entrance Fee: Free, but some of the federal, state, and privately managed buildings along the trail may have an entrance fee.

Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail Official Website: Click Here

Map of Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail: Download

View all the National Park Service Sites in neighboring states:

• National Parks of Washington, D.C.
• National Parks of Virginia
• National Parks of West Virginia
• National Parks of Pennsylvania
• National Parks of Delaware