Updated July 2026
Best Time to Visit Maryland National Parks
Maryland has 16 National Park Service units that report visitation. Below, each is ranked by annual visits, with the month our data recommends for the best balance of light crowds, comfortable weather and daylight. Crowds peak in summer almost everywhere — the recommended months show where the quieter shoulder seasons fall.
Most-visited parks in Maryland
George Washington
District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
View George Washington →Appalachian
Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia
View Appalachian →
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia
View Chesapeake & Ohio Canal →
Assateague Island
Maryland, Virginia
View Assateague Island →
Harpers Ferry
West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland
View Harpers Ferry →
Fort Washington
Maryland
View Fort Washington →| Park | Annual visits | Best time | Busiest | Quietest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George WashingtonMemorial Parkway | 6,732,932 | September | Aug | Jan |
| AppalachianNational Scenic Trail | 6,215,118 | September | Jul | Feb |
| Chesapeake & Ohio CanalNational Historical Park | 4,579,704 | February | Jun | Jan |
| Assateague IslandNational Seashore | 2,325,195 | October | Jul | Dec |
| Harpers FerryNational Historical Park | 537,876 | September | Jul | Jan |
| Fort WashingtonPark | 502,171 | January | Jul | Jan |
| Catoctin MountainPark | 460,857 | May | Oct | Feb |
| Fort McHenryNational Monument and Historic Shrine | 394,175 | October | Jul | Jan |
| PiscatawayPark | 275,070 | January | Jun | Jan |
| AntietamNational Battlefield | 197,340 | September | Jul | Jan |
| GreenbeltPark | 130,314 | January | May | Jan |
| MonocacyNational Battlefield | 116,902 | April | Jul | Jan |
| HamptonNational Historic Site | 48,158 | January | May | Jan |
| Harriet Tubman Underground RailroadNational Historical Park | 15,348 | January | Jul | Jan |
| Clara BartonNational Historic Site | 11,309 | October | Jun | Jan |
| Thomas StoneNational Historic Site | 4,538 | February | Sep | Jan |
Maryland park crowd calendar (16 parks, all 12 months)
Download the full best-months table for all 16 of Maryland's national parks — each park's month-by-month crowd index (1.0 = its average month), busiest and quietest months, and Best-Time-to-Visit score. Built from NPS visitation data. Enter your email to download; you'll also get park crowd updates — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Where to stay near Maryland's national parks
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Top-rated places to stay near Maryland national parks
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