🌤 Weather at Rocky Gap State Park by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31–75 °F | 60–87 °F | 34–78 °F | 22–43 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Cumberland 2, 7 mi away, elevation 730 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Rocky Gap State Park in Maryland features the stunning 243-acre Lake Habeeb (bluest water in the state!), the Rocky Gap Casino Resort, over 260 campsites, and scenic mountain trails!
Lake Habeeb
| Lake Info | Details |
|---|---|
| 💧 Size | 243 acres |
| 🌊 Famous For | “Bluest water in Maryland” |
| 🚤 Boating | 24/7 (no gas motors) |
| 🎣 Fishing | 24/7, license required 16+ |
Swimming Beaches
| Beach Info | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏖️ Beaches | 2 public swimming beaches |
| 👮 Lifeguards | Summer (hours vary) |
| 🛶 Rentals | Kayak, canoe, SUP (seasonal) |
Rocky Gap Casino Resort
| Resort Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎰 Casino | Full casino gaming |
| ⛳ Golf | Jack Nicklaus Signature Course |
| 🏨 Hotel | 4-Diamond Award (23 years!) |
| 💳 2026 Note | Credit card only (no cash) |
260+ Campsites
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| ⛺ Sites | 260+ (30 electric) |
| 🏠 Mini Cabins | 13 |
| 🛖 Yurt | 1 |
| 🐕 Pet Sites | Available |
Multi-Use Trails
3,000+ acres of rugged mountain trails including Lakeside Loop (5.3mi), Canyon Overlook (0.25mi), and Evitts Homesite (5mi challenging).
FAQ
Wildlife & Nature
Rocky Gap SP — 3,000 acres in the Allegheny Mountains. The park’s Lake Habeeb (a 243-acre man-made lake with a rare white sand beach), Evitts Mountain, and hardwood forest support black bears, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys.
Nearby Attractions
Cumberland — 5 miles east — western terminus of the C&O Canal and eastern terminus of the Great Allegheny Passage trail. Allegany County — surrounding.
Why is Lake Habeeb so blue?
Lake Habeeb is renowned as the “bluest water in Maryland” due to its clarity and depth. Perfect for swimming, fishing, and paddling!
Can I use gas motors on the lake?
No—gasoline-powered motors are prohibited. Electric motors are allowed. Boating is permitted 24/7. Navigational lights required after sunset.
Is the casino on-site?
Yes! Rocky Gap Casino Resort is within the state park—features casino, 4-Diamond hotel, Jack Nicklaus golf course, spa, and restaurants. Note: Credit card only (no cash) as of 2026.
💧 Maryland’s Bluest Lake
Visit Maryland DNR website.
Things to Do
Rocky Gap’s centerpiece is 243-acre Lake Habeeb, which the Maryland DNR calls the “bluest water in the state” — the lake drops to 74 feet, stays clear enough for plants to grow 20 feet down, and is fed by Rocky Gap Run out of a mile-long gorge. Gas motors are banned; only electric motors are allowed, which keeps the water quiet for the canoe, kayak and SUP rentals that run Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Anglers get stocked brown and rainbow trout (put-and-take, five-fish limit) alongside largemouth bass with some of the state’s highest tournament catch rates — fishing is open 24/7 with a Maryland freshwater license.
Beaches and Trails
Two public beaches line the day-use area in summer, plus a third reserved for campers; a lifeguard station operates on a variable schedule, and swimming is at your own risk outside those hours. There’s even a designated pet-friendly swim area. On land, the moderate Lakeside Loop circles the entire lake in 5.3 miles, the short Canyon Overlook Trail (a quarter mile) peers into the gorge, and the Evitts Homesite Trail climbs about 1,000 feet in 2.5 miles for the park’s toughest 5-mile out-and-back.
The Casino Question
Yes, there’s a resort inside the park — and no, it isn’t run by the park. Rocky Gap Casino, Resort & Golf is a private Century Casinos property on the lakeshore, with a hotel, three restaurants, a spa and Maryland’s only Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. Hotel rooms book through the resort (301-784-8400), not through the state reservation system — if you want to sleep under DNR management, the campground is your option.
Best Time to Visit
Summer is peak and the park knows it: the DNR warns that capacity closures are expected on summer weekends and holidays, so arrive early for a beach day. Most campground loops run May through mid-October (Ash and Elm open earlier, in mid-March), while the yurt books year-round. Off-season has real rewards here — the park stays open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, fishing and electric boating continue 24/7, ice fishing happens when conditions allow, and fall turns the gorge and the Evitts Mountain slopes into western Maryland’s best color show. Note for 2026: the DNR has flagged unusually low lake levels from drought — check the park’s alerts before planning a swimming or paddling trip.
Visitor Tips
Day-use fees run seasonal: summer weekends and holidays cost $4 per person for Maryland residents ($6 out-of-state), while weekdays and the off-season are $2–$4 per vehicle — as of August 2026. The campground offers 278 sites (30 with 30-amp electric, $21.50–$27.50/night), 15 mini-cabins ($50.50–$65.50, electricity and beds but no water — bring linens), and the 8-person yurt ($75). Reservations open a full 365 days ahead at parkreservations.maryland.gov, and summer weekends carry a 2-night minimum. Pets are welcome in several camping loops — confirm the current loop list when you book, as the DNR’s pages differ on which ones.
Getting there is simple: I-68 to Exit 50, which is signed for the park — about 130 miles from Baltimore, 150 from Washington, D.C.
Fees, seasons and facility details verified against dnr.maryland.gov on August 28, 2026. Fees change — confirm before you travel.
Explore More Maryland State Parks
Rocky Gap State Park is one of many outstanding state parks in Maryland. Discover more parks in our Best State Parks in Maryland guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.
Nearby state parks: If you have extra time, Wills Mountain State Park is a short drive away, and Dans Mountain State Park is a short drive away.
Camping reservations: Book campsites and cabins for Maryland state parks online at parkreservations.maryland.gov.
⛺ Camping at Rocky Gap State Park: Campgrounds & Cabins
| Campsites | 275 sites — Loops: Ash, Birch, Chestnut, Dogwood, Elm, Fir, Gum, Hickory, Ironwood. 225 non-electric sites ($21.50-$22.50/night), 33 electric sites, 15/20/30/50-amp ($27.50-$28.50/night), 10 mini cabins ($65.50-$66.50/night), 1 yurt ($76.00-$77.00/night), 1 family group site ($222.75-$223.75/night), 2 youth group sites, 3 picnic shelters ($121.75-$246.75/day). Bathhouses in each loop, camp store, dump station. |
|---|---|
| Cabins & Lodging | 10 mini cabins ($65.50-$66.50/night) and 1 yurt ($76.00-$77.00/night). |
| Pets | Pets allowed in every camp loop except Hickory Loop. |
| Reservations | Online at parkreservations.maryland.gov or 1-888-432-2267. Up to 365 days in advance, minimum 1 day ahead. |
| Special sites | Nature center, Scales & Tales Aviary, private swimming beach, canoe/kayak/SUP rentals (Memorial Day-Labor Day). Alcohol permitted only inside personal motor homes. Ongoing structural closure: campground is temporarily closed October 2026 through January 2029 for facility improvements, with reopening planned for the 2029 season. Lake water levels reported unseasonably low due to drought, affecting swimming/boating. |
| Season notes | Most loops: May 1-October 11, 2026. Ash and Elm loops: March 13-October 11, 2026. Entire campground closed October 2026-January 2029 (see special). |
Camping questions about Rocky Gap State Park
Can you camp at Rocky Gap State Park?
Yes. Rocky Gap State Park has 275 campsites. Loops: Ash, Birch, Chestnut, Dogwood, Elm, Fir, Gum, Hickory, Ironwood. 225 non-electric sites ($21.50-$22.50/night), 33 electric sites, 15/20/30/50-amp ($27.50-$28.50/night), 10 mini cabins ($65.50-$66.50/night), 1 yurt ($76.00-$77.00/night), 1 family group site ($222.75-$223.75/night), 2 youth group sites, 3 picnic shelters ($121.75-$246.75/day). Bathhouses in each loop, camp store, dump station.
How do you reserve a campsite at Rocky Gap State Park?
Online at parkreservations.maryland.gov or 1-888-432-2267. Up to 365 days in advance, minimum 1 day ahead.
Are there cabins at Rocky Gap State Park?
10 mini cabins ($65.50-$66.50/night) and 1 yurt ($76.00-$77.00/night).
Are pets allowed at the Rocky Gap State Park campground?
Pets allowed in every camp loop except Hickory Loop.
Source: parkreservations.maryland.gov (verified July 2026). Details change seasonally — confirm when booking.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Rocky Gap State Park
Park policy: Rocky Gap names its pet areas explicitly: the park's pet policy lists the Ash, Birch, Chestnut, Dogwood and Elm camp loops plus the campground common areas, and the campground description states pets are allowed in every camp loop except Hickory Loop. Easter Hill Chalet is also open to pets.
- Pets allowed?
- Pets allowed in Ash, Birch, Chestnut, Dogwood and Elm camp loops, not Hickory
- Leash rule statewide rule
- 6 ft maximum in designated pet areas and 10 ft in undeveloped areas; off-leash under voice control only while swimming in designated areas
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- At most parks pets are barred from sandy swim beaches from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day; many parks allow shoreline swimming outside the swim beach
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Most cabins are pet-free, but select parks designate pet-friendly cabins (e.g. Herrington Manor cabins 1-10, New Germany cabins 3-7)
- Park-specific rules
- In the day-use area pets may use the lake and a designated pet-friendly swim area; they are kept off the designated sandy portions of the public swimming beaches from Memorial Day weekend until after Labor Day.
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Pets not allowed in park buildings or playgrounds; pets must be licensed and vaccinated
- Dogs & wildlife
- Maryland DNR's bear-country camping guidance explicitly includes keeping pets on a leash.
Are dogs allowed at Rocky Gap State Park?
Pets allowed in Ash, Birch, Chestnut, Dogwood and Elm camp loops, not Hickory.
Beyond that, Maryland’s statewide rules apply.
Rules verified July 2026 via dnr.maryland.gov. More: Maryland state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
🐻 Wildlife at Rocky Gap State Park: What to Watch For — and Watch Out For
Worth watching for: The park's Scales & Tales aviary is a rare chance to see native Maryland birds of prey and reptiles up close — injured and non-releasable animals cared for by park staff, with bird feeding and training on view in summer. The mile-long Rocky Gap Run gorge, dense with hemlock, rhododendron, and mountain laurel, is classic western-Maryland forest.
Watch out for: Rocky Gap sits in Allegany County, which Maryland DNR designates Black Bear Country — you may encounter a black bear while hiking, camping, or picnicking. Follow the state's bear-country camping rules: never keep food in your tent, store it in a vehicle or airtight container, and remove all garbage from camp every evening. If a bear comes into camp, scare it away with loud noises and stay calm rather than running; feeding bears is illegal in Maryland.
Are there bears at Rocky Gap State Park?
Yes — see above for where they occur in the park and how to behave. Sightings are a normal part of a healthy park; incidents are rare when visitors keep distance and store food properly.
Wildlife information verified July 2026 via dnr.maryland.gov.
Park Location
Plan your gear for Rocky Gap State Park
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
