If you have ever visited a state park in Maryland you will already have an inkling as to why the National Geographic Magazine called it ‘America in Miniature’.
Boasting a topography that includes everything from the magnificent Chesapeake Bay and breathtaking Appalachian Mountain, to the stunning coastline of the Atlantic Ocean, and the verdant marshlands on the Eastern Shore, Maryland has a diverse landscape that is best explored via its 53 state parks.
If you live in or around the historic Civil War town of Hagerstown in Washington County, all of these state parks provide you with plenty of opportunities to enjoy this extraordinary terrain in a number of ways. This includes hiking, biking, swimming, horseback riding, boating and camping.
Should you be in mind to visit any of them, below is a list of 10 state parks near Hagerstown which are well worth checking out.
Map of State Parks Near Hagerstown, MD
Here is a map of the state parks in Maryland covered by this post:
List of State Parks Near Hagerstown
All of the 10 state parks near Hagerstown outlined below provide a range of camping and overnight accommodation options. They can also all be accessed via a straightforward drive of up to 3.5 hours from the city. Which makes them wonderful day trip destinations too.
1. Greenbrier State Park
Distance from Hagerstown: about 10 miles southeast of Hagerstown (straight-line).
Location: 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro, MD 21713
Greenbrier State Park is a Maryland state park located on South Mountain, three miles (4.8 km) northeast of Boonsboro in Washington County, Maryland, USA.
Highlights associated with Greenbrier State Park include beach access, lake recreation, and mountain scenery.
See our full Greenbrier State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Washington Monument State Park
Distance from Hagerstown: about 11 miles southeast of Hagerstown (straight-line).
Location: Boonsboro, MD
Washington Monument State Park is a Maryland state park located approximately one mile (1.6 km) southeast of Boonsboro, Maryland.
Highlights associated with Washington Monument State Park include beach access, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Washington Monument State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Cunningham Falls State Park
Distance from Hagerstown: about 15 miles east of Hagerstown (straight-line).
Location: 14039 Catoctin Hollow Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788
Nestled within the picturesque Catoctin Mountains, just a 25 minute drive east from Hagerstown, Cunningham Falls State Park is actually located within two completely separate, yet very unique areas.
The William Houck Area, which is situated three miles west of the town of Thurmont, features a stunning lake area, as well as waterfalls which are excellent places to hike, swim, canoe and fish. Whilst the spectacular Manor Area, which lies three miles south of Thurmont, boasts the Scales and Tales Aviary, as well as the historic Catoctin Iron Furnace.
Between them, both pet-friendly campsites have 137 basic sites and 46 electric sites, as well as central bathhouses with hot showers and flushing toilets, freshwater fill up and a dump station.
See our full Cunningham Falls State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Fort Frederick State Park
Distance from Hagerstown: about 15 miles west of Hagerstown (straight-line).
Location: Big Pool, MD
Fort Frederick State Park is a Maryland state park on the Potomac River surrounding the restored Fort Frederick, a fortification active in the French and Indian War (1754–1763) and the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).
See our full Fort Frederick State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Mont Alto State Park
Distance from Hagerstown: about 17 miles northeast of Hagerstown (straight-line).
Location: Mont Alto, PA 17237
Mont Alto State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on 24 acres (9.7 ha) in Quincy Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania in the United States.
Highlights associated with Mont Alto State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Mont Alto State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
6. Gambrill State Park
Distance from Hagerstown: about 17 miles southeast of Hagerstown (straight-line).
Location: 8602 Gambrill Park Rd, Frederick, MD 21702
Gambrill State Park is another park that is close to Hagerstown.
Reached via a 25 minute drive southeast, this stunning mountain park is nestled on the ridge of the impressive Catoctin Mountain range.
One of its main highlights is the 16 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails it possesses, which is popular all year round.
Gambrill is another park that is separated into two areas, notably the Rock Run area and the High Knob area.
Around the 1600-foot High Knob, three stone lookout points offer jaw dropping views of both the Frederick and Middletown Valleys, as well as the northern reaches of the Shenandoah Mountains.
The Rock Run area accommodates a small family-orientated campground with 13 basic sites, 9 tent-only sites and 6 sites with electric hookup. It also has a lovely a picnic area and a quaint pond which is ideal for fishing.
See our full Gambrill State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
7. Gathland State Park
Distance from Hagerstown: about 17 miles south of Hagerstown (straight-line).
Location: Burkittsville, MD
Gathland State Park is a Maryland state park located on South Mountain near Burkittsville, Maryland, in the United States.
Highlights associated with Gathland State Park include beach access, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Gathland State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
8. Michaux State Forest
Distance from Hagerstown: about 20 miles northeast of Hagerstown (straight-line).
Location: 3477 Lincoln Way East, Guilford Township, Pennsylvania 17222
Michaux State Forest is a Pennsylvania State Forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #1.
Highlights associated with Michaux State Forest include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include rental cabins.
See our full Michaux State Forest guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
9. Caledonia State Park
Distance from Hagerstown: about 22 miles northeast of Hagerstown (straight-line).
Caledonia State Park is a 1,125-acre (455 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Greene Township, Franklin County and Franklin Township, Adams County in southern Pennsylvania.
Highlights associated with Caledonia State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Caledonia State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
10. Rocky Gap State Park
Distance from Hagerstown: about 50 miles west of Hagerstown (straight-line).
Location: 12900 Lake Shore Dr, Flintstone, MD 21530
Situated just an hour’s drive west from Hagerstown, the Rocky Gap State Park is a 3,000 acre playground for those who love outdoor recreational pursuits.
Framed by rugged mountains that surround the park, one of the main highlights here is the 243-acre Lake Habeeb which is notable for having the ‘bluest water in Maryland’.
A wonderful destination for kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding and fishing, the park is also an excellent destination for hiking. With trails leading you through a scenic mile long gorge that features imposing sheer cliffs, as well as beautiful hemlock forests that are carpeted with mountain laurel and rhododendron. There is also a private swimming beach to enjoy, as well as a nature center and playground too.
For those who want to really explore the park, there are 278 individual campsites here, including 30 that are equipped with 30 amp electric hook-ups. There are also yurt and mini cabin options too as well as two youth group camping areas and a family group site.
See our full Rocky Gap State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
