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    Janes Island State Park

    4.3 (32 reviews)

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    Camp setup
    Jenny T.

    Decent camping. Stayed here over labor day weekend and thankfully the mosquitoes and flies weren't as abundant as the reviews mention. Reservations were easy and COVID check in process was clear- we just called at the gate (night arrival) and someone checked us in over the phone and brought our vehicle tags. A bit difficult to navigate in the dark, be especially careful as there are ditches along the route to loop C filled with water. Clean bathroom facilities, decent sized camp areas on a gravel/sand pavement with a fire ring and lamp hook. Plenty of trees, so bring your hammock! Most sites are a short walk to the water, but no beach is accessible without kayaking there. Fish and crabs in abundance. Caught my first crabs ever with a string, chicken neck, and net! Kayaks available for rent at the marina but also Crisfield kayaks outside of the park delivers. There's alot of water to explore and many bring their fishing gear on the trips. You can kayak to the beach but I've heard there are a lot of horse flies there. Due to COVID the camp store was closed and we bought ice, firewood, and fishing supplies outside of the park. There's a super Walmart in Pocomoke City about 20 minutes away. In loop C at least, the sites are pretty close to each other- we could hear the people in the next site snore at night. My biggest complaint though is--while it's nice that it's dog friendly, there were a lot of early, incessant dog barkers in the morning that made for an early wake up time. Would come back to do more kayaking and fishing/crabbing!

    View from camp site 51 at Janes Island State Park.

    We camped there in our RV on New Year's Eve 2020 and New Year's Day 2021. We had an excellent stay. There were only a few camp sites open - 4 RV's total. The Ranger on duty was very pleasant and extremely knowledgeable. We stayed at site 51 for this trip - will aim for site 19 or site 73 when we return. And we will go back! I am impressed by what a great job the state of Maryland does running these camps. We also stopped by the Pocomoke River camp site which is worth a trip. Not sure if the Assateague State park fits our needs - prefer camping amongst the trees and not the sand dunes.

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    3 years ago

    The forest is scary me & my besties went for that alarm in October it wasn't even loud stupid asf alarm great forest though

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    4 years ago

    Our favorite place to camp! Great, waterfront sights, great sunsets, clean bath houses.

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    14 years ago

    Beautiful park with great facilities. The staff were eager to help in anyway. Best sunsets on the east coast!

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    Ask the Community - Janes Island State Park

    Review Highlights - Janes Island State Park

    Loop C (our favorite) is more quieter and the sites have a little more space and electricity but absolutely no pets allowed.

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    Hughlett Point Natural Preserve

    Hughlett Point Natural Preserve

    4.9(8 reviews)
    31.6 mi

    On the map, this was indistinguishable from nearby Dameron Marsh. Upon arriving, I was surprised by…read morewhat I found here. A short boardwalk leads to a genuine beach, one of the larger and nicer ones I've ever seen on the Chesapeake. Don't get me wrong, nobody's surfing on the little waves the bay generates, but it's still got a nice beach aesthetic and a good view. Several cautions are warranted, including the obvious risks of biting insects (not so much on the beach, but definitely on the inland track) and jellyfish. But I was surprised when a local told me that some of the marshy areas and the stream where a lagoon flows into the bay are prone to developing quicksand, to the point where people can get seriously stuck. (Unlike in movies, quicksand is not likely to drown you on its own but I still would not want to step in it). So watch out for that and bring some bug spray. Plant and animal life was abundant, and between the forest, the marsh, and the beach, there was a variety of scenery. So little of the bay is open to the public and preserved in this way. And this is not a park per se, and so unlike most state parks, this is free to enter. The parking area is small, and signage says they do not allow parking outside the lines, so visitation will be limited simply by space. But if you see a space open there, I'd take it.

    This park is fantastic. There are only 11 parking spaces, so access is limited. The trail through…read morethe woods is beautiful. Some of the trail is raised wooden platforms. The beach is amazing. It is rustic and beautiful with marshlands and wildlife. There are two hiking options. One is interior and goes in the woods. The other is beachfront. Both trails are great. There is one point where there is a small inland marshy lake. It is usually connected to the bay. The water here is usually flowing in or out depending on the tide. Be very careful trying to cross because the sand is soft and you could get stuck. It is remote, so you might not easily get help. The wildlife in this area is great. Sometimes I have seen hundreds of flapping rays just off shore. Birds, fish you never know. Fo and enjoy this special treasure.

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    Hughlett Point Natural Preserve
    Hughlett Point Natural Preserve
    Hughlett Point Natural Preserve

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    Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

    Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

    4.6(30 reviews)
    33.4 mi

    I had heard rumors about Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge while planning my Fourth of July…read moregetaway to Maryland. More importantly, I heard there was a scenic Wildlife Drive where I could experience the refuge without spending hours hiking in a 107-degree heat wave. As someone who enjoys both nature and air conditioning, this sounded like an outstanding life decision! Before leaving, I did a little homework. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk, and admission is normally just $3 per vehicle (or $1 for pedestrians), making it one of the best bargains around. Even better, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service occasionally offers free admission weekends, and I happened to visit during one celebrating America's 250th birthday. Admission was waived July 3 through July 5, making an already inexpensive adventure even sweeter. Free is one of my favorite prices, especially when it's attached to some place this beautiful! PRO TIP #1: If you're the type of person who enjoys quirky travel sidequests, ask about the Blue Goose Passport while you're there. I had recently learned online that National Wildlife Refuges have their own passport program, similar to the National Park Passport books, and naturally that became my newest obsession. The Visitor Center sold the passport for just $9, and I happily bought one and collected my very first refuge stamp. I arrived around 1:15 p.m. and immediately noticed...there wasn't a single car in the parking lot. Thankfully, the Visitor Center was open, despite looking completely deserted from the outside. While I was browsing the small gift shop afterward, I picked up a Christmas ornament, a sticker for my memory ball and, of course, my brand-new Blue Goose Passport. Prices in the gift shop were surprisingly low! Now, I have to be honest. The employee working that afternoon wasn't exactly the welcoming face of America's National Wildlife Refuge System. She seemed...less than thrilled that visitors existed that day. When I walked in, beaming and excited, and exclaimed, "You ARE open today!" She looked me dead in the eyes and said, dryly, "Unfortunately." Well, FORTUNATELY, she was a very small part of an otherwise wonderful afternoon! I began the Wildlife Drive and immediately noticed signage confirming admission was free for the holiday weekend. The drive took me about an hour because I drove nice and slowly, stopping whenever something caught my eye and scanning the marshes for wildlife. I saw plenty of birds...and not much else. But honestly, I don't blame the animals. If it was 107 degrees outside, I'd be hiding somewhere cool too. Even without a parade of wildlife, the drive itself was beautiful! Blackwater protects more than 30,000 acres of tidal marshes, forests and wetlands along Maryland's Eastern Shore and is famous for its bald eagles, osprey and incredible birdwatching opportunities. The scenery alone made the trip worthwhile! PRO TIP #2: Bring binoculars. Seriously. Phone cameras can only zoom so much before every bird starts looking like a tiny feathered blob. I spent half the drive wondering, "What is that?!" Binoculars would have made the experience so much better. One thing I really appreciated was learning that visitors are welcome to walk or bike the Wildlife Drive in addition to driving it. The loop is roughly four miles, completely paved and almost perfectly flat. I could already tell while driving that I'd enjoy it even more on foot during cooler weather. If hiking is more your style, the refuge also offers several trails, including the 2.5-mile Key Wallace Trail, the one-mile Woods Trail, the 1.5-mile Tubman Road Trail and the shorter Marsh Edge Trail. Based on what I saw, spring and fall would be incredible times to come back. If you're hoping to maximize wildlife sightings, November through February is prime time for wintering waterfowl. September also sounds fantastic with migrating ospreys, blooming tickseed sunflowers, abundant toads and peak songbird migration. Despite my less-than-cheerful interaction inside the Visitor Center, I genuinely loved my visit to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. It's peaceful, affordable, family-friendly and can be whatever you want it to be. Spend an hour driving the Wildlife Drive, spend half a day hiking or simply enjoy slowing down and taking in one of Maryland's most beautiful natural spaces. And if you're anything like me...don't leave without the Blue Goose Passport! Trust me. One passport stamp somehow turns into your next adventure!

    This is such a special place to admire nature, waters, and animal and bird life. Anddd you might…read moresight a few bald eagles! My friend and I enjoyed the driving tour as well as the walking trails. Beware it can get muddy and watery in some areas but definitely worth it. When driving take caution, we saw a friendly turtle crossing . Would definitely come back in all seasons and try to catch sunset or sunrise! I know you will get some great shots!

    Photos
    Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
    Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
    Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

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    Janes Island State Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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