The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has expanded its reservation and park entrance system, and announced that Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area will implement a QR Code-based entrance system for visitors.
Beginning June 26, Fair Hill will start using a QR code-based payment system, in which visitors scan a QR code on signage to pay their day-use fee online. An honor box will remain in place for those who need to pay cash. Reservations are not required at Fair Hill.
The agency said the reservation system was put in place to prevent long entrance lines, traffic backups, and unexpected capacity closures on busy weekends and holidays.
In the spring and summer of 2025, the Maryland Park Service began to use a reservation system created by Kaizen Labs at five locations experiencing parking overflow issues and traffic backups that impacted the surrounding community and limited visitors’ access. Those parks are Greenbrier, Sandy Point, Point Lookout, Newtowne Neck, and North Point.
After a soft-opening at several additional parks in May and June, the system is expanding. Day-use reservations are now required on weekends and holidays through Labor Day at these Maryland state parks and areas:
- Greenbrier State Park in Boonsboro
- Point Lookout State Park in Scotland, Maryland
- Newtowne Neck State Park in Leonardtown
- North Point State Park in Edgemere
- Rocks State Park’s Kilgore Falls area in Pylesville
- Rocky Gap State Park in Flintstone
- Sandy Point Park in Annapolis
- Swallow Falls State Park in Oakland
Reservations can be made at parkdayuse.maryland.gov.
Same-day reservations can be made if parks are not at capacity. Visitors are also encouraged to check the Park Status Dashboard before leaving home for the latest park updates and operating statuses, especially after severe weather conditions have passed through the area.
Reservations can be made starting seven days in advance of each visit. Reservations may be changed or canceled until 8 a.m. the day before the visit.
Regular day-use fees will be paid at the time of reservation using credit or debit cards, or other online payment methods. Each reservation transaction includes a non-refundable service charge of about $1.50 per person, which varies slightly depending on the park’s specific day use service charge.