Washington has 23 state parks within 50 miles in Maryland and Virginia, and three of them each go a different way. Mason Neck, 18 miles southwest in Virginia, is marsh and forest on Belmont Bay where people come to watch bald eagles. Seneca Creek, 21 miles northwest in Maryland, follows its creek for 14 miles and wraps around 90-acre Clopper Lake. Sandy Point, 35 miles east by Annapolis, has a mile of beach on the Chesapeake Bay right under the Bay Bridge. This is the outdoor half of the day. The eating half is at the end: one table on the way back from each park.
We run State Park Near Me, a directory of every state park in the country, and we are a guest here. Top of DC asked for the parks. They supplied the restaurants.
The day, in order
Mason Neck opens at 7 a.m. and closes at dusk, but its Marsh View Trail and the lot next to it are closed for construction, and its canoe and kayak rentals ended for the season on Labor Day. Seneca Creek is open 8 a.m. to sunset through October and from 10 a.m. starting November 1; its Black Rock parking lot is closed for stream bank repairs, and the entrance now takes cards. Sandy Point is open 7 a.m. to sunset every day but Christmas, closing at 4 p.m. from mid-November to January 2 for Lights on the Bay. None of the three allows swimming outside designated areas, and Mason Neck and Clopper Lake allow none at all.
Mason Neck
In southern Fairfax County, about 20 miles from the city, Mason Neck covers 1,856 acres of wetland, forest, ponds and open fields. Bird watching is the big draw, especially for American bald eagles, along with guided canoe trips on Kane’s Creek and Belmont Bay. More than six miles of unpaved trails and three miles of paved trails run through the park, and elevated walkways take you out over the marsh; for now the Marsh View Trail and its lot are closed for construction. You can fish in Belmont Bay only, with a Virginia or Maryland license, and launch a car-top boat; there is no trailer launch and no swimming. The visitor center is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Parking is $10. To get there, take US 1, then Gunston Road east for five miles. Gunston Hall and the Elizabeth Hartwell National Wildlife Refuge are nearby.
Seneca Creek
Seneca Creek’s 6,300 acres follow 14 miles of the creek as it winds down to the Potomac River. The center of the park is the Clopper Day-Use Area and 90-acre Clopper Lake, ringed by forest and fields, with boat rentals and picnic areas. A restored 19th century cabin and a self-guided path tell the history of the area, and more than 50 miles of trails are open to hikers, horseback riders and cyclists. Swimming and wading are not allowed in Clopper Lake, but you may wade in Great Seneca Creek at your own risk. The park is at 11950 Clopper Road in Gaithersburg. It charges $3 a person for Maryland residents and $5 for others on weekends and holidays from April through October, plus a processing fee, and nothing on weekdays. The Black Rock parking lot is closed for stream bank work.
Sandy Point
Sandy Point covers 786 acres on the northwestern shore of the Chesapeake Bay and has been open since June 25, 1952. It is known for its water views, its one-mile sandy beach and its marina, with 22 launch ramps and six finger piers for day docking, and the marina is a certified Clean Marina. Swimming is allowed only in designated areas. Fishing and boating have 24-hour access all year, though anglers in the park after hours must be actively fishing. There are picnic areas at Tollgate, South Beach and East Beach, and a concession stand. The park is open 7 a.m. to sunset year-round except Christmas Day, and from mid-November to January 2 it closes at 4 p.m. for Lights on the Bay. From October through April, entry is $3 per vehicle. The address is 1100 East College Parkway, Annapolis.
The full list
Directions, maps and the official site for each of these, plus the other state parks within 50 miles, are on our side. The state parks near Washington page on State Park Near Me lists all 23, closest first, with a page for every park.
