Camping in Maryland: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across Maryland's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from April to June and from August to October, with average highs of 65 to 84 F and lows of 42 to 63 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from October to April, most often in January, when they average 24.6 a month. State park sites are booked through Maryland State Park Reservation Service, up to 365 days ahead.
Check this weekend’s weather at your campsite
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The best months for camping in Maryland
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in Maryland is mild April to June and August to October. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan42° / 24°Freezing nights
- Feb45° / 25°Freezing nights
- Mar53° / 32°Freezing nights
- Apr65° / 42°Freezing nights
- May73° / 51°Mild
- Jun81° / 61°Mild
- Jul86° / 65°Hot
- Aug84° / 63°Mild
- Sep78° / 57°Mild
- Oct67° / 45°Freezing nights
- Nov56° / 35°Freezing nights
- Dec47° / 28°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Baltimoreelevation 156 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43 F | 25 F | 24 |
| February | 46 F | 27 F | 21 |
| March | 55 F | 34 F | 13.9 |
| April (mild) | 67 F | 44 F | 2.4 |
| May (mild) | 76 F | 53 F | 0 |
| June (mild) | 84 F | 63 F | 0 |
| July | 89 F | 68 F | 0 |
| August | 87 F | 66 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 80 F | 59 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 68 F | 47 F | 1 |
| November | 57 F | 37 F | 10.4 |
| December | 48 F | 30 F | 20.6 |
Oaklandelevation 2,420 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37 F | 18 F | 27.4 |
| February | 40 F | 20 F | 25.1 |
| March | 49 F | 27 F | 22.5 |
| April | 61 F | 37 F | 11.8 |
| May (mild) | 70 F | 48 F | 2.3 |
| June (mild) | 77 F | 56 F | 0.1 |
| July (mild) | 81 F | 60 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 80 F | 58 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 74 F | 51 F | 0.3 |
| October (mild) | 63 F | 40 F | 9 |
| November | 52 F | 30 F | 20.2 |
| December | 42 F | 24 F | 26 |
Salisburyelevation 48 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 46 F | 28 F | 22.3 |
| February | 48 F | 29 F | 19.7 |
| March | 55 F | 35 F | 14.2 |
| April (mild) | 66 F | 44 F | 3.9 |
| May (mild) | 74 F | 53 F | 0.3 |
| June (mild) | 83 F | 63 F | 0 |
| July | 88 F | 68 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 85 F | 66 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 80 F | 60 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 69 F | 48 F | 1.8 |
| November | 59 F | 38 F | 10.9 |
| December | 50 F | 31 F | 20.5 |
How to book a state park campsite in Maryland
Maryland Park Service (DNR) takes reservations through Maryland State Park Reservation Service. The longest advance booking its page states is 365 days.
How far ahead you can book
Reservations are available 365 days in advance of your arrival date.Maryland DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
First come, first served sites
Primitive campsites in state forests are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.Maryland DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
When the campgrounds are open
Not all state park campgrounds are open for camping year round. Please check with the state park before you arrive.Maryland DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
How many sites
The Maryland Park Service offers more than 2,000 campsites, 120 full-service and camper cabins, and 100 picnic shelters to guests.Maryland DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from Maryland Park Service (DNR) pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Campfires when you camp in Maryland
Campfires in state parks and forests
Campfires are only allowed in the provided fire rings and must be supervised at all times by someone at least 18 years of age.Maryland DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Whether you need a permit
These regulations do not apply inside the limits of incorporated towns or to small recreational fires such as campfires.Maryland Forest Service, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
What the quote says: no permit is required.
Where fire restrictions are posted
Under prolonged or unusual conditions conducive to wildfire, the Director may declare a complete burn ban on all open air burning in woodland or in areas where flammable material could carry fire to woodland, statewide or in any specific area.Maryland Forest Service, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Current restrictions: Maryland DNR Forest Service.
Maryland camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in Maryland. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.