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Region

Southern Maryland

Base in Solomons or Leonardtown for 2 nights and drive; without a car, skip the region.

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Key facts · United States

Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Visa
Depends on your passport
Currency
US dollar (USD, $)
Language
English
Plugs
A · B · 120 V
Time zone
Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10
Month by month hereIn detail ↓
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Southern Maryland is Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties plus the southern edges of Prince George's and Anne Arundel: a low, sandy peninsula between the Patuxent and the Potomac, ending at the Chesapeake Bay. It is a driving region. There is no passenger rail, buses are commuter-oriented, and the sights are 20–60 minutes apart by road. Sleep in one place — Solomons for the marine museum and Calvert Cliffs, Leonardtown or Lexington Park for St. Mary's City and Point Lookout — and day-trip the rest.

Where to sleep

10 places in this region

Sleep base

  • SolomonsCity guide

    Boardwalk, Calvert Marine Museum, short drive to Calvert Cliffs; best single base for the north half.

    Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Open Solomons →

  • LeonardtownCity guide

    St. Mary's County town with wineries and restaurants; 20–30 min to St. Mary's City and Point Lookout.

    Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Open Leonardtown →

  • Lexington ParkCity guide

    Most beds and services in St. Mary's County; naval air station traffic sets weekday room demand.

    Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Open Lexington Park →

Day trip

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

2 nights
Solomons 2: Calvert Cliffs and Flag Ponds one day, St. Mary's City the other
3 nights
Solomons 1 + Leonardtown or Lexington Park 2, adding Point Lookout
4 nights
Solomons 2 + St. Mary's County 2, with Chesapeake Beach on the way in or out
  • Solomons + St. Mary's City + Point Lookout + Calvert Cliffs in one day is four hours of driving with no time on the ground.
  • Summer humidity is high and mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers are active; poison ivy lines most forest edges.
  • Copperheads occur in the region; watch footing off-trail.
  • Sea nettles (jellyfish) make open-water swimming unpleasant in warm months.

Day-trips door to door

ToFromDoor-to-door p50Last returnNote
St. Mary's CityLeonardtown25 minunknownSite and museum hours vary by season; check before driving.
Point LookoutLexington Park25 minunknownPark day-use hours change seasonally; the last stretch is a two-lane road.
Calvert Cliffs State ParkSolomons25 minunknownReaching the cliffs means a walk from the parking area; bring water.
Chesapeake BeachSolomons45 minunknownSwimming is realistic in net-protected areas, mostly late spring to early summer.

Bags between cities

No passenger rail serves the region, so luggage moves by car; if you split bases between Solomons and St. Mary's County, pack the car rather than plan a transfer service.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
CountryJFMAMJJASOND
Solomons
Leonardtown
Lexington Park
St. Mary's City
Point Lookout
Chesapeake Beach
Cobb Island
Prince Frederick
La Plata
Waldorf
United States (country-wide)
Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month
ZoneJFMAMJJASOND
Tidewater peninsulaCalvert, Charles and St. Mary's countiescoldcoldokbestbestokhothotbestbestokcold
best: dry, mildok: workablehot: short walking windows
Tidewater peninsula
Humid summers with 30 °C (86 °F)+ days; spring and autumn are the comfortable windows. Hurricanes and tropical storms can reach the bay Aug–Oct.

Fossil hunting and beach walking work best at low tide; check a tide table for the day you plan to go.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate
FromToHowp50Note
Washington, DCSolomons / LeonardtownDrive Route 4 (Calvert) or Route 5 (Charles, St. Mary's)~1 h 15 to Solomons, ~1 h 45 to LeonardtownFrom the south use Route 301; from the north, I-95 to the Beltway (I-495) and take the Route 4 or Route 5 exit.
Washington Reagan National (DCA)Solomons / Lexington ParkDrive, or a regional airport shuttle~1 h 30 to Solomons, ~2 h to Lexington ParkClosest of the three airports; a private shuttle such as Southern Maryland Express runs to the region — check current schedules and fares.
Dulles (IAD)Solomons / Lexington ParkDrive~2 h to Solomons, ~2 h 30 to Lexington ParkAllow extra time for the Beltway at rush hour.
Baltimore-Washington (BWI)Solomons / Lexington ParkDrive~1 h 45 to Solomons, ~2 h 15 to Lexington ParkUseful for open-jaw tickets; no rail link onward.
Washington, DCSouthern MarylandCommuter bus (Maryland Transit Administration)checkRuns toward DC on a commuter pattern, not between the region's sights; check current routes.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works
DishWhereTiming / trap
Steamed blue crabsDocks and crab houses across Calvert and St. Mary's countiesCrabbing from a pier needs only string, bait and a long-handled net; handle crabs by the rear swimming legs.
Southern Maryland stuffed hamSt. Mary's County, church and community eventsCured ham stuffed with spiced greens; sold by the slice at fundraisers.
OystersSolomons and Leonardtown restaurantsThe bay oyster population crashed in the 1980s and has not recovered, so local oysters are scarce — ask where they are from.
Rockfish (striped bass) and fried soft-shell crabWaterfront restaurantsRockfish is the Maryland name for striped bass.
Pulled-pork barbecueRoadside stands and smokehousesSmoked and basted with an oil-and-vinegar sauce, closer to North Carolina style than to Kansas City.
Amish cider and fudgeAmish markets in Mechanicsville (St. Mary's County) and Upper MarlboroCider is seasonal in autumn; church events sell sweet pressed cider, not hard cider.

Go next

Maryland

planned

Drive back up Route 4 or Route 5

Annapolis and Baltimore are the natural next stops.

Washington, D.C.

Drive ~1 h 15 from Solomons

Free museums and monuments; the easiest city add-on.

Mid-Atlantic

Drive north on I-95

Region page for planning the wider corridor.

United States itineraries

planned

Plan

Slot Southern Maryland into a longer East Coast route.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep
3 bases
Day trips
4, 25 min to 45 min
Nights suggested
2–4 nights
Ways in
5 listed
Best months
Apr, May, Sep, Oct

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Open Maryland Up to United States

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

Ask about Southern Maryland

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