Deep Creek Lake Natural Resource Management Area
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 8 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $3 per vehicle ($5 nonresident)Annual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.maryland.gov
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 9 acres, Deep Creek Lake Natural Resource Management Area lies in Garrett County, about 7 miles north of Oakland.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
8 a.m. to sunset. The main gate is closed during snowmobile season (December 15 to March 15), but parking is available at the Discovery Center.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Pets
'Maryland State Parks welcome you and your pet to enjoy the great outdoors together!' Pets are allowed only in designated areas, which differ by park. The per-park 'Pet Policy' is on parkinfo.aspx.
Statewide rule from Maryland's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Day-use Admission Fee: Day after Labor Day through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend: Maryland residents (resident) | $3 · vehicle |
| Day-use Admission Fee: Day after Labor Day through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend: Maryland residents (nonresident) | $5 · vehicle |
| Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day: Maryland residents (resident) | $3 · person |
| Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day: Maryland residents (nonresident) | $5 · person |
| Campsite | $21.50 · night |
| Campsite with electric | $27.50 · night |
| Bear Den (3-sided camping unit complete with wooden floor, roof and fireplace) | $36.75 |
| Yurt (a round, fabric tent with floor, furniture and queen size bed) | $53 |
| Mini-cabins | $65.50 |
| Charge: (Base rate does not include transaction or other applicable fees) | $56.75 |
| Boat Launch Charges: Maryland residents (resident) | $10 · vehicle |
| Boat Launch Charges: Maryland residents (nonresident) | $12 · vehicle |
Official wording
Hours of Operations: 8 a.m. to sunset. The main gate is closed during snowmobile season (December 15 to March 15), but parking is available at the Discovery Center. Day-use Admission Fee: Day after Labor Day through the Friday before Memorial Day weekend: • Maryland residents $3/vehicle; out-of-state residents $5/vehicle Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day: • Maryland residents $3/person; out-of-state residents $5/person Camping: Charges: (Base rate does not include transaction or other applicable fees) • Campsite: $21.50 • Campsite with electric: $27.50 • Bear Den (3-sided camping unit complete with wooden floor, roof and fireplace): $36.75 • Yurt (a round, fabric tent with floor, furniture and queen size bed): $53.00 Cabins: Charges: (Base rate does not include transaction or other applicable fees) Mini-cabins: $65.50 Shelter: Capacity: 75 people Charge: (Base rate does not include transaction or other applicable fees) $56.75 Boat Launch Charges: Maryland residents $10/vehicle; out-of-state residents $12/vehicle
Maryland park passes
- Maryland State Park and Trail Passport (annual) — $75 resident / $100 non-resident. Unlimited day-use entry for everyone in the vehicle (up to 10 people), unlimited boat launching, 10% concession discount Details
- Golden Age Pass (62+) — $10 processing fee, lifetime. Free day-use entry, half-price camping Sun–Thu, waived boat launch fees Details
- Universal Disability Pass. Free lifetime entrance to DNR public lands for holder + one person Details
- Youth Group Pass. Youth-group day use (not peak weekends) and youth group camping; valid two years Details
From the Maryland state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Maryland State Park Reservation Service (parkreservations.maryland.gov); day use via parkdayuse.maryland.gov
- Phone
- 888-432-2267
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
- Campsite: $21.50
- Campsite with electric: $27.50
- Bear Den (3-sided camping unit complete with wooden floor, roof and fireplace): $36.75
- Yurt (a round, fabric tent with floor, furniture and queen size bed): $53.00
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
Mini-cabins: $65.50
Things to do
Swimming
The DNR positions buoys on Deep Creek Lake to mark hazards, designate public swimming areas, and indicate speed zones. • Swimming Area Buoys: Mark designated swimming zones where vessel entry is prohibited. Deep Creek Lake State Park is currently the only designated public swimming area on the lake. • The sandy portion of the swim beach and the ranger docks are the only areas anglers are asked to avoid. Prohibited uses include camping, picnicking, biking, boating and swimming (COMAR 08. Yes, Deep Creek Lake State Park has a designated public swimming area marked by buoys. Amanda has a love for travel, wildlife macro photography, and outdoor sports like snowboarding, swimming, hiking, and climbing.
Getting there
- Nearest town
- Oakland — about 7 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 39.5187, -79.3779 (from PAD-US)
- dcl.nrma@maryland.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Maryland State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Maryland Park Service 'Find a State Park' directory (SharePoint HTML, links to /publiclands/Pages/{region}/{park}.aspx)
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology