Merkle Natural Resources Management Area
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily sunrise – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $50 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- dnr.maryland.gov(443) 510-9920
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 113 acres, Merkle Natural Resources Management Area lies in Calvert County, about 8 miles west of Chesapeake Beach.
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 | sunrise – sunset | — |
| Park — Critical Area Driving Tour | Sun | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Grounds open sunrise to sunset Frank Oslislo Visitor Center: Open for viewing by reservation only. Please contact us at [email protected] to schedule a visit.
Critical Area Driving Tour: The CADT is open daily for driving, hiking, biking and horseback riding. The section of the driving tour connecting Patuxent River Park to Merkle is open on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hours of operation (fees page): Sunrise to sunset
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| $50 per day | $50 · day |
Official wording
Hours of Operations: Sunrise to sunset Day-use Admission Fee: No charge Meeting Room: For reservations, please call the park office at 443-510-9920 Capacity: 25 people Charge: (Base rate does not include transaction or other applicable fees) $50 per day Dates: Year-round
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.
Pets
Dogs allowed
Leashed pets are permitted at Merkle Natural Resources Management Area
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Amenities
Facilities
- Visitor center
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 11704 Fenno Road
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 - Nearest town
- Chesapeake Beach — about 8 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 38.7294, -76.6888 (from PAD-US)
- Phone
- (443) 510-9920
- merklewildlife.nrma@maryland.gov
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
• From Annapolis: 32 miles Follow Route 50 West to Route 301 South. Continue on Route 301 South to Croom Road (Route 382). Turn left on Croom Road. Continue on Croom Road and turn left on St. Thomas Church Road, which will turn into Fenno Road. Continue until you see signs on your left at Merkle Road. • From Baltimore: 38 miles Exit Beltway (I-695) at Route 97 South. Follow to Route 3 South and then to Route 301 (joins at the junction with Route 50). Continue on Route 301 South to Croom Road (Route 382). Turn left on Croom Road. Continue on Croom Road and turn left on St. Thomas Church Road, which will turn into Fenno Road. Continue until you see signs on your left at Merkle Road. • From Washington, D.C.: 11.7 miles From Beltway (I-495/95) follow to Exit 11 at Route 4 East (Pennsylvania Avenue) toward Upper Marlboro. Continue on Route 4 to Route 301 South. Continue on Route 301 South to Croom Road (Route 382). Turn left on Croom Road. Continue on Croom Road and turn left on St. Thomas Church Road, which will turn into Fenno Road. Continue until you see signs on your left at Merkle Road.
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