Boat Ramps In Maryland: Open Or Closed?

Maryland is home to several boat ramps, which are open to the public. These ramps are located in various counties across the state, including Anne Arundel County, Annapolis, and Worcester County. Some boat ramps are free to access, while others require daily or annual permits for use. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources provides maps of public boat ramps in Worcester County, which can be found on their website.

Maryland Boat Ramps

Boat ramps in Anne Arundel County

Anne Arundel County in Maryland offers a wide variety of boat ramps and hand launches. The county is home to 533 miles of tidal shoreline, with public water access available at community and regional parks.

Boat Ramps

There are three paved boat ramp sites intended for use by trailer-mounted boats in Anne Arundel County. These are located at:

• Discovery Village, 4804 Atwell Road, Shady Side, MD 20764
• Fort Smallwood Park, 9500 Fort Smallwood Road, Pasadena, MD 21122
• Solleys Cove Park, 7535 Solley Road, Glen Burnie, MD 21060

Hand Launches

There are several hand launches available in Anne Arundel County, including:

• Amos Garrett Waterfront Park, Annapolis
• Beachwood Park, Pasadena
• Carrs Wharf, Edgewater
• Galesville Wharf, Galesville
• Jonas Green Park, Annapolis
• Patuxent Wetlands Park, Lothian
• Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis
• Rose Haven Memorial Park, Rose Haven
• Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis
• Truxtun Park, Annapolis
• Tucker Street, Annapolis

Cartop Boat Launches

The Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks provides cartop boat launch sites, suitable for canoes and kayaks, at several community and regional parks. These include:

• Beachwood Park, Pasadena
• Beverly Triton Nature Park, Edgewater
• Carrs Wharf, Edgewater
• Davidsonville, Patuxent River Road
• Discovery Village, Shady Side

Rules and Regulations

It is important to note that park hours are generally from dawn or 7:00 a.m. to dusk, and overnight parking is not permitted. All trash must be taken with you or disposed of in a trash receptacle. Additionally, certain inflatable kayaks and rafts are prohibited from using the County's cartop boat launch sites, as they may not be designed for moving or rough water.

Annapolis boat ramps

Annapolis, Maryland, is a top waterfront destination, offering several desirable access points for mooring boats and plentiful marine services. There are two boat-launching ramps in Annapolis. On Spa Creek, you'll find the Truxtun Park boat ramp, and on Weems Creek is the Tucker Street boat ramp.

The Truxtun Park boat ramp is open year-round and features two concrete launching ramps with adjacent finger piers. It is open from sunrise to sunset and costs $10 for a daily launch-ramp round trip, with parking permits available for vehicles and trailers. Annual permits are available for $75. There is an ADA parking spot, and an ADA walkway to an ADA floating "L" dock for fishing and mooring dinghies.

The Tucker Street boat ramp has a single gravel ramp with no finger piers and is not suitable for large boats. Parking for vehicles and boat trailers is very limited, and there are no restrooms. Annual trailer-parking permits are available for $25 for city residents and $100 for non-residents.

In addition to the boat ramps in Annapolis, there are three boat ramp sites in Anne Arundel County that are paved ramps intended for use by trailer-mounted boats. These can be found at Discovery Village, Fort Smallwood Park, and Solleys Cove Park.

Free public boat ramps in Maryland

There are several free public boat ramps in Maryland. In Annapolis, there are two boat ramps: one on Spa Creek at Truxtun Park and one on Weems Creek at Tucker Street. While the Truxtun Park ramp offers daily and annual permits, the Tucker Street ramp does not offer daily permits, and its annual trailer-parking permits are cheaper, at $25 for city residents and $100 for non-residents. Annapolis Parking handles the payment for boat launches, and you can download the ParkMobile App to make payments.

In Anne Arundel County, there are three paved boat ramp sites intended for use by trailer-mounted boats. These are located at Discovery Village, Fort Smallwood Park, and Solleys Cove Park.

Some other free public access boat ramps in Maryland include Fort Armistead, Turner Station Park, and Wilson Point Park on Middle River. Merritt Point Park in Dundalk also has a new boat ramp.

Boat ramps in Worcester County

Assateague State Park

Located at Route 611 and the Verrazano Bridge, this boat ramp provides access to Sinepuxent Bay. The facilities here include restrooms and lighted paved parking.

Byrd Park (East and West)

Byrd Park is located on Market Street in Snow Hill and provides access to the Pocomoke River. It has a picnic area, comfort stations, and paved parking, with 2 ramps available for boats.

Pocomoke City Landing

This boat ramp is located on Riverside Drive at the end of Laurel Street in Pocomoke City. It offers access to the Pocomoke River and features two 80-foot boating piers and paved parking.

George Island Landing

Located in the Stockton vicinity at the end of Route 366, this boat ramp provides access to Chincoteague Bay. There is one boat ramp available, and a restroom is on-site.

Pocomoke River State Park- Shad Landing Area

This boat ramp can be found off Route 113, 4 miles south of Snow Hill, and it provides access to the Pocomoke River. The facilities here include water and electrical hookups, 23 boat slips, a pump-out station, several boating piers, canoe rentals, comfort stations, telephones, camping, picnic areas, and paved parking.

For more detailed information on boat ramps in Worcester County, you can refer to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' maps or contact Worcester County Recreation and Parks at (410) 632-2144.

Boat ramp permits

In Caroline County, an annual boat ramp permit costs $25, while a 24-hour temporary permit is $10. These permits can be purchased at private businesses and local government offices throughout the county. Proper display of the permits is required, with annual permits needing to be displayed on the driver's side of the vehicle rear bumper or trailer tongue within 12" of the hitch. Temporary or daily permits must be hung on the inside mirror facing the windshield.

In Kent County, the cost of an annual boat trailer permit is $30 for residents and $75 for non-residents. A three-day trailer permit is also available for $30. To obtain a permit, an application and payment must be sent to the Kent County Environmental Operations office. Specific rules and regulations for boat ramp usage in Kent County are provided on their website.

In Annapolis, Maryland, daily and annual permits are available for the Truxtun Park boat ramp. The daily launch ramp fee is $10, which includes parking for a vehicle and trailer. Annual permits for recreational users cost $75. Additionally, annual trailer-parking permits for the Tucker Street boat ramp can be purchased for $25 for city residents and $100 for non-residents.

Frequently asked questions