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Major city · United States

Point Lookout

Go as a half-day or one-night stop from Lexington Park (about 35 min by car), not as a base: the point is the park, the lighthouse and the Civil War ground.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Point Lookout is the southern tip of Maryland's western shore, where the Potomac meets Chesapeake Bay. It is a state park, a lighthouse and a Civil War site — a prison camp and hospital ground — with camping, a swimming beach and a long fishing pier. There is no town centre and almost no lodging outside the park, so most visitors come for a few hours or one night from Lexington Park or St. Mary's City. One day covers it; two nights only make sense if you are camping or fishing.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (heat, humidity, biting insects)
Airports
DCA · BWI
Nights
1
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Point Lookout911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Point Lookout, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–5
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner mainTipping 18–22% is expected.$16–28
  • Street or quick mealDeli sandwich or takeaway lunch$9–15
  • BeerBeer in a bar / six-pack at a shop$6–9$10–14
  • Budget bedState park campsite (tent), a night, per roomUS$30
  • Mid-range bedState park campsite (tent), a night, per roomUS$45
  • High-end bedState park campsite (tent), a night, per roomUS$70

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$50 · Mid US$95 · High US$180

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Point Lookout State ParkPoint Lookout Lighthouse (1830)Civil War prison camp and Confederate Memorial ParkFishing pier and swimming beach
Airports
DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National (About 2 h by car via Route 5 south; the closest major airport.) · BWI Baltimore/Washington International (About 2 h 15 min by car via Route 4 and Route 235.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    not flagged

    7°C (45°F)

  2. Feb

    not flagged

    9°C (48°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    19°C (66°F)

  5. May

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    15°C (59°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    9°C (48°F)

Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (32°C (90°F)), coolest Jan (−2°C (28°F) low), wettest May (10 rain days), driest Oct (7). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Point Lookout: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C (45°F)

−2°C (28°F)

9 rd

Feb

9°C (48°F)

−1°C (30°F)

8 rd

Mar

13°C (55°F)

3°C (37°F)

9 rd

Apr

19°C (66°F)

8°C (46°F)

9 rd

May

24°C (75°F)

13°C (55°F)

10 rd

Jun

29°C (84°F)

18°C (64°F)

9 rd

Jul

32°C (90°F)

22°C (72°F)

10 rd

Aug

31°C (88°F)

21°C (70°F)

9 rd

Sep

27°C (81°F)

17°C (63°F)

8 rd

Oct

21°C (70°F)

11°C (52°F)

7 rd

Nov

15°C (59°F)

5°C (41°F)

8 rd

Dec

9°C (48°F)

0°C (32°F)

9 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car. Route 5 runs to the end of the peninsula; there is no rail and no useful local bus. Inside the park you walk or cycle between the beach, pier, fort and lighthouse. Ferries run between Point Lookout and Smith Island (check the current operator and season).

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
St. Mary's Citygo

Door to door: About 35 min

Route 5 north, then Route 249

Historic St. Mary's City and the college; pair it with Point Lookout in one day.

Lexington Parkgo

Door to door: About 35–40 min

Route 5 north to Route 235

Closest full range of hotels, groceries and restaurants.

Solomons

go

Door to door: About 50 min

Route 4 north across the Gov. Johnson Bridge

Waterfront restaurants and the Calvert Marine Museum; good for a dinner run.

Smith Island

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min crossing

Passenger ferry from Point Lookout

Seasonal and weather-dependent: confirm sailings before you plan the day.

Chesapeake Beachskip

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Route 4 north and west

Too far for a comfortable return trip on the same day.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Point Lookout State Park campground and cabins

The only beds at the point: 143 wooded campsites and 5 four-person camper cabins; book ahead for summer weekends.

Lexington Park / California, MD

About 35–40 min by car; the practical base for motels, chain hotels and restaurants.

St. Mary's City area

About 30–35 min by car; quieter, with inns and B&Bs near the historic site.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$40–70 excl. bed
Mid
$70–120 excl. bed
High
$120+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or chain hotel in Lexington Park1 × 1 night × US$130US$130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$95US$190
Rental car, one day1 × US$70US$70
Fuel, round trip from Washington, DC1 × US$30 · checkUS$30
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$45
Trip total≈ US$248 per person per day, bed includedUS$495

2026 estimate in US dollars; park entry and fishing licences excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–5
Deli sandwich or takeaway lunch$9–15
Sit-down dinner mainTipping 18–22% is expected.$16–28
Beer in a bar / six-pack at a shop$6–9 / $10–14
Boat launch ramp feecheck$10
Maryland Coastal Sport Fishing licencecheck$15–30

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are summer heat, ticks and mosquitoes, uneven ground at the fort and lighthouse, and rip currents on the bay side. Swim only when lifeguards are on duty.
  • No town centre and very limited food: the park store is seasonal and the nearest shops are in Ridge, about 15 min north.
  • Ticks, mosquitoes and poison ivy are real in summer woods and tall grass.
  • The beach and pier are seasonal: the pier opens mid-April to the third week in December, and swimming is staffed May–September only.
  • A valid Maryland Coastal Sport Fishing licence and stamps are required to fish from the pier if you are 16 or older.
  • Cell coverage is patchy near the point; download maps before you drive.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Maryland State Park police / park office
+1 301 872 5688
Poison control
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Point LookoutPoint Lookout

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Park office+1 301 872 5688
  • Poison control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies here; national embassies are in Washington, DC, about 2 h by car.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Drive Washington, DC → Point Lookout: about 2 h via Route 5 south (check traffic)
  • Drive Lexington Park → Point Lookout: about 35–40 min
  • Point Lookout → Smith Island ferry: seasonal passenger ferry, about 1 h 15 min (check)

Print this card: no town centre, patchy signal, and the nearest shops are in Ridge.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Point Lookout. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat, humidity, biting insects) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for DCA and BWI: last sensible rental-car pickup, Route 5 drive times, overnight rung.
  2. Park gate, beach, pier and lighthouse cutoffs with seasonal hours and licence rules.
  3. Camping and cabin booking windows, plus a wet-weather fallback in Lexington Park.
  4. Eat pages for Ridge and Lexington Park with posted hours and last orders.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources