Major city · United States
Oakland, MarylandOakland
One night for the historic district and the B&O museum; add a second only for Herrington Manor or a Deep Creek Lake day.
Oakland is a small Garrett County town of about 1,900 people on US 219, a short drive southwest of Deep Creek Lake. Its draw is a compact historic district with two railroad and county museums, a theatre, antique shops and a state park a few minutes west. It works as a half-day stop or a quiet one-night base, not a destination week.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- May–Oct
- avoid Jan–Feb (cold, snow, some closures)
- Airports
- PIT · IAD · MGW
- 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.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
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
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Oakland, Maryland911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Garrett County Sheriff (non-emergency)301-334-1911
- Maryland State Police, McHenry barrack (non-emergency)301-387-1101
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 Oakland, Maryland, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyVery safe for a small US town; the real risks are winter driving on I-68 and US 219, patchy cell coverage and early-closing restaurants.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 301-334-1911 Garrett County Sheriff (non-emergency) · 301-387-1101 Maryland State Police, McHenry barrack (non-emergency)
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportPIT Pittsburgh International (About 2 h 30 min by car via I-79 and I-68; the usual large-airport option.).
- Getting aroundA car is the practical choice: US 219 runs through town and Deep Creek Lake is a short drive northeast.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$2–5
- Sit-down mealDinner main at a sit-down restaurantTipping 18–22% expected.$20–35
- Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$10–16
- BeerDraught beer$6–9
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry$5–10 (check)
- Budget bedState-park cabin (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$90
- Mid-range bedRoadside motel double room, a night, per roomUS$95
- High-end bedRoadside motel double room, a night, per roomUS$150
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$200
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.
- Airports
- PIT Pittsburgh International (About 2 h 30 min by car via I-79 and I-68; the usual large-airport option.) · IAD Washington Dulles International (About 3 h 30 min by car; check winter road conditions over the mountains.) · MGW Morgantown Municipal (About 1 h by car; limited flights, check schedules.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Feb
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Mar
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Apr
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
May
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Jun
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jul
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Aug
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Sep
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Oct
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Nov
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Dec
not flagged
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)), coolest Jan (−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C) low), wettest Jan (14 rain days), driest Sep (10). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Oakland, Maryland: 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
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
14 rd
Feb
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
12 rd
Mar
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
13 rd
Apr
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
13 rd
May
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
14 rd
Jun
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
12 rd
Jul
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
12 rd
Aug
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
11 rd
Sep
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
10 rd
Oct
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
10 rd
Nov
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
12 rd
Dec
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
14 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
A car is the practical choice: US 219 runs through town and Deep Creek Lake is a short drive northeast. The historic district itself is walkable in 10–15 minutes end to end. No local bus network is useful for visitors; check whether your lodging runs a shuttle.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Deep Creek Lake and McHenry
goDoor to door: About 20–30 min
US 219 north by car
Lake swimming, boat rental and state-park trails; the main reason to base here.
Herrington Manor State Park
goDoor to door: About 15 min
Liberty Street west, then Herrington Manor Road by car
Hiking, a small swimming beach and boat rental mid-April to mid-October.
Grantsville
cautionDoor to door: About 25 min
US 219 south by car
Small historic county town; pair it with a scenic drive, not a full day.
Swallow Falls State Park
goDoor to door: About 30–40 min
US 219 north, then county roads by car
Waterfall trails; go early on summer weekends.
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.
Downtown Oakland
Walk to the museums, shops and restaurants; a handful of small inns and motels.
North 3rd Street / US 219 strip
Roadside motels with parking; 10–15 min walk to the historic district.
Herrington Manor State Park
Rustic cabins in the forest, about 15 min west by car; bring your own linens and food.
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
- Budget
- $60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- $100–180 excl. bed
- High
- $180+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Roadside motel double room1 × 1 night × US$95 | US$95 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110 | US$220 |
| Car fuel, 150 km of local driving1 × US$20 | US$20 |
| Museum entries, per person2 × US$10 · check | US$20 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$39 |
| Trip total≈ US$212 per person per day, bed included | US$424 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $2–5 |
| Diner breakfast | $10–16 |
| Lunch main | $12–20 |
| Dinner main at a sit-down restaurantTipping 18–22% expected. | $20–35 |
| Draught beer | $6–9 |
| Museum entry | $5–10 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $10–25 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Winter snow and ice on I-68 and US 219: check road conditions before driving.
- Small museums keep short, seasonal hours and close on some weekdays: check before you go.
- Cell coverage is patchy in the surrounding mountains.
- Many restaurants close early on weeknights; plan dinner before 20:00.Many restaurants close early on weeknights; plan dinner before 8:00 PM.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Garrett County Sheriff (non-emergency)
- 301-334-1911
- Maryland State Police, McHenry barrack (non-emergency)
- 301-387-1101
Pocket card
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Oakland, MarylandOakland
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Garrett County Sheriff (non-emergency)301-334-1911
- Maryland State Police, McHenry (non-emergency)301-387-1101
Embassy
No embassies in Oakland; your country's embassy is in Washington, DC, with consulates in Pittsburgh or Baltimore for some countries.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- PIT → Oakland by car: about 2 h 30 min, fuel about $25–35 (check)
- IAD → Oakland by car: about 3 h 30 min (check winter roads)
- Oakland → Deep Creek Lake by car: about 20–30 min
Say or show
- Where is the historic district? — Where is the historic district?
- Is this open today? — Is this open today?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Where is the nearest gas station? — Where is the nearest gas station?
- Do you take reservations? — Do you take reservations?
- Thanks, have a good one — Thanks, have a good one
Small-town hours change with the season: call ahead for museums and restaurants.
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 Oakland, Maryland. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Oct · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, snow, some closures) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contracts for PIT, IAD and MGW: drive times, winter-road fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking cluster for the historic district with rescue anchors: Liberty Street museums, Center Street theatre, Second Street shops.
- Place pages with verified seasonal hours (B&O Railroad Museum, Garrett County Museum of Transportation, Garrett County Historical Museum, Herrington Manor).
- Winter and hostile-weather fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
Ask about Oakland, Maryland
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