State Parks Could Reach Capacity Early As Day-Trippers Seek Water, Sun

State parks reach capacity when parking lots fill up, so visitors are advised to plan in advance

With sandy beaches, cooling waters and shady picnic areas, Maryland's state parks have become the go-to destination for more than 6 million day-trippers between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

But if the weather matches the July 4^th weekend forecast, park managers know there likely will be thousands of folks left on the outside, looking in.

Last year, parks filled to capacity, when every parking space is taken, 54 times. Sandy Point, just north of the Bay Bridge, was at capacity six days, three of them coming during the long Independence Day weekend. Manager Ken Hartman anticipates a repeat performance.

"We have people waiting at the gates at 6 a.m. Regulars know what picnic tables they want and what grill they want and they stake them out," Hartman says. "When our lots are full, we have 7,000 to 8,000 people in the park and that's our limit."

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