A Weekday Getaway at North Point State Park

As a Baltimore native and self proclaimed beach connoisseur, I admit that North Point State Park slipped under my radar as a little drop of delight. Taking advantage of my day off, I packed a blanket, umbrella, camera and few expectations, just in case, before driving a quick 30 minutes to the park from Northeast Baltimore—15 minutes shorter than my daily work commute, I might add.  

In the instance that you visit North Point State Park and there isn’t an attendant in the booth, as it was in my case, don’t worry! There is a rather simple system of paying your entrance fee. Just grab an envelope, detach the rearview mirror hang tag, seal your money within the envelope and drop it in the charge box. Proceeding forward, I noticed a lack of directional signage, so it’s important to know that there are two parking areas. The second parking lot leads to the wading beach and is a couple minutes drive down the road from the entrance.

While I had my sights set on the beach area, there were plenty of other visitors taking advantage of the several miles of trails, fishing piers, and picnic areas. Eventually, I did diverge from my lounging to take a scenic stroll near the waterfront.

If you happen to be a kitesurfer, North Point State Park is perfect for that too! By the end of the day, there were several kitesurfers in the water, but they all remained far enough away  that children were swimming safely.

There are a few things you should know before going to North Point State Park. If you’re bringing snacks or plan on grilling, be sure to grab an available plastic bag or bring your own with the intention of taking trash out of the park with you. There are no trash bins in the park. The Takos visitor center is only open select days of the week and closed during the off season, so be prepared to use the portable potties located nearby. Most importantly, and the reason I consider this an ideal weekday experience, the beach is quite small and will easily reach capacity on sunny weekends or holidays.

Located less than 14 miles outside of downtown Baltimore, this weekday trip suggestion is perfect for those that might elect to forgo happy hour and, instead, indulge in an afternoon getaway on the Chesapeake Bay.