Susquehanna State Park is a forested park along the lower Susquehanna River in Harford County, Maryland, just north of Havre de Grace. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in July 2026. One current closure to flag: the footbridge to the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenways Trail, near the Stafford Flint Furnace on Stafford Road, is closed due to storm damage; the trail is currently reached instead via the Deer Creek trestle bridge inside the park.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Park: sunrise to sunset. Deer Creek Picnic Area: 9am–sunset (Apr–Oct), 10am–sunset (Nov–Mar) |
| Ticket prices | Free park entry; $2–$4/vehicle at Deer Creek Picnic Area and Lapidum Boat Launch Area only |
| Address | 4122 Wilkinson Road, Havre de Grace, MD 21078 |
| Nearest transport/parking | No public transit; free parking in several lots throughout the park |
| Typical time needed | 2–4 hours, longer with camping or a Rock Run Historic Area visit |
Susquehanna State Park opening hours
Most of Susquehanna State Park, including its trails and the Rock Run Historic Area, is open from sunrise to sunset every day. The Deer Creek Picnic Area, one of the park’s two fee-charging areas, keeps separate gate hours: 9am to sunset from April through October, and 10am to sunset from November through March.
Certain activities, including fishing, boat launching, and hunting where permitted, are allowed outside the regular posted hours. It’s worth checking with the park office before a visit if your plans require being on site before or after these times.
Susquehanna State Park ticket prices
Most of the park, including the trail network and Rock Run Historic Area, is free to enter. A day-use fee applies only at the Deer Creek Picnic Area and the Lapidum Boat Launch Area, at $2 per vehicle for Maryland residents and $4 per vehicle for out-of-state visitors; this charge applies even if you aren’t launching a boat.
A separate boat launch charge applies for anyone actually launching a boat at Lapidum: $10 per vehicle for Maryland residents and $12 for out-of-state residents.
All day-use entrance fees are waived for veterans of the US Armed Forces, and for active-duty military and Maryland National Guard members who show ID at the gate. Frequent visitors can also buy a Maryland State Park and Trail Passport for $75 a year ($100 for non-residents), which covers unlimited day-use entry and boat launching for up to 10 people per vehicle at any Maryland state park.
Camping costs $21.50 a night for a standard site or $27.50 with electric hookup, and mini-cabins cost $50.50 a night; a two-night minimum applies to weekend stays between Memorial Day and Labor Day. A 150-person picnic shelter can be booked for $146.75.
Opening hours and fees were checked on the official Susquehanna State Park page and the statewide park fee schedule, and last updated in July 2026.
How to get to Susquehanna State Park
From I-95 north of Baltimore, take exit 89 onto MD Route 155/Level Road northbound. Follow MD 155 north for about 2.8 miles, then turn right (north) onto MD Route 161/Darlington Road, following signs toward the park.
There’s no public transit service to the park, so a car is the most practical way to visit.
Parking at Susquehanna State Park
Parking is free throughout Susquehanna State Park, with several lots spread across the park and additional space along Stafford Road in the Deer Creek area.
How long to spend at Susquehanna State Park
Most visitors spend two to four hours at Susquehanna State Park, combining a walk or ride on the trails with a stop at the Rock Run Historic Area. Anglers, boaters, and campers often spend a half day or longer.
Visitors timing a trip around the Rock Run Grist Mill or Carter-Archer Mansion should note both are only open on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10am to 4pm and 1pm to 4pm respectively, or by request outside those times.
Accessibility at Susquehanna State Park
The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenways Trail is a flat, handicapped-accessible route linking the Conowingo Dam area to Stafford Road at Deer Creek, though part of it is currently affected by the storm-damage closure described above.
Maryland State Parks generally offer accessible campsites, cabins, and shelters with paved driveways and pathways at various locations; Susquehanna State Park doesn’t publish a detailed accessibility guide of its own, so it’s worth calling the park office in advance to confirm accessible options for a specific visit.
Inside Susquehanna State Park: what to see
The Rock Run Historic Area includes an operational 200-year-old gristmill, the 1804 Carter-Archer Mansion, the restored Jersey Toll House, and remnants of the historic Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal.
Steppingstone Farm Museum, within the park, preserves a historic farmstead with buildings and exhibits on the region’s rural past.
More than 15 miles of trails cross the park, including some of Maryland’s most popular mountain biking routes, alongside options for hikers and equestrians.
Robert, Wood, and Snake Islands, reached by a pedestrian bridge, and the smaller Sand Islands, popular with boaters, are located within the Susquehanna River itself.
The Lapidum Boating Facility gives year-round access to the river and the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay, and both the river and Deer Creek offer fishing for pike, perch, bass, catfish, and carp.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on a weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day if you want to see inside the gristmill and mansion. |
| Crowds | Trailheads near Deer Creek can fill on summer weekends; arrive early for easier parking. |
| Layout | Start at the Rock Run Historic Area before heading out onto the wider trail network. |
| Entry process | Bring exact change or a card for the Deer Creek and Lapidum fee areas; the rest of the park has no gate. |
| On-site logistics | Check current trail conditions before relying on the Stafford Road footbridge, which remains closed for repairs. |
Frequently asked questions about Susquehanna State Park
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Susquehanna State Park free to visit? | Most of the park is free; a small vehicle fee applies only at Deer Creek Picnic Area and the Lapidum Boat Launch. |
| Do you need a fishing license? | Yes, a tidal license for the Susquehanna River and a non-tidal license for Deer Creek. |
| Is Susquehanna State Park open on Sundays? | Yes, the park is open daily, including Sundays, from sunrise to sunset. |
| Are dogs allowed at Susquehanna State Park? | Yes, on a leash throughout the park, though not inside restrooms, other buildings, or cabins. |
| Is the Rock Run Gristmill open every day? | No, it’s open weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, or by request at other times. |
Things to do near Susquehanna State Park
Havre de Grace’s waterfront promenade and Concord Point Lighthouse are about 10 minutes away.
Conowingo Dam, a popular spot for eagle watching, is about 15 minutes away and connects to the park’s Greenways Trail.
Rocks State Park, home to Kilgore Falls and managed jointly with Susquehanna, is about 20 minutes away.
Ladew Topiary Gardens, known for its sculpted hedges and formal gardens, is about 25 minutes away.
The Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, covering the region’s waterfowl-hunting history, is about 10 minutes away.
What to visit tomorrow
Gunpowder Falls State Park, another wooded river-valley park with extensive trails, is about 30 minutes away.
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, with equestrian and multi-use trails, is about 30 minutes away.
Elk Neck State Park, a peninsula park with river and bay shoreline, is about 40 minutes away.
Patapsco Valley State Park, a large river-valley park with historic mill sites, is about 45 minutes away.
White Clay Creek State Park in Delaware, a forested park along a similar river valley, is about 1 hour away.
More Maryland travel
Other Maryland travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Practical guide to visiting the National Cryptologic Museum next to the NSA Headquarters at Fort Meade.
- Guide to entrance fees at Antietam National Battlefield.
- Practical guide to visiting the Historic Ships in Baltimore.
- Is the Maryland Science Center worth your time and money?
- Getting to Baltimore: The best stops on the Washington DC to Baltimore drive.
