Along the shoreline of Tuckahoe Creek in Queen Anne, Maryland, you can find the 500-acre Tuckahoe State Park. The park has a motto of “healthy parks and healthy people,” and they have programs to help people of all ages enjoy all the activities in the park. From archery to ziplining and boating to camping, there is plenty to keep everyone busy while you are visiting the park, no matter how long you stay. The park hosts a youth group as well as learning activities for the public all year long. The Scales & Tales program is the most popular with opportunities to see raptors like bald eagles and hawks up close. You’ll also have fun at the disc golf course, archery range, picnic areas, and the arboretum. You can enjoy a game of softball on the ballfield by the campgrounds and swim in the lake afterward to cool off. Maryland is fun when it gets cold, too. You can enjoy RV camping and hiking during the cold months of winter when most other parks are closed to the public. Tuckahoe State Park is only closed from December until March. Your horse may enjoy a romp in the cold on one of the equestrian trails, and you will love Adkins Arboretum, which is actually open all year long.
Located on the southeastern section of Maryland’s peninsula, you can find Tuckahoe State Park easily from US-301 or US-50 to MD-309, MD-313, or MD-404. The park is just about 37 miles from Annapolis, which is the capital city and lies on the banks of Chesapeake Bay. There you can visit several museums and the Maryland State House. You’ll also be only 65 miles from Baltimore, which is the birthplace of the Star-Spangled Banner, where you can see the National Aquarium with thousands of marine animals as well as the Civil War Warship in the harbor.
For those who enjoy visiting state parks, Wye Oak State Park is only 10 miles to the southwest. The park was actually built to protect the Wye Oak Tree, which fell in 2002. The trunk is still there, proudly displayed daily. And 19 miles to the southeast, you can find Martinak State Park along the Choptank River, which has some excellent fishing and hiking areas. This park also has playgrounds, picnic shelters, and camping.
The roads in and around Tuckahoe State Park are relatively flat and well-maintained, so you won’t have any trouble getting around in your rig. Near the campgrounds, it can get tricky if your RV is big or if you are pulling a trailer. It is best to leave the rig at the campsite and walk or bike to wherever you want to go while at the park.
The Electric Loop Campground has 33 campsites with 30-amp electric, so you can cook indoors if you want to. Cooking outdoors is easy, too, with the campfire ring and grill provided, and you can all sit together as a family at the large picnic table that is also provided at every site. The shower house and restrooms with running water are in the middle of the campground, making them easily accessible to all. Just a few feet from the lake as well as the creek, you will have easy access to any water sports you want to enjoy. Also, the picnic area is just a short walk from any site at the campground so you can have friends and family over for a meal while you are camping here. Make sure you check the length limit of the campsite when you reserve your spot online because each site varies from 35 to 60 feet. If you are bringing along the furbabies, make sure you bring a leash, too, because it is mandatory to keep them restrained at all times.
In the northern section of the park by the ballfield and surrounded by the Tuckahoe Creek, you can find the Non-Electric Loop Campground. This loop has 21 campsites with 16 that can accommodate campers and small RVs up to 25 feet long. The rest can only handle popups or tents. You don’t have to worry about cooking with no electric because the park provides a large campfire ring with a grill for cooking, and the whole family can eat as a group at the picnic table outside once you've cooked up your meal; there is no need to try to balance your plate on your lap in the lawn or camp chairs. The creek is so close that you can hear it while drifting off to sleep, and waking up to the sounds of a babbling brook is an awesome experience. You will also have access to potable water spigots and restrooms with running water as well as a bathhouse with hot showers. There is an RV sanitation dump station nearby for your convenience as well. Reservations can (and should) be made up to a year in advance. Pets are welcome, although you have to keep them restrained while you are here.
Tuckahoe State Park also has eight cabins that are available to rent. Four of them are two rooms approximately 16x14 feet, big enough for six people with a double bed and two sets of twin bunk beds. There is electricity, heat, air conditioning, and lights in each room. The other four can accommodate four people and are furnished with beds, air conditioning, electric, heat, and ceiling fans to keep you cool. There are no kitchens or restrooms, but there is a shared bathhouse with showers and restrooms in the middle of the campground. You can cook outside on the BBQ grill provided, and there is a large picnic table that seats six. Pets are only allowed at two of the cabins, and you must make your reservations at least one day in advance, although it is recommended to book your cabin at least six months to a year in advance.
Learn tips on proper paddling methods from the experts at Tuckahoe State Park on a canoe course or enjoy the view on a guided canoe trip. The Canoeing 101 course is between two and three hours long and teaches skills, terminology, rescue tips, and paddling techniques. Kids from eight years old and up can take this class during the summer and will even get a badge to show that they are a skilled paddler after completing the course. The canoe trip is for those 14 and older, where you can enjoy paddling along the woodlands with park staff members guiding you. Previous paddling experience is needed for this trip.
Are you looking for a fun and unique activity that will challenge and intrigue your kids? The Challenge Course at Tuckahoe State Park has more than a dozen different activities like ziplining, a rock wall, and a 50-foot swing. Those who are seven years and older can enjoy the course with a member of the park staff where they can learn about group dynamics, leadership, problem-solving, and team building. Climbing a 25-foot pole and a 40-foot rock wall may sound daunting to you, but your kids will probably love it.
Are you looking for a new place to play disc golf? Well, bring your golf gear with you to the park when you come. The Professional Disc Golf Association (PGDA) approved the Tuckahoe State Park disc golf course way back in 2006, so this is a well-established course in Maryland. This course is a short but fun 18-hole course that is flat and sandy for the most part, but there are some thick trees in places. Many of the holes require some strategy and skill. However, newbies can enjoy the course here as well.
Located in the wooded area to the north of the Non-Electric Campground along Tuckahoe Creek, there are four group campsites at the group campground. Each of these sites can accommodate up to 30 people with several picnic tables, lantern holders, a central campfire, and there are grills for cooking. There are no water or electric hookups, but there are modern restrooms with running water available nearby. These are strictly tent campsites for youth groups. Reservations up to a year in advance are needed and pets are welcome but must be on a leash and accompanied by an adult at all times.
Bring along your hiking gear because this park has a lot of hiking for you to enjoy. Start out with the easy Pee Wee Trail that is 3.6 miles one way. Beginning at the Equestrian Loop Trail parking lot, the path takes you along the edges of the park and has some nice ascents and descents. Nancy’s Meadow Loop is another nice and easy trek with a bonus of being very floral. On this 0.8-mile path, you will see tons of different flowers depending on what time of year you go, and you may even see some wildlife. Some of the other trails include the Fitness Trail, Lake Trail, and the Lore of the Land Nature Trail.
You can find Adkins Arboretum just to the south of the Piney Branch of Tuckahoe Creek. Beginning at the Visitor Center, you can see the native plant garden and pollinator garden as well as the wetlands that are home to many of the flora and fauna that live here. With 400 acres of gardens, meadows, and woods, you will see all kinds of plants and wildlife, from flowers to ferns and turkeys to turtles. The arboretum is open all year except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Walk along some of the park’s five miles of trails and visit the children’s garden and rain garden in the northwest section of the park. Or head up to Blockston Overlook for a fantastic view of the surrounding area.
Be sure to bring your bike so you can enjoy some of the fantastic rides at Tuckahoe State Park. The 4.5-mile Tuckahoe Valley Trail is easy and relaxing with a wonderful view along the way. You will cross two bridges, and the path is mostly gravel, rocks, and roots, so you will want to watch out for obstacles. If you want more of a challenge, try the Creekside Cliff Trail, which is a three-mile out and back trail along the creek where you will need to watch out for the steep edges and rocky terrain. The Creekside Cliff Trail is one of the lesser-used trails in the park that is shared with equestrians.
