Thomas Point Park

Updated June 4, 2026

Thomas Point Park is a well-regarded park located in Annapolis, United States of America. With a rating of 4.4 out of 5, it stands out as one of the top-rated parks in the area.

Location

You can find Thomas Point Park at 3890 Thomas Point Rd, Annapolis, MD 21403.

What to Expect

Thomas Point Park offers visitors a chance to enjoy the natural beauty of Annapolis, United States of America. Whether you are looking for a peaceful walk, a picnic spot, or simply a place to relax outdoors, this park provides a welcome green space.

Planning Your Visit

The park is located at 3890 Thomas Point Rd, Annapolis, MD 21403. GPS coordinates: 38.908680, -76.466013. Check locally for current opening hours and any admission fees before visiting.

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Thomas Point Park is a county-operated waterfront park in Annapolis, Maryland. It’s best known for fishing access along the Chesapeake Bay and views of the historic Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse.

The park sits on a small peninsula where the South River meets the bay. Here, you get shoreline fishing, kayak launches, and a pavilion for picnicking.

It’s a favorite for anglers chasing striped bass and catfish. Or, honestly, for anyone who just wants a quick waterfront escape with lighthouse views.

Thomas Point Park stands out because you can fish the bay without a boat. Just cast into Fishing Creek, the South River, or straight into the Chesapeake from the shore.

The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, visible from the park, is the only screwpile lighthouse in Maryland still standing in its original spot. It’s a National Historic Landmark.

Access is limited to protect the small site. From April through October, you have to buy a parking pass online before you show up—either a monthly pass for $30 or a daily pass for $8.

The park opens at 8 a.m. and closes 30 minutes before dusk. Plan ahead and grab your pass through the county’s online system.

Key Takeaways

• Thomas Point Park requires advance online parking passes from April to October at $8 daily or $30 monthly.
• The park provides shoreline fishing access for striped bass, white perch, and catfish—no boat needed.
• You can view the National Historic Landmark Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse from the park’s peninsula.

Key Details and Quick Facts

Thomas Point Park sits on the Chesapeake Bay at the end of Annapolis Neck in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The South River and Fishing Creek meet the bay here, and it’s mostly known for shoreline fishing access and views of the historic Thomas Point Lighthouse offshore.

Park Hours & Season

• Open daily from 8:00 a.m. until 30 minutes before dusk.
• Parking passes required April 1st through October 31st.
• Free entry November through March.

Parking Pass System
Monthly passes cost $30 and go on sale at 9:00 a.m. on the last Thursday of each month from March through September. Only 75 monthly passes are available.

Daily passes are $8 each, with 5 morning slots and 5 afternoon slots released every Thursday for the week ahead. All passes must be bought online at yourpassnow.com, and you’ll need your license plate number for ranger verification.

What You’ll Find

• Fishing access along the shoreline (Maryland fishing regulations apply)
• Short hiking trails with water views
• Picnic areas and grills
• Pavilion for gatherings
• Restrooms
• Small sandy beach area
• Kayak launch point on the south side

The main draw here is fishing without a boat. You can cast into three different bodies of water for striped bass, white perch, blue catfish, and channel catfish.

The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse visible from shore is a National Historic Landmark. It’s the only lighthouse in the United States with this specific designation.

Questions about passes or park rules? Call the Quiet Waters Park Office at 410-222-1777.

What to Expect During Your Visit

Arriving at Thomas Point Park from April through October, you’ll need to show your online parking pass. The park limits visitors with only 75 monthly passes and 10 daily passes per day.

It opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes a half hour before dusk. That gives you a solid chunk of daylight to enjoy this little waterfront corner of the Chesapeake Bay.

The park is set up for fishing and picnicking, not big recreation. Facilities include:

• Grills for cooking
• A pavilion and picnic area
• Restroom facilities
• Short walking trails
• Fishing spots along the water

Water access and views across the bay toward the historic Thomas Point Lighthouse are the main attractions. Most folks come to fish or have a quiet outdoor meal.

If you’re walking in instead of driving, you can enter through the gate at the end of Thomas Point Road without a pass. That’s how a lot of locals visit year-round.

Pack your own food and fishing gear if you’re planning to stay for a while. The park’s at the spot where the South River and Fishing Creek meet the bay, so you’ll want to check Maryland’s current fishing regulations before casting a line.

Plan Your Visit

Thomas Point Park takes a little advance planning. Parking passes are mandatory from April through October, and they sell out fast—just 75 monthly and 10 daily passes per day.

Best Time to Go

You’ll need a parking pass between April 1st and October 31st. Only 75 monthly passes ($30) go on sale at 9am on the last Thursday of each month for the following month.

Daily passes ($8) are released every Thursday morning for the week ahead, with just 5 morning and 5 afternoon slots per day.

From November through March, you can visit without a pass. Fewer crowds, too. The park opens at 8am and closes 30 minutes before dusk, no matter the season.

Fishing is best during spring and fall when striped bass and bluefish runs peak. Summer is perfect for walking the trails and picnicking along the bay.

Getting There

Thomas Point Park is at 3890 Thomas Point Road in Annapolis, right at the tip of the Annapolis Neck Peninsula where the South River meets Chesapeake Bay.

You’ll drive through a residential area before reaching the gate at the end of Thomas Point Road.

Buy your pass online at yourpassnow.com/ParkPass/parks/aaco/park/thomaspt and enter your license plate during checkout. Rangers verify passes by license plate, so make sure you use the same vehicle you registered.

If you can’t get a parking pass, some locals walk in through the entrance gate. It’s a longer walk from wherever you park outside the boundaries, but it works.

Insider Tips

Call Quiet Waters Park Office at 410-222-1777 if you have questions about pass availability. The online system doesn’t show real-time inventory, which is a bit annoying.

Set a reminder for the last Thursday of each month at 8:55am if you want a monthly pass. They sell out within minutes during peak summer.

Bring your own food and drinks—no vendors here. Grills and picnic areas fill up on weekends, so get there early if you want a waterfront spot.

You can see the historic Thomas Point Lighthouse from the shoreline. It’s offshore though, so don’t expect to walk up to it.

Maryland fishing regulations apply. The park’s spot near the river mouth makes it a solid choice for anglers chasing a mix of species.

Nearby Attractions and More to Explore in the United States

While you’re at Thomas Point Park in Annapolis, you can check out Historic Downtown Annapolis just 10 miles north. There’s the Maryland State House, United States Naval Academy, and the 18th-century waterfront district along Main Street and City Dock.

The Naval Academy offers guided walking tours, and if you’re lucky, you’ll catch midshipmen in training.

Sandy Point State Park is about 8 miles northwest, right at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge approach. You can swim at the beach, launch boats from several ramps, and fish along the bridge pilings.

For more water activities, Quiet Waters Park on the South River has 340 acres, paved trails, kayak rentals, and the Quiet Waters Art Gallery.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge itself sometimes allows organized bridge walks—worth checking if you’re in town.

History buffs might enjoy the William Paca House and Garden, a restored colonial mansion with terraced gardens dating to 1765.

Annapolis Maritime Museum on Eastport explores the region’s oyster industry and bay ecology with hands-on exhibits.

Day trips? You could head to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor (30 miles north) or explore St. Michaels (40 miles east), a waterfront town with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

Washington D.C. is about 35 miles west if you’re up for Smithsonian museums and national monuments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Thomas Point Park brings up some practical questions about access, permits, and what you can actually do there. The park requires paid parking passes during the busy season and is really more about fishing than swimming.

Where exactly is the park located, and what’s the easiest route to reach it from nearby cities?

Thomas Point Park is on the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the South River and Fishing Creek in Anne Arundel County. You get there via Thomas Point Road off Route 2 south of Annapolis.

From Annapolis, it’s a 15-minute drive south. Baltimore folks should expect about 45 minutes via I-97 South to Route 2.

The entrance is at the end of Thomas Point Road, marked by a gate. Only permit holders get vehicle access.

Do you need advance tickets or reservations to enter, and what fees should you expect during peak season?

Yes, you have to buy parking passes online from April 1 through October 31 at yourpassnow.com. Monthly passes are $30—75 available, sold at 9am on the last Thursday of each month from March through September.

Daily passes go for $8 and are released every Thursday morning for the week ahead, with 5 morning and 5 afternoon slots per day.

You’ll need your vehicle’s license plate and a credit card. No account required. Rangers check passes at the gate, and you can’t buy passes on-site.

Is swimming allowed, and what are the typical water conditions and safety considerations throughout the year?

Swimming isn’t really what this park is for. The shoreline is rocky, and there’s no designated beach.

The Chesapeake Bay waters here have strong currents, boat traffic from the nearby channel, and not much in the way of shallow areas. It’s not safe or practical for swimming.

You can launch kayaks from the south side beach, which is a safer bet than trying to swim from shore.

What’s the story behind the nearby lighthouse, and are there any good vantage points or tours to see it up close?

Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, visible from the park, is the only lighthouse in the U.S. that’s both a National Register of Historic Places site and a National Historic Landmark.

It sits offshore on its original caisson foundation in the bay—so, you can’t just walk up to it. Your best views are from the park’s peninsula shoreline, though you’ll want binoculars or a telephoto lens for a closer look.

When is the best time for fishing, what species are most common, and where do locals usually have the most luck?

You can fly fish from shore around the peninsula, casting into Fishing Creek, the Chesapeake Bay, and the South River for striped bass, white perch, blue catfish, and channel catfish. No boat needed.

Spring and fall are best for striped bass during their runs, while catfish bite pretty much all summer. Maryland fishing regulations apply.

The shoreline access lets you pick between creek, river, or open Bay waters, depending on what’s biting and the time of year.

What do recent visitors consistently praise or complain about, and what practical tips help you avoid common first-timer mistakes?

People love the uncrowded fishing spots and those wide-open water views.

But, yeah, the parking situation gets a lot of grumbling—especially with the mad dash for passes every Thursday morning.

If you want a shot at a monthly pass, set a reminder for 9am and have your car info ready to go. Those passes are gone fast, sometimes in just a couple of hours.

Some locals skip the permit hassle altogether. They’ll just walk or bike in through the gate at the end of Thomas Point Road.

The park opens at 8am and closes 30 minutes before dusk.

You’ll find basic amenities like restrooms, grills, and a pavilion. Just a heads up—there’s no food service or rental gear.

If you’re unsure about passes or park rules, you can always call Quiet Waters Park Office at 410-222-1777.