Summary
- Overview of Deep Creek Lake
- Reasons to Visit
- Getting There
- Where to Stay
- Wisp Resort
- Deep Creek Lake State Park
Deep Creek Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Maryland, extends 12 miles and has a surface of 3,900 acres with 65 miles of shoreline. The four-season resort, located in Garrett County, Maryland, offers a wide range of activities such as boating, fishing, camping, swimming, hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding in the summer. In the winter months, visitors can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, and snowmobiling. Consequently, Deep Creek Lake represents a quiet and relaxing getaway destination, regarded as one of the region’s best-kept secrets.
5 Reasons to Visit
- Beautiful area with year-round opportunities for outdoor recreation.
- The freshwater lake is great for swimming, providing a clean and refreshing experience.
- Easy accessibility; even in peak season, traffic remains reasonable.
- Temperatures are often 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding areas, offering relief from summer heat and more snowfall for winter sports.
- Reasonable prices with a wide range of accommodations available, making it an excellent choice for family gatherings.
Getting There
The resort is located just three hours from the Washington, D.C. metro area and Baltimore. Travelers can follow I-70 to I-68, then take Exit 14 onto Route 219 South. Follow Route 219 for approximately 13 miles to reach the lake destination.
Where to Stay
A wide variety of accommodations are available at Deep Creek Lake, including hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, cabins, and vacation rental homes. The towns of Swanton and McHenry border the lake, where lakefront properties command higher rental prices. However, many affordable options are available within the area. Rental properties are popular and can be found through the following real estate companies:
- Deep Creek Lake Resort Vacation Rentals (Taylor-Made)
- Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations
- Railey Mountain Lake Vacations
- Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty
- Offlake Realty and Rentals
Wisp Resort
Wisp Resort Hotel & Conference Center is a four-season mountain resort featuring a slopeside hotel that offers ski-in/ski-out convenience, with breathtaking views of the slopes and golf course. In winter, guests can engage in activities such as skiing, snow tubing, and snowmobiling. Moreover, during the warmer months, Wisp features a championship 18-hole golf course, a mountain coaster, scenic chairlift rides, mountain biking, kayaking, fly fishing, pontoon boat tours, and more.
Deep Creek Lake State Park
Boasting one mile of shoreline on Deep Creek Lake, the state park offers camping, swimming, picnicking, boat launching, interpretive programs, hiking, and a variety of recreational opportunities. The Discovery Center, a 6,000-square-foot facility, features nature exhibits on turtles, foxes, black bears, and more. This center also includes an on-site aviary with rescued and rehabilitated birds of prey. The interpretive programs include evening campfire events and educational talks and hikes highlighting the natural and cultural resources of the park.
