Planning a Trip

Getting There

From the east or west, take I-68 to Exit 14 and drive south on U.S. Route 219.

Visitor Information

The visitor center is on U.S. Route 219, near the bottom of the Wisp Resort's ski runs. It's open from 9am to 5pm, with extended hours in summer. Ask for a vacation guide, which contains a calendar of events and information on local history, restaurants, hotels, and shopping. For information, call tel. 301/387-4386 or go to www.garrettchamber.com.

For ski conditions, call tel. 301/387-4911 or visit www.skimaryland.com.

Getting Around

Businesses in Deep Creek Lake sometimes have mailing addresses in McHenry and/or Oakland. Deep Creek Lake and McHenry are, for all intents and purposes, the same place, and you can count on those addresses to be on the lake or close by.

Oakland, the county seat of Garrett County, is several miles south of Deep Creek Lake. Some businesses maintain mailing addresses there; others are actually just off the lake, outside the Deep Creek Lake/McHenry postal zone. Proximity to the lake resort areas is indicated in the listings in this section.

U.S. Route 219 runs beside the northern half of Deep Creek Lake and swings south toward Oakland. The Glendale Road Bridge crosses the middle of the lake and leads to Deep Creek Lake State Park (where you'll find the best public beach and a nature center). North of this bridge is where all the action is. South of this bridge, it's quieter and more remote. Most sailors sail their boats here; look for the weekend regattas.

Venice in the Mountains -- Okay, nobody's really calling it that, but Deep Creek Lake is trying to get people out of their cars and into boats. Businesses are adding piers to their lakeside establishments and sharing them with neighbors within walking distance of the lake. Visitors can go to the store, the movies, and even to church by boat. This only works April through October, as the lake freezes pretty hard in winter. The visitor center has a "Travel by Boat" map listing all the places with piers. Call tel. 301/387-4386 for information.

Special Events

Garrett County celebrates autumn with a 4-day Autumn Glory Festival (tel. 301/387-4386), usually held the second weekend in October. Not only are the leaves in full fall color, but the towns are also filled with festivities. In early June, Scottish pride shows during the McHenry Highland Festival (tel. 301/387-3093). Come for the traditional sounds of bagpipe, harp, and fiddle, plus dance and athletic competitions, bluegrass music, crafts, and food. The Garrett Lakes Arts Festival (tel. 301/387-3082; www.artsandentertainment.org), a series of performances held March through September, includes a sampling of music and drama, as well as arts camps for kids.