Practical Information for visiting Maryland

Cellphone and internet coverage is strong across the Baltimore-Washington corridor, Annapolis and the Eastern Shore's main towns, and weaker in western Maryland's mountains and on more remote stretches of Assateague Island and the bay's smaller islands. Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile all cover the state's population centers reliably.

Public Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés and many public libraries. Visitors from abroad should check international roaming rates or buy a US prepaid SIM or eSIM on arrival, widely available at BWI Airport and in Baltimore. Download offline maps before heading into western Maryland's mountains, the C&O Canal towpath or Assateague Island, where signal can be patchy.

Maryland is generally a safe destination for travelers; exercise ordinary urban caution in parts of Baltimore, where crime rates in some neighborhoods run higher than the state average, and take standard precautions with valuables in crowded tourist areas like the Inner Harbor and Ocean City Maryland's boardwalk.

Assateague Island's feral ponies are wild and can bite or kick; keep a safe distance and never feed them. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge and beach-bound highways see heavy, sometimes dangerous congestion on summer weekends; allow extra time. Hurricanes and tropical storms can affect the coast and bay from June through November; monitor forecasts if travelling to Ocean City Maryland or Assateague during that period, and follow any evacuation guidance issued for coastal areas.

Maryland has a high standard of health care, including major hospital systems in Baltimore, and no special vaccinations are required for visitors. For any emergency, dial 911, the standard emergency number across the United States, for police, fire or ambulance.

Summer humidity around the Chesapeake Bay and in Baltimore can make heat and dehydration real risks during July and August; carry water and pace outdoor activity in the middle of the day. Ticks carrying Lyme disease are present in wooded and grassy areas statewide, especially in western Maryland and along the Appalachian Trail, so check for ticks after hiking. Comprehensive travel insurance is recommended, as US healthcare can be expensive without it.

Maryland follows U.S. federal and state law. The legal drinking age is 21; alcohol is sold in licensed stores and bars, with hours varying by county. Cannabis is legal for adults 21 and over for recreational use, sold through licensed dispensaries, but cannot be taken across state lines or onto federal property, including national parks. Smoking is banned in most indoor public places, including bars and restaurants.

Driving is on the right; seatbelts are mandatory and handheld phone use while driving is prohibited. Crabbing and fishing in the Chesapeake Bay are regulated by size and season limits enforced by the Department of Natural Resources; check current rules before catching your own crabs. Tipping of 15-20% is standard in restaurants and for taxis. Etiquette is generally relaxed and friendly, more reserved in Baltimore's older neighborhoods, more casual on the Eastern Shore and at the beach.

Emergency number: 911 for police, fire and ambulance anywhere in Maryland. Health advice: Maryland has strong hospital systems in Baltimore and the capital's suburbs; comprehensive travel insurance is recommended for visitors, as U.S. healthcare is costly without it.

Consular: foreign consular help is generally based in the nearby U.S. capital, a short drive or train ride from most of Maryland. Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms affecting the coast and Chesapeake Bay from June through November, summer heat and humidity around the bay, and heavy holiday-weekend traffic toward Ocean City Maryland across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.