Belle Grove Park

Rate this place

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Belle Grove Park is a historic site located in southern Maryland, situated on a 310-acre estate along the Patuxent River.


°F

°F

mph

Wind

%

Humidity

Summary

The park is a popular destination for visitors seeking to explore the area's rich history and natural beauty.

One of the main attractions at Belle Grove Park is the Belle Grove Plantation, a historic mansion that was built in the late 1700s and is now a museum. Visitors can tour the house and learn about the lives of the families who lived there, as well as the history of the area during the colonial and antebellum periods.

In addition to the plantation house, Belle Grove Park also features several other historic buildings, including a slave cabin, a dairy barn, and a smokehouse. Visitors can also explore the park's extensive hiking trails, which wind through forests, meadows, and along the river.

Other points of interest at Belle Grove Park include the park's fishing pier, which provides access to the Patuxent River for fishing and boating, as well as the park's birding trails, which offer opportunities to observe a wide variety of bird species in their natural habitat.

Interesting facts about Belle Grove Park include the fact that the plantation was once owned by the family of President James Madison, and that it was used as a hospital during the Civil War. The park is also home to several rare plant and animal species, including the Maryland darter and the Northern Pine Snake.

The best time to visit Belle Grove Park is in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the park's natural beauty is at its peak. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities and attractions for visitors in every season.

       

Weather Forecast

Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
View more

Featured Parks