Located in the extreme southern park of Charles County, on the Potomac river, Southern Park is an informal, unofficial observing site with several pros and cons:
- Dark skies, especially to the south
- Easy drive off Route 301
- Park officially closes at dark
- Regularly patroled by police, who sometimes welcome the presence of observers
- Parking lot frequently visited by local teenagers
- Parking lot and grass field area flashed by incoming car lights
- Mosquitos in the summer!
Driving directions: take Route 301 south to Rt 257, the last light before the bridge over the Potomac River. Go left. Stay on 257 ~10 miles, look for signs for Southern Park, make a left on Wilson Road. Drive time from Bowie is about eighty minutes.
We’ve set up either in the parking lot in the grass just inside the wood fence. The park includes fishing pier, playground and picnic areas.
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