Congratulations! You’ve booked your trip to Deep Creek Lake! After planning and organizing and carefully picking dates, your summer vacation is officially on the calendar. So, now what? We broke down some of the top questions we get from renters before and during their stay to help you prepare for your vacation!
Reserve Your Boat
There’s no way of knowing what the weather will be like for your trip ahead of time, but we can guarantee you’ll be hard pressed to get a last minute boat reservation. It benefits you greatly to plan ahead and reserve a boat for your stay. If you’re staying in a Lakefront or Lake Access home that has a boat slip, make sure to check with the office to make sure you can keep your boat there overnight. That will help you decide the length of your boat rental and other options.
If You Bring Your Own Boat
Many guests have their own boats, and often ask where they can put the boat in and what the regulations are for Deep Creek Lake. Remember, if you’re bringing your boat from another body of water, it’s very important to have thoroughly cleaned the underside of your boat to make sure no invasive species are hiding anywhere. You can read other regulations about life vests and safety for children here. You can launch your boat at the Deep Creek Lake State Park Boat Launch located on State Park Road. Need a place to park your trailer? If your rental does not have space for your trailer or a community spot for boat trailers, call us! We have space at our office for trailers.
Yes, You Do Need a Fishing License
The Deep Creek Lake area is fantastic for fishing! Not only is the lake a wonderful place to fish, but there are also several rivers and other smaller lakes. Almost all public waterways are stocked, too. The State of Maryland does require a fishing license for anyone over the age of 16. You can get your license online ahead of time or stop the DNR Office! There is some reciprocity with other official licenses and free fishing days where no license is required – you can read all of those details here.
Check Your Rental’s Appliance List
Each vacation rental home is equipped with different appliances and amenities. Everything from coffee pots to blenders to crockpots, each home will have different appliances. Knowing what the home is equipped with will help you plan your meals and not have any unexpected surprises or disappointments. If you bring anything from home, make sure you put your name on it just in case you would happen to forget it.
Does My Home Have Furniture for Children?
If you’re bringing young children, you’re probably wondering, does my rental have what I need? Packing things like high chairs and cribs can take up a lot of space in an already stuffed car. If you think you need extra things for your house, please call the office!
Carefully Read The ‘What to Bring’ List
Packing for vacation is difficult, especially when it’s for an entire week. When your reservation is complete, you’ll receive a confirmation email that will include a what to bring list. Carefully read this over to make sure that you pack all of the things you’ll need. Some household things you may take for granted and assume they’re in the house, like toilet paper or paper towels, and you’ll want to make sure you have all of the essentials when you arrive. If you want to wait until you get here to purchase some of the things you’ll need, just make sure you have a running list to take to the store.
Early Check-In/Late Check-Out
Railey Vacations does offer early check-in and late check-out that you can add on to your reservation ahead of time. During back-to-back stays, early check-in or late check-out may not be available. Feel free to call our office to inquire about the possibility for these services; we’re more than happy to answer your questions! Early check-in and late check-out do come at an extra fee.
Acquiring Firewood
While Deep Creek is a rustic area, we don’t expect you to be splitting your own firewood. You can buy firewood bundles at the stand at our office and also at some shops around the lake like Arrowhead Market.
Renting Kayaks/Stand-Up Paddleboards/Canoes
Not everyone has a truck or an SUV with racks suitable for water vessels. Lucky for you, most of the companies around the lake that rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards will actually deliver them right to your vacation rental and pick them up when you’re finished. Having them delivered also means you don’t have to worry about going to pick them up, strapping them down, and making sure they’re back on time.
Make a Rough Schedule and Plan Ahead
If you’ve visited before, you may already know what you want to do during your trip. If it’s your first time, you might be a little overwhelmed! Our advice – look around, plan ahead! You typically do not need reservations for activities like zip-lining or the adventure courses too far in advance unless you have a large group. Knowing what you’d like to do during your trip, though, will help you plan your stay. Make sure to plan for some indoor or rainy day activities! Check out our Things to Do page for some help getting started! You can also check out our events page to see what fun events are happening around the area during your stay! The page is constantly being updated, so make sure to check back before you arrive!
This is just a short list to help you get started on your vacation – if you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at the office or send us an email! Our staff are area experts and have tackled every situation in the book.
We want to see how you vacation the Deep Creek way! Don’t forget to tag us in your photos on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram or use #vacationdcl!