Thomas A. Dixon, Jr. Aircraft Observation Area image

Thomas A. Dixon, Jr. Aircraft Observation Area

Park

One of the Best Places To Visits in Ferndale


Address

1911 Dorsey Rd, Glen Burnie, MD 21061

Website

www.aacounty.org

Contact

(410) 222-7300

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (828 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 6 AM to 10 PM
  • Sunday: 6 AM to 10 PM
  • Monday: 6 AM to 10 PM
  • Tuesday: 6 AM to 10 PM
  • Wednesday: 6 AM to 10 PM
  • Thursday: 6 AM to 10 PM
  • Friday: 6 AM to 10 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: planes (13) watch (12) trail (10) park (9) playground (9) land (8) kids (8) parking (7) play (7) nice (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Corina M. 1 year ago on Google • 330 reviews
    Baltimore’s hidden gem. This is a ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL place to go to spend a day by yourself or with family. A chance for the little ones to be introduced to airplane maybe before a trip. Or just watch them land. There is a good sized park with areas to throw down a blank and have a picnic. There are trails for walking and biking. One MAJOR bonus for me was the security that came by at least once every hour or two. It’s normally busy 11am-4pm. During this time parking is horrible but still worth it. There is no charge or fee to park your vehicle. There are usually a snowball and an ice cream truck parked at the park for a sweet treat. There are port a pots it’s not my first choice personally But it’s there for use. And best of all ITS FREE!!! If you’ve never been you are missing out.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rosie 1 year ago on Google
    Starts out at a spacious parking lot. There’s a playground, you can see the planes coming in. There port-a-potty and bike fixing station. Paved BWI trail. Quite trail, lots of bicyclist.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 TJ Da DJ T. 9 months ago on Google • 264 reviews
    This is a very interesting and exciting place to bring the family out for a day of play or a picnic. You get to see all the jets and planes come down to land at BWI Airport. I had a blast here!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Janell G. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice place to watch the planes come in and land. Kids loved it. There's also a playground and port-a-pot. Very nice for families.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 J P. 5 years ago on Google • 527 reviews
    Great little park to let the kids run around... A hiking and bicycle trail share the same parking lot so on a nice day parking will be difficult to find. Being able to play for 10 minutes and then watch the planes come in is awesome. Park was very neat and clean. Also this park uses those recycled tire rubber pieces for the ground which I feel like works the best for avoiding minor injuries... Highly recommend!

  • 5/5 Jimmy H. 8 months ago on Google • 140 reviews
    My Wife & I, Loved going there today and just walking 🚶‍♂️ the trails. It was quite and all the people we passed walking and biking 🚶‍♀️ was so nice, and we felt safe there. We will come back again for plenty of walks.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rufus B. 1 year ago on Google • 99 reviews
    Great place for kids to play, for adult or plane sighting enthusiasts to chill and hang out. Although you can have great view of flight landing, you can’t really see the runway clearly, get your food your camera for great pictures.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Brandon C. 1 year ago on Google
    Great place to watch the planes pass by! Playground is a little small, younger kids would have fun here regardless. The trails are spacious and there's lots of trees for shade!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Billy F. 5 years ago on Google • 56 reviews
    This is a great shaded park right next to the airport. There's parking and it's right on the biking trail. Great views of planes taking off. Little kids, including my 14 month old, kept stopping and pointing up. While we were there, a snowball trailer was there. The play surface is recycled tires and is super soft. There are also some areas that are just covered benches if you don't want to be on the playground itself.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jermone C. 1 year ago on Google • 49 reviews
    Always love going here with the wife and kids. There is a playground and a bike trail. You can also walk on the trail as well. This is a great place to watch the planes land at BWI airport. As many times you watch them land it never gets old. There is a grassy area that is nice to have a picnic on. There are also benches to sit on. Parking can be difficult to find during busy times.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Steven 1 year ago on Google
    Only gave a 5star because there really isn't much to it but you can take a little break and relax here or play with kids or even just walk or ride the BWI trail.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kapil B. 1 year ago on Google
    Set on the BWI airport loop you can watch the planes land here. This is an entry point for an 11 mile paved loop for biking, walking, or running. There is a playground and benches to watch the planes. Lot gets full on the weekends.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Steve M. 2 years ago on Google
    This park is great for the whole family. You can bring bikes, scooters, roller blades, strollers to go on the trails. Nice area to sit and watch the planes land and take off. There is a great kids area with climbing equipment and other fun equipment
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Matt C. 2 years ago on Google
    Another avgeek gem on the East Coast. Always worth the drive, but if 33L isn't open, you'll have to wait a few hours for photography. Very clean port-a-potties which I cannot say I've encountered at other locations. Not alot of airline variety, but definitely a place to cross some SWA specials off your list. Some cool cargo airlines land here, as well as new airline Play. Great place to spend the day and spot.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joshua H. 1 year ago on Google • 88 reviews
    This is a very nice and well kept and well-traveled park. There's a biking and walking trail if you like to do that there's a playground for the kids and pets. The planes come by about every 5 minutes or less, and it's very cool!

  • 5/5 Alexandra O. 9 months ago on Google • 58 reviews
    We will definitely visit more often. The park is peaceful & relaxing. Children love it!

  • 5/5 Jacquelyn W. 1 year ago on Google
    Went today for a picnic with my boyfriend. 19 years ago, I would come here and play as a child, so I have lots of nice memories. Still always nice to watch the airplanes come in. Not sure if this was always here, but it looks like there's a little pavillion with benches that provide a great view of the planes. Nice play spot as a kid, cute date spot as an adult!

  • 5/5 Just F. 10 months ago on Google
    A cool place to wait for your family to arrive with a short 10 minute drive around the airport to the terminal area to pick up your family. The planes literally fly over you. You are right at the end of one of the runways. There is also a playground for children. When I was there last there was a snowball trailer there as well, I’m not sure how often that it is there though.

  • 5/5 Katie L. 11 months ago on Google
    Love the playground, made of soft tire instead of mulch. I used to visit here often foe lunch breaks as well to watch the airplanes or rollerblade. The trail around the airport is a beautiful bike ride but challenging. Also ran it a few times about 14 miles I believe, not for the faint of heart but love this place ❤️

  • 5/5 Lisa 9 months ago on Google
    Scenic views for beautiful photography and visual enjoyment. Great walking/biking trail. Playground for the kiddos.

  • 4/5 Aj A. 7 months ago on Google • 2 reviews
    Came here as starting point for bicycle ride with two friends on a week day. Used the Observation area for parking and restrooms. At 9:30 am the parking area was not quite full with many families using the playground and watching huge jetliners taking off from BWI. Lots of cars too with bicycle racks. The eleven mile loop around BWI is paved with moderate hills, lots of shade and many road crossings, some with traffic controls. This September day was perfect and not very many cyclists, runners or walkers to slow us down. We all enjoyed ther ride, and recommend it to walkers,runners or cyclists. Or you might just visit to watch the big metal beasts defy gravity.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍


Call (410) 222-7300 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Activities
    • ✓️ Hiking
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Trends



Last updated:

Similar places



Similar Parks nearby

Friendship Park image
1
Friendship Park
Park
👍👍 Nice trail. Well maintained. On top of that, the view of planes landing and taking of. Finding parking may be an issue. Be prepared to wait.
4.60 (987 reviews)
Star Park image
2
Star Park
Park
4.70 (490 reviews)
Donald Red Geary Park image
3
Donald Red Geary Park
Park
👍👍 Great little skatepark in the neighborhood. We saw some great skaters during Ferndale’s Gravity Fair, 2022. Park has decent restrooms, and great playgrounds for the younger kid. Good shaded areas for picnics, and a pavilion too.
4.50 (401 reviews)
Harding Park image
4
Harding Park
Park
Spacious park filled with trees plus baseball fields, basketball hoops & swing sets.
4.60 (368 reviews)
VanderYacht Park image
5
VanderYacht Park
Park
👍👍 I love this park! I appreciate having such a large area to let your dog roam around, off leash. There's a nice amount of beach along the nooksack river that can be accessed as well. Its very clean and well kept, definitely one of my favorite parks! I don't mind that there isn't a traditional playgro...
4.40 (346 reviews)
Last updated:
()