Garden Yardstick

Frost Dates in Maryland

Across 43 NOAA weather stations in Maryland, the average last spring frost falls between March 22 at Solomons and May 9 at Sines Deep Creek. At a typical Maryland station it is around April 8, with the first fall frost around November 2 and a frost-free season of about 209 days.

Find the frost dates for your ZIP code

A typical Maryland season

What shapes frost dates in Maryland

  • The frost-free season ranges from 155 days at Sines Deep Creek to 248 days at Solomons.
  • Elevation matters: Oakland 1 SE, at 2,420 ft, averages its last frost on May 6, while Annapolis Naf, at 8 ft, averages March 23.
  • Gardens in valleys and low spots, where cold air settles, often frost a week or more later in spring than the nearest station.

Frost dates at major airports

StationLast frostSafer dateFirst frostSeason (days)
Aberdeen Phillips FldApr 10Apr 30Oct 30201
Annapolis NafMar 23Apr 6Nov 20241
Baltimore Wash Intl AirportApr 10Apr 25Oct 31204
Hagerstown Washington Co AirportApr 7Apr 21Nov 4209
Md Sci Ctr BaltimoreMar 24Apr 4Nov 21244
Ocean City Muni AirportApr 7Apr 23Nov 2209
Patuxent River NasMar 29Apr 10Nov 15230
Salisbury Wicomico Rgnl AirportApr 10Apr 30Oct 30201
St Inigoes Webster NolfMar 30Apr 11Nov 14229

All 43 weather stations in Maryland

StationElevation (ft)Last frostSafer dateFirst frostSeason (days)
Aberdeen Phillips Fld57Apr 10Apr 30Oct 30201
Annapolis Naf8Mar 23Apr 6Nov 20241
Annapolis Police Brks25Mar 27Apr 9Nov 13234
Assateague10Mar 31Apr 13Nov 15228
Baltimore Wash Intl Airport156Apr 10Apr 25Oct 31204
Beltsville145Apr 10May 1Nov 1202
Catoctin Mtn Park1,610Apr 14Apr 30Oct 30197
Chestertown40Apr 3Apr 16Nov 5217
Conowingo Dam40Apr 3Apr 18Nov 6217
Cumberland 2730Apr 15May 5Oct 24190
Cylburn235Apr 2Apr 13Nov 7220
Dalecarlia Rsvr150Apr 9Apr 26Oct 31202
Damascus 3 SSW700Apr 14May 2Oct 29196
Emmitsburg 2 SE403Apr 22May 9Oct 20179
Frederick Police Brks380Apr 2Apr 15Nov 6218
Frostburg 22,170Apr 29May 15Oct 18171
Glenn Dale Bell Stn150Apr 22May 9Oct 22183
Hagerstown 1 E532Apr 11Apr 27Oct 28199
Hagerstown Washington Co Airport698Apr 7Apr 21Nov 4209
Laurel 3 W400Apr 5Apr 19Nov 9218
Md Sci Ctr Baltimore20Mar 24Apr 4Nov 21244
Mechanicsville 5 NE100Apr 17May 2Oct 27195
Millers 4 NE860Apr 19May 8Oct 25188
Natl Arboretum Dc50Mar 29Apr 11Nov 8224
Oakland 1 SE2,420May 6May 23Oct 9156
Ocean City Muni Airport12Apr 7Apr 23Nov 2209
Oxon Hill190Apr 3Apr 15Nov 8217
Patuxent River Nas39Mar 29Apr 10Nov 15230
Rockville 1 NE440Apr 1Apr 15Nov 6219
Royal Oak 2 SSW10Apr 1Apr 15Nov 7220
Salisbury10Apr 3Apr 25Nov 7217
Salisbury 2N20Apr 2Apr 16Nov 10222
Salisbury Wicomico Rgnl Airport48Apr 10Apr 30Oct 30201
Savage Rvr Dam1,495Apr 29May 15Oct 20174
Sharpsburg 5 S400Apr 26May 15Oct 18175
Sines Deep Creek2,040May 9May 30Oct 11155
Smithsburg 2NW670Apr 25May 11Oct 19176
Snow Hill 4 N30Apr 10Apr 28Oct 31202
Solomons12Mar 22Apr 5Nov 26248
St Inigoes Webster Nolf21Mar 30Apr 11Nov 14229
Stevensville 2SW10Mar 29Apr 8Nov 12228
Upper Marlboro 3 NNW130Apr 9Apr 24Oct 29203
Vienna10Apr 8Apr 23Nov 4209

Last frost and first frost are averages (a 50% chance of frost later in spring or earlier in fall). Safer date is the spring date with only a 10% chance of a later frost.

Using these dates

Plant hardy crops like peas and spinach several weeks before your last frost, and tender crops like tomatoes and peppers after it, once nights stay above 50°F. The Seed Starting Calculator turns your frost date into sowing and planting dates, and When to Plant Tomatoes explains the timing in detail.

Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32°F threshold.

Frost dates in other states