A Southern Maryland town with commuter routes and a close-knit community
Less than 40 miles south of Washington, D.C., La Plata combines a small-town lifestyle with a bustling location as Charles County’s government center. The town was settled in the late 1800s when a passenger train leading to D.C. had a stop here. Though the train tracks now carry cargo, and many of the town’s original 19th-century buildings were destroyed by a 2002 tornado, La Plata still offers a few commuter routes by car and a quaint downtown district. With nearly 11,000 residents, it also has a close-knit atmosphere. “When you meet someone, it’s all about figuring out who their family is and what their lineage is in town,” says Kate Balaban, a librarian at the Charles County Public Library who was born and raised in La Plata. “It’s the kind of place where you know everyone, but we’re still growing because there’s new housing and great shopping.”
Incorporated in 1888 and the Charles County seat, LaPlata has a population of 10,054.
Come to LaPlata and enjoy a small town feel at Marie's Diner.
Bird City Records is the only true record shop in southern Maryland.
Shaved Ice at the LaPlata Farmers Market, LaPlata Md.
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Houses sell for less than D.C. metropolitan area’s median price
Most homes in La Plata were built between the 1980s and 2020s. Ranch-style homes, Colonial Revivals and New Traditional houses are all common here. The median single-family home price is $475,000, slightly higher than Charles County’s $435,000. However, this is less than the D.C. metropolitan area’s median price of $600,000. Townhouses can cost between $300,000 and $500,000.
Based on 2023 data from the Maryland State Police, there were 780 violent crimes per 100,000 people in Charles County, compared to Maryland’s rate of 1,020 per 100,000 people. The county’s property crime rate was 1,806 per 100,000, less than Maryland's figure of 3,053.
LaPlata has good schools quiet neighborhoods, and plenty of amenities.
Townhomes in LaPlata are available and there is no grass cutting.
Ranch homes offer single level living in LaPlata.
Colonial Revival homes line the edge of the parks in LaPlata.
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Commute to D.C. via U.S. Route 301 or by VanGo bus
Though La Plata is home to major employers like the Charles County government headquarters and The University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, Balaban says locals still commute for work. “Charles County is a commuter county. Most people work in D.C., and some even commute up to Baltimore.” U.S. Route 301 at La Plata’s core connects to Maryland state Routes 225, 229 and 210, making D.C. a 36-mile drive north. The drive can take one to two hours, depending on traffic. Baltimore is a 67-mile drive northeast on Maryland State Route 5. The town’s original train tracks still exist, but they are now a part of a CSX freight route. Traffic occasionally stops on streets that intersect with the tracks. Several VanGo bus stops are in the area. The stop outside the Walmart Supercenter on Drury Drive follows a route directly into D.C. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is 36 miles north, while Dulles International Airport is 60 miles northwest.
Route 301 in La Plata travels North and South all the way from Delaware and Florida
VanGo buses in LaPlata can get you around if you need.
University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center is in La Plata.
Charles County Courthouse is located in downtown La Plata.
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La Plata rebuilt after a 2002 tornado
Residents can expect all four seasons, with humid summers and mild winters. La Plata has experienced a few tornadoes, but the most recent one was in 2002. Considered the worst tornado in Maryland’s history, it earned an F4 rating and caused over $100 million worth of damage. Tornado sirens are now tested twice a year.
The tornado destroyed most of La Plata’s original downtown district along Charles Street, but a few historic structures still stand, like the Episcopal Christ Church, which has been in the area since 1884. There are also several Greek Revival-style Charles County government buildings and some restaurants along the street. Grocery stores and other nationally recognized retailers sit on U.S. Route 301. St. Charles Towne Center has over 100 stores, less than 8 miles north of La Plata.
Four state highways serve the town of LaPlata and make it simple to get around.
LaPlata has a small town feel but big town amenities.
With it's colorful buildings, LaPlata is a cheerful place.
With plenty of neighborhoods full of larger New Traditional homes LaPlata has plenty of space.
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Home to Charles County Public Schools, private schools and a college
La Plata is in the Charles County Public Schools system, graded a B-plus by Niche. There are two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school in town. The Catholic Archbishop Neale School and Grace Lutheran School are both private options for kindergarten through eighth grade. The College of Southern Maryland offers associate degrees and workforce training.
LaPlata High School, LaPlata Md.
Milton M. Somers Middle School in LaPlata is rated a B on Niche.
St Charles High School in White Plains is great at getting you ready for college.
Mary Matula Elementary School, La Plata Md
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Soccer, fishing and camping at La Plata parks
There are nine parks in La Plata. A mile-long trail connects Laurel Springs Regional Park, home to playgrounds and soccer fields, with Tilghman Lake Park’s catch-and-release fishing docks and RV camping spots. The home stadium for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs minor league baseball team is 6 miles east, and several parks sit along the Potomac River, about 12 miles west. There are also a few indoor community hubs, like the Charles County Public Library, which hosts regular craft workshops and preschool story times.
Enjoy a quiet bike ride or a stroll on the Indian Head Rail Trail in White Plains.
White Plains Regional Park Golf Course has Bermuda grass fairways and manicured greens.
Bring other picklers to White Plains Regional Park for a game of Pickleball.
Regency Furniture Stadium in White Plains is home to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Baseball.
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The annual La Plata Bed Races and a twice-a-week farmers market
La Plata hosts several community events. After the tornado, Celebrate La Plata marked the town’s rebuilding period. Today, live music, local food vendors and carnival rides outside of the town hall continue the event every April. The day ends with the La Plata Bed Races, where locals decorate beds on wheels and push them down La Grange Avenue. The La Plata Farmers Market is held from April through November. It’s outside the Charles County Courthouse on Saturdays, and in the parking lot at the intersection of Talbot Street and Washington Avenue on Wednesdays.
LaPlata Farmers Market, LaPlata Md.
LaPlata Farmers Market, LaPlata Md.
LaPlata Farmers Market, LaPlata Md.
Food Trucks at the LaPlata Farmers Market, LaPlata Md.
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