Okay, listen — if you’ve been Googling “cheap family fun” while staring at your wallet and your kids’ wild energy levels, stop right now. I’ve got you. This summer, we’re keeping the good times rolling without draining the bank account — starting with one of my favorite local gems: Shad Landing Pool at Pocomoke River State Park in Snow Hill.
Yes, you read that right — just $6 gets up to five people into the pool for a full day of splashy, shady, sun-soaked fun. So grab your towels, pack some sandwiches, and get ready to make some low-budget, high-vibe memories.
🌲 First, What’s Shad Landing?
Picture this: towering pine trees, the sounds of birds chirping, the smell of sunscreen and charcoal grills, and a sparkling blue pool just waiting for cannonballs and handstands.
Shad Landing is part of Pocomoke River State Park, and it’s tucked away just south of downtown Snow Hill, Maryland. It’s easy to miss if you’re flying by on Route 113 — but you’re going to want to make a stop. This place has:
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A legit outdoor swimming pool
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Picnic pavilions and shaded tables
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A fun little playground
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Nature trails and wildlife peeks
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Plenty of parking and clean restrooms
And again: six. bucks. total. You can’t even get fries for that anymore.
🏊♀️ Pool Vibes: What to Expect
This isn’t a waterpark — there are no slides or wave machines. But honestly, that’s the magic. The pool is big, well-kept, and never too packed. It has:
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A shallow entry for littles who just want to splash
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Deeper sections for your confident swimmers
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Plenty of room to float, practice handstands, or just chill
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Lifeguards (yes, you can relax a little)
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Big trees that throw perfect shade for those midday breaks
💡 Heads up: They’re usually open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and hours are roughly 11 AM – 6 PM, but call first just in case.
🧺 Picnic Time, Baby!
Let’s talk lunch. The best thing you can do is pack your own and post up at one of the shaded picnic tables near the pool. There’s something about eating outside that just makes even PB&J taste gourmet.
Picnic Ideas That Travel Well:
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Wraps + chips + fruit kabobs
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DIY lunchables (crackers, cheese, turkey)
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Pasta salad + watermelon slices
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Juice boxes + cookies + wet wipes (don’t forget the wet wipes!)
Pro tip: Let your kids help “design the menu” the night before — they’ll be weirdly excited about it. And if you want to go all out, bring a little tablecloth and set up your lunch like a backyard café in the woods.
🎉 Bonus: If you come early and snag a grill, you can go full BBQ mode. Just don’t forget matches and charcoal.
🤸 Playground Power
Next to the pool is a sweet little playground with slides, swings, and enough open space to keep the after-lunch wiggles at bay.
This is prime territory for:
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Tag
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Sidewalk chalk art
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Scavenger hunts
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Cloud watching while you digest your sandwich
And if you’re feeling brave, try organizing a family-wide water balloon toss. Bring a couple of filled balloons in your cooler and see who survives longest without getting soaked.
📸 Say Cheese: DIY Memory-Making
You don’t need a fancy camera to get Instagram-worthy memories from this trip. Just snap your favorite moments on your phone and try these fun photo challenges:
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Capture a group “splash pic” mid-air
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Everyone finds something blue and takes a pic with it
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Kids do silly poses with pool noodles
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Nature close-ups — pinecones, frogs, flowers, you name it
Or give each kid a theme: “Take five pictures of round things” or “Show me summer in three photos.” Let them be creative and share their gallery over dinner.
🧽 What to Bring (Trust Me)
Don’t overpack, but don’t under-pack either. You’ll be glad you tossed these in the bag:
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Swimsuits + towels (bring extra if you can)
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Flip flops or water shoes
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Change of clothes
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Sunscreen (apply and reapply, people)
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Bug spray (especially if you’re hanging out past 4 PM)
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A small cooler with lunch/snacks
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Water bottles
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A Bluetooth speaker for good vibes (keep volume neighbor-friendly)
And maybe — just maybe — bring a book for yourself. You might actually get 15 minutes to read it.
🐦 Optional Add-On: Nature Trail Stroll
If your crew’s still got energy after swimming and snacks, take a short walk on one of Shad Landing’s nearby trails. You don’t need hiking boots — just curiosity. You’ll spot:
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Turtles sunning themselves
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Birds like herons and ospreys
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Tons of cool tree shapes and funky mushrooms
Bring a nature bingo card or just let your kids go wild spotting weird bugs and pretending they’re explorers.
💰 Budget Breakdown: Yes, You Can Do This
| Thing | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pool admission (up to 5 people) | $6 |
| Packed lunch | Free (from your fridge!) |
| Gas (roundtrip est.) | $10 |
| Extra snacks/treats | $5–10 |
| TOTAL | $21–$26 ✔️ under $30! |
You could even hit the camp store on-site and let each kid pick a $1 souvenir or treat if there’s room in the budget.
🎉 Why This Trip Wins
Look, not every day needs to be a big blowout. Sometimes, the best memories come from simple days: wet hair, peanut butter sandwiches, and the smell of sunscreen on a sleepy car ride home.
This $6 pool day delivers all of that and more. It’s an easy “yes” when you need to get out of the house, burn off energy, and feel like the summer parent hero you are — without dropping a paycheck at a theme park.
So next time your kids are bouncing off the walls and you’re tempted to Google “indoor trampoline place + coupons,” just remember: Shad Landing has your back.
👉 Ready for more $30 days of summer magic? Stick around — next up: we’re renting boats, chasing birds with our cameras, and turning the river into a floating photo safari.
Let me know when you’re ready for Blog 2: “Float, Snap, Repeat” — I’ll have it ready with the same tone, links, and family-friendly flair.
