Any place else to stay around Mattawoman?

[WVKayakFisher]

The lady wants to take a trip across in mid April, 19-22 specifically, Smallwood is out of tent sites for the 20th though. Is there ANYTHING else in that general vicinity anyone can recommend? We'll be hauling two yaks on a trailer. Checked airbnb and not seeing anything.

[mchottie]

I don't know the area well for overnight (crime?) but this is the only place that came up via TriVaGo:

Super 8 Indian Head MD, Waldorf
2-star
4696 Indian Head Hwy, Waldorf, MD, 20640, United States of America

Goodluck with the search...

[ronaultmtd]

Lots of motels in Waldorf (about 7 -8 miles from Slavins Launch) a couple in Indian Head and more in La Plata, again about 7 or so miles away...

[WVKayakFisher]

Thanks. I see the hotels---my question is, would you trust your kayaks on a trailer overnight at those places? I boa lock them but...still. At a kbf event here last year one dude had his boats stolen right out of his truck.

[bunnielab]

I have never stayed at any of these places, but looking at the map, this little cluster of hotels looks reasonable, with two hotels facing each other it's not like your trailer will be in the dark behind a building.
Capture.jpg

You could also try calling the manager and explaining you situation, they might let you leave the trailer somewhere in sight of the lobby and maybe even your room.

Also, it's a little further south, but it might also be worth calling Goose Bay Marina on Goose Creek to see what they will charge you to lock your trailer in their yard overnight.

[ronaultmtd]

When I stay overnight in motels, I chain and lock my Outback through the Mirage drive opening to the tailgate mount inside the bed of my pickup truck and take all the accessories inside my hotel room with me, Mirage Drive, seat, paddles, rods reels and tackle...like the writing on a dollar bill says...in God we trust...all others require a security deposit...and I back my truck up with the kayak facing in to the room as close to my room as possible...nothing can totally prevent a thief from stealing if they have the right equipment to defeat your chain/cable locking system, but don’t make it easy for them...

[WVKayakFisher]

Thanks. I do something similar, I run the boa through the scuppers of one boat and the bow handle of the other (it's part of the boat, not possible to remove) and then wind it through the frame with a big combination hasp. No truck here though, unfortunately (yet!) so we're on a trailer, backing it in isn't really possible but I do like the idea of requesting a floor-level room and parking it right out front. Calling the manager is a good idea too. That isn't exactly a high crime area, but I don't need to be giving anyone any ideas.

[Memory Lapse]

Stay in La Plata, NOT Waldorf (I live in Waldorf). It's not too far to either Slavin or Smallwood.

[WVKayakFisher]

Im generally familiar with la Plata but not really with Waldorf. We've made about 12 trips over that way in recent years. Thanks for the input!

[nhunter344]

Atlantic Kayak has a storage facility right at Slavin's launch. I know theyre a kayak/canoe rental place, but it might be worth a call to see if they would be willing to store your boats overnight for a small fee. Free is good, but not having to worry about your boats getting stolen is even better.

Just an idea, I have no idea if its even feasible.

301.292.6455

[mchottie]

^ Thats a really good point, although i'm not sure what their insurance policy looks like. If you pay to stay at a hotel, one would think they'd have some liability of items are stolen from their own parking lot, but i'm no lawyer.

[mepps3]

People fishing in the bass tournaments park their 40+K bass boats at that Super 8 during all the summer tournaments. I am guessing they have decent security if those guys trust them.

[Memory Lapse]

People fishing in the bass tournaments park their 40+K bass boats at that Super 8 during all the summer tournaments. I am guessing they have decent security if those guys trust them.

Or they rent a house, and act a fool....

[firsttimer]

Waldorf is awful these days, I would stay in La Plata which is a much safer bet. Don't stay anywhere on MD 210 or MD 5 southern PG county is the armpit of the state. La Plata is probably the safest close bet.

[ronaultmtd]

Unsafe? Like SE? I live in Waldorf- have for over 20 years....no more crime here than any where else...are there slums like DC? No, but there are old neighborhoods where low income housing has attracted low income families struggling to get by- just like every other city in America- one thing anyone who knows southern Maryland can tell you-if you plan on doing something stupid- don’t do it in Charles County...you don’t mess around with Charles County Sherriff’s Department- you will get locked up quicker here than in Montgomery County...