To capture Baltimore drone footage, pilots need to know where are the best places to fly a drone in Baltimore. A good drone flight location not only offers tremendous views but also provides a space where pilots can fly safely and legally.
There are dozens of locations to capture exciting drone photography and drone video in Baltimore. In this article, we outline the top seven best places to fly a drone in Baltimore, from historic landmarks to scenic nature parks. We also give a brief overview of what drone pilots need to know to ensure they’re flying safely and abiding by the drone laws in Baltimore.
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Drone Laws in Baltimore - U.S. Federal Drone Laws
What are the rules for flying a drone in Baltimore? The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) holds sole authority to regulate recreational and commercial drone flights in U.S. airspace. All drone pilots who want to fly in Baltimore should be aware of the FAA’s drone laws.
Drone pilots can familiarize themselves with these laws by visiting the FAA website, https://www.faa.gov/uas/. We’ll briefly go over the basics here, but we encourage further individual research before conducting your first drone flight in Baltimore.
NOTE: This article is purely for entertainment purposes only. It is the responsibility of the pilot to properly research, follow, and abide to all local, state, or federal aviation laws. FAA permission may be required for flight within these listed locations.
The FAA drone regulations establish parameters for recreational and commercial drone flights. A recreational drone flight is purely for fun or personal entertainment. A commercial drone flight is operated for a business or any form of compensation, including goodwill or other non-monetary value (including volunteer work or operations for a non-profit).
FAA USC 44809 Rule for Recreational Flyers
- Fly only for recreational purposes
- Follow the safety guidelines of an FAA-recognized Community Based Organization (CBO)
- Keep your drone within the visual line of sight or use a visual observer who is physically present with you and in direct communication with you
- Give way to and do not interfere with manned aircraft
- Fly at or below 400 feet
- Obtain prior authorization using LAANC or DroneZone before flying in controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, and E)
- Pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) and carry proof of test passage
- Do not operate your drone in a dangerous manner.
FAA Part 107 Rule for Commercial Drone Flyers
- Understand the Part 107 Rules, which establishes in-depth operating rules for pilots flying small drones less than 55 lbs. for commercial purposes.
- Pass the FAA’s Aeronautical Knowledge Test to become an FAA-Certified Drone Pilot and carry proof of test passage
All drone operators must register their drone at faadronezone.faa.gov and follow the marking requirements for marking their drone on the outside with the registration number. The cost is $5 and the registration is valid for three years.
Local and State Drone Laws for Baltimore, Maryland
Beyond the FAA’s nationwide drone rules, individual states and counties may establish additional laws for flyers to abide by.
Here are the local and state drone laws for Maryland we were able to find through our research:
Maryland Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research, Development, Regulation, and Privacy Act of 2015: This law states that only the State may enact a law or take other action to prohibit, restrict, or regulate the testing or operation of unmanned aircraft systems. Federal and state laws regarding drones will precede any laws enacted at the city, county, or municipal level.
Washington, DC Special Flight Rules Area: The airspace around Washington, D.C. is more restricted than in any other part of the country. The Washington, D.C. Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) restricts flights within a 30-mile radius of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. This affects the greater DC area, including Charles, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties in Maryland.
The SFRA is divided into a 15-mile radius inner ring and a 30-mile radius outer ring. The 15-mile inner ring is a NO DRONE ZONE for recreational drone pilots. Experienced, Part 107-certified drone pilots are allowed to fly in the SFRA only when granted permission through the TSA/FAA Waiver & Airspace Access Program.
NOTE: This article is purely for entertainment purposes only. It is the responsibility of the pilot to properly research, follow, and abide to all local, state, or federal aviation laws. FAA permission may be required for flight within these listed locations.
The Best Places to Fly a Drone in Baltimore
Video Credit: MyMaryland
1. Inner Harbor & Historic Ships
The exhibits at Inner Harbor recollect over 200 years of Maryland’s naval and maritime history. The Harbor is home to four historic ships and a 19th-century lighthouse. One of the most famous ships residing in the Harbor is the USS Constellation. This ship is over 150 years old, tallied with many tales of American history. The intricacies of the ships and the water views from Inner Harbor make excellent drone footage.
Note that a portion of the Harbor is located in Class B airspace and any drone flights will require prior FAA authorization through LAANC or DroneZone. Additionally, the area is less than 3 miles from the Washington, DC SFRA where drones use is heavily regulated.
Video Credit: sun son
2. Patterson Park
Patterson Park is the oldest park in Baltimore, established in 1827. The park is populated with many impressive architectural pieces that make for unique drone photos and videos. The architecture is diverse, catering to any drone videographer’s stylistic tastes with structures in styles of Italian Villa, Gothic Revival, Exotic Revival, and Romanesque Revival. The park’s famous pagoda is considered an East Baltimore icon.
Video Credit: Dream Trips
3. Downtown Baltimore
Downtown Baltimore is a bustling business district featuring highrises, restaurants, music and performance art venues, academic institutions, residential space, and much more. It can be incredibly fun and satisfying to capture downtown from an aerial perspective, enabling viewers to take in the grandeur of downtown’s skyscrapers, harbors, and bridges all at once.
While flying in any downtown area, drone pilots should be conscientious about pedestrians and vehicle traffic. Flying a drone over people or moving vehicles without a waiver is prohibited by the FAA.
Video Credit: Building Baltimore
4. Lake Montebello
Lake Montebello is located in Northeast Baltimore and is a great location for flying a drone. There is a 1.4-mile loop around the lake used for walking, running, biking, and exercise. Swimming is not permitted in the lake, but the scenic views offer a peaceful setting to unwind. Flying a drone is a great way to enjoy yourself while visiting Lake Montebello. Fly through the open space above the water and capture those serene views of calm water, wildlife, and greenery from above by taking your drone to Lake Montebello.
Video Credit: fromBaltimore
5. Fell’s Point
Fell’s Point is a historic, waterfront neighborhood in Baltimore. In this neighborhood, you can take a walk back in time along the Belgian block streets, with the original stone bricks brought over by trade ships from Europe still in place. There are many points of interest to capture via drone since the area holds more than 300 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Try to visit during less crowded times of day, like early in the morning, or hover over the Northwest Harbor to get the best drone footage of Fell’s Point.
Video Credit: Shawn Lane
6. Curtis Creek Ship Graveyard
Drone pilots will have quite an adventure capturing haunting footage at Curtis Creek Ship Graveyard. Many half-sunken, abandoned ships can be seen here—some famous and some nameless. The ship that’s made the most curious name for itself is the Flying Dutchman of Baltimore, a ship that sailed unmanned from North Carolina to Maine and back. The Ship Graveyard is best accessed at Jaws Marina where parking is available.
Video Credit: BMore Dude
7. Druid Hill Park
There is a lot to see across the 745-acre grounds of Druid Hill Park. Send a drone above the park’s green spaces or man-made reservoir (Druid Lake) with plenty of space to practice flight maneuvers or capture photos and videos. Drone pilots seeking out nature-focused drone footage can take their drone along the Jones Falls trail, which travels through the park and winds through the “back hills” of Druid Hill providing a view of the woodland areas of the park.
Connect with Drone Pilots in Baltimore, MD
That concludes our list of the top eight best places to fly a drone in Baltimore. The historic city is truly teeming with great spots to fly a drone! All that’s required to enjoy flying a drone in Boston is a bit of research and flight planning. This list can be a helpful reference when researching locations to fly a drone in Baltimore. Be sure to follow the FAA drone laws when flying a drone at any of the locations we’ve mentioned above.
If you are looking to connect with other drone pilots in Baltimore, we recommend looking into the many online drone pilot forums and meetup groups online. Here are a few Maryland-based drone and RC groups to check out:
Additionally, if you are in need of a professional drone services provider in Baltimore to assist you with commercial drone flights, contact us at The Drone Life.
This article is purely for entertainment purposes only. It is the responsibility of the pilot to properly research, follow, and abide to all local, state, or federal aviation laws. FAA permission may be required for flight within these listed locations.
