Hotels in Laurel, Maryland: The Preakness Is Here in 2026
Laurel sits between Washington and Baltimore with two MARC stations, which is unusually good rail for a town this size.
Sammie O
Laurel sits between Washington and Baltimore with two MARC stations, which is unusually good rail for a town this size. And in 2026 it has something no other year brings: the Preakness is being run here while Pimlico is rebuilt.
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The Preakness is at Laurel Park in 2026
Preakness 151 runs at Laurel Park on 16 May 2026. Pimlico, its historic home, is being redeveloped, and racing moved here temporarily. It is expected back at Pimlico in 2027.
For a town with three hotels, a Triple Crown race is an extraordinary demand event. If you are travelling anywhere near mid-May 2026, book early or expect to stay well outside Laurel.
Worth knowing for the longer term: the Maryland Stadium Authority bought Laurel Park in July 2026 for $48.5 million to run it as the state’s thoroughbred training centre. So the racing crowd is a 2026 phenomenon, not a permanent fixture.
Where to stay
- Best Western Plus Laurel, 1 North 2nd Street, Laurel, MD 20707. Formerly a Quality Inn & Suites, and some booking sites still serve it from a quality-inn web address. Best Western publishes only its central reservations line, so book through the brand.
- Comfort Inn Laurel – Fort Meade, 7900 Braygreen Road, MD 20708. Phone 240-456-0234. Two current notices: the pool is closed for mechanical repairs until further notice, and the hotel requires a $75 card incidental and does not accept cash.
- Sleep Inn & Suites Laurel near Fort Meade, 10127 Washington Boulevard, MD 20723. Phone 240-294-3641.
Two stations on the Camden Line
The MARC Camden Line runs between Baltimore Camden Station and Washington Union Station, and it stops at both Laurel and Laurel Racetrack, with Savage just north. Two stations in one small town, giving you a direct run to either city.
That is what makes Laurel work as an overflow base: cheaper than either city, with rail into both.
Where else to stay in Maryland — every guide we have for the region.
Sammie O publishes Germ Trips, a travel guide covering hotels, restaurants, airport transfers and chauffeur services. The guides aim for practical detail and a clear recommendation rather than an undifferentiated list. Where a town has no good option, the guides say so and point to the nearest one that does. Guides are AI drafted. A small number have been checked against official listings, and those say so on the page.
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