Warming and Cooling Center Information

Get to Know the Locations of Warming and Cooling Centers Near You

When an extreme cold or heat event is declared in Howard County, Howard County Government encourages community members in need of place to warm up or cool down to stop by one of our Department of Recreation & Parks' (DRP) three community centers, our Department of Community Resources and Services (DCRS) 50+ centers, or one of Howard County Library System (HCLS) branches during normal operating hours. Additionally, during these extreme temperature events, if you are or someone you encounter is in need of shelter from the cold or heat, please contact Grassroots Crisis Intervention's hotline at 410-531-6677 for assistance or go to its Crisis Center at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A in Columbia.

To stay in the know about when there an extreme cold or heat event has been declared in Howard County, be sure to follow Howard County Government on its Facebook and X social media platforms for more information.

You can also check on the status of:

DCRS's facilities by calling the department's Emergency Status Hotline at 410-313-7777;
DRP facilities by calling the department's "Inclement Weather and Program Status Lines" for each facility; and
HCLS by calling the automated phone message at its local Howard County Library System branches.

This is a map of Warming/Cooling Center locations across Howard County.

Department of Recreation & Parks' Community Centers

1 - Gary J. Arthur Community Center
- Address: 2400 MD 97, Cooksville, MD 21723
- Phone Number: 410-313-4840
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  - Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  - Closed: January 1st, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th (open for planned programs only), Labor Day, Thanksgiving (Thursday and Friday), and December 25th
  - Closes Early at 5:00 p.m.: December 24th and 31st
2 - North Laurel Community Center
- Address: 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, MD 2023
- Phone Numbers: 410-313-0390
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  - Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  - Closed: January 1st, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving (Thursday & Friday), and December 25th
  - Closes Early at 5:00 p.m.: July 4th and December 24th and 31st
3 - Roger Carter Community Center
- Address: 3000 Milltowne Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043
- Phone Number: 410-313-2764
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Friday: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
  - Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
  - Sunday: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  - Closed: January 1st, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving (Thursday & Friday), and December 25th
  - Closes Early at 5:00 p.m.: Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, and December 24th and 31st

Howard County Library System Branches

4 - East Columbia Branch
- Address: 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045
- Phone Number: 410-313-7700
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  - Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  - Sunday (September 8th through June 1st): 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
  - For scheduled closing information, visit HCLS's "Upcoming Closings" webpage
5 - Elkridge Branch
- Address: 6540 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge MD 21075
- Phone Number: 410-313-5077
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  - Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  - Sunday (September 8th through June 1st): 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
  - For scheduled closing information, visit HCLS's "Upcoming Closings" webpage
6 - Glenwood Branch
- Address: 2350 MD 97, Cooksville, MD 21723
- Phone Number: 410-313-5577
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  - Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  - Sunday (September 8th through June 1st): 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
  - For scheduled closing information, visit HCLS's "Upcoming Closings" webpage
7 - Central Branch
- Address: 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044
- Phone Number: 410-313-7800
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  - Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  - Sunday: 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
  - For scheduled closing information, visit HCLS's "Upcoming Closings" webpage
8 - Charles E. Miller Branch
- Address: 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042
- Phone Number: 410-313-1950
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  - Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  - Sunday: 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
  - For scheduled closing information, visit HCLS's "Upcoming Closings" webpage
9 - Savage Branch
- Address: 9525 Durness Lane, Laurel, MD 20723
- Phone Number: 410-313-0760
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  - Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  - Sunday (September 8th through June 1st): 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
  - For scheduled closing information, visit HCLS's "Upcoming Closings" webpage

Department of Community Resources and Services 50+ Centers

10 - Bain Center 50+ Center
- Address: 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia, MD 21044
- Phone Number: 410-313-7213
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  - Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to noon
  - Closed: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Freedom Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous People's Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Holiday (Thursday and Friday), and Christmas Day
    - Note: If a holiday falls on a Saturday, County offices, including 50+ centers are closed the day before, i.e., Friday, and if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the County will observe the holiday the following day, i.e., Monday
11 - East Columbia 50+ Center
- Address: 6610 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045
- Phone Number: 410-313-7680
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday and Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  - Tuesday and Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  - Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  - Closed: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Freedom Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous People's Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Holiday (Thursday and Friday), and Christmas Day
    - Note: If a holiday falls on a Saturday, County offices, including 50+ centers are closed the day before, i.e., Friday, and if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the County will observe the holiday the following day, i.e., Monday
12 - Elkridge 50+ Center
- Address: 6540 Washington Boulevard, Elkridge, MD 21075
- Phone Number: 410-313-5192
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  - Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to noon
  - Closed: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Freedom Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous People's Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Holiday (Thursday and Friday), and Christmas Day
    - Note: If a holiday falls on a Saturday, County offices, including 50+ centers are closed the day before, i.e., Friday, and if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the County will observe the holiday the following day, i.e., Monday
13 - Ellicott City 50+ Center
- Address: 9401 and 9411 Frederick Road Ellicott City, MD 21042
- Phone Number: 410-313-1400
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  - Closed: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Freedom Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous People's Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Holiday (Thursday and Friday), and Christmas Day
    - Note: If a holiday falls on a Saturday, County offices, including 50+ centers are closed the day before, i.e., Friday, and if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the County will observe the holiday the following day, i.e., Monday
14 - Glenwood 50+ Center
- Address: 2400 Route 97 Cooksville, MD 21723
- Phone Number: 410-313-5440
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  - Closed: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Freedom Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous People's Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Holiday (Thursday and Friday), and Christmas Day
    - Note: If a holiday falls on a Saturday, County offices, including 50+ centers are closed the day before, i.e., Friday, and if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the County will observe the holiday the following day, i.e., Monday
15 - North Laurel 50+ Center
- Address: 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road Laurel, MD 20723
- Phone Number: 410-313-0380
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  - Closed: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Freedom Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous People's Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Holiday (Thursday and Friday), and Christmas Day
    - Note: If a holiday falls on a Saturday, County offices, including 50+ centers are closed this Friday before and if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the County will observe the holiday the following day, Monday

Department of Housing and Community Development's Resource Center

16 - Day Resource Center at Leola Dorsey
- Address: 10390 Guilford Road Jessup, MD 20794
- Hours of Operation:
  - Monday and Wednesday 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
  - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.