Finding a gym that doesn't make you feel like you're in a high-stakes athletic competition is harder than it looks. Honestly, most of us just want a place where we can lift a few dumbbells or walk on a treadmill without feeling judged by someone training for an Ironman. That’s essentially the pitch for Planet Fitness Laurel MD, located right on Fort Meade Road.
It’s the "Judgement Free Zone," which sounds like a marketing slogan because it is, but in practice, it’s just a way of saying "don't be a jerk and don't drop your weights." For people living in Prince George’s County, this specific location has been a staple for years. But things changed recently. If you haven't stepped inside since the middle of 2024, you’re basically looking at a different gym.
The $900k Face-Lift
In late 2024, the Planet Fitness Laurel MD location at 9644 Fort Meade Rd underwent a massive renovation. We’re talking over $905,000 in upgrades. That is a lot of money for a gym that charges less than a fancy steak dinner for a monthly membership.
What did that money actually buy? A lot of it went into the PF Black Card Spa. They added new tanning beds, HydroMassage loungers, and something called a Recovery Lounge. This lounge is actually pretty cool—it uses a mix of hot, cold, and compression therapy. It's the kind of stuff you usually only see in high-end sports clinics, but here it’s tucked away next to the massage chairs.
The workout floor itself got a total overhaul too. They replaced the old rubber flooring, splashed on new paint, and updated the signage. It feels cleaner. It feels newer.
Membership Reality Check
Let’s talk money. Nobody likes hidden fees, and gym contracts are notorious for them. At Planet Fitness Laurel MD, you’re generally looking at two paths.
- The Classic Membership: This is usually around $15 a month. It gets you in the door. You get unlimited access to the equipment and the "pe@pf" training sessions where a certified trainer helps you figure out what the heck a Pec Deck is.
- The PF Black Card: This one is typically $24.99 a month. This is where you get the spa access, the tanning, and the ability to bring a guest for free every single time you visit.
You’ve got to watch out for the annual fee. Every member pays it—usually around $49—once a year. It’s a standard Planet Fitness thing, but it catches people off guard if they aren't checking their bank statements in the spring or summer.
💡 You might also like: Protective Underwear for Men: What Most People Get Wrong About Managing Incontinence
When to Go (And When to Avoid)
Laurel is a busy town. Because this gym is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you might think it’s never crowded. You’d be wrong.
If you show up at 5:30 PM on a Tuesday, good luck getting a squat rack. That’s the "after-work rush," and it’s real. The gym is packed with people trying to burn off their office stress.
Pro tip: Use the Crowd Meter on the PF App. It's surprisingly accurate for the Laurel location. Generally, if you can swing a mid-day workout between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, you’ll have the run of the place. Night owls also win here; after 10:00 PM, the crowd thins out significantly, leaving just the serious lifters and the people who can’t sleep.
What's Actually Inside?
The Laurel club is roughly 21,000 square feet. That sounds big, but equipment takes up space fast.
✨ Don't miss: Dr Wilfredo Aviles Weslaco TX: Finding the Right Specialist for Your Internal Medicine Needs
- Cardio for Days: Row after row of treadmills, ellipticals, and stationary bikes. They have new TVs mounted everywhere so you can watch HGTV while you pretend you're running a marathon.
- The 30-Minute Express Circuit: This is a dedicated area with a green-light/red-light system. You do one machine, wait for the light, then move to the next. It’s perfect if you’re short on time and don't want to think.
- Strength Training: They have a solid mix of selectorized machines (the ones where you just move a pin) and a free weight area with dumbbells going up to 75 pounds.
Wait. No 100-pound dumbbells? Nope. That’s part of the brand. They aren't looking to attract the professional bodybuilders who grunt and throw 120-pounders on the floor.
The Guest Policy Hack
One of the best things about the Planet Fitness Laurel MD Black Card is the guest policy. You can literally bring a different person every day if you want. Your guest just has to check in at the front desk with a valid ID.
They can use all the gym equipment, but they can't use the Black Card Spa. No free massages for the guest. Sorry.
Honest Feedback: The Good and the Bad
Look, it's a budget gym. Most reviews for the Laurel location praise the cleanliness, especially after the renovation. The staff is generally described as "friendly but busy."
🔗 Read more: Core Workouts No Equipment: Why Most People Are Still Doing Sit-Ups Wrong
However, some members have complained about equipment maintenance. Even with the big renovation, machines break. Sometimes a treadmill stays out of commission for a week longer than it should. And let’s be real—canceling a membership can be a bit of a headache. You usually have to go in person or send a certified letter. They don't make it easy to quit, which is a classic gym industry move.
Real Talk on "Lunk Alarms"
You might have heard of the "Lunk Alarm"—a big siren that goes off if you drop weights or grunt too loud. Does it actually happen?
At the Laurel location, it’s pretty rare. The staff isn't standing there waiting to shame you. It’s mostly a deterrent. As long as you aren't slamming the weights so hard the floor shakes or screaming during your last rep, nobody is going to bother you.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're thinking about joining, don't just sign up online immediately.
- Go for a tour: Walk in during the time of day you actually plan to work out. See if the machines you like are available or if there's a 20-minute wait.
- Check for the $1 down promos: Planet Fitness runs these constantly, especially around the New Year or during "grand reopening" anniversaries. Never pay a high startup fee if you can avoid it.
- Download the app first: You can see the "Crowd Meter" for the Laurel location even before you're a member in some cases, or at least get a feel for the digital ecosystem.
- Bring your own lock: They have lockers, but they don't provide the locks. Don't be that person who leaves their bag out in the open.
The Planet Fitness Laurel MD location is a massive improvement over what it used to be. For fifteen or twenty-five bucks, it's hard to find a cleaner spot to sweat in the 20707 area. Just plan your timing right so you aren't fighting for a treadmill.