Antietam National Battlefield · NPS Antietam/BBaracz · Public domain (US federal government)

Road Trip Guide:
Maryland

Explore Maryland

Maryland is 198.6 miles across at its longest east-west reach, yet its shortest north-south span, near Hancock, is 1.9 miles.

Around 46 breweries sit near the stops we cover in Maryland. 14 of them are brewpubs with a kitchen, which off the motorway is often the useful part. The kitchen figure is a floor: the source lists some full restaurants as production sites.

Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)

Around 7 public campgrounds sit near the stops we cover in Maryland. All of them take reservations. Public campgrounds run by federal agencies. State-park and private campgrounds are not included.

Outdoors

Public land, water and snow — the places that are the reason for the drive.

National parks and federal sites in Maryland

27 National Park Service sites in Maryland. We have written guides to only a few of these — the rest are here so you can see what is in the state.

*Check before you go. Entrance fees, seasonal road closures, timed-entry reservations and whether a site suits your family are set by each park and change through the year. Follow the link and check with the park itself.

Park register from the National Park Service (public domain)

State parks in Maryland

52 state parks we know of in Maryland. We have not visited these and have no guide to them — this is a list of what exists, so you can look one up.

See all 52

Assateague State Park
Big Run State Park
Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park
Black Walnut Point Natural Resources Management Area
Calvert Cliffs State Park
Casselman River Bridge State Park
Chapel Point State Park
Chapman State Park
Cunningham Falls State Park
Dans Mountain State Park
Deep Creek Lake State Park
Elk Neck State Park
Fort Frederick
Gambrill State Park
Gathland State Park
Greenbrier State Park
Greenwell State Park
Gunpowder Falls State Park
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park
Hart-Miller Island State Park, Maryland
Herrington Manor State Park
Janes Island State Park
Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum
Martinak State Park
Matapeake State Park
Matthew Henson State Park
New Germany State Park
Newtowne Neck State Park
North Point State Battlefield
North Point State Park
Palmer State Park
Patapsco Valley State Park
Patuxent River State Park
Pocomoke River State Park
Point Lookout State Park
Purse State Park
Rocks State Park
Rocky Gap State Park
Rosaryville State Park
Sandy Point State Park
Sang Run State Park
Seneca Creek State Park
Smallwood State Park
South Mountain State Park
St. Clement's Island State Park
St. Mary's River State Park
Susquehanna State Park
Swallow Falls State Park
Tuckahoe State Park
Washington Monument State Park
Wills Mountain State Park
Wye Oak State Park

*Check before you go. Opening hours, entry fees, campsite availability and whether a park suits your family are not in this data and change with the season. Several of these are day-use only. Please confirm with the park before setting out.

State park locations from Wikidata (CC0)

Lakes in Maryland

6 lakes in Maryland that we have checked. These are the ones from our research that we could check against an official page — not every lake there is. We have not been to these; this is what the official pages say, so you can look one up.

Deep Creek Lake
near McHenry; Oakland · 3,900 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - trout, bass, walleye, yellow perch, northern pike
- BoatingMotorized allowed; state park ramp (24 hr) needs launch fee or lake use permit/state park pass. Law: clean vessel and remove visible organic material before using public ramp on state-owned lake (fines $100-500); free voluntary steward inspections Memorial Day-Labor Day; hydrilla present since 2013
- Rentals & marinayes - several marinas
- Swimmingyes - two sandy beaches at state park (swim when lines installed)
- CampingMeadow Mountain campground (about 105-112 sites, mini cabins, yurt), Apr 15-Dec 15; parkreservations.maryland.gov or 1-888-432-2267
- EntryDay use $3 MD / $5 non-MD (per person in summer, per vehicle otherwise)
- SeasonCampground open to Dec 15
Hydrilla and invasives - clean, drain, dry
Run by State of Maryland / MD DNR (owned since 2000; Deep Creek Lake State Park)
Greenbrier Lake
near Boonsboro · 42 acres · reservoir (man-made)
- Fishingyes - trout (stocked), largemouth bass, bluegill
- BoatingPersonal boats electric trolling motors only
- Rentals & marinayes - rowboats and paddleboats (summer)
- Swimmingyes - white sand beach, lifeguards 11am-6pm Memorial Day-Labor Day
- Camping164-165 sites (40 electric); parkreservations.maryland.gov
- EntrySummer $3/person weekdays, $5 weekends; off-season $3/vehicle; summer weekend day-use reservations
Run by MD DNR (Greenbrier State Park)
Jennings Randolph Lake
near Elk Garden WV; Bloomington MD · 952 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - walleye, smallmouth bass, trout, bluegill, catfish
- BoatingBoat ramps at Howell Run (WV) and the Maryland launch
- SwimmingShaw Beach swim beach; no lifeguards
- CampingRobert W. Craig Campground, 68 electric sites
- EntryCampground $22 electric, $26 family sites per night; no fee to launch at Howell Run
Run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District
Lake Habeeb
near Cumberland (Rocky Gap State Park) · 243 acres · reservoir (man-made)
- Fishingyes - largemouth & smallmouth bass, crappie, rainbow & brown trout, catfish, sunfish
- BoatingNo gasoline motors (electric only); boating 24/7, navigation lights after sunset; inspect/clean for AIS
- Rentals & marinayes - canoe, kayak, SUP rentals Memorial Day-Labor Day
- Swimmingyes - two lifeguarded day-use beaches in summer; campground beach
- Camping278 sites + mini cabins/yurt; CAMPGROUND CLOSED for renovation Oct 13, 2026-Dec 31, 2027; parkreservations.maryland.gov
- EntryDay-use reservations required summer weekends/holidays (parkdayuse.maryland.gov); fee amounts not listed
Run by MD DNR (Rocky Gap State Park)
Loch Raven Reservoir
near Towson area (Baltimore County) · 2,400 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - bass, yellow perch, northern pike; Maryland license needed age 16+
- BoatingPrivate boats need a seasonal permit; no gas or propane motors
- Rentals & marinayes - Loch Raven Fishing Center boat and kayak rentals
- EntrySeasonal boating permit for private boats
- SeasonFishing Center open daily from first Friday in April to Labor Day; Fri-Mon to last Sunday in October
Drinking water supply
Run by City of Baltimore DPW (owner, watershed); Baltimore County Recreation and Parks runs Fishing Center and boating permits
Prettyboy Reservoir
near Hereford area (northern Baltimore County) · 1,500 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - warm, cool and cold water fish species
- BoatingBoating by City permit only; launch at the boat dock only
- Entry$60 boat permit, by mail, per vessel
- SeasonBoating Mar 1 to Dec 31, sunrise to sunset, weather permitting
Drinking water supply
Run by City of Baltimore Department of Public Works

*Check before you go. Every lake here links to the official page we checked it against. Each state a price we read off that page on the date we checked. Fees, seasons, water levels, algal advisories and ramp closures change without notice and belong to the agency that runs the water. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something the lake lacks. Never assume a lifeguard. Whether a beach is staffed turns on the season, the day, and which agency runs that particular beach — two beaches on one lake can differ. If that matters to your family, confirm it with the agency before you set out.

Skiing and Snowboarding

1 in this state.

Wisp Resort — we could not confirm the summer bike parkMcHenry
Maryland's only ski area; at Deep Creek Lake
* no current source confirms a summer bike park here. Check their site before you plan around it.

This is a list of what is there, not a recommendation of any of it. One entry is marked with an asterisk: no current source confirms the summer bike park, and the note under it says so. We do not list rentals: our source marked every ski area in the country “likely” to have them and confirmed none, so there was nothing to publish. Most hills do rent gear — ring ahead rather than take that from us. Opening dates, lift schedules and trail conditions move every year and we hold none of them, so check before you build a day around it. Every name above links to the operator’s own site.

Days out with the family

Gated attractions with a front door, a ticket and a car park.

Zoos and Aquariums

6 across Maryland, by town.

National Aquarium — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedBaltimore
Hours
9am-9pm (as shown for one day)
Reservations
unknown (timed entry offered)
Inner Harbor
* We could not confirm: admission not captured. Check their site before you go.
The Maryland Zoo in BaltimoreAZA-accreditedBaltimore
Hours
10am-4pm; last entry 3:30pm
Season
year-round (daily Mar-Dec; Fri-Mon only Jan-Feb)
Admission
Adult from $33 (2-64) · Child $33 (ages 2+ pay general rate)
Reservations
Not required
Parking
free
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas; winter ticket $25 from Nov 9, 2026 while African Watering Hole is off exhibit; closed to public Nov 7, 2026 for private event
Plumpton Park ZooRising Sun
Hours
9am-6pm (Memorial Day-Labor Day); 10am-5pm rest of year
Season
year-round (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Admission
Adult from $21.95 (13+) · Child $15.95 (2-12)
Reservations
Not required (advance tickets recommended)
Parking
free
Re-entry same day with hand stamp
Salisbury ZooSalisbury
Hours
9am-4:30pm daily
Season
year-round (implied; daily)
Admission
Free
Reservations
Not required
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas; site references AZA Pathway Program
Catoctin Wildlife Preserve — some details below are unconfirmedThurmont
Parking
free
Open rain or shine
* We could not confirm: hours/admission not captured. Check their site before you go.
Frisky's Wildlife & Primate Sanctuary — some details below are unconfirmedWoodstock
* We could not confirm: ACCESS MODEL UNRESOLVED. The stored domain friskyswildlife.org does not resolve (NXDOMAIN). The live site is friskys.org and is served over plain HTTP only - any HTTPS request to it has its connection reset, which is why automated fetchers reported it blocked. The site itself is a wildlife rehabilitation centre and a permanent home for primates and small exotics surrendered as pets. It carries intake instructions ('Friskys accepts injured, orphaned and displaced wildlife between ... 8am and 8pm only ... 410-418-8899'), newsletters, donation links and photo galleries, but there is no visiting-hours page, no admission price, no tour information and no 'plan your visit' section anywhere on it. Public access could not be established either way - do not record it as closed to the public without calling (410) 418-8899. 10790 Old Frederick Road, Woodstock MD.. Check their site before you go.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. 2 of these carry an accreditation we confirmed against the accrediting body’s own register. Where there is no badge we did not confirm one — that is not a judgement on the place, and a good many municipal, state and university sites belong to no register we check. 3 entries are marked with an asterisk: we could not confirm part of what is listed, and the note under it says which part. Opening times, prices and seasons change without notice, so check the operator’s own site — every name above links to it.

Amusement and Water Parks

6 across Maryland, by town.

Maryland Renaissance FestivalSeasonalAnnapolis
Renaissance festival, not an amusement park; site thanks guests for the 50th (2026) season and lists 2027 dates.
Adventure Park USAfamily entertainment centerMonrovia
Indoor/outdoor attractions open Fri-Sun; arcade and mini-golf Thu-Sun.
Jolly Roger Amusement ParkSeasonalamusement parkOcean City
Jolly Roger at 30th Street (coordinates match); seasonal; site updated July 2026. Stored URL was for the separate pier park.
Jolly Roger at the PierSeasonalamusement parkOcean City
Pier amusement park; seasonal.
Trimper's RidesSeasonalamusement parkOcean City
Old domain redirects to trimperrides.com; site says the park is in its off-season.
Great Wolf Lodge Marylandwater parkPerryville
Indoor water park resort.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. 4 of these run a season rather than opening year round. Opening and closing dates move every year and we hold none of them, so check the park’s own calendar before you build a day around it. Prices, hours and ride closures change without notice — every name above links to the park’s own site.

Wineries and Distilleries in Maryland

6 producers in Maryland that we have checked. These are the ones from our research we could check against their own site — not every producer there is. We have not been to these; this is what their own sites say, so you can look one up.

Sagamore Spirit
distillery · Baltimore, MD
Rye whiskey distillery on the Baltimore waterfront with a whiskey bar and transient boat docking nearby.
- HoursVisitor Center Wed-Sat 12-8pm; Sun 11am-6:30pm; closed Mon-Tue
- Toursyes - hour-long guided distillery tour
- Foodno
- Phone410.624.7488
301 E Cromwell St, Baltimore, MD 21230
Boordy Vineyards
winery · Hydes, MD · Baltimore County (Long Green Valley) · founded 1945
Maryland winery established in 1945; weekend food trucks.
- HoursDaily 12-5pm
- Toursyes - private guided tours, reservation required
- Foodyes
- Phone410.592.5015
- Children21+ on Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat; families with children welcome Thu & Sun and some weekend events
12820 Long Green Pike, Hydes, MD 21082
Elk Run Vineyards
winery · Mount Airy, MD · Frederick/Carroll County · founded 1983
Family winery run by its founders since 1983; only working dogs allowed.
- HoursOct-Apr: Tue-Sat 12-8pm, Sun 12-7pm; May-Sep: Tue-Thu 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12-6pm
- Phone(410) 775-2513
15113 Liberty Road, Mount Airy, MD 21771
Black Ankle Vineyards
winery · Mt. Airy, MD · Frederick County
Frederick County estate winery with a Terrace Kitchen open Fri-Sun.
- HoursMon-Thu 12-5pm; Fri 12-8pm; Sat 11am-8pm; Sun 11am-6pm
- Foodyes
- Phone301.829.3338
14463 Black Ankle Road, Mt. Airy, MD 21771
Big Cork Vineyards
winery · Rohrersville, MD · Washington County
Western Maryland winery near South Mountain.
- HoursThu-Mon 11am-5pm; closed Tue-Wed
- Phone301 302 8032
4236 Main Street, Rohrersville, MD 21779
Catoctin Breeze Vineyard21 and over
winery · Thurmont, MD · Frederick County (Catoctin Mountains)
Small vineyard near the Catoctin Mountains; parties limited to six.
- HoursMon, Thu, Fri 11:30am-4pm; Sat 11:30am-6pm; Sun 11:30am-5pm; closed Tue-Wed
- Phone(240) 578-3831
- ChildrenStrictly no children; all visitors must be 21+
15010 Roddy Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788

*Check before you go. Every producer here links to its own site, which is where we read these details on the date we checked. Opening hours, tour times, tasting fees and who may come in change without notice and belong to the producer. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something they lack. 2 of these say something about children, in their own words above. Where there is no Children line, we did not find a policy — that is not the same as children being welcome, and several tasting rooms are 21 and over.

Roadside oddities in Maryland

Witch Board MuseumQuirky museumBaltimore (Hampden)
Cost to see it
Costs something — we did not find the price published
When you can see it
Only while it is open, and we did not find its hours published
Nearest road
I-83
Ouija board collection
- Fine for most children, but look it over before you let them loose
Read on the page we checked

These are things you can go and look at, not a recommendation of any of them. Oddities move, get sold and quietly disappear more than anything else we list, so check anything you are driving a long way for. Where this list says we did not find a price or opening times published, that is exactly what we mean. A blank is not “free” and not “always open”. Some sit on private land and can only be seen from the road — please do not go onto anyone’s property. Every entry links the page we read it off.

Venues and Annual Events

16 across Maryland, by town.

Where to see something

Rams Head On StageclubAnnapolis
Address
33 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone
(410) 268-4545
Seated listening room inside Rams Head Tavern.
Merriweather Post PavilionamphitheaterColumbia
Hours
Event days only
Address
10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21044
Phone
410-715-5550
Capacity
19,319
Designed by Frank Gehry's firm (Gehry, Walsh & O'Malley).

What is on, and when

Washington County Agricultural Expo & FairfairBoonsboro
Usually
Late July, over several days
Held at
Washington County Ag Education Center
Anne Arundel County FairfairCrownsville
Usually
Mid September, over several days
Held at
Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds
Cecil County FairfairElkton
Usually
Late July, over several days
Held at
Cecil County Fairgrounds
Great Frederick FairfairFrederick
Usually
Mid–late September, over several days
Held at
Frederick Fairgrounds
Montgomery County Agricultural FairfairGaithersburg
Usually
Mid August, over several days
Held at
Montgomery County Fairgrounds
Charles County FairfairLa Plata
Usually
Mid September, over several days
Held at
Charles County Fairgrounds

See the other 8

Preakness Stakessports-motorsportLaurel
Usually
May, over several days
Held at
Laurel Park
Since
1873
St. Mary's County FairfairLeonardtown
Usually
Late September, over several days
Held at
St. Mary's County Fairgrounds
Garrett County Agricultural FairfairMcHenry
Usually
Early August, over several days
Held at
Garrett County Fairgrounds
Great Pocomoke FairfairPocomoke City
Usually
Early August, over several days
Held at
Pocomoke Fairgrounds
Calvert County FairfairPrince Frederick
Usually
Late September–early October, over several days
Held at
Calvert County Fairgrounds
Maryland State FairfairTimonium
Usually
Late August–mid September, over several days
Held at
Maryland State Fairgrounds
Howard County FairfairWest Friendship
Usually
Mid August, over several days
Held at
Howard County Fairgrounds
Carroll County 4-H & FFA FairfairWestminster
Usually
Early August, over several days
Held at
Carroll County Agriculture Center

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Events are listed by the month they usually fall in, because that is what we hold — we do not publish dates, and a month is not a promise. Check the organiser before you plan around one. Opening times, line-ups and ticketing change without notice, so check the venue’s or organiser’s own site — every name above links to it.

On the road

Before you set off.

Scenic roads through Maryland

Federally designated scenic byways and All-American Roads, with the places we publish along each one in the order you meet them.

Historic National Road6 states · 32 places we publish Baltimore's Historic Charles StreetMaryland · 5 places we publish Chesapeake Country Scenic BywayMaryland · 3 places we publish

What to wear in Maryland

Illustrated outfit board for Maryland: four seasonal panels of clothing with average temperatures.

Spring 65°/43°F (18°/6°C)

Spring brings changing temperatures, showers, and cool mornings.

Wear: Start with a long-sleeve tee, stretch pants, and a fleece or sweater. Add a rain shell when the wind or showers pick up.
Shoes: Water-resistant walking shoes with grip; boots for muddy stops.
Pack: fleece or sweater
rain shell
light beanie
spare dry socks

Summer 85°/64°F (29°/18°C)

Summer is warm to hot and humid, with coastal breezes.

Wear: Choose a loose, breathable tee or shirt with quick-drying shorts, lightweight pants, or an airy dress. Carry a thin layer for chilly indoor stops.
Shoes: Breathable walking sneakers; secure sandals for casual paved stops.
Pack: sun hat
sunglasses
light indoor layer
light rain shell
spare tee

Fall 67°/47°F (20°/8°C)

Fall brings cooling days and chilly mountain mornings.

Wear: Build around a long-sleeve tee, comfortable pants, and a sweater or fleece. Add a wind-resistant jacket for breezy overlooks.
Shoes: Walking shoes with grip; water-resistant boots for wet or muddy routes.
Pack: sweater or fleece
wind and rain shell
beanie
light gloves
spare socks

Winter 45°/27°F (7°/-3°C)

Winter is cold, with rain, snow, and freezing conditions possible.

Wear: Layer a moisture-wicking long-sleeve top under a sweater or fleece and an insulated coat. Wear long pants; add thermal bottoms when the forecast calls for them.
Shoes: Waterproof insulated boots for snowy stops, with warm wool or synthetic socks.
Pack: thermal base layers
insulated coat
beanie
gloves or mittens
warm spare socks

Adjust for your route. Western Maryland's Appalachian routes need warmer layers and more snow-ready footwear than the Eastern Shore.

Climate background: NOAA State Climate Summary

See what to wear in every state →

Keep exploring

See It in the Book

Explore Maryland

Locations in Maryland

Annapolis

Baltimore

Frederick

Ocean City

National parks and federal sites in Maryland

State parks in Maryland

Lakes in Maryland

Skiing and Snowboarding

Wisp Resort* — we could not confirm the summer bike parkMcHenry

Zoos and Aquariums

National Aquarium* — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedBaltimore

The Maryland Zoo in BaltimoreAZA-accreditedBaltimore

Plumpton Park ZooRising Sun

Salisbury ZooSalisbury

Catoctin Wildlife Preserve* — some details below are unconfirmedThurmont

Frisky's Wildlife & Primate Sanctuary* — some details below are unconfirmedWoodstock

Amusement and Water Parks

Maryland Renaissance FestivalSeasonalAnnapolis

Adventure Park USAfamily entertainment centerMonrovia

Jolly Roger Amusement ParkSeasonalamusement parkOcean City

Jolly Roger at the PierSeasonalamusement parkOcean City

Trimper's RidesSeasonalamusement parkOcean City

Great Wolf Lodge Marylandwater parkPerryville

Wineries and Distilleries in Maryland

Catoctin Breeze Vineyard21 and over

Roadside oddities in Maryland

Witch Board MuseumQuirky museumBaltimore (Hampden)

Venues and Annual Events

Where to see something

Rams Head On StageclubAnnapolis

Merriweather Post PavilionamphitheaterColumbia

What is on, and when

Washington County Agricultural Expo & FairfairBoonsboro

Anne Arundel County FairfairCrownsville

Cecil County FairfairElkton

Great Frederick FairfairFrederick

Montgomery County Agricultural FairfairGaithersburg

Charles County FairfairLa Plata

Preakness Stakessports-motorsportLaurel

St. Mary's County FairfairLeonardtown

Garrett County Agricultural FairfairMcHenry

Great Pocomoke FairfairPocomoke City

Calvert County FairfairPrince Frederick

Maryland State FairfairTimonium

Howard County FairfairWest Friendship

Carroll County 4-H & FFA FairfairWestminster

Scenic roads through Maryland

What to wear in Maryland

Spring 65°/43°F (18°/6°C)

Summer 85°/64°F (29°/18°C)

Fall 67°/47°F (20°/8°C)

Winter 45°/27°F (7°/-3°C)

Keep exploring

Wisp Resort — we could not confirm the summer bike parkMcHenry

National Aquarium — some details below are unconfirmedAZA-accreditedBaltimore

Catoctin Wildlife Preserve — some details below are unconfirmedThurmont

Frisky's Wildlife & Primate Sanctuary — some details below are unconfirmedWoodstock