Top 15 Weekend Getaways From Baltimore, Maryland

Sharadha
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 4 min read
weekend getaways from baltimore

The city of Baltimore in Maryland is famous for its medical tourism, several unique museums, attractions, and beautiful landscape. It is also known for its world-famous John Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical Center. It features many ports and the Fort McHenry Seaport is famously the birthplace of the American national anthem. Baltimore is a key economic hub and is surrounded by many attractions that you can escape to on your weekends. If you are still planning about where to stay in Baltimore, there are a lot of Airbnb vacation rentals and hotels to check out. Explore the many fabulous towns, camping spots, and lively cities located just a few miles away from the city of Baltimore. Check out our list of the top weekend getaways from Baltimore, Maryland.

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1. Frederick, MD

Downtown Frederick, Maryland
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user DowntownFrederick used under CC BY-SA 4.0

From museums to guided walking tours, a broad selection of food options, parks, and much more, the city has something for everyone. A visit to the state-of-the-art Frederick Visitor Center, which provides visitors with a range of facilities to maximize their experience, is a good place to start. The National Museum of Civil War Medicine provides an in-depth look at Frederick’s participation in the war and how it acted as a vital care facility for the injured.

The many shops in Downtown Frederick should appeal to both shoppers and browsers. A day of strolling and visiting will undoubtedly work up an appetite, and Frederick’s restaurants cater to a wide range of tastes. This gem is only 50.2 miles (80.7 kilometers) from Baltimore.

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2. Mount Vernon, VA

Mount Vernon Estate Mansion 2
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Martin Falbisoner used under CC BY-SA 3.0

You need to travel 51.7 miles (83.2 kilometers) to reach Mount Vernon from Baltimore. The Mansion Tour is by far the most popular tourist attraction at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. All the main rooms on the first and second floors are included in the tours, as well as the quarters where the Washington family stayed and welcomed a regular stream of distinguished visitors.

You can get to see farm animals and witness the stunning views of the Potomac River. There are also shops and a food court that visitors can explore after the tour.

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3. Cape May, NJ

Cape May Beach Ave from the sea 3
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Smallbones used under CC0

Cape May, 149.6 miles (240.75 kilometers) from Baltimore, is know as America’s oldest coastal resort and has been welcoming visitors since the 1600s. It’s a delightful and vibrant community with pristine beaches, historical sites, booming shopping malls, and an abundance of seafood.

Cape May’s sights aren’t the only things to enjoy. Its beautiful scenery ranges from sand dunes on the shore to grassy slopes with views of lakes and wooded areas. Every year, a large number of birdwatchers, whale watchers, and butterfly migration lovers visit the city. The history of Cape May is also noteworthy. It contains Victorian residences as well as WWII-era plane hangars and naval lighthouses that have been meticulously restored.

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4. Cumberland, MD

Cumberland, Maryland, USA, August 2019
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ipeters61 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Cumberland, located 139.2 miles (224 kilometers) from Baltimore, is an ideal holiday place for your next weekend getaway. It is well-known for its rich history, as well as its breathtaking scenery. It offers activities such as hiking, bicycling, backpacking, boating, fishing, and animal viewing.

Discover the city on a spectacular train ride and see the many interesting museums and historic buildings. Admire art at the excellent galleries and relax in nature at the beautiful parks. Explore this city to unwind and get away from it all.

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5. Solomon’s Island

SolomonsMaryland
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user :en: Jonboy used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Solomon’s has many full-service ports, stores, eateries, and attractions. Witness the breathtaking view of the Patuxent River while strolling along the Riverwalk. Exhibits at the Calvert Marine Museum illustrate the coastal biodiversity of the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay. The museum also houses the Drum Point lighthouse, a screw pile light that was relocated to this position.

In addition, the museum offers tours of the nearby Cove Point lighthouse. You can also experience an hour-long boat trip around Solomon’s Harbor and the Patuxent River. It is located 81.5 miles (131.1 kilometers) from Baltimore.

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6. Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park 01
Source: Photo by user Niagara66 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Enjoy the stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from Shenandoah National Park, located just 108 miles (174 km) from Baltimore. This national park features Skyline Drive, which allows you to explore various landscapes that include waterfalls, wetlands, thick forests, rocky peaks and more. You will also be able to spot local wildlife, like deer, black bears, squirrels and a variety of birds.

This national park is home to a large portion of the Appalachian Trail and a huge network of other trails that you can explore by trekking, mountain biking and hiking. This park is also an amazing camping and adventure spot.

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7. Deep Creek Lake

Deep Creek Lake State Park in Maryland
Source: Photo by user Nicolas Raymond used under CC BY 2.0

Deep Creek Lake is the largest body of water in the state of Maryland and spans an area of 3,900 acres (1,578.2 hectares). This lake offers a wide range of water activities, like fishing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, rafting and more.

It is notable that the lake is a man-made wonder and home to a wide range of aquatic life and birds. You can explore the Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center, Cherry Creek Cove, Adventure Sports Center International and Swallow Falls State Park if you’re looking to experience all the fun activities available here. This park is located 179 miles (288 km) west of Baltimore.

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8. Annapolis

Some Annapolis commercial strip
Source: Photo by user https://www.flick... used under CC BY 2.0

Located at just half an hour’s drive (32.4 miles/52 km) from the city of Baltimore, Annapolis is a true traveler’s paradise. This amazing city boasts many original 18th-century brick houses and the domed Maryland State House, built in the 1700s. This historic town is also home to a Romanesque-style church that still holds its original Tiffany windows and a historic cemetery.

Some of the other must-explore sights in this beautiful city are the William Paca House and Garden, Annapolis Maritime Museum, Hammond-Harwood House and the Annapolis City Dock.

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9. Finleyville, Pennsylvania

Finleyville, Pennsylvania Lincoln Ave
Source: Photo by user Generic1139 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Finleyville, Pennsylvania is located 240 miles (386 km) away from the city of Baltimore and is a perfect spot for a weekend family trip. This town is a borough in Washington County and was named after John Finley, a pioneer settler in western Pennsylvania. This town has numerous attractions, like Mingo Creek County Park, South Park, Peterswood Park, the Henry Covered Bridge and Ebenezer Covered Bridge. The many parks in this town serve as spectacular camping spots.

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10. Assateague Island

Sinepuxent Bay Assateague MD1
Source: Photo by user Acroterion used under CC BY-SA 4.0

With a distance of 543 miles (874 km), Assateague Island is one of the most beautiful places for a long weekend trip from Baltimore. The island features a spectacular natural shore that offers breathtaking ocean views. It has a beautiful shoreline that is perfect for viewing wildlife. You can also check out the wild horse colony that can be found roaming the sandy beaches.

The prominent places to visit here include the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Island National Seashore, Assateague State Park, NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center and the Assateague Lighthouse.

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11. Thurmont

A beautiful seasonal view in Thurmont, MD
Source: Photo by user Jakinnaird used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Thurmont is situated at an easy commuting distance of 67.3 miles (108.3 km) from Baltimore, Virginia. This town has numerous parks and farms that are great camping getaways for you and our family. This town is popular for its annual Catoctin Colorfest, where hundreds of thousands of people participate to celebrate arts and crafts.

The notable sights to explore in this town are Catoctin Mountain Park, Cunningham Falls State Park, the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve, Winterbrook farms, Loy’s Station Park and Covered Bridge, Springfield Manor Winery and Distillery and Chimney Rock.

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12. Williamsburg, Virginia

Governors palace, Williamsburg, Virginia
Source: Photo by user Bobjgalindo used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Williamsburg is the famous town from the popular American show “Two Broke Girls” and it is a historic city, located just 198.4 miles (319 km) from Baltimore. This city was the historic capital of the Virginia Colony and played a vital role in the American War of Independence. The heart of the city still has several buildings and houses from the colonial era preserved in their original state and you’ll spot many period actors depicting the times of the past.

The prominent sights to explore in Williamsburg are the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area, Governer’s Palace, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Williamsburg, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and Bassett Hall.

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13. Washington DC

Uscapitolindaylight
Source: Photo by user Kmccoy used under CC BY-SA 2.0

When speaking of weekend trips from Baltimore, one cannot miss the seat of the highest office in the country – Washington DC. It is located just 38.3 miles (62 km) from Baltimore and is home to many Neo-classical buildings. The city is home to the government’s three prominent branches – the Capitol, the White House, and the Supreme Court.

There are also numerous museums and performance arts centers in this city. The must-see sights here include the United States Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, National Mall, Washington Monument, Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian Institution Offices. You can also enjoy the breathtaking views of the Potomac River.

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14. Bethany Beach, Delaware

Bethany
Source: Photo by user [Unknown] used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Bethany Beach is a tiny coastal getaway, located 129 miles (207 km) from Baltimore. The town is famous for its boardwalk-backed beach and Seashore State Park. The notable places to explore in this small town are Fenwick Island State Park, Captain Jack’s Pirate Golf, the Charles W Cullen Bridge and, of course, the beach overlooking the vast Atlantic Ocean. This place is perfect for your quick getaways from Baltimore.

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15. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Harpers Ferry Ariel View
Source: Pixabay

Harpers Ferry is a small town in West Virginia that is home to Harpers Ferry National Park. This town located just 69.5 miles (112 km) from Baltimore and houses 19th-century Civil War museums, houses and many buildings that you can explore. Another famous sight in this town is the Point, which marks the meeting of the rivers Potomac and Shenandoah and offers breathtaking views of both Maryland and Virginia.

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Explore the hidden gems near Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore and its surrounding towns are of rich historical significance and they create an exciting experience for many travelers. There are also many nature getaways for you to escape into the wild. Explore the hidden gems near Baltimore for an amazing travel experience.

Frequently asked questions about weekend getaways from Baltimore, Maryland


Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Sharadha is a happy 'paw'rent to beautiful GSDs - Max n Tuffey. At times, when she is not too busy pampering her furry kids, she is trying her best to stay fit, write and travel. She loves...Read more

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