Baltimore is in proximity to so many cool places that are worth AT LEAST a day trip to go see. Depending on if you want to relax in nature, explore a new city, or have a totally unique experience – Baltimore is not far from any of these activities. From the numerous Maryland State Parks to being close to so many states like Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia – your weekends will fill up fast. So here are the 9 best day trips to take from Baltimore, Maryland.
All the locations are UNDER a 2 hour drive or close to under 100 miles from Baltimore. I ordered the list from shortest (22 mins, 13.3 miles) to longest (1 hour and 37 mins, 107.8 miles) so you can decide how much drive time you want. I also give you a couple recommendations for when you travel to each location.
Staying in Baltimore? Read about 15 non touristy and unique things to do in Baltimore here
Elliott City, Maryland
(22 mins or 13.3 miles)
Elliott City is best known for its historic district – Old Elliott City. Here you will be transported in time with the old railway station and beautifully preserved downtown. You will find dozens of shops, restaurants, and cafes to enjoy. You can also learn more about the history by going to the B&O Railway Museum or the old Firehouse Museum. Old Elliott City can take up most of your day.
Elliott City has also been voted best places to live from 2021-2022 and is a great place for families. It also has a huge Korean-American population so there are some great asian restaurants and grocery stores like H-Mart here.
Recommendation: Walk and shop around Old Elliott City and grab lunch at Matcha Time Cafe for some ramen. Outside of Old Elliott City, is a great French-Asian bakery called TOUS les JOURS. Grab a tray and then go around to the cases and pick whatever baked goods you want – they have some unique options!
Annapolis, Maryland
(38 mins or 30.6 miles)
Annapolis is Maryland’s capital and such an underrated city. Beautifully surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis is definitely a water town with brick houses and seafood galore. Check out the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park to learn about the heritage and ecology of the area. Is is also known for to be the home of the United States Naval Academy, so it is a big military base.
Recommendation: Walk around old historic Annapolis on Main Street – shop around, eat at some of the waterfront restaurants, and enjoy the views.
Elk Neck State Park
(1 hour and 4 mins or 61.1 miles)
This state park is at the very tip of both the Chesapeake Bay and the state of Maryland. It is so serene and peaceful, you will feel completely out of the hustle and bustle of the city. In the summer canoe/kayak in the waters or go crabbing off the piers. There are also some trails to go hike on. Check out North East which is a cute little town right outside of the state park.
Recommendation: Get some crab at Bay Crawlers Crab Shack (open April – November). It’s a local place that serves reasonably priced and freshly caught Maryland Blue Crab.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
(1 hour and 7 mins or 69.8 miles)
Harpers Ferry is best known for its outdoors. It is where the Potomac River and Shenandoah River meet, a stop along the Appalachian Trail, and has great mountain views. You’ll feel like you’re in the famous John Denver Country Roads song. It is also a palace of civil war history and you can learn more about it at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
Recommendation: Grab some friends and go water tubing in the summer. It makes for a fun and relaxing afternoon.
Wilmington, Delaware
(1 hour and 9 mins or 74.3 miles)
Admittedly, I couldn’t find a whole lot to do in Wilmington. But I hadn’t been to Delaware, so I wanted to see what the largest city in the state had in store. What I did find was some welcoming people and small town charm. We went to the DuPont Environmental Education Center where the staff told us about the native wildlife and we walked around.
Recommendation: Go grab a drink at Liquid Alchemy Beverages (LAB) for housemade mead and cider. It has unique and delicious mead flavors.
Calvert Cliffs State Park
(1 hour and 27 mins or 73.6 miles)
Calvert Cliffs State Park is a geological lover’s paradise. The ancient cliffs here were formed 10-20 million years ago and throughout time they have left some pretty amazing fossils.
Hike the 1.8 mile Red Trail to Cove Point Beach and you can go fossil hunting, specifically for sharks teeth. On rare occasions people have even found Megalodon teeth! This was one of my favorite day trips from Baltimore, just from the sheer uniqueness of it.
Recommendation: Pack your own lunch and bring a strainer from your kitchen to sift through the sand and look for fossils yourself!
Hershey, Pennsylvania
(1 hour and 27 mins or 89.7 miles)
Hershey is an unincorporated community of Pennsylvania and is home of Hershey’s Chocolate. There is everything Hershey themed from HersheyPark (an amusement park), Hershey Gardens, Hershey Theater, The Hershey Story Museum, and of course Hershey’s Chocolate World. Yes, it’ll be most of a touristy area to visit, but fun nonetheless, especially for kids.
Recommendation: Walk around the Hershey Gardens then take a tour at Hershey’s Chocolate World and build your own chocolate bar.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
(1 hour and 31 mins or 75.5 miles)
Lancaster is home to the largest Amish population in the world. In Amish country, you will be taken back in time and get to see how the Amish still live today. From vast amounts of farmland, horse and buggies on the road, handmade quilts, fresh produce, and so much more – it’s super interesting to experience. Go to the Amish Village and take a tour to learn more about the history of these people. You will learn how they got here, rules they have, traditions, and more.
Recommendation: Check out an authentic “Mud Sale” This is where the Amish come to sell their baked goods, quilts, tools, furniture, and more. You will see multiple live auctions going on and rows and rows of buggies for sale.
Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
(1 hour and 37 mins or 107.8 miles)
Berkeley Springs is a super small town in West Virginia that is known for their natural hot spring and it’s nicknamed “America’s First Spa”. Check out the Museum of Berkeley Springs to learn more about the town’s history. They also have Apple Festivals and other cultural events going on regularly.
Recommendation: Pack a swim suit and book a bath in the historic Roman Bathhouse at Berkeley Springs State Park. It’s your own private bath where you can relax in the natural hot springs water.
