Staycations can be fun and there’s definitely plenty to see and do in Baltimore itself, but sometimes you just wanna get out of town. Lucky for those living in Baltimore there are lots of options for day trips from Baltimore! Whether you’re looking for history or nature, or just want to walk around a new city for a day, these nearby destinations will satisfy your day trip urges.
Washington DC
A classic day trip from Baltimore, DC is an easy hour-long, $8 MARC train away. Explore the monuments, visit the White House, or check out some museums while there. More ideas:
- An extensive guide on what to see and do with 48 hours in DC from Y Travel blog
- How to Spend a Day in Washington, DC from the Washingtonian
- How to Spend One Perfect Day in Washington, DC from Department of Wandering
Assateague Island
If you’re looking for a beach escape, Assateague Island is an excellent choice. While the 3-hour drive from Baltimore might seem a bit much for a day trip, it’s definitely do-able if you leave early (I’ve done it – twice!). The State Park has bike/walking trails, a long stretch of sandy beach, and even wild ponies who will ransack your lunch cooler right there on the beach 😉 You can camp overnight if you’re feeling up for it.
More info: Assateague State Park, Assateague Island National Seashore
Annapolis
I lived in Baltimore for 2 years and somehow never made it to Annapolis! #regrets
Apparently, Annapolis is a super charming waterfront city with lots of Chesapeake crabs and historic vibes. You can spend the day on the water kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, or sailing on a rented schooner, or explore the historic sites (Annapolis was actually the capital of America in 1783) like the Maryland State House or the US Naval Academy.
More info: Annapolis Tourism Board, 48 Hours in Annapolis from My View from the Middle Seat blog
Harpers Ferry
Get down with nature at Harpers Ferry, where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet. You can hop on the Appalachian Trail or walk around the historic town and soak in a bluegrass tune or two. We spent our day trip from Baltimore hiking up to the incredible viewpoint over the entire scene then took a dip in the shallows of the river down below.
More info: Harpers Ferry info from the National Park Service
Day trip from Baltimore: Mount Vernon
Check out George Washington’s plantation just 1.5 hours from Baltimore City. It’s honestly pretty wild to get to see how our nation’s first president lived. I remember the vastness of the estate and beautiful river views. Plus, seeing how his bed was extra long to accommodate how tall he was, and just generally imagining what life would have been like in America in the 1700s and 1800s (no electricity, no running water…that kind of thing) was really fascinating. Don’t miss the museum part where they even have his original and quite famous dentures!
Moun Vernon is open with extra safety measures for COVID.
Bonus: apparently kids love visiting Mount Vernon too.
There’s a cool virtual tour on the Mount Vernon website to get you excited.
More info:
I practically grew up on Assateague — it’s a great summer spot and the wild ponies are spectacularly fun!
That would be so cool to grow up there! The ponies were definitely super entertaining
Mount Vernon and Harper Ferry is on my list of things I want to do.
Yeah I haven’t been to Mount Vernon yet but the reviews sound amazing – will definitely have to check it out soon! Harpers Ferry was beautiful, highly recommend
wow these all sound like amazing trips! I have never been to the east coast..I am dying to go see all the history there!!
Great share, thank you!
Thank you! The history is new for me too as I’m from Atlanta, which was burnt down in the Civil War.
I love these day trip ideas – they look so fun! There’s so much to explore that’s close to Baltimore.
Completely!
Ooooooooooooooh you make me want to get up from this trip and just go. What a rich post this is
Haha that’s great! Thank you