Best Day Trips from Baltimore
Updated November 2026
Baltimore sits within two hours of historic towns, mountains, the Chesapeake Bay and Washington, D.C. Annapolis and Ellicott City are under 45 minutes away; Frederick, Havre de Grace and Washington are about an hour; and St. Michaels, Harpers Ferry and Gettysburg make easy full-day trips.
Under 45 minutes
Annapolis
Maryland’s capital, with the Naval Academy, the State House, City Dock and sailing on Spa Creek. See our Annapolis guide.
Historic Ellicott City
A mill town on the Patapsco River with independent shops and restaurants on Main Street and trails at Patapsco Valley State Park. See our Ellicott City guide.
Havre de Grace
A Bay town where the Susquehanna meets the Chesapeake, with a waterfront promenade, a lighthouse and the Decoy Museum, about 45 minutes northeast.
About an hour
Washington, D.C.
Free Smithsonian museums and monuments. MARC trains from Penn Station and Camden Yards run to Union Station, which avoids parking.
Frederick
A historic downtown with Carroll Creek Linear Park, breweries and wineries, and the Catoctin Mountains nearby.
Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg
The site of the bloodiest single day of the Civil War, with a driving tour and trails, about 1 hour and 15 minutes west.
About 90 minutes
St. Michaels
An Eastern Shore harbor town with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, crab houses and boutique shops, across the Bay Bridge.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
A historic town where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet, with hiking on the Appalachian Trail and the C&O Canal across the river.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg National Military Park and the town around it, about 1 hour and 15 minutes northwest.
Overnight trips
For a weekend, Ocean City and Assateague Island are about three hours east, and Deep Creek Lake is about three hours west. See also our guides to Maryland beaches and state parks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best day trip from Baltimore?
Annapolis is the most popular, about 35 minutes away, with the Naval Academy, the historic downtown and the waterfront. Frederick, St. Michaels and Harpers Ferry are also favorites.
Can you take the train from Baltimore to Washington, D.C.?
Yes. MARC commuter trains and Amtrak run between Baltimore Penn Station and Washington Union Station, and MARC's Camden line also runs from Camden Yards on weekdays.
What small towns are near Baltimore?
Ellicott City, Havre de Grace, Annapolis, Frederick and St. Michaels are all within about 90 minutes of Baltimore.
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Sources: Visit Maryland; National Park Service; Maryland Transit Administration (MARC). Hours, fees and conditions change, so check with each park or venue before you go.