Top 10 Maryland Towns To Visit In 2025
The beautiful state of Maryland, perhaps known best for its Maryland Crab Cakes, the city of Baltimore, and the National Aquarium, has a plethora of great towns that are ideal to visit in 2025. From Havre de Grace, home of Susquehanna State Park, to Laurel and the Patuxent Research Refuge, to Cumberland, home of Rocky Gap State Park, these ten “Old Line State” towns encourage visitors to return again and again. Whether it is natural, historic, or cultural attributes, such as Assateague State Park, Montpelier Mansion, or the Boonesborough Days Festival, these ten picturesque towns have a little something for everyone in 2025.
Thurmont
Approximately 16 miles north of the city of Frederick, the picturesque town of Thurmont is home to several excellent natural attractions. Catoctin Mountain Park, Cunningham Falls State Park, and Catoctin Wildlife Preserve all provide this town of just over six thousand permanent residents with enough amenities to placate even the most avid outdoor enthusiast.
Culture also lives in Thurmont. In September, this quaint town showcases Magnolia Meadow Farms Fall Festival, and in October, Catoctin Colorfest celebrates local arts & crafts, along with a variety of delicious foods. Loy’s Station Covered Bridge and Roddy Road Covered Bridge also call Thurmont home, for those who love to explore the wonderful annals of history.
Cumberland
Further west, about 40 miles from West Virginia, the pastoral town of Cumberland is home to the C&O Canal Historic Park, the Great Allegheny Passage, and Rocky Gap State Park, which offers camping, as well as biking, hiking, fishing, and picnicking opportunities. There are also a variety of historic attractions in town, including Allegany Museum and the Gordon-Roberts House.
At certain times, Cumberland offers annual festivities that are well worth visiting. Heritage Days, held for over 50 years, provides a taste of history along with arts & crafts, delicious food, and a plethora of childrens’ activities. Allegany Museum honors George Washington through the Whiskey Rebellion Festival, with tastings at several of the local distilleries.
Cambridge
Home of the Harriet Tubman Museum, which offers several historic walks, Neild Museum, and the Harriet Tubman Birthplace Marker, history is alive and well in the picturesque town of Cambridge. There are several natural amenities around town as well, like the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge and the herb garden at Neild Museum, which features plants that first grew there in the 1700’s and 1800’s.
While visiting Cambridge, especially at the beginning of October, stop by and check out the Taste of Cambridge Crab Cook-Off, which has been in operation for over a decade. The Long Wharf Park, the Cambridge waterfront, and the Choptank River Lighthouse are also well worth visiting, especially if you like visiting the Atlantic coast.
Laurel
Across the Chesapeake Bay from Dorchester County and the town of Cambridge, the town of Laurel offers a plethora of phenomenal attributes, including the National Wildlife Visitor Center, Montpelier Mansion, and Laurel Museum. Several other places in Laurel are great for the family to visit, like Dinosaur Park, Granville Gude Park, and North Laurel Skate Park.
In terms of awesome natural and cultural amenities, Laurel is home to Patuxent Research Refuge (both north & south tracts), which is contained in around 13,000 acres of gorgeous forests and meadows, and the Laurel Park Race Track. There are also several awesome festivals that occur in Laurel. Both the Main Street Festival and Christmas in July bring in a multitude of guests and residents each year.
Berlin
The quaint town of Berlin, located on the eastern edge of Maryland, just seven miles from Ocean City and ten miles from Assateague State Park, is home to many great attributes that encourage people to visit. Along with Assateague offering camping, beaches, and even viewing wild horses at a safe distance, Berlin is home to the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum and the Mermaid Museum.
There are also a plethora of social activities to be enjoyed in and around Berlin, including Ocean City Golf & Yacht Club, Ocean Downs Casino, Windmill Creek, and Burley Oak Brewing. The Berlin Bathtub Races occur every June, Fireworks at Heron Park take place in July, and Oktoberfest occurs in the middle of October.
Havre de Grace
Perhaps one of the most famous small towns in Maryland, especially to those who live in and nearby Maryland, the town of Havre de Grace is an ideal place to visit in 2025. Home to Susquehanna State Park, the Havre de Grace Promenade, and Third Way Farms, natural attributes abound in this picturesque small town.
This town of less than 15,000 permanent residents is also home to a plethora of historic locations, including the Decoy Museum, Concord Point Lighthouse, the Lock House Museum, and Havre de Grace’s Maritime Museum. Also, in September, the Susquehanna Wine & Seafood Fest takes place, offering food trucks, cooking demos, steamed crab, drinks, and even live music.
Hagerstown
With almost 44,000 residents, the town of Hagerstown is larger than any other on this list. Filled with a slew of activities that will cater to all ages, Hagerstown is home to the Aviation Museum, the Maryland Theatre, Hagerstown City Park, and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Visitors of this great town get to experience happiness around every corner.
There are also a plethora of great dining and lodging choices available in the town of Hagerstown. Schula’s Grill, Dolce, the Grille at Runways, and the Broad Axe all offer delicious local delicacies. If you plan to stay the night, or even the weekend, there is everything from bed & breakfast inns, like Beaver Creek and the Inn on the Potomac, to elegant locations, like the Grand Hyatt and the Ritz-Carlton.
Boonsboro
The picturesque town of Boonsboro is the home of several natural attractions worthy of visiting, like Greenbrier State Park and the Crystal Grottoes Cavern. Greenbrier offers hiking, biking, fishing, and camping options. There are also several great historic locations in the town of Boonsboro, including Boonesborough Museum of History and Boonsboro Trolley Station Museum.
Boonsboro is also home to some great cultural amenities. Turn the Page Bookstore offers a chance to get purchases signed by the author, while Cronise Market Place offers some delicious fresh produce, as well as a connection with the hospitable townspeople. There is the Boonesborough Days Festival as well, which is currently in its 54th year.
Emmitsburg
The town of Emmitsburg is located less than a mile from the Pennsylvania border and around 25 miles from Hagerstown. Home to the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes, the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and Mount St. Mary’s University & Seminary, Emmitsburg provides that great Catholic vibe to an even better historical background.
There are also several excellent establishments in town that offer excitement for the avid historian without following a religious theme. The Frederick County Fire & Rescue Museum and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial both call this quaint town home. Emmitsburg even honors firefighters on a weekend in May, offering a tribute to fallen firefighters and their bravery in the line of duty.
Oakland
The picturesque town of Oakland, located in western Maryland, just six miles from the West Virginia border, is home to several awesome state parks. Both Herrington Manor State Park and Swallow Falls State Park are situated just north of Oxford, while Deep Creek Lake State Park is farther northeast in nearby Swanton.
Garrett County Museum of Transportation, Oakland B&O Railroad Museum, and Garrett County Historical Society Museum are also called Oxford Home. While the Museum of Transportation and the B&O Railroad Museum focus more on specialized fields, the Historical Society Museum begins with the founding of Garrett County and the heritage of the area, showcasing two hundred plus years of phenomenal exhibits.
The state of Maryland is home to many gorgeous towns. From Cunningham Falls State Park in Thurmont to Swallow Falls State Park in Oxford, there is a little bit of something for everyone within the boundaries of this coastal state. Whether you are visiting Maryland for the first time, visiting from another part of the state, or returning to experience Maryland’s awesome attributes again, the ten towns above are some of the best Maryland towns worthy of visiting in 2025.
