Best Day Trips From Baltimore to Take This Summer

While winter, the season of silence, often comes with forbidding challenges to those who love stepping out and enjoying out-of-town attractions, summer presents a favorable reversal of fortunes. Whether you want to soak in the sun, savor its electrifying kisses, feel effervescent as you watch the glow of a sunset, or wander through downtown areas — sampling their eclectic offerings, summer offers adventure. Then again, there are periods you will want to escape Baltimore’s noise and its unofficial honking contests to regain your sanity, wind down, or move to a slightly slower beat. If this sounds desirable, these are the best day trips from Baltimore in the summer.

Annapolis, Maryland

If you love American history, you will enjoy visiting Annapolis, only about 30 miles south of Baltimore. For starters, it is in Annapolis, at the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use, where the Treaty of Paris was ratified, an event that marked the official end of the Revolutionary War. It is at the Annapolis State Capital also, where George Washington, in a remarkable show of humility, would tender his resignation as commander in chief of the Revolutionary Army — and retire to private life — despite the almost insurmountable temptations of power and privilege that would have overcome lesser mortals. While you will enjoy setting foot on the grounds that once housed the United States Congress, Annapolis is today a charming waterside city, complete with cobblestone streets, ocean-facing restaurants, and a plethora of other adventure options.

Gunpowder Falls State Park

Gunpowder Falls State Park is an ideal choice for a Baltimore day trip since all you need is less than 30 minutes — and you will be wandering through the steep, rugged slopes in a park famous for its trout fishing. Sprawling through an area that spans more than 18,000 acres, it is the largest state park in Maryland. It features a pretty beach where you can take a refreshing dip — and shady woods where you can escape summer’s heat. While the beach here is not that big, it is still nice and clean and has convenient picnic tables and barbecue grills. This park also boasts several scenic trails that will enthuse hikers. Plus, it is dog-friendly and a great place to take your furry friend on a walk.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Another Baltimore day trip that should be on your bucket list is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Officially known as William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bay Bridge, Chesapeake Bay Bridge, is an architectural marvel that combines the thrill of adventure and the counterintuitive fun of fear in nearly equal measure. Showcasing human workmanship at its most profound, Chesapeake Bay Bridge, opened on April 15, 1964, was the longest continuous over-water steel structure on Earth and the world’s third longest bridge. If you can endure the goosebumps of fear, cruising at 186 feet above the water for what will look like an eternity, it will be an adventure to treasure. Many who enjoy this ordeal are rewarded with views that are among the most heart-ravishing in the area.

Saint Michaels, Maryland

A town Condé Nast Traveler named the most beautiful in Baltimore should be among the top contenders for Baltimore day trips. Saint Michaels is about 80 miles from Baltimore, for around an hour and a half trip one-way. Home to about 1,000 residents, this Baltimore charmer boasts brightly-colored shops, a rich maritime history, and awesome Victorian-style architecture fun to explore. For lighthouse enthusiasts, the Hooper Strait Lighthouse, built to light the way for boats navigating Hooper Strait's shallow but treacherous shoals, is worth checking out. The scenic sights from the lighthouse’s top deck will make for a rewarding adventure. To learn more about the area’s history and culture, visit the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Many historians regard the Civil War as among the most defining moments in the history of the United States. It put to the test the young nation’s high-sounding credo: "All men are created equal and are endowed with certain inalienable rights." While many trace the beginning of the Civil War to the dawn of April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Charleston Harbor, many scholars agree that what set the stage for the Civil War was John Brown’s raid on a federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry almost two years earlier. In a daring act that would elicit revulsion and praise in equal measure, and echo and re-echo around the globe, the raid on Harpers Ferry put the issue of slavery as an urgent agenda item that demanded immediate resolution. This summer, consider exploring Harpers Ferry, only 70 miles from Baltimore, and its historic Lower town to learn more about John Brown and his historic raid. Or just enjoy a walk to The Point and view the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers.

Sykesville, Maryland

Sykesville sits approximately 28 miles northwest of Baltimore via I-70 W. Home to about 4,300 residents, Sykesville presents an awesome day trip option to enjoy the charm of a slow-paced town — or stroll through uncrowded urban spaces. One of the town’s highlights is Sykesville Town House, considered among the most haunted places in the Old Line State. A good way to hear ghost stories that will put your hair on end, including that of a child's spirit that resides in a local shop, is to experience the Sykesville Ghost Tour Summer Series. If you cannot endure spooky, hair-raising adventures, you may still enjoy strolling through a Main Street that has previously won the national contest for Best Main Street of America.

Ladew Topiary Gardens

If you want to make a quick dash from Baltimore, and you love gorgeous, well-maintained gardens, then Ladew Topiary Gardens should be on your to-do list. Located an easy 27 miles from Baltimore, a trip that will take just about an hour, Ladew Topiary Gardens scores well on ease of access. The greenery in this park is heart-ravishing, and of a quality you will want your eyes to rest on forever. This park features different garden areas, each of which highlights unique colors or plants. You will gasp at more than 100 remarkable topiaries that dot a facility considered among the "10 incredible topiary gardens around the world." Also, you will enjoy strolling through the park's beautiful nature walk that spans a mile. Not only will Ladew Topiary Gardens produce butterflies in your stomach, but it also has a native Butterfly House you will love to explore.

Rocks State Park

Heart-warming views, sylvan charm, and breathtaking scenery await Baltimore day trippers at the appropriately-named Rocks State Park. This green-space wonder is about 35 miles north of Baltimore. That means you will need about 50 minutes to set foot on this expanse of pleasure. This state park spans 855 acres and features massive boulders, dense forests, and scenic trails, especially along Deer Creek. While wandering through the words, enjoying the solemn greenery, and inhaling the fresh, crisp air, will make for a rewarding trip. Rocks State Park’s star attractions include the King & Queen Seat overlook and Kilgore Falls. The former is a scaringly elevated overlook that opens to phenomenal views for miles. The latter is a 17-foot-high magical gem considered Maryland's second-highest vertical drop waterfall.

Havre de Grace, Maryland

Located approximately 41 miles from Baltimore, less than 50 minutes away, Havre de Grace is another Maryland charmer that often makes for a perfect Baltimore day trip. This town is ravishingly quaint and charming and will enthuse a day-tripper craving the rustic allure typical of small towns. If Havre de Grace did not have any other attractions, a leisurely stroll through the town’s promenade would still make a trip worthwhile. Lined with several eateries, the promenade also exudes a deliciously casual ambiance, a first-time visitor will want to enjoy for eternity. That is not to mention the chance to steal awesome views of the Chesapeake Bay. An under-the-radar attraction in this town includes the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, known as the Decoy Capital of the World. This facility features beautiful exhibits of decoys, that are one of the finest collections in the Chesapeake Bay area, ever assembled.

The Takeaway

To truly enjoy summer is to get out of town. From strolling through cobblestoned streets of small, unknown towns, to burning your legs on picturesque trails, there is much to lose yourself in when summer comes knocking. Fortunately, several attractions surround Baltimore, many of which are within an hour’s distance. From Havre de Grace and its awesome promenade to Harpers Ferry, a town that set the stage for the Civil War, getting away from Baltimore for a few hours can be a whirlwind of adventure.