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the USA🇺🇸 | regionsMarylandChesapeake crabs, Baltimore harbor, Assateague horses, canal towpath | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Maryland
👍 Recommendedregion ranked #30
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Maryland once meant crab shacks and shipyards that outsiders drove past on the way to somewhere else; today backpackers come for its water and history. It sits in the mid-Atlantic of the United States, wrapped around the Chesapeake Bay. I stepped off the train in Baltimore expecting grit and got rowhouses with marble steps and a sizzling pit beef stand. Rental cars cost more than patience, so trains win. Unlike pricey, polished Washington, Maryland feels lived-in.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #30 region in the USAThe unique appeal for travelers

Maryland packs a lot into a small footprint. Within a day you can move from Baltimore’s rowhouse neighborhoods to the Chesapeake Bay waterfront, then west to the Appalachian ridges of Garrett County. That variety means one base can serve several experiences without constant repacking. Regional trains and buses link the big towns, while the C&O Canal towpath gives walkers and cyclists a flat, slow way through history. Nature and culture sit close together here, so you can mix museums with paddling easily.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of Maryland

  1. Fort McHenry National Monument, Baltimore: The star-shaped fort that inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner,” with a ranger-led history and harbor views. Entry is about US$15.
  2. Inner Harbor and Fells Point: Brick lanes, old pubs and a working waterfront, best walked slowly in the evening.
  3. Annapolis Historic District: A compact colonial town with the U.S. Naval Academy, the oldest state capitol still in legislative use and sailboats everywhere.
  4. Assateague Island National Seashore: Wild horses roam dunes and beaches, and camping is allowed on the sand.
  5. Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg: A Civil War site of quiet farmland and stone bridges, easy to explore by car or bike.
  6. C&O Canal towpath at Williamsport: Flat walking and biking beside the Potomac, with old lock houses.
  7. Deep Creek Lake and Swallow
… read more 👉
  1. Fort McHenry National Monument, Baltimore: The star-shaped fort that inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner,” with a ranger-led history and harbor views. Entry is about US$15.
  2. Inner Harbor and Fells Point: Brick lanes, old pubs and a working waterfront, best walked slowly in the evening.
  3. Annapolis Historic District: A compact colonial town with the U.S. Naval Academy, the oldest state capitol still in legislative use and sailboats everywhere.
  4. Assateague Island National Seashore: Wild horses roam dunes and beaches, and camping is allowed on the sand.
  5. Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg: A Civil War site of quiet farmland and stone bridges, easy to explore by car or bike.
  6. C&O Canal towpath at Williamsport: Flat walking and biking beside the Potomac, with old lock houses.
  7. Deep Creek Lake and Swallow Falls State Park: Waterfalls and old hemlock forest in the far west, with a lake for paddling.
  8. St. Michaels: A Chesapeake Bay boat town with a maritime museum, less crowded on weekdays.
  9. Smith Island: A lesser-known island reached by ferry, where watermen still work and the multi-layer cake is the local pride.
  10. Patapsco Valley State Park: A locals’ escape near Baltimore with trails, a swinging bridge and river views.
Maryland rewards starting with Fort McHenry, because the harbor history makes everything else in the state easier to place.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Maryland

Tipsy History Tour: 300+ Years of Annapolis Drinking History

Tipsy History Tour: 300+ Years of Annapolis Drinking History

5.0(51) 2h
From €35
per personViator
Annapolis Historic Walking Tour: Harbor and Colonial Downtown

Annapolis Historic Walking Tour: Harbor and Colonial Downtown

5.0(50) 1h 45m
From €213
per personViator
Axe-Throwing

Axe-Throwing

5.0(42) 2h
From €35
per personViator
Berlin Tasting Tour: A Delicious Walk Through History

Berlin Tasting Tour: A Delicious Walk Through History

5.0(34) 3h
From €100
per personViator
Downtown/Boardwalk Foodie Tour

Downtown/Boardwalk Foodie Tour

5.0(25) 3h
From €100
per personViator
Mount Vernon and The Millionaires, 2 hour Walking Tour

Mount Vernon and The Millionaires, 2 hour Walking Tour

5.0(25) 2h
From €27
per personViator
3- Hour Private Customizable Washington, DC Tour

3- Hour Private Customizable Washington, DC Tour

5.0(22) 3h
From €408
per personViator
2 Hour Chesapeake Day Sail on Catamaran Epiphany

2 Hour Chesapeake Day Sail on Catamaran Epiphany

5.0(21) 2h
From €222
per personViator
3- Hour Private Customizable Moonlight Washington DC Tour

3- Hour Private Customizable Moonlight Washington DC Tour

5.0(15) 3h
From €408
per personViator
Heart of Savory Salisbury Foodie Tour

Heart of Savory Salisbury Foodie Tour

5.0(14) 3h
From €100
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

⌛️ 5 daysHow to make the most of Maryland

Keep the pace on foot and by train, with taxis only for late nights. Trains and buses link the main cities, so slow, linear moves work best.
Day 1: Baltimore: Start where the rail lines converge. Walk Fort McHenry, then Fells Point at dusk; the compact neighborhoods keep transport needs low.
Day 2: Annapolis: A short bus ride puts you in a colonial town you can walk end to end. Take a harbor stroll and spend the afternoon watching boats.
Day 3: St. Michaels: Head across the bay by bus and rental car, then walk the waterfront. A detour to Smith Island by ferry adds working-waterman life without breaking the loop.
Days 4 to 5: Assateague: Finish at the seashore among wild horses and dunes. If one day justifies the trip, I would pick Assateague at dawn.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Maryland

Maryland is at its best from April to June and September to October, when highs run 18 to 28°C (65 to 82°F) and Chesapeake crab shacks are in full swing.
  • Spring: Cherry blossoms and trail wildflowers, 12 to 22°C (54 to 72°F), moderate prices.
  • Summer: Humid, 28 to 35°C (82 to 95°F), long evenings, packed Ocean City beaches and peak lodging rates.
  • Fall: Crisp, 13 to 24°C (55 to 75°F), blue crab season, foliage in the western mountains.
  • Winter: Cold, -3 to 7°C (27 to 45°F), short days, cheap beds, skiing at Wisp.
Book Ocean City weekdays to dodge weekend price spikes.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: good for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
united-states-region-maryland
© Google | Neha Kankar

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in the USA

Baltimore is the best base in Maryland, with dorm beds around US$30 to 50 and a social scene. Fells Point has cobblestone streets, waterfront pubs and easy meetups with other solo travelers, while Mount Vernon and Station North suit arts and live-music fans and sit near the train station. Annapolis is smaller and prettier, with a sailing-town feel and a walkable harbor, though beds cost more. Ocean City draws summer crowds and party seekers on the coast. Frederick offers a friendly Main Street with breweries, good for Appalachian Trail access and a calmer night.
Best hostels in the USA


Best quality hotels in the USA

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around like a local

Maryland punishes anyone who rents a car just to sit in Baltimore or Washington, D.C. traffic, because parking alone can eat US$20 to 40 a day. The state’s main sights cluster along a rail corridor, so most backpackers go by train and bus, and it works well between cities. Beyond that, the Eastern Shore and the western mountains play hard to get.
  • Amtrak and MARC trains: Amtrak’s Northeast Regional links Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia in roughly 30 to 90 minutes for US$15 to 50. MARC commuter trains cover the same stretch for US$4 to 9, with plainer seats and weekday-focused schedules, so they give you the most for the money.
  • Intercity buses: Flixbus, Greyhound and Peter Pan run to Baltimore, Frederick and Salisbury for US$10 to 30. Slower than rail, but they reach places trains ignore.
… read more 👉
Maryland punishes anyone who rents a car just to sit in Baltimore or Washington, D.C. traffic, because parking alone can eat US$20 to 40 a day. The state’s main sights cluster along a rail corridor, so most backpackers go by train and bus, and it works well between cities. Beyond that, the Eastern Shore and the western mountains play hard to get.
  • Amtrak and MARC trains: Amtrak’s Northeast Regional links Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia in roughly 30 to 90 minutes for US$15 to 50. MARC commuter trains cover the same stretch for US$4 to 9, with plainer seats and weekday-focused schedules, so they give you the most for the money.
  • Intercity buses: Flixbus, Greyhound and Peter Pan run to Baltimore, Frederick and Salisbury for US$10 to 30. Slower than rail, but they reach places trains ignore.
  • Baltimore transit: Light rail, Metro SubwayLink and free Charm City Circulator buses cover the core for about US$2. The subway is short, so you will not get lost, and may be briefly disappointed.
  • Rental car: Roughly US$45 to 80 a day, and the only sane way to reach Assateague, Deep Creek Lake or the Eastern Shore. Split it with other travelers.
Base yourself in Baltimore, then rent a car for just two days to hit the countryside.

🍲 FoodLocal Flavors for Backpackers

Maryland means blue crabs: steamed, dumped on paper-covered tables and blasted with Old Bay seasoning, then cracked with wooden mallets while your fingers go numb and spicy. Order crab cakes (mostly lump meat, little filler) and creamy cream of crab soup. Baltimore’s Lexington Market and Fells Point taverns suit tight budgets, and Natty Boh beer costs US$3 to 5. Try Berger cookies and snowball ice. Expect to share crab tables, mess included, and tip 18 to 20 percent. Eat at casual shacks, not formal places, and ask for market-price crabs by the dozen.

FAQTraveler FAQ

Plan on 4 to 6 days for Maryland if you want Baltimore, Annapolis and one stretch of nature. Give Baltimore 2 days for the Inner Harbor, Fells Point and the museums (many are free, including the Walters Art Museum), spend a day in Annapolis, 45 minutes to an hour south by road, and add a day for Assateague Island, about 2.5 to 3 hours east of Baltimore. Hikers can add 1 to 2 days in Western Maryland around Deep Creek Lake and Cunningham Falls.
Maryland is workable without a car in its main corridor, but not beyond it. Baltimore has a light rail, Metro SubwayLink and free Charm City Circulator buses, and MARC commuter trains run to Washington, DC for roughly US$8 to 12 each way. Amtrak serves Baltimore and Aberdeen, and BWI Airport has a train station with frequent service. Annapolis is reachable by bus from Baltimore or DC (about US$4 to 15), but Assateague and Western Maryland are far easier with a rental car or a rideshare for the last stretch.
Maryland is known for steamed blue crabs seasoned with Old Bay, and for the Chesapeake Bay, which shapes its seafood, sailing and waterfront towns. Baltimore brings the Inner Harbor, Fells Point pubs, Camden Yards baseball and the row-house neighborhoods, while Annapolis offers the US Naval Academy and a historic harbor. Wild horses roam Assateague Island on the Atlantic coast, and Ocean City has a 3-mile boardwalk. Crab season runs roughly April through November, with prices for a dozen jumbos often between US$60 and 150.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other American regions near Maryland

Explore more nearby:

  • Delaware—Tax-free shopping, Rehoboth boardwalk, tidal marsh, cypress swamp| 99 km away
  • Pennsylvania—Independence Hall, Amish farmland, Pine Creek Gorge, Gettysburg ridges| 179 km away
  • New Jersey—Jersey Shore boardwalks, Pine Barrens canoeing, Victorian Cape May, Delaware Water Gap| 208 km away

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Maryland suits travelers who like water, history and small cities more than big-ticket thrills. It is not a wilderness trek. I would skip the rental car where trains work, then rent one only for Assateague and the west.

✈️ When did I visit the USA?
In January 2023 I visited New York. Many years before, before digital cameras existed, I discovered most of the national parks in the West.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in the USA, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

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