Are you a local or maybe a visitor looking for the Best Things to do in Frederick, MD? This article has you covered. Nicole and I are locals, and not only are we very knowledgeable about the area, but we also put a lot of effort into sharing information on what to do in Frederick, MD.
In this post, we rank all of our favorite things to do near Frederick, MD. This includes both indoor and outdoor activities in Frederick itself or a short drive away.
Of course, we are biased, but Frederick, Maryland, is a sneaky, amazing place. The variety of fun things to do in Frederick MD is tremendous, regardless of if you like history, biking, hiking, breweries, and wineries, or just checking out a characteristic town.
(Did we miss a place? Did we rank something too high or low? Let us know in the comments.)
The 16 Best Things to Do in Frederick MD
Map of Things to do In Frederick MD
1. Monocacy National Battlefield
Why Do It: Frederick has an incredible history. Some interesting facts about Frederick are its origins dating back to early European settlements on the Monocacy River until it was formally laid out by Daniel Dulaney in 1745.
Maybe the most interesting history associated with Frederick is its Civil War legacy. The Battle of Monocacy was a pivotable turning point in that despite being the only Confederate victory on Union Soil during the war, it significantly slowed the Confederates’ march toward Washington, D.C.
For Civil War history buffs, or anyone interested in American History, a visit to the Monocacy National Battlefield is a fascinating way to learn about this pivotal event in the war.
2. Annapolis Rock HIke
Why Do It: If you enjoy getting outdoors and hiking, the Annapolis Rock Hike is the best hike near Frederick. The trailhead is only about 25 minutes from downtown Frederick, right on I-70 towards Hagerstown.
The hike is along the Appalachian Trail, which runs for 41 miles in Maryland. The hike up to Annapolis Rock is one of the best and most popular stretches.
This 5.3-mile out-and-back hike takes you up to an outcropping with beautiful views of the Cumberland Valley.
While this is our favorite, there are several other amazing hikes around Frederick, MD, to check out if you are a resident or visitor. A 2-hour drive from Frederick to Virginia will take you to the epic Old Rag Hike.
3. Downtown Frederick
Why Do It: Of all the amazing things to do in Frederick, MD, simply enjoying Downtown Frederick itself might be the best. Downtown Frederick is historic, charming, vibrant, and fun. If you are visiting, it’s worth dedicating at least a day to exploring downtown Frederick.
For those who like to shop or browse, downtown has a variety of specialty shops and a vibrant art scene towards the north end of Market Street.
Downtown Frederick has an underrated bar and restaurant scene. It’s mostly devoid of the typical chains. Instead, downtown has a plethora of local restaurants of all types, multiple distilleries, and lots of places to get a drink or cocktail.
Also, if you are visiting and decide to stay in downtown Frederick, there are several great places to stay in downtown Frederick.
4. Carroll Creek Park
Why Do It: Carroll Creek can be combined into your exploration of Downtown Frederick or turned into an excursion of its own. Carroll Creek Park is the virtual ‘hub’ of downtown Frederick, and depending on the time of year, can offer up a variety of things to do.
Carroll Creek is great for a leisurely stroll but is also lined with great restaurants and bars (check out The Wine Kitchen on the Creek). McClintock’s Distillery sits in the heart of Carroll Creek, and McClintock’s Back Bar is our favorite place in Frederick to get a craft cocktail.
Virtually every weekend, Carroll Creek has an event, so if you are visiting, check to see what’s scheduled.
If you are in Frederick from around November to March, then don’t miss Sailing Down the Winter Soltace, Frederick’s iconic lighted boat show on the creek.
5. McClintock's Distillery
Why Do It: Maryland has a surprisingly rich history in distilling spirits, and McClintock Distillery in Frederick is a great place to experience this. Right in Carroll Creek in downtown Frederick, you can visit for tours, tastings, and the best cocktail bar in Frederick.
McClintock’s was founded in 2013 and has produced rye, bourbon, and gin ever since. You can pop in whenever it’s open for a tasting, but we recommend booking in advance and including a tour.
McClintock’s spirits are high quality, and you’ll find them in bars all over Maryland. But if you are in Frederick, we highly recommend stopping in the McClintock Back Bar (a speakeasy-type place just behind the distillery) for a craft cocktail.
6. Baker Park
Why Do It: Baker Park is in the heart of Frederick and is a great place to see a concert, take your dog, attend the 4th of July, or enjoy some time outdoors. It’s Frederick’s version of Central Park in New York.
If you want a green space with a lake and occasional interesting sites, Baker Park is a great place for a walk. In fact, you can do an extended walk from Carroll Creek, as Baker Park is virtually an extension.
The amphitheater is super popular, especially in summer. Check the Summer Concert Series schedule for shows in June through August. If you happen to be in Frederick on the 4th of July, then this is also the place to be.
7. Sugarloaf Mountain
Why Do It: Sugarloaf Mountain is another lovely hike in the Frederick area, about 35 minutes southeast of town. There are actually a series of trails around and up the mountain, and depending on what you choose, this can be a short 45-minute trek to the top or a 5-6 hour loop.
Regardless, views from the summit of Sugarloaf are expansive across the Maryland countryside.
The mountain is actually on private property run by Stronghold, which also runs the Strong Mansion on the mountainside. Parking can fill up quickly, and they are strict about where you park your car.
The best way to make a day out of visiting or hiking Sugarloaf is to visit the Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, one of the best wineries around Frederick.
8. Frederick Keys Baseball at Nymeo Field
Why Do It: Minor league baseball can be loads of fun in any town, and Frederick is no different. Seeing Frederick Keys Baseball at Nymeo Field is a classic American minor-league baseball experience.
It’s also easy, affordable, and family-friendly. Nymeo Field is just outside downtown Frederick. Parking is simple, tickets are plentiful and relatively inexpensive, and there’s beer and food for everyone. There’s also not a bad seat in the house.
Check the Frederick Keys Schedule and hit up a game when in town.
Also, if you like basketball, check out a Frederick Flying Cows professional basketball game!
9. Cunningham Falls State Park
Why Do It: Heading 30 minutes north out of Frederick on Route 15 takes you into the heart of the Catoctin Mountains and Cunningham Falls State Park, the best State Park in the Frederick area.
Cunningham has lots to offer. We usually head there for hiking, and the hike to the actual falls is quite lovely. See this trail map for a variety of other hikes in the area.
The park also has a lake that is popular for fishing and canoeing. Near the lake are campsites and cabins that can be reserved.
10. Tree Trekkers
Why Do It: Serious fun! Tree Trekkers might be the most fun you can have outdoors anywhere near Frederick. It’s a place for tackling ropes courses and ziplines, and it’s fun for both adults and kids.
Tree Trekkers is about 5 miles east of Frederick and is best experienced by making online reservations. Once at the facility, you’ll be outfitted with the specialty gear that keeps you safe while you romp around the various ropes courses.
The courses are categorized by difficulty, so you can start easy and work your way up. It’s also a great place for group outings, families, parties, or anytime you want some fun outdoors.
11. Black Ankle Vineyards
Why Do It: Maryland is hardly considered a premier wine region, but there are plenty of great wineries around Frederick, MD. However if you only visit one winery in the area, we recommend you make it Black Ankle Vineyards.
Black Ankle has everything that makes a winery amazing. The setting is stunning, and you’ll scarcely believe you’re still in Maryland when pulling up.
Black Ankle makes some of the highest-quality wines in Maryland. The winery itself has great places to sit and enjoy both indoors and outdoors during any season of the year.
If you are a Frederick resident, we also recommend you check out their events and consider joining their wine club.
12. Weinberg Center for the Arts
Why Do It: If you like theatre, concerts, or live performances, the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Downtown Frederick is worth visiting. The theatre, which dates from 1926, is a spectacular venue.
The performance schedule stays busy with a real variety of performances. On the same weekend, you are as likely to visit the Weinberg to see a classical music symphony as you are an improv comedy group.
Check out the performance schedule. Tickets are generally very reasonable (especially compared to seeing a performance in Washington, D.C., or Baltimore). An evening at the Weinberg is also a great complement to a night at one of the downtown Frederick restaurants.
13. Frederick Brewery Tour
Why Do It: The one aspect of Frederick that rivals any other city in Maryland is its brewery scene. The collection of breweries in Frederick MD is tremendous, and makes for a great outing or a day-long beer crawl.
The highest concentration of breweries in Frederick is close to downtown, right around Carroll Creek. Attaboy Beer, RAK Brewing, Steinhart Brewing, and Idiom Brewing are all within walking distance. (Refer to our Breweries in Frederick Map).
Old Mother is on the North end of downtown Frederick (a 15-minute walk) and is a great place to visit partially because it is also the best place to get a burger in Frederick—Fifty Fifty Burger.
14. Little Bennett Regional Park
Why Do It: Technically in Montgomery County, about 30 minutes south of Frederick, Little Bennett Regional Park is another great outdoor area offering many things to do.
Our favorite activity here are the Little Bennett Bike Trails. The network of mountain bike trails are some of the best in the area.
However you can also hike, picnic, or camp at Little Bennett. There is even a decent golf course at Little Bennet.
There are multiple areas and entrances to the park, refer to this map for more info.
15. Rose Hill Manor
Why Do It: Another place full of history that is especially interesting for kids is Rose Hill Manor. This 18th-century manor, which once housed Maryland’s governor, has been converted into a park and museum that mostly showcases farm life from early America.
The property contains historically preserved artifacts, such as a blacksmith, log cabin, barns, and stagecoaches. Rose Hill is an open-air museum of farm life in the 18th century.
16. Bike Riding the C&O Canal Towpath
Why Do It: Bike riders will also love the C&O Canal Bike Path, accessible not far from Frederick at several spots. We recommended heading to Nolands Ferry to start your bike ride, a short 20 minutes from downtown Frederick.
From there, you can bike in either direction for as long as you want. Again, we recommend the ride from Nolands Ferry to Marble Quarry, which is about 14.3 miles and lasts 1.5 hours. This ride will take you over the scenic Monocary Acqueduct.
You can also launch onto the C&O Canal Towpath from Point of Rocks, about 25 minutes south of Frederick on Route 15.
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