Budget-Friendly Family Adventures Near Baltimore

Get outside with this road trip that will entertain the whole family without breaking the bank.

Start: Havre de Grace

Finish: Wheaton

Distance: 2 days, 4 stops, 93.5 miles

STOP 1

Millard Tydings Memorial Park

908 S Washington St, Havre De Grace, MD 21078

Millard Tydings Memorial Park, located in Havre de Grace, is about fifteen minutes off I-95. Here you’ll find a huge playground, clean indoor restrooms, a promenade boardwalk along the water, and an abundance of picnic tables and fields perfect for a picnic lunch. The playground even features a large plastic lighthouse tower that mirrors the real one you can visit! Havre de Grace is a family-friendly town full of museums and exhibits.

Grab an ice cream cone at the nearby Bomboy’s Candy and explore more of Havre de Grace.

STOP 2

Gunpowder Falls State Park Hammerman Area

7200 Graces Quarters Rd, Middle River, MD 21220

Drive to Gunpowder Falls State Park and enjoy kayaking or taking a dip in the Bay. The Hammerman Beach area is well known for its picnic grounds, calm waters, and sprawling 1,500-foot sand beach. The whole family will enjoy splashing in the water on a warm day and exploring the short hiking trails around the park. Follow Park Drive to the end of the lot so you can be right at the edge of the beach.

Get a truly unique camping experience with a stay on Hart-Miller Island State Park, only 20 minutes away (recommended for older kids). Visit more swimming holes around the state.

STOP 3

Rawlings Conservatory

3100 Swann Dr, Baltimore, MD 21217

Next, enjoy a trip to Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens in Druid Hill Park. The striking building, dating to 1888, contains different rooms with varying temperatures and degrees of humidity: the Mediterranean House, Tropical House, Desert House, Palm House, and the famous Orchid Room. Venture through the different rooms inside and explore the foliage surrounding the conservatory. Druid Hill Park itself offers ample opportunities for biking, walking, running, basketball, and tennis.

Find more kid-friendly fun in Baltimore all year round.

STOP 4

Brookside Nature Center

1400 Glenallan Ave, Wheaton, MD 20902

Brookside Nature Center is located inside Wheaton Regional Park. Visitors can observe several ponds and gardens near the nature center where local wildlife like frogs, toads, and native birds, such as Great Blue Herons, often inhabit. Kids can enjoy the nature exploration area featuring a giant sandbox and stepping stumps. While there, take a peek at life in the 19th century thanks to the onsite Harper Homestead, featuring a log cabin and smokehouse dating back to 1870.