The fall colors are beautiful, and it’s the perfect time for a leaf-peeping day trip. Whether you enjoy getting some fresh air with a strenuous mountain hike, or you’re looking for a more relaxed way to explore, there are plenty of spectacular vistas to visit. With a little planning, you can easily create a fun Maryland day trip. Here are a few spots worthy of an autumn drive:

C&O Canal National Historic Park

Not more than an hour or two from the Southern Maryland area, depending on your starting point, is C&O Canal National Historic Park. This 184.5-mile park winds along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and offers plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the fall colors. From D.C. to Cumberland, you’ll find great hiking trails, like their challenging Billy Goat Trail. There are three sections to this 8-mile trail, all with stunning views of the changing leaves along the Potomac River. After your hike, check out the nearby Old Angler’s Inn where you can tuck in for a warm meal or a drink in their beer garden.

Elk Neck State Park

A couple hours into North East Maryland will take you to this cliffside paradise. This 2,370-acre park is located in Cecil County on a peninsula between the Elk River to the east and the Chesapeake Bay to the west. Expect landscapes including dense forests, marshlands, beach shorelines, and white clay cliffs. At the North East River Area and Picnic Shelters area, you can plan a nice lunch for you and your group. The beautiful forests in the park make for great places to immerse yourself in fall colors, but to get the best tree-scape views, I recommend climbing up to the top of the Turkey Point Lighthouse. Park in the Turkey Point lot off Route 272 South, and take the one-mile hike to the historic 1833 lighthouse which sits on a 100-foot bluff. 35 more feet takes you to the top of the lighthouse where you can drink in shoreline views and gorgeous foliage. If you’re looking for dinner options after a day of exploring, the Wellwood is a popular seafood restaurant just 20-minutes away.

Patapsco Valley State Park

If you’re looking for a less strenuous way to reach impressive foliage views, the Patapsco Valley State Park is a great place to visit. A couple hours’ from Southern Maryland, this park is located in Howard County. Here, you can decide to stroll along their many trails or drive to their Valley Overlook for a stunning view of the changing trees. You can access this vista right off Route 40. After you’ve had your fill of leaf-peeping, you can journey over to Ellicott City’s Main Street to explore some antique shops and grab a bite at one of the several restaurants.

 

 

Southern Maryland has plenty of foliage views to offer in its own right, but soaking in the colors as you drive can be a fun way to explore. If you don’t have time to drive into Northern Maryland, you can always head over to Calvert Cliffs State Park to see the rainbow of orange, scarlet, green.