Overview
Boonsboro is a small town in Washington County, Western Maryland. Boonsboro is primarily an agricultural center, but it's also just a nice historic town for a leisurely lunch or dinner, and perhaps a stop at one of the museums, while exploring the area.
4 sights · 1 places to eat · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Boonsboro
Crystal Grottoes Caverns
A relatively small, but nonetheless really spectacular, with reputedly more formations per square foot than any other cave in the world. Open to the public as a public show cave under the same family ownership for 80 yea…
Washington Monument
On 24 July 1827, the patriotic citizens beat both Baltimore and latecomer Washington, D.C. to the punch in erecting the nation's first Washington Monument. The monument is not in the town itself, but rather just outside …
Boonsboro Museum of History
Civil War relics from local battlefields, firearm, antique china and glassware, Native American artifacts, oil lamps, and ancient artifacts.
Boonsboro Trolley Museum
Historic trolley station on a trolley line that operated from 1902 to 1938. At varying times in its history, trolleys ran Frederick, Middletown, Myersville, Hagerstown, Thurmont, Williamsport, and Boonsboro.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 30°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Washington, D.C.)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- HGR Hagerstown Regional Richard A Henson Field, Hagerstown — 14 mi away. Directions
- IAD Washington Dulles International Airport, Dulles — 40 mi away (major hub). Directions
Boonsboro is at the intersection of US-40 and MD-34, so take the MD-34 exit off I-270 to the southeast of Hagerstown and northwest of Frederick. Sharpsburg and Antietam National Battlefield are just southwest of the town on MD-34.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Boonsboro Museum of History, Boonsboro Trolley Museum
- Lunch Old South Mountain Inn
- Afternoon Crystal Grottoes Caverns, Washington Monument
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
The town dates back to the late eighteenth century, when, according to local legend, it was founded by two brothers of Daniel Boone. Unsurprisingly, given its proximity to Antietam, it saw major fighting during the Civil War, and housed numerous soldiers following Antietam.
Get in
Boonsboro is at the intersection of US-40 and MD-34, so take the MD-34 exit off I-270 to the southeast of Hagerstown and northwest of Frederick. Sharpsburg and Antietam National Battlefield are just southwest of the town on MD-34.
Get around
While the town is small enough to cover easily on foot, you will want a car to explore the surrounding areas.
See
See Crystal Grottoes Caverns
A relatively small, but nonetheless really spectacular, with reputedly more formations per square foot than any other cave in the world. Open to the public as a public show cave under the same family ownership for 80 years, after being spared (for its great beauty) destruction at the hands of the quarry.
See Washington Monument (Washington Monument State Park)
On 24 July 1827, the patriotic citizens beat both Baltimore and latecomer Washington, D.C. to the punch in erecting the nation's first Washington Monument. The monument is not in the town itself, but rather just outside on top of South Mountain. There is a museum on-site, open May-Sep daily and weekends only in April and October (closed winter).
Eat
Eat Old South Mountain Inn
A tavern on the National Road southeast of Boonsboro since 1730, this is both a historic and a fancy place for a French/American dinner. Reservations recommended.
Sleep
Stay Inn Boonsboro
The first stone building in Boonsboro opened as a hotel in 1790 and remained the town's principal lodging until the twentieth century, when it slid into disrepair. The current owner (Nora Roberts, a New York Times bestselling author) decided to resurrect the property as a B&B. After a $3-million renovation punctuated but not deterred by a devastating fire, the building is once more the principal hotel for the town, right on the main square. The eight rooms are named after various literary lovers, and, as you might guess, are quite charming.
Nearby
Sharpsburg
City / town · 11 listings · 6 mi away
Middletown
City / town · 3 listings · 7 mi away
Shepherdstown
City / town · 13 listings · 10 mi away
Hagerstown
City / town · 48 listings · 10 mi away
Harpers Ferry
City / town · 24 listings · 13 mi away
Brunswick
City / town · 10 listings · 13 mi away
Catoctin Mountain Park
Park · 2 listings · 14 mi away
Frederick
City / town · 49 listings · 15 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.