Overview
Hagerstown, nicknamed The Hub City, is a charming city on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains and near the Potomac River in northwestern Maryland, United States.
7 sights · 4 things to do · 18 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 14 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Hagerstown
Discovery Station
Non-profit volunteer-run science museum dedicated to providing an exciting learning environment for curious minds of all ages.
Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum
4 model train layouts and various other railroad memorabilia, this museum is open year-round and is inside a former railroad roundhouse, hence its name.
Hagerstown City Park
Stroll through a beautifully traditional city park, with playgrounds for the kids, picnic areas, and a flock of ducks and geese to accompany you on your walk around the park's lake.
Hager House
See the founder of Hagerstown's pre-Revolutionary War house.
Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
Maryland Theatre
Symphony House that plays host to famous performers and all of the Maryland beauty pageants. Home to the Maryland Symphony Orchestra.
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 — 5 mi away. Directions
- IAD Washington Dulles International Airport, Dulles — 50 mi away (major hub). Directions
Hagerstown is only 75 minutes away from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Harrisburg. The main interstate highways running by the city are I-81 and I-70, each of which have multiple well-signed exits for Hagerstown and intersect southwest of the city. US 40 and US 11 run through the city and cross in central Hagerstown.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Discovery Station, Maryland Theatre, Washington County Playhouse
- Lunch Schmankerl Stube
- Afternoon Hager House, Hagerstown City Park
- Dinner Bulls & Bears Restaurant and Pub
- Evening Bennys Pub
Day 2
- Morning Black Rock Golf Course
- Lunch Fuji Chinese Cuisine & Sushi
- Afternoon Mason Dixon Dragway
- Dinner Mango Grill
Day 3
- Morning Hagerstown Speedway
- Lunch Fireside Restaurant
- Dinner Sitar of India
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Hagerstown dining includes international flavors as well as landmark American establishments. Many restaurants can be found downtown, on and around US 40, in the North End, and near the Valley Mall. Typical chain restaurants are also abound, particularly along US 40 and around the main retail areas.
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
Hagerstown is the county seat of, and the largest city in, Washington County. The city is perhaps best known for its outlet mall, which offers a huge variety of clothing among other things. The community is named after Jonathan Hager, a German pioneer who settled the area in the mid-1700s. Hagerstown has an approximate city population of 40,000 and metropolitan population of 270,000 (2019).
Get in
By car
Hagerstown is only 75 minutes away from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Harrisburg. The main interstate highways running by the city are I-81 and I-70, each of which have multiple well-signed exits for Hagerstown and intersect southwest of the city. US 40 and US 11 run through the city and cross in central Hagerstown.
By bus
Atlantic Coast Charter Buses has stops in Hagerstown.
By plane
Go Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR)
Commercially serviced by flights from Orlando-Sanford International Airport and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport through Allegiant Airlines, and Pittsburgh International Airport and Washington-Dulles International Airport via Sun Air Express.
Alternatively, one can use Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), Washington National Airport (DCA), or Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) all of which are within 60-75 mi driving distance of Hagerstown.
Get around
- Renting cars or driving to Hagerstown is advised because only the downtown area is walkable. Walking downtown, however, is safe and charming.
- For a taxi you could call Miller Cabs, Turner Vans, or hail Downtown Taxi cabs on the streets in downtown.
- County Commuter buses are effective and go to all points in Hagerstown and Washington County.
See
Aside from simply admiring the ubiquitous vistas of the Appalachian Mountains, you might also want to see:
Theatre
Do
- The city is a focal point for mountain bikers, fishermen, canoeists and hunters interested in the plentiful outdoor recreational opportunities in the area. The Appalachian Trail and the Chesapeake and Ohio (C & O) Canal Towpath are close by.
Buy
Hagerstown has multiple lifestyle/power centers with big-box stores, plazas, and 2 major malls:
Shop Valley Mall
The Valley Mall is one of two indoor malls in the Hagerstown Metropolitan area (the other is the Martinsburg Mall). There is close to 1 million square feet of retail space. The anchors are Macy's, The Bon-Ton, JCPenney, Sears, Regal Cinemas 16, Toys 'R' Us/Babies 'R' Us, Old Navy, Men's Wearhouse, and Shoe Dept. Encore.
Eat
Hagerstown dining includes international flavors as well as landmark American establishments. Many restaurants can be found downtown, on and around US 40, in the North End, and near the Valley Mall. Typical chain restaurants are also abound, particularly along US 40 and around the main retail areas.
Budget
Eat Alekos 2 Go
Greek and American cuisine. Drive-thru and pick-up services also available.
Eat Hagerstown Family Diner
Very popular traditional American diner.
Eat Krumpe's Do-Nuts
A Hagerstown tradition since 1936. Iconic Hagerstown doughnut shop that hosts the annual New Year's Krumpe's DoNut Drop in the Public Square and the Krumpe's Donut Alley Rally 5k.
Mid-range
Eat Bulls & Bears Restaurant and Pub
Bulls & Bears presents Downtown Hagerstown with a unique experience featuring American cuisine in a New York style atmosphere.
Eat Café del Sol
Serves Latin-American and Italian cuisine.
Eat Dolce
Serves Romanian, other Eastern European and Italian cuisine.
Eat Fuji Chinese Cuisine & Sushi
Serves authentic Chinese cuisine and sushi.
Eat House of Kobe
Popular Japanese restaurant serving Hagerstown for 30 years.
Eat Silk Thai Restaurant & Bar
Serves authentic Thai cuisine.
Eat Mango Grill
Serves Indian and Thai cuisine.
Eat Rik's Cafe
American cuisine and bar.
Eat Sitar of India
Serves North Indian cuisine.
Splurge
Eat Fireside Restaurant
Dining at the Plaza Hotel will be a memorable experience. Attached to the Ramada Plaza Hotel, the Fireside Restaurant offers a full menu of steaks, seafood, and other American specialties in an upscale surrounding.
Eat Nick's Airport Inn
Good atmosphere, great seafood, and fine dining. Reservations recommended.
Eat Sakura
Excellent sushi and hibachi served in a lively but elegant atmosphere.
Eat Schmankerl Stube
Great Bavarian fare. Excellent selection of German beers on tap.
Eat Schula's Grill and Crab House
Seafood restaurant.
Drink
Most drinking establishments in Hagerstown are found in the downtown area, but some are located in suburban areas including and near strip shopping centers.
Drink Bennys Pub
Food, ice cold beer, Entertainment weekly. Nice, friendly atmosphere.
Sleep
Most hotels and motels in Hagerstown are located in proximity to exits along Interstate 70 and Interstate 81. Others, including full-scale hotels, are clustered along Route 40.
Stay Country Inn & Suites by Carlson
Go next
- Whitetail Resort has alpine skiing on 16 trails, just across the state line in nearby Mercersburg in southern Pennsylvania.
- You could drive from Hagerstown to Antietam National Battlefield, Fort Frederick State Park, or the Chesapeake & Ohio (C & O) Canal National Historical Park.
- The Appalachian Trail offers walking paths and breathtaking scenery from atop South Mountain.
- If you want more scenery you could cross the Potomac River into West Virginia or tour nearby smaller towns like Sharpsburg, Boonsboro, or Smithsburg.
- Neighboring cities include Frederick and Cumberland in Maryland, Martinsburg in West Virginia, and Chambersburg in Pennsylvania.
- Nearby big cities Washington, D.C. and Baltimore are good day-trips from Hagerstown. In fact, many tourists to those cities stay the night in Hagerstown for cheaper lodging rates and to add a few local historic and retail spots to their itinerary.
Nearby
Boonsboro
City / town · 6 listings · 10 mi away
Sharpsburg
City / town · 11 listings · 13 mi away
Catoctin Mountain Park
Park · 2 listings · 13 mi away
Shepherdstown
City / town · 13 listings · 15 mi away
Hedgesville
City / town · 1 listings · 16 mi away
Mercersburg
City / town · 4 listings · 16 mi away
Thurmont
City / town · 19 listings · 17 mi away
Middletown
City / town · 3 listings · 17 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.