Overview
Rural Montgomery County, Maryland, is a fairly oddball choice for a trip, as people generally don't think to visit the countryside so close to the metropolis just southeast. It gets a fair amount of visitor traffic nonetheless, simply because it is so easy for residents of the close-in Montgomery County D.C. suburbs to get to. In particular, Sugarloaf Mountain is a very popular destination. But if you look a bit further and feel like wandering along quiet country roads, there are other gems to explore, be they farms where you can go picking, petting zoos, wineries, or even Maryland fried chicken.
4 sights · 1 things to do · 6 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Rural Montgomery County
McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area
While its principal purpose is as a stocked hunting range, McKee-Beshers WMA is best known for its magnificent fields of sunflowers, in bloom towards the end of July. The sunflowers were planted not for public enjoyment—…
Sugarloaf Mountain
Perhaps Maryland's best-known and most prominent monadnock, it's full of hiking trails and beautiful views over the Piedmont Plateau and towards the Appalachian Mountains. It's quite popular during the busy summer months…
C&O Canal
This section of the 184.5-mile Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on its way between D.C. and Cumberland, Maryland is long and remote, with its unending bike path, beautiful river views, and isolated camp…
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary
Events are somewhat monthly (check the online calendar), and feature everything from the obvious hanging out with "farm" animals to live bands and vegan potlucks.
Homestead Farm
A fun getaway for picking fruit, pumpkins, Christmas trees (or they also have a shop out front if you just want to stop by and get some great fresh produce and other farm goods). Especially if you are with kids, be sure …
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.
- IAD Washington Dulles International Airport, Dulles — 23 mi away (major hub). Directions
- DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington — 31 mi away (major hub). Directions
I-270 is the principal highway running through Rural Montgomery County, and I-70 runs east-west just to the north. The former is a quick way to get here from either D.C. or Frederick; the latter from Baltimore or Pennsylvania via Gettysburg.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $19 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area, Homestead Farm, Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary
- Lunch House of Poolesville
- Afternoon Sugarloaf Mountain, C&O Canal
- Dinner Comus Inn at Sugarloaf Mountain
- Evening Rocklands Farm Winery
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
Towns
Damascus, Poolesville, Clarksburg, and Darnestown are the main small towns in the region.
Get in
I-270 is the principal highway running through Rural Montgomery County, and I-70 runs east-west just to the north. The former is a quick way to get here from either D.C. or Frederick; the latter from Baltimore or Pennsylvania via Gettysburg.
Washington Dulles International Airport is not at all far away, although the rarely-bridged Potomac River does make it harder to get to. The fun way to get here from there would be via White's Ferry off of US-15 in Virginia by Leesburg.
Amtrak doesn't have any stops here between Rockville and Harpers Ferry, but the MARC Train Brunswick Line does have stops at Boyds, Barnesville, and Dickerson. You will need to take a taxi, Uber, or Lyft afterwards.
See
See C&O Canal
This section of the 184.5-mile Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on its way between D.C. and Cumberland, Maryland is long and remote, with its unending bike path, beautiful river views, and isolated campgrounds awaiting.
See McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area
While its principal purpose is as a stocked hunting range, McKee-Beshers WMA is best known for its magnificent fields of sunflowers, in bloom towards the end of July. The sunflowers were planted not for public enjoyment—they are there to attract doves for the hunt! But there are miles of trails through the fields and forest, which do connect with the C&O Canal towpath, and the WMA is quite popular with photographers. Be sure to bring heavy duty insect repellent, long pants, and good boots, as the terrain is pretty marshy. It's a good idea to give them a call to see what the hunting situation is like—it's less pleasant to walk around the fields if hunters are out in force.
See Sugarloaf Mountain
Perhaps Maryland's best-known and most prominent monadnock, it's full of hiking trails and beautiful views over the Piedmont Plateau and towards the Appalachian Mountains. It's quite popular during the busy summer months, as it's less than an hour's drive from Washington, D.C. While a National Natural Landmark, it is a rare example of a privately owned (nonprofit) park open and intended for broad public use. Beautiful day trip. Parking is limited.
Do
Buy
Eat
Eat Comus Inn at Sugarloaf Mountain
A beautiful, classic American, upscale dining option, with views right out the window of Sugarloaf Mountain.
Eat House of Poolesville
Pan-Asian cuisine in a Victorian mansion, with frequent live bands and full bar.
Eat Jimmie Cone
50-year-old small town soft serve ice cream joint. Cash only. Outdoor seating only.
Eat Red Rooster
A hole-in-the-wall dive with what is universally acclaimed (among anyone from the area, at least) as the best fried chicken you'll ever eat. Stop by and confirm for yourself. For a treat, ask for a cherry coke—they add their own cherry syrup to regular coke, and it's twice as delicious as anything you'd get out of a can.
Eat Sunshine General Store
This is basically a shack out in the country with incredible handmade burgers, as well as the best diner-style breakfast for miles. It's worth a stop.
Eat Tom & Ray's Restaurant
A classic and ancient American greasy spoon in the center of Damascus. Regional plates like soft-shell crab sandwiches (in season), fried chicken, and scrapple are always good bets. Huge portions!
Drink
Drink Rocklands Farm Winery
Local winery with tastings, tours, and food.
Drink Sugarloaf Mountain Winery
This is one of Maryland's most well-regarded wineries, and is easily coupled with a trip to the mountain, which in turn provides lovely views from the winery. The Comus is a favorite. Dog-friendly.
Drink Two Chimneys Ciderworks
Cidery built around historic chimneys. Also has gluten-free beer. Dog-friendly outside.
Sleep
Surprisingly enough, there is not one place in this fair part of the county to lay one's head. You'll have to backtrack to Germantown or onwards to Frederick.
Go next
- White's Ferry across the Potomac towards Leesburg, VA was a fun outing until the ferry stopped running. If you are in the mood, Leesburg has great shopping at the Leesburg Corner Outlets.
- Historic, beautiful Harpers Ferry in West Virginia is a relatively easy drive through western Frederick County.
- Decided the country isn't for you? No worries, you hardly left the city, and it takes no time to get back to the built up Montgomery County suburbs, or for that matter D.C. via I-270 or even Baltimore via I-70. If you want somewhere in between, the small, laid back city of Frederick is close by and a nice place for a dinner or some antiques shopping.
- Past Frederick, and generally no more than an hour's drive from Rural Montgomery County is Antietam National Battlefield—a must for Civil War buffs (or really anyone with a passing interest in American History).
Nearby
Germantown
City / town · 15 listings · 5 mi away
Gaithersburg
City / town · 46 listings · 9 mi away
Frederick
City / town · 49 listings · 13 mi away
Rockville
City / town · 64 listings · 14 mi away
Olney
City / town · 18 listings · 14 mi away
Leesburg
City / town · 31 listings · 17 mi away
Potomac
City / town · 5 listings · 17 mi away
Ashburn
City / town · 14 listings · 18 mi away
My experience
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