Overview
Thurmont is a small town in Frederick County, Maryland. It hosts the Catoctin Colorfest, an arts and crafts festival that draws in about 125,000 people each autumn.
4 sights · 5 things to do · 5 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Thurmont
Catoctin Furnace
An iron furnace that played a role in the Revolutionary war and was important to the industrialisation of Thurmont.
Catoctin Wildlife Preserve
Zoo just outside of Thurmont. Has 1100 animals including exotic animals like lions and local wildlife like timber wolves and native turtles. Between April and September runs daily Safari rides.
Thurmont Community Park
This is the town park. It has a nice exercise trail, several pavilions, a park for younger children, and a baseball and basketball court.
Thurmont Trolley Trail
Historical nature trail.
Beach at Hunting Creek Lake
Sandy beach on a small lake in the middle of the forest. Swimming in the lake is allowed only between the weekend before Memorial Day and Labor Day. Lifeguards are typically on duty every day between Memorial Day and Lab…
Catoctin Breeze Vineyard
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Jun, Sep–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 Sep. (climate data from nearby Baltimore)
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 — 18 mi away. Directions
- IAD Washington Dulles International Airport, Dulles — 47 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $25–$70 a night (typical $70), from 3 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$70, mid-range ~$140, comfortable ~$240.
Options are grouped as Hotels, Camping in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Catoctin Furnace, Catoctin Wildlife Preserve, Thurmont Trolley Trail
- Lunch Fratelli's New York Pizza & Restaurant
- Afternoon Maple Run Golf Course, Magnolia Meadow Farm
- Dinner Mountaingate Family Restaurant
Day 2
- Morning Thurmont Community Park, Colorfest
- Lunch Bollinger's Restaurant
- Afternoon Catoctin Breeze Vineyard, Beach at Hunting Creek Lake
- Dinner Thurmont Kountry Kitchen
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 of Thurmont is in the northern part of Frederick County and is north of Frederick, Maryland, the county seat. It is on U.S. Route 15. Thurmont is near Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin Mountain Park (home of the Presidential retreat, Camp David).
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Thurmont has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Get in
By car
- From Frederick and points South, take U.S. Route 15 north.
- From Gettysburg and points north, take U.S. Route 15 south.
By bus
- From Frederick take the Thurmont/Emmitsburg Shuttle from the Frederick Transit Center. The bus departs at 6:30AM.
- From Emmitsburg take the Thurmont/Emmitsburg Shuttle from Jubilee on Main East St. The bus departs at 7:10AM.
By air
- Hagerstown Regional Airport is 38 miles from Thurmont. There are very few scheduled commercial flights from Hagerstown.
- Washington-Dulles International Airport is 58 miles from Thurmont, with many domestic and international flights.
- Ronald Reagan Washington-National Airport is 66 miles from Thurmont, with many domestic flights and some international flights.
- Baltimore-Washington International Airport is 68 miles from Thurmont, with many domestic and international flights.
Get around
Thurmont is a small town and has no car rental agencies or bus system. It is small enough to walk around in though. If you need or want a cab you can call Agniman Transportation at +1 301-662-2250. During Colorfest weekend the town sets up a public transportation system to handle the crowd.
See
See Catoctin Furnace
An iron furnace that played a role in the Revolutionary war and was important to the industrialisation of Thurmont.
See Thurmont Community Park
This is the town park. It has a nice exercise trail, several pavilions, a park for younger children, and a baseball and basketball court.
Do
Do Beach at Hunting Creek Lake
Sandy beach on a small lake in the middle of the forest. Swimming in the lake is allowed only between the weekend before Memorial Day and Labor Day. Lifeguards are typically on duty every day between Memorial Day and Labor Day, between 11AM and 6PM. Arrive early in the day because capacity is limited, and people are turned away when capacity is reached, which often happens by mid-morning on weekends and holidays.
Buy
Shop Pryor's Orchard
Family-owned farm since 1905. Operates a fruit market in a barn built in 1940. Sells cherries, blueberries, apricots, plums, nectarines, pears, peaches, apples, corn, tomatoes, squash, peppers, potatoes, kale, cabbage, sweet potatoes, melons, and pumpkins, when each is in season.
Eat
Eat Bollinger's Restaurant
Very cozy atmosphere. Specializes in barbecue. Its Facebook page describes it as "down home people with down home cooking".
Eat Mountaingate Family Restaurant
Both a menu and a buffet-style restaurant. Has private banquet rooms for between 10 and 200 guests. Southern American food.
Eat Simply Asia
Serves Chinese, Thai, Japanese food, and a variety of sushi. "A Pan Asian Bistro"
Eat Thurmont Kountry Kitchen
Award winning family owned restaurant. Large selection of food and very good broasted chicken. Motto: "Just like home but we do the dishes". American Southern food. Well-known for breakfast.
Eat Fratelli's New York Pizza & Restaurant
New York-style pizza and subs. Reasonably priced, delivers.
Sleep
Hotels
Camping
Stay Crow's Nest Campground
Beautiful campground with water, electric, a bathhouse, and a swimming pool, next to a trout stream. Adults past the first two cost an additional $5. Open between April 1 and Oct 31 each year.
Go next
- Frederick
- Gettysburg National Military Park
- Catoctin Mountain Park
- Cunningham Falls State Park
Nearby
Catoctin Mountain Park
Park · 2 listings · 3 mi away
Middletown
City / town · 3 listings · 15 mi away
Frederick
City / town · 49 listings · 15 mi away
Boonsboro
City / town · 6 listings · 15 mi away
Hagerstown
City / town · 48 listings · 17 mi away
Gettysburg
City / town · 40 listings · 17 mi away
Sharpsburg
City / town · 11 listings · 22 mi away
Westminster
City / town · 8 listings · 22 mi away
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