Washington County

Understand

Washington County is a county in the north-central to northwestern part of the American state of Maryland. The county is bordered to the east by South Mountain (part of the Blue Ridge Mountains) and to the west by Sideling Hill Creek. In the middle lies Hagerstown Valley, part of Cumberland Valley which is part of a larger Great Appalachian Valley. Washington County is noted for small towns dotting its idyllic rural landscape and abundant agricultural fields. It boasts only one city, its county seat Hagerstown. However, the county is part of the Hagerstown metropolitan area, and it is proximate to and becoming increasingly influenced by Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

Washington County is also well-known for being located in a historically significant area. Antietam, South Mountain, Gettysburg, Harpers Ferry, and Monocacy are Civil War battlefields all located within 30 minutes drive of the county. The county is also home to the restored American Revolutionary War and French and Indian War structure of Fort Frederick.

Even with such historical significance, retail is the major draw for tourism in Washington County. Premium Outlets Hagerstown boasts over 100 stores and draws people from neighboring counties as well as Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The county also has several shopping centers including Valley Mall that draw people from neighboring communities in Western Maryland, Southern Pennsylvania, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

Cities

• Boonsboro — a small town home to the first, and original, Washington Monument.
• Hagerstown — Western Maryland's largest city.
• Hancock — small town located in Maryland's very narrow 2 mile-wide neck.
• Sharpsburg — home to Antietam National Battlefield, the site of the bloodiest battle in American history.

Other destinations

• Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park

Get in

By car

Interstates 81, 70, and 68 cross through the county as well as U.S. Routes 11, 40, Alternate 40, Scenic 40, 340, and 522.

By bus

Atlantic Coast Charter Buses stops in Hagerstown.

By plane

Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR) has flights to and from Orlando-Sanford International Airport, St. Petersburg International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport and Washington-Dulles International Airport. 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 miles (97 km) to 75 miles (121 km) driving distance of Hagerstown.

Get around

• Renting cars or driving to Washington County is advised as most areas are not easily walkable.
• For a taxi you could call Miller Cabs, Turner Vans, or hail Downtown Taxi! cabs on the streets in downtown Hagerstown.
• County Commuter buses are effective and go to all points in Hagerstown and occasionally to other towns in the county.

Go next

• If you head north, Gettysburg offers a famous battlefield and site of former President Abraham Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address. Harrisburg is one to one and one half hours drive north on Interstate 81 from Washington County. New York City is also accessible in about 4 hours drive by continuing past Harrisburg.
• If you head south, Blue Ridge Parkway, which is an especially scenic drive during autumn, and Luray Caverns, under two hours drive, are both easily accessible from Interstate 81 South.
• Pittsburgh can be accessed in under three hours drive off of Interstate 70 West.
• Many long distance travelers stay in Washington County overnight at a cheaper rate and drive about one hour east to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore for their sightseeing. Philadelphia and Richmond are also both only roughly 100 miles drive past Baltimore and Washington, respectively.

Parks and recreation

National parks

• Antietam National Battlefield
• Appalachian National Scenic Trail
• Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
• Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

State parks

• Fort Frederick State Park
• Fort Tonoloway State Park
• Gathland State Park
• Greenbrier State Park
• South Mountain State Park
• Washington Monument State Park

Other recreation

• Crystal Grottoes, the only show caves in Maryland.
• Sideling Hill man-made mountain pass on Interstate 68/U.S. Route 40 roughly 5 miles west of Hancock shows off 100 million years+ of rock formation with Information Center and walkways on the premises.
• Stoney Creek Farm
• Washington County Rural Heritage Museum

Most non-historic attractions are located in Hagerstown or its immediate suburbs.