stories
stories
HomeMoneyLifestyleNewsSportsEntertainmentTravelScienceLocal

Highest-rated free things to do in Maryland by visitors

·Stacker

Josep Suria // Shutterstock
Josep Suria // Shutterstock
Add Stacker as Preferred Source

Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Maryland.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Maryland using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

You may also like: Most common dog breeds available for adoption in Maryland

#30. Pennsylvania Dutch Farmer's Market

Tripadvisor

1 / 30

#30. Pennsylvania Dutch Farmer's Market

- Rating: 4.7/5 (104 reviews)
- City: Annapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#29. National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes

Tripadvisor

2 / 30

#29. National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes

- Rating: 4.8/5 (171 reviews)
- City: Emmitsburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Glenstone Museum

Tripadvisor

3 / 30

#28. Glenstone Museum

- Rating: 4.3/5 (244 reviews)
- City: Potomac Montgomery County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Tilghman Island

Tripadvisor

4 / 30

#27. Tilghman Island

- Rating: 3.9/5 (300 reviews)
- City: St Michaels Talbot County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House

Tripadvisor

7 / 30

#24. Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House

- Rating: 4.7/5 (531 reviews)
- City: Halethorpe
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. C&O Canal - Paw Paw Tunnel

Tripadvisor

9 / 30

#22. C&O Canal - Paw Paw Tunnel

- Rating: 4.4/5 (212 reviews)
- City: Cumberland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland

Tripadvisor

11 / 30

#20. Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland

- Rating: 3.5/5 (1,378 reviews)
- City: Hanover
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. Edgar Allan Poe's Grave Site and Memorial

Tripadvisor

12 / 30

#19. Edgar Allan Poe's Grave Site and Memorial

- Rating: 4.3/5 (410 reviews)
- City: Baltimore
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Brookside Gardens

Tripadvisor

16 / 30

#15. Brookside Gardens

- Rating: 4.7/5 (311 reviews)
- City: Wheaton Montgomery County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Mgm National Harbor - Casino

Tripadvisor

17 / 30

#14. Mgm National Harbor - Casino

- Rating: 3.7/5 (812 reviews)
- City: Oxon Hill
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Historic Downtown Frederick

Tripadvisor

18 / 30

#13. Historic Downtown Frederick

- Rating: 4.7/5 (685 reviews)
- City: Frederick
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Billy Goat Trail

Tripadvisor

19 / 30

#12. Billy Goat Trail

- Rating: 4.7/5 (263 reviews)
- City: Potomac Montgomery County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Annapolis Historic District

Tripadvisor

23 / 30

#8. Annapolis Historic District

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,285 reviews)
- City: Annapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Trending stories