Day Trips from Gettysburg, PA

From Gettysburg, you can spend a day exploring another Civil War battlefield, walking beside the rivers at Harpers Ferry, or browsing Frederick’s shops and restaurants. The Catoctin Mountains are close enough for a shorter outing, while Hershey, Lancaster, and Harrisburg offer museums, markets, and activities for families.
For a longer day, consider Baltimore’s museums, Annapolis’s historic waterfront, or a carefully planned visit to Washington, DC. Choose a destination that suits your interests and leave time to enjoy it. York & Stratton gives you a comfortable place to return to, with dinner in downtown Gettysburg close by.
Approximate Drive Times from Gettysburg
These estimates begin at York & Stratton and assume ordinary traffic. Your route, destination parking, and road conditions can add time, particularly around Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington. Check directions before leaving and allow extra time for city visits.
Destination Approximate drive time
National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, Maryland 20 minutes
Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley, Pennsylvania 20 minutes
Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland 35 minutes
Frederick, Maryland 45 minutes
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 45 minutes
Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland 1 hour
Hershey, Pennsylvania 1 hour
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, West Virginia 1 hour, 5 minutes
Charles Town, West Virginia 1 hour, 10 minutes
Baltimore, Maryland 1 hour, 20 minutes
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 1 hour, 20 minutes
Annapolis, Maryland 1 hour, 45 minutes
Washington, DC 1 hour, 45 minutes to 2 hours, with additional time possible in traffic

Emmitsburg and the Catoctin Mountains
About twenty minutes south of Gettysburg, Emmitsburg combines religious history with easy access to the mountains. Begin at the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first person born in the United States to be canonized by the Catholic Church. She arrived in Emmitsburg in 1809, established a school, and founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s, helping establish Catholic education in America.
The basilica contains Seton’s tomb beneath an Italian marble altar. The museum explores her life and the work of the Sisters and Daughters of Charity in education, health care, and social service. Guided tours visit the Stone Farmhouse, built in the mid-1700s, and St. Joseph’s House, completed in 1810. Check the schedule for house tours, living history programs, and specialty visits.
Above town, the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes has wooded walking paths, devotional sites, and views across the valley. Part of Mount St. Mary’s University, it welcomes public visitors. Emmitsburg also holds the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial on the federal National Emergency Training Center campus. Arrange your visit and escort in advance, and confirm the identification requirements before arriving.
For hiking, continue to Catoctin Mountain Park or neighboring Cunningham Falls State Park. Routes lead to Chimney Rock, Wolf Rock, and overlooks along the eastern Blue Ridge. Cunningham Falls’ seventy-eight-foot cascade can be reached by trails of varying difficulty. The parks have separate entrances and parking areas, so choose your trail before setting out.
In winter, Liberty Mountain Resort in nearby Carroll Valley offers skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. Check snow conditions, available terrain, and operating dates before purchasing tickets.
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a good choice for a day of shops, restaurants, and a museum visit without much driving once you arrive. Its historic downtown centers on Market and Patrick streets, with independent businesses, galleries, breweries, and distilleries within a compact area.
Start with a walk along Carroll Creek Park. Built above a flood-control project, the park brings paths, public art, and waterside spaces into downtown. Look closely at the Community Bridge: what appears to be stonework is trompe l’oeil painting, incorporating symbols contributed by residents. Continue to Market Street for bookstores, antiques, galleries, and lunch.
The National Museum of Civil War Medicine is particularly worthwhile after visiting Gettysburg. Exhibits examine how wounded soldiers were evacuated and treated, covering nursing, surgery, prosthetics, and medical developments that influenced emergency care. It adds context to the hospitals and civilian experiences described in Gettysburg’s museums.
South of downtown, Monocacy National Battlefield preserves the site where an outnumbered Union force delayed Confederate General Jubal Early’s advance toward Washington in July 1864. Its five-stop, six-mile driving tour takes about an hour, making it a manageable addition to your day.
Antietam National Battlefield
Antietam offers a closer look at the Maryland Campaign and the events that preceded Gettysburg. On September 17, 1862, nearly 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or reported missing, making it the bloodiest single day in American military history.
Begin at the visitor center, then follow the eleven-stop driving route. Dunker Church, the North and East Woods, and the Cornfield help explain the fighting during the morning. At the Sunken Road, a farm lane became a Confederate defensive position and the site of devastating casualties. Farther south, Burnside Bridge shows how a small force on high ground delayed Union troops for hours.
Allow time to leave the car and walk at several stops. A private tour through Antietam Battlefield Guides can help explain the terrain and decisions made during the battle; guides typically accompany visitors in their own vehicles. Bring water and plan lunch in Sharpsburg or nearby Shepherdstown, as food is not sold inside the park.
You can combine Antietam with Harpers Ferry for a focused visit to each. If you want a guided battlefield tour or an extended hike, give the destinations separate days.
Harpers Ferry and Charles Town, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry sits where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet, with nineteenth-century buildings, stone steps, and paths rising above the waterfront. In October 1859, John Brown and his followers seized the United States Armory in an attempt to start an uprising against slavery. The raid failed, but its consequences intensified the national conflict over slavery before the Civil War.
Park at the visitor center on Shoreline Drive and take the shuttle to Lower Town. The shuttle is included with the park entrance fee and avoids the limited parking in the historic district. Exhibits explore John Brown’s raid, the armory, Black education, industry, and the Civil War. Leave time to walk through town and enjoy the river views.
For hikers, Maryland Heights offers a view over the town and river confluence. The usual route from Lower Town to the overlook is about four and a half miles round trip, with more than 1,100 feet of elevation gain. Allow three to four hours and make the hike a main activity for the day.
Check the park’s current conditions before planning your route. Footbridge repairs and exhibit closures can affect access; the park currently lists the Goodloe Byron Memorial Footbridge as closed, making access to Maryland Heights more difficult. Consult the park’s latest guidance before committing to the hike.
Eight miles away, Charles Town is where John Brown was tried and executed. Its courthouse still stands on George Street. For an evening extension, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races offers thoroughbred racing, gaming, restaurants, and live entertainment. Check the calendar if you want to attend a race or performance.
Harrisburg and Hershey, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg’s Pennsylvania State Capitol is worth visiting for its architecture as well as its role in state government. A green tile dome, murals, stained glass, and mosaic floors fill the building with detail. Free guided tours generally last thirty to forty-five minutes; reserve ahead and check visitor arrangements.
The National Civil War Museum examines the conflict across the country, broadening the perspective of a Gettysburg visit. Its collections include weapons, uniforms, personal possessions, manuscripts, and exhibits addressing slavery, military service, and civilian life.
About twenty minutes east of Harrisburg, Hershey offers several ways to plan a family day. Hersheypark has roller coasters, family rides, a summer water park, and access to ZooAmerica from inside the amusement park. Its operating calendar changes with the season, including fall and Christmas programs, so confirm dates and hours before visiting.
Hershey’s Chocolate World is free to enter. The Chocolate Tour is a themed ride explaining chocolate production, rather than a visit to the working factory. Other experiences, including candy-bar making and interactive shows, require tickets. For a day without amusement park rides, pair Chocolate World with The Hershey Story Museum or Hershey Gardens and its butterfly atrium.
Harrisburg and Hershey can share a day if you choose one main attraction in each. A full Hersheypark visit is better given a day of its own.
Lancaster City and Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Lancaster County offers two different kinds of day trip: a city visit built around markets, restaurants, and galleries, or a drive through the surrounding farmland and small towns. Choose your main focus before leaving Gettysburg so you have time for the places that interest you most.
In Lancaster City, begin at Central Market, chartered in 1730 and housed in its current Romanesque Revival building since 1889. Vendors sell produce, bread, baked goods, meat, cheese, and prepared food. Check market days before visiting, then explore the shops, galleries, and restaurants around Penn Square.
Southeast of the city, the Strasburg Rail Road runs steam trains through working farmland. Across the road, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania displays more than one hundred locomotives and railcars. Together, they make a full day for families and visitors interested in railroad history.
Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse, and the roads between them pass through an active Amish and Mennonite agricultural community. Visit farm markets, bakeries, furniture shops, and quilt businesses that welcome the public. Give horse-drawn vehicles plenty of room and ask permission before photographing people.
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore offers a day of major museums, waterfront history, and neighborhoods to explore. Choose one or two main stops and allow time for city traffic and parking.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine explains the defense of Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that became the national anthem. Visit the star-shaped fort and visitor center, then walk along the waterfront grounds for views of the harbor.
For the rest of the day, choose a museum that suits your group. The National Aquarium is a popular family option. The American Visionary Art Museum focuses on self-taught artists, while the B&O Railroad Museum displays its collection at the historic Mount Clare site, including a nineteenth-century roundhouse.
Beyond the Inner Harbor, Fell’s Point has historic streets along the water, and Mount Vernon is home to the Walters Art Museum. Lexington Market offers another stop for food and a look at a longstanding Baltimore institution. Plan your return around evening traffic.
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is a longer drive, but its compact historic center is easy to explore on foot. Brick streets lead from the Maryland State House toward City Dock, passing eighteenth-century houses, shops, and restaurants.
The Maryland State House is the oldest state capitol still in continuous legislative use. In its Old Senate Chamber, George Washington resigned his commission as commander in chief on December 23, 1783. Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris there several weeks later. Check visitor hours and allow time for security screening.
The United States Naval Academy occupies the waterfront east of State Circle. Public tours introduce the Yard and academy life, while the museum in Preble Hall explores American naval history. Because the academy is an active military installation, confirm current visitor eligibility and identification requirements before planning a visit.
For another view of eighteenth-century Annapolis, tour the William Paca House and Garden. Paca signed the Declaration of Independence, and his restored Georgian home includes a formal two-acre garden. Finish your day at City Dock or cross into Eastport for a meal near the water. Harbor cruises offer another way to explore in warmer months.
Washington, DC
A day in Washington works best with an early start and a short list of priorities. Traffic can extend the drive considerably, so allow extra time and choose the museum or monuments you most want to see.
One option is to drive to Shady Grove Metro station in Rockville and take the Red Line into the city. This avoids driving and parking downtown. Check Metro service notices, parking arrangements, and the route to your chosen attractions before leaving.
Plan for one museum and one section of the National Mall. Smithsonian museums offer free admission, though some require free timed-entry passes. The National Museum of American History continues many of the themes explored in Gettysburg. The National Museum of African American History and Culture provides broader context for slavery, emancipation, and their place in the nation’s history. The National Air and Space Museum offers a change of subject for families and other visitors.
The Lincoln Memorial makes a fitting final stop after a Gettysburg stay. The Gettysburg Address is carved into the south wall of the main chamber, giving you another opportunity to read the words Lincoln spoke at the cemetery. The memorial chamber is free to visit. The separate undercroft museum requires timed-entry tickets, with a small service fee for advance reservations.
Choose the Day Trip That Suits Your Stay
For Civil War history, choose Antietam, Frederick’s museums and battlefield, or Harpers Ferry. For time outdoors, consider the Catoctin Mountains or a Harpers Ferry hike, subject to current trail access. Frederick also works well for an unhurried day of shops and restaurants.
Families can build a day around Hershey’s attractions or Lancaster County’s railroads. Harrisburg offers a Capitol tour and a broader Civil War history museum, while Emmitsburg is an option for a shorter outing focused on religious and community history.
Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington reward a full day with an early start. Choose a few specific places to visit and leave room for traffic, meals, and time on foot.
Back in Gettysburg, York & Stratton is less than five minutes from Route 15 and one block from Lincoln Square. Park at the hotel, walk to dinner, and enjoy the rest of your evening downtown.