The 30 free things everyone in Maryland should do at least once, according to Tripadvisor

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Highest-rated free things to do in Maryland, according to Tripadvisor

It is incredibly expensive to be an American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living , according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by over 500%, while wages only grew by 80%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. The number of cost-burdened households in the U.S. reached an 11-year record in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the median U.S. home sale price hit an all-time high of $394,000.

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.

Think about the most common items on a vacation getaway itinerary: sightseeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, 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 June 12, 2024.

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

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Tripadvisor

#30. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

- Rating: 4.5/5 (477 reviews)
- Address: 409 Cathedral St. Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#29. Havre de Grace Promenade

- Rating: 4.5/5 (364 reviews)
- Address: Concord St. Havre de Grace, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#28. Billy Goat Trail

- Rating: 4.5/5 (261 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#27. Federal Hill Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (572 reviews)
- Address: 300 Warren Ave. Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#26. Guinness Open Gate Brewery & Barrel House

- Rating: 4.5/5 (498 reviews)
- Address: 5001 Washington Blvd. Halethorpe, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

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

- Rating: 4.5/5 (403 reviews)
- Address: Westminster Cemetery on the southeast corner of Fayette and Greene sts. Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#24. Maryland State House

- Rating: 4.5/5 (708 reviews)
- Address: 91 State Cir Annapolis, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#23. Elk Neck State Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (265 reviews)
- Address: 4395 Turkey Point Road North East North East, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#22. Great Allegheny Passage

- Rating: 5/5 (254 reviews)
- Address: 13 Canal St. Cumberland, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#21. Little Italy

- Rating: 4.5/5 (474 reviews)
- Address: Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#20. Main Street Berlin

- Rating: 4.5/5 (366 reviews)
- Address: 14 South Main St. Berlin, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#19. Brookside Gardens

- Rating: 4.5/5 (303 reviews)
- Address: 1800 Glenallan Ave. Wheaton, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#18. Glenstone Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (236 reviews)
- Address: 12100 Glen Road Potomac, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#17. MGM National Harbor

- Rating: 3.5/5 (795 reviews)
- Address: 101 MGM National Ave. Oxon Hill, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#16. Arundel Mills

- Rating: 4/5 (517 reviews)
- Address: 7000 Arundel Mills Cir Hanover, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#15. RIO Washingtonian Center

- Rating: 4.5/5 (265 reviews)
- Address: 9841 Washingtonian Blvd. Ste. S1 Gaithersburg, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#14. National Harbor

- Rating: 4.5/5 (376 reviews)
- Address: 165 Waterfront St. National Harbor, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#13. Historic Downtown Frederick

- Rating: 4.5/5 (681 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#12. Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland

- Rating: 3.5/5 (1,366 reviews)
- Address: 7002 Arundel Mills Circle # 7777 Hanover, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#11. Annapolis Historic District

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,278 reviews)
- Address: Main St. Annapolis, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#10. Northside Park

- Rating: 5/5 (775 reviews)
- Address: 200 125th St. 125th St. & Jamaica Avenue, Bayside Ocean City, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#9. Baltimore Museum of Art

- Rating: 4.5/5 (840 reviews)
- Address: 10 Art Museum Drive Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#8. Peabody Library

- Rating: 4.5/5 (265 reviews)
- Address: 17 East Mount Vernon Place Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#7. Horseshoe Casino

- Rating: 4/5 (24,154 reviews)
- Address: 1525 Russell St. Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#6. The Walters Art Museum

- Rating: 5/5 (1,487 reviews)
- Address: 600 North Charles St. Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#5. Fell's Point

- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,810 reviews)
- Address: Fell St. Baltimore, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#4. U.S. Naval Academy

- Rating: 5/5 (3,028 reviews)
- Address: 121 Blake Road Armel - Leftwich Visitor Center Annapolis, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#3. Ocean City Boardwalk

- Rating: 4.5/5 (4,939 reviews)
- Address: 698 North Atlantic Ave. Ocean City, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#2. Ocean City Beach

- Rating: 4.5/5 (4,321 reviews)
- Address: Ocean City, Maryland
- Read more on Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor

#1. Inner Harbor

- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,627 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zuri White-Gibson, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.

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