Bugle Call

Enjoy a Great American Road Trip In the Heart of the Civil War

June 22, 2020

Above image of Main Street Middletown by Bruce Morgan courtsey of Visit Frederick.

There’s nothing like a great American road trip to familiarize yourself with the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area. What could be better than hopping in your vehicle, exploring small towns at your own pace and discovering countless hidden gems along the way? Maryland’s scenic byways offer a great opportunity for that and there’s literally something for everyone!

Parts of the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area are included in these six Maryland Scenic Byways:

• The Historic National Road Scenic Byway begins in Baltimore and travels 170 miles along the historic National Road to Grantsville. The National Road was America’s first federally funded highway, carrying Conestoga wagons into the Western frontier during its earliest days. Today it passes through small towns and meanders along mountain passes and winding riverbanks. The National Road, an artery to the heart of America, passes through many Heart of the Civil War municipalities including Mount Airy, Frederick, Middletown, Boonsboro, Funkstown, Hagerstown, Clear Spring and Hancock. Suggested stops on this tour include the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Washington Monument State Park, National Road Museum, Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum, Wilson Store and Fort Frederick State Park.

• Travel 236 miles on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Scenic Byway that, much like the towpath itself, goes from Cumberland to Washington, D.C. The C&O Canal has a rich history but it’s also a very popular place for outdoor recreation—hiking, from flat to extreme, rock climbing, bicycling, paddling, fishing and more! This scenic byway provides countless opportunities for adventure and small town charm, passing through Hancock, Clear Spring, Sharpsburg, Brunswick and countless other towns! The suggested itinerary includes stops at the Western Maryland Rail Trail, Antietam National Battlefield and the Brunswick Heritage Museum / Brunswick C&O Canal Visitor Center. 
  
  
• The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Scenic Byway travels 57 miles with U.S. 15 as its backbone, from Emmitsburg to Point of Rocks. This pilgrimage includes a rich collection of sacred historic sites, beautiful nature trails and even a covered bridge. The itinerary takes travelers to heritage area towns such as Emmitsburg, Thurmont, Smithsburg, Sharpsburg, Frederick and Burkittsville. Stops along the way include the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Catoctin Mountain Park, Cunningham Falls State Park, Catoctin Wildlife Preserve & Zoo, South Mountain State Battlefield, Gambrill State Park and Monocacy National Battlefield. 
  
  
• The Antietam Campaign Scenic Byway centers primarily around the events of September 1862 as Robert E. Lee’s Confederate forces entered Maryland for their first northern invasion, resulting in battles at South Mountain and Antietam. The 126-mile byway takes travelers from historic White’s Ferry to Sharpsburg, and includes stops in Frederick, Burkittsville, Middletown and Boonsboro. Some of the highlighted itinerary stops are Monocacy National Battlefield, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Gathland State Park, South Mountain State Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield, C&O Canal National Historical Park and the Kennedy Farmhouse where the John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry was planned.
  
  
• The Heart of the Civil War Heritage is home to many charming historic main streets, several of which are stops on the Old Main Street Scenic Byway. This byway invites visitors to explore history, heritage, culture and architecture while enjoying charming shops and boutiques, restaurants, wineries and lodging. Points of interest along the 111-mile byway, within the heritage area, include the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes, Historical Society of Carroll County, Carroll County Farm Museum, New Windsor Heritage Museum, Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum and Catoctin Mountain Park.
  
  
• The Mason & Dixon Scenic Byway travels 143 miles from Emmitsburg to Appleton, just south of Maryland’s border with Pennsylvania to the north. Not only do travelers enjoy scenic vistas, but there’s plenty of history, recreation and farm life. Heritage Area towns included in this itinerary are Westminster and Hampstead, with suggested stops at Union Mills Homestead and the Carroll County Farm Museum.

Contributing Author: Charissa Hipp

Charissa Hipp has a passion for connecting people to places through tourism marketing, storytelling, writing and hiking. A wife and mother of three, she is the Maryland Ambassador for Girls Who Hike and encourages people to connect with nature to experience its physical, mental and spiritual... Read More