ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. — As gas prices remain high, many Maryland families are swapping long-distance road trips for shorter in-state routes. A new survey has identified the top three short summer road trips families are recommending this year, with a drive ending in St. Mary’s City ranking third.
RV Windshield Replacement surveyed 3,002 experienced road-tripping families to find routes that capture the spirit of a classic getaway without the high fuel costs, long driving days, or extended time commitment.
The top three recommended short road trips in Maryland were:
#1. Baltimore to Deep Creek Lake via Frederick The route starts with the energy of Baltimore’s waterfront before heading west through historic towns and into the greener, cooler mountain scenery around Frederick. It finishes at Deep Creek Lake, where cabins, waterfalls, and time by the water offer a relaxed contrast to city life.
#2. Annapolis to Ocean City/Assateague via Cambridge This trip begins in historic Annapolis with its sailboats and crab houses, crosses the Chesapeake Bay, and moves through marshland near Cambridge before reaching the coast. Families can enjoy Ocean City’s boardwalk energy along with the quieter beaches and wild ponies at Assateague.
#3. Hagerstown to St. Mary’s City via Columbia/Ellicott City The third-ranked route starts in western Maryland among Civil War history and rolling hills around Hagerstown, where families can visit free or low-cost historic sites. It then passes through the older mill-town scenery and river valleys of Ellicott City before continuing south to the quieter waterfront communities and colonial history of St. Mary’s City. Respondents noted that the drive lets travelers experience several very different sides of Maryland without requiring especially long driving days or a large travel budget.
The survey found that road trip habits are shifting. Almost two in three Maryland families said they are rethinking their summer plans because of gas prices. Specifically, 68% said they are more likely to take a shorter, in-state road trip this summer.
Gas was by far the biggest concern. When asked what feels most expensive about a road trip right now, 67% of respondents said gas. Hotels (17%), food (8%), and attractions (6%) ranked much lower.
As budgets tighten, families are making cuts. The first things most said they would trim are souvenirs (25%), followed by the trip itself (19%), restaurant meals (16%), and overnight hotel stays (16%).
“Road trips have always been one of the most flexible ways for families to travel, but this summer that flexibility is being tested,” said a spokesperson for RV Windshield Replacement. “What we’re seeing is not that families have lost their appetite for adventure, but that they are becoming much more strategic about it. Shorter routes, shared costs, fewer overnight stops — these are the new realities for families trying to keep the summer road trip alive without letting fuel prices take the wheel.”
Overall, 26% of families described their plans as “same trip, tighter budget,” while 18% said they are staying in-state this year and 16% chose “shorter drive, same spirit.”
