These Nearby Destinations Make a Weekend Road Trip on a Budget Feel Like the Vacation of a Lifetime

Summer vacation season is just beginning, and if you’re seeking a fun, accessible, and budget-friendly getaway, you might be wondering where to go next. Thankfully, Philly, there’s a destination right in your backyard that’s bursting with attractions and experiences, making it the ideal option for your next weekend adventure. Montgomery County, Maryland, offers everything from world-class art galleries for culture-seeking couples to outdoor adventures for families fresh out of school to food halls and vineyards for culinary explorers. With so many options packed into one destination, your biggest challenge will be deciding where to start. To help you organize your Montgomery County getaway, we’ve selected spots for three themed itineraries—arts & culture, family fun, and food and drink—with budget bonus tips for each attraction.

Arts & Culture

Montgomery County boasts a wealth of attractions that draw arts and culture enthusiasts year round.

Storied Glen Echo Park in Bethesda, Md., is one of the coolest artistic outlets in the region. A former amusement park turned artist collective, it’s home to 13 resident artists and organizations. Here, you can watch artists at work creating masterpieces in glass, sculpture, painting, and more, then stroll through the various galleries to see local exhibitions. Throughout the park are structures that showcase its history. The 1933 Spanish Ballroom, a restored Mediterranean-style Art Deco building, is now the go-to for social dances. It’s also the site of a Labor Day Art Show featuring works from resident artisans. If you enjoy the performing arts, be sure to check the calendar for free summer concerts or for shows at the two award-winning children’s theaters. Budget Bonus: A spin around the iconic 1921 Dentzel Carousel is only $2; an all-day wristband is $5.

Potomac’s Glenstone Museum blends art, architecture and landscape in one stunning experience. The museum showcases post-World War II art and sculptures across indoor galleries and outdoor spaces. The buildings feature striking minimalist design, while the peaceful natural setting creates the perfect backdrop. Don’t miss the Water Court—an 18,000-square-foot water garden inspired by Italy’s Brion Cemetery. Budget Bonus: Admission to the museum is free but requires reservations through its website.

Learn about local history at the Sandy Spring Museum, which chronicles the area’s early Quaker settlers and important African American heritage. Equally enriching is the Josiah Henson Museum & Park in North Bethesda. Henson, who was enslaved in Montgomery County before escaping to freedom, later became an abolitionist, author and minister who helped others reach Canada via the Underground Railroad. His remarkable life story inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe’s  Uncle Tom’s Cabin.  Budget Bonus: Admission is free to the Sandy Spring Museum, and $5 at the Josiah Henson Museum & Park.

A must for arts and culture lovers is Olney Theatre Center, one of Maryland’s premier performing arts venues. Enjoy contemporary plays and musicals, reimagining of known works, and national and local tours. Hoping to make theater more accessible, the Olney Theatre offers a range of discounts, including four free tickets to preview performances if you’re a first-time customer. Budget Bonus: For additional free entertainment, Olney Theatre hosts outdoor summer concerts with local musicians.

Family Fun

If you’re roadtripping to Montgomery County with kids in tow, you’ll have plenty of ways to explore the great outdoors and the region’s rich history.

No visit to Montgomery County is complete without a visit to the C&O Canal National Historical Park. The park stretches 184.5 miles from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Md., along the former canal, which was instrumental in 19th-century trade and transportation. Today, the picturesque towpath is popular with bikers, hikers and birdwatchers. The section of the park that cuts through Potomac affords Insta-worthy views of the rushing rapids of the Great Falls of the Potomac River. Stop by the historic Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center for a ranger-led tour. Feeling more adventurous? Trek the 4.7-mile Billy Goat Trail, a scenic rocky path that runs between the canal and the river. Budget Bonus: Located in the national park, it’s only $20 per car to enter the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center.

For a lower-key outdoor escape, head to Black Hill Regional Park in Boyds. This 2,000-acre park is perfect for families, with picnic shelters, volleyball courts, a playground, and walking trails. You can also rent kayaks, canoes or rowboats to enjoy 360-degree park views on lovely Little Seneca Lake. (The boats are in season from May to September. ) Budget Bonus: Kayak, canoe and rowboats are $15 per hour or $55 for a full day.

Fans of horticulture will want to stop at Brookside Garden, a 50-acre, award-winning display garden inside the Wheaton Regional Park in Glenmont. The garden is celebrated for its magnificent themed gardens, including rose, azalea and Japanese-style gardens. Indoor conservatories feature exotic and tropical plants, while the Woodland Walk takes you through a forested wetland with bald cypress, tulip poplar, spicebush and other species. A highlight from April to September is the Butterfly Experience. A $10 ticket grants you entrance to a conservatory, where hundreds of butterflies float around you. Budget Bonus: Entrance to the park is free.

Looking for indoor excursions? The National Capitol Trolley Museum in Silver Springs takes visitors back in time as it delves into the history of transportation with its collection of streetcars. Budget Bonus: Kids can experience history in action with unlimited streetcar rides, included in the admission ($10-$12).

Food & Drink

If your travel style includes getting a “taste” of the region, Montgomery County has plenty of trails, eateries, orchards and more to please your palate.

Beer, wine and spirits enthusiasts should start with the Tastemakers Trail, with over 20 craft beverage producers promising good times and great sips. Along the trail, you can engage with the artisan makers, converse with fellow enthusiasts or partake in the special events hosted by trail members. Test your knowledge of the eclectic at Silver Branch Brewing in downtown Silver Springs or Clear Skies Meadery in Rockville. Both offer festive trivia nights. For a cozier stop, check out Windridge Vineyards in Darnestown. Reserve a seat in the picturesque tasting room, porch or outside pergola seating to sip a white, red or rose, sample an in-house charcuterie board and relax with live music.

Satisfy your appetite at Solaire Social in Silver Spring, the region’s highly anticipated culinary international food hall. Think: Brazilian BBQ, West African dishes and ice cream, Mexican pizza, American sandwiches and Caribbean juicessure to satisfy diverse tastes. Budget Bonus: You’ll find all-day happy hour specials on game days.

For a little agritourism, plan a stop at Butler’s Orchard, where you can pick-your-own plants and vegetables. Blueberries and black raspberries are in season in June, while tomatoes, blackberries and fresh herbs are available in July and August. The orchard has an easy-to-read calendar online noting what’s in season. If you’re short on time, skip the picking and stop at the farm market, where you can buy what’s grown in the field, plus seasonal décor, preserves, gourmet condiments and more. Budget Bonus: Admission to the orchard is $5, and includes the Farm Park, where kids can enjoy slides, farm animals pedal tractors and more. Reservations are required.

To learn more about attractions, accommodations, events and dining, visit visitmontgomery.com.

This is a paid partnership between Visit Montgomery, MD and Philadelphia Magazine