Explore Smithsburg, Maryland
Christopher "Stuffle" Smith founded his namesake town, Smithsburg, Maryland, in 1813. Western Maryland Railroad built a depot there in the mid-1800s, and Smithsburg achieved official incorporated status in 1846. Nowadays, the old train depot houses the Smithsburg Police Department, which serves the town's current population of around 3,000 people. Despite some recent suburban construction in the area, the town's architecture retains much of its historic ambiance. Many of the existing structures in Smithsburg date back to the 19th and early 20th centuries.
In Smithsburg, Maryland, an RV rental is a great way to go out exploring. Smithsburg is situated in the northeastern part of Washington County, Maryland, about 71 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. and 75 miles from Baltimore, both of which have plenty of sites worth visiting. In the immediate area, the Geiser-Mason Farm Museum showcases the region's agricultural history. Housed in a restored 19th-century barn, it exhibits antique farm equipment, tools, and household items. The Smithsburg Town Museum is in downtown Smithsburg and features exhibits that showcase the town's history, including a collection of historic photographs. If you would enjoy playing golf and exploring botanical gardens on the same property, check out Liberty Forge Arboretum, about 63 miles from Smithsburg in nearby Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
Smithsburg's city parks include Veterans Park, Lions Community Park, and Smithsburg Athletic Fields. These parks offer visitors numerous amenities, including picnic facilities, basketball courts, playground equipment, and walking trails. After a day of outdoor adventure, satisfy your taste buds at the charming eateries on Main Street. Some notable dining options include the Dixie Diner and Vince's Pizza.
National Forests Near Smithsburg, Maryland
There are numerous RV campgrounds in and around the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. If you want to fish for rainbow trout, head to the Bark Camp Recreation Area, which is close to a well-stocked 45-acre lake. This is also a great spot to check out a nearby open-air amphitheater and a fascinating geological formation known as Kitchen Rock. If you want to ride bicycles, motorcycles, or horses, head to any of the 11 campgrounds in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. You can park your toy hauler and take your two-wheeled vehicles out for a spin on the Iron Mountain Trail. Alternatively, take your horses to the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail for fun and recreation.
Monongahela National Forest offers lovely hiking trails, including the North Fork Mountain Trail and the easy Red Spruce Knob Trail. The reward for hiking the Cheat Junction and High Falls Trail is the High Falls waterfall, where you can cool off by taking a swim. Feel free to bring leashed dogs along for the hike with you. You can camp at the pet-friendly Spruce Knob Campground or Seneca Shadows Campground.
The 517,000-acre Allegheny National Forest offers developed campsites and also opportunities for dispersed camping. If you are bringing horses for horseback riding, head to the Kelly Pines campground, where you'll find hitching rails, corrals, and an equine shelter. Hiking trails in the forest include the Blacksnake Mountain Trail, Bearpaw Trail, and Three Sisters Trail.
Events Near Smithsburg, Maryland
The Interstate Wine Fest – This June event in nearby Boonsboro, Maryland offers you the opportunity to sample wines from 20 local wineries. Also, take part in an art fair, enjoy live music, and try some local cuisine.
The Smithsburg Steam Engine and Craft Show – This annual September event celebrates vintage steam engines and farm equipment and typically includes a parade, flea market, and a functional sawmill. Vendors sell interesting foods and unique crafts.
The Maryland State Fair – This annual late summer event offers horse racing, a concert series, livestock exhibits, and a carnival with lots of fun rides.
Popular Nearby RV Parks and Campgrounds
About 19 miles from Smithsburg, you'll find the Hagerstown/Antietam Battlefield KOA campgrounds. This facility is a fantastic place to stay for tubing on the nearby Conococheague Creek. This campground can accommodate RVs up to 60 feet long, so feel free to bring your fifth-wheel trailer or Class A motorhome. Amenities at this location include Wi-Fi access, cable TV, a snack bar, an ATM, and a swimming pool.
Brunswick Family Campground is in Brunswick, Maryland, close to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. This property offers 60 RV campsites with electricity and three campsites with full hookups. Other amenities include picnic tables, fire pits, a bathhouse, a dump station, and a picnic pavilion.
Greenbelt Park in Greenbelt, Maryland hosts a designated, no-hookups campsite, offering RV campers amenities like potable water, a dump station, flush toilets, and hot showers. Campground bathrooms are ADA-compliant and accessible. Sites at this campground can accommodate Class C motorhomes, trailers, and other vehicles up to 35 feet long.