Frederick - city in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

Frederick is a charming city of approximately 80,000 people (2020) in Maryland. It is a major antique center with many shops, eateries, galleries and antique dealers.

Understand

Frederick is the county seat, largest city, and commercial and geographic center of Frederick County.

History

In colonial times, Frederick was on an important north–south Indian trail.

The town was founded around 1742 and was likely named after Frederick Calvert, the 6th and last Baron Baltimore.

Get in

By car

From Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, take Interstate 270 north. Traffic is heavily congested southbound during morning rush hour and northbound during evening rush hour.

From Baltimore and points east, take Interstate 70 west.

From Hagerstown and points west, take Interstate 70 east.

From Gettysburg and points north, take U.S. Route 15 south.

By train

MARC provides commuter rail service to Frederick Monday through Friday on the Brunswick Line, which originates at Union Station in Washington DC. Frederick station 📍 is located at 100 S East St. Also, from the MARC train station in Point of Rocks, there is a bus service to/from Frederick.

By plane

• Frederick Municipal Airport (IATA: FDK), 39.4175°, -77.3744°. A small, general aviation airport that serves only private planes

Baltimore-Washington International Airport (IATA: BWI), Washington National Airport (IATA: DCA), or Washington Dulles International Airport (IATA: IAD) are the nearest large commercial airports. They are all within around an hour driving time of Frederick.

By bus

Route 515 provides service between Frederick and the Shady Grove Metrorail Station, whereby connections can be made from Washington, DC. The bus operates only during rush hour and costs $3.50.

Greyhound operates service to/from Baltimore for $11 if purchased online in advance.

Get around

By car

A car is the easiest way to get around Frederick. There are public parking garages and street parking in the historic downtown area.

By bus

TransIT (dead link: January 2023) operates bus services within Frederick. Buses operate between 6AM and 9PM and cost $1.50.

By rideshare

Uber is a popular method of transport in Frederick for those without a car.

See

• Barbara Fritchie House, 154 West Patrick St, 39.413878°, -77.414492°, +1 301 698-8992. Call ahead for hours during which you can visit the interior (which is preserved in the period style when she lived there), as they are not regular. A Civil War-era Union patriot and close friend of Francis Scott Key, Barbara Fritchie is perhaps best known for flying the Union flag outside her house as General Stonewall Jackson marched by on the Maryland Campaign. In memory of this event, John Greenleaf Whittier wrote his poem Barbara Frietchie, lines of which Winston Churchill recited by memory during his visit to the city. 2017-10-10
• National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E Patrick St, 39.413852°, -77.4093°, +1 301 695-1864. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Also has locations in Sharpsburg and Washington, D.C.. The exhibits demonstrate how medicine was practiced during the Civil War (which was a lesson in patient endurance), as well as track advances in medicine during those times. Adult $9.50, student $7 2017-10-10
• Rose Hill Manor, 1611 N Market St, 39.436512°, -77.405650°, +1 301 600-1650. A hands-on children's museum with folks in period costume and "rural activities" 2017-10-10
• Monocacy National Battlefield, 4801 Urbana Pike (take I-70 south of Frederick and exit Urbana Pike to the park), 39.372665°, -77.399467°, +1 301-662-3515. Daily 8:30AM-5PM. Site of a summer 1864 Civil War battle between General Jubal Early of the Confederacy and General Lew Wallace of the Union. Free 2017-10-10
• Francis Scott Key Memorial, 515 S Market St, Mount Olivet Cemetery, inside its main entrance, 39.406134°, -77.412846°, +1 301 662-1164, info@mountolivetcemeteryinc.com. The grave of Francis Scott Key, author of the Star Spangled Banner. 2017-10-10
• Roger Brooke Taney House, 121 S Bentz St, 39.411561°, -77.416626°, +1 301-663-7880. Sa 10AM-4PM; Su 1-4PM from April through mid-December. Adult $6 2017-10-10
• Beatty-Cramer Architectural Museum, 9010 Liberty Rd, 39.453357°, -77.354063°, +1 301-668-2086. One of the 6 most important historical houses in Maryland, dating back to 1732. 2017-10-10
• Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, 1110 Rosemont Ave, 39.423536°, -77.426971°, +1 301-663-3885. April through early December: Sa Su 1-4PM. In a colonial German stone house built in 1758. Suggested donation of $5 2017-10-10
• The Artists' Gallery, 4 E Church St, 39.416954°, -77.410381°, +1 301 696-8187, tagfrederick@gmail.com. Art exhibits. 2017-10-10
• Hessian Barracks, 101 Clarke Pl, 39.409025°, -77.409618°, +1 301 360-1455. Dating from 1780. Closed to the public pending a restoration. 2021-01-25
• Brunswick Heritage Railroad Museum, 40 West Potomac St, 39.312936°, -77.628242°. Th F 10AM-2PM, Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1-4PM. Museum in downtown Frederick featuring history of Brunswick and the C&O Canal with exhibits and a model train. Free 2020-02-24

Do

Parks

• Baker Park, 121 N Bentz St, 39.416540°, -77.414863°. 7:30AM-10PM. Downtown Frederick's 44-acre park features a carillon, band shell, tennis courts, softball and baseball field, Culler Lake, Thomas pool, and numerous playgrounds for children. Park features concerts and children's theater in the summer and numerous outdoor events throughout the year including a Fourth of July celebration.
  • Edward P. Thomas, Jr. Memorial Swimming Pool, 500 Fleming Ave in Baker Park, 39.415982°, -77.420734°, +1 301 663-5666. Memorial Day to Labor Day: 12:30-8PM. Adult $6

Spectator sports

• Frederick Keys Minor League Baseball (Harry Grove Stadium), 21 Stadium Dr (exit 54 on I-70---then head for the towering lights), +1 301 791-6266. Collegiate summer league baseball team. $5-11 2023-02-19

Festivals

• Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E Patrick St, 39.410933°, -77.394679°, +1 301 663 5895. Hosts events and festivals all year round.

Buy

Frederick is known for a high concentration of antique stores. The majority are in the historic parts of the city along Patrick St, East St, and along Carroll Creek. There are also a variety of small shops along Market St.

• Creme de la Creme, 207 N Market St, 39.416435°, -77.410680°, +1 240 651-1714. F Sa 10AM - 8PM, Su 11AM - 6PM, M-Th 11AM - 7PM. Home goods shop with fun items and great gifts.
• The Record Exchange, 410 N Market St, 39.416435°, -77.410680°, +1 301 644-1166. W-Su noon-6PM, closed M Tu. Classic record store, selling vinyl records, casette tapes, compact discs, and t-shirts. 2023-02-19
• Retro-Metro, 213 N Market St, 39.417015°, -77.410621°, +1 301 698-8100. F Sa 11AM - 8PM, Su-Th 11AM - 6PM. Fun housewares and great gifts.

Shopping malls

• Francis Scott Key Mall, 5500 Buckeystown Pike, 39.3828°, -77.4058°.

Collectibles

• Wonder Book and Video, 1306 W Patrick St, 39.417314°, -77.455557°, +1 301 694-5955. 10AM-10PM. Delightful browsing in this unique collection of used books, sheet music, comics, etc. This store location is one of a few retail locations of Wonder Book which also sells many books online.

Eat

Budget

• Frederick Coffee Company and Cafe, 100 N East St (Corner of E Church St), 39.411701°, -77.411289°, +1 301 694-9299. Daily 6AM - 6PM. Strong coffee in a comfortable setting.
• Pretzel and Pizza Creations, 210 N Market St (Near E 2nd St), 39.411701°, -77.411289°, +1 301 694-9299. F Sa 11AM - 9PM, Su-Th 11AM - 8PM. Pizza with a pretzel crust. Just as amazing as it sounds. If you can't find a seat, take the pizza a block away to the Healing Garden at Bonita Maas Park for a lovely meal in the park.
• South Market Sandwich Company, 105 S Market St (Corner of W All Saints St), 39.411701°, -77.411289°, +1 240 651-3797. M-Sa 8AM - 4PM, closed Su. Sandwich shop with creative combinations of quality ingredients. Located near Carroll Creek, where you can eat a sandwich on a park bench watching the flow of the creek.

Fast food and national chain restaurants are located to the west along Route 40, known as "the golden mile", and south along Route 85 and South Market Street. Smaller, local restaurants are located mainly along Market street in the center of the historic part of town.

Mid-range

• Airways Inn of Frederick, 310 Aviation Way (Located on Aviation Way at The Frederick Municipal Airport), 39.412418°, -77.372318°, +1 301 228-2100. Famous for fresh seafood and delicious Maryland crab soup.
• a.k.a. Friscos Restaurant, 4632 Wedgewood Blvd, 39.366578°, -77.428007°, +1 301 698-0018. Great sandwiches and potatoes. The specialty is the 'exploded potatoes.' $5-10
• Brewer's Alley, 124 N Market St, 39.416075°, -77.410669°, +1 301 631-0089. Local brewery with a nice range of beers. The Nut Brown Ale and Oatmeal Stout are very good. Cask aged beers are often available. Pizzas and baked dishes from the brick oven are really good. Try the sweet potato fries! $7-20
• The Orchard, 45 N Market St, 39.415236°, -77.411022°, +1 301 663-4912. Mostly natural and organic foods. Good selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes. $12-20
• Viet Gourmet, 1812 Rosemont Ave, 39.429187°, -77.433172°, +1 301 418-6455. 10:30AM-9:30PM. Serving over 100 Vietnamese dishes and 20 noodle soups for dine-in or carryout customers. Daily lunch specials as well as a wine and beer menu.

Splurge

• The Tasting Room, 101 N Market St (Intersection of Church & Market St), 39.415428°, -77.410834°, +1 240 379-7772. European-style fine dining with an extensive wine list. Dinner mains: $28-45; Glass of wine: $8-16
• Thacher and Rye, 228 N Market St, 39.417241°, -77.410346°, +1 301 696-8658. "Top Chef" finalist Bryan Voltaggio's restaurant. Modern, local, seasonal, very high end food. Reservations are needed, well in advance for the Chef's tasting menu and Table 21 (A 21 course, 3 hour, food event or a lifetime). Lunch tasting menu is highly recommended. $25-121 2023-02-19

Drink

• Tenth Ward Distilling Company, 55 E Patrick St (Near Maxwell St), 39.414050°, -77.409081°, +1 301 360-5888. W-F 2-10PM, Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-6PM. Distillery selling gin, whiskey, rye, absinthe, and other spirits. Mixed drinks served as well. Can also have burgers delivered from the burger shop next door.
• Bushwaller's, 209 N Market St, 39.416951°, -77.410763°, +1 301 695-6988. Irish pub.
• Guido's Speakeasy, 543 N Market St (Rt 15, exit 14, east on Rosemont Ave. Rosemont Ave becomes Dill Ave. Left on N Market St. Go two blocks. Corner of N. Market St. and E. 6th St.), 39.421454°, -77.410235°, +1 301 620-7000. 3PM - 1:45AM. Dive bar.
• Mirage Lounge, 243 N Market St, 39.417715°, -77.410702°, +1 301 631-9247. Hookah bar with wide selection of sheesha. Serves Middle Eastern food. 50-cent beers on Thursdays. Frequented on the evenings by students from Hood College. 2016-09-15
• Monocacy Brewing Company, 1781 N Market St, 39.439936°, -77.398603°, +1 240 457-4232. W 4PM-8PM, Th F 4-9PM, Sa noon-9PM, Su noon-6PM, M Tu closed. Brewery with indoor and outdoor seating area. Sometimes has live music and a food truck. 2021-09-17

Sleep

Budget

• Gambrill State Park Camping, 8002 Gambrill Park Rd. Camping facilities.

Mid-range

• Comfort Inn – Frederick, 7300 Executive Way, +1 301 668-7272.
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Frederick, 5220 Westview Dr, +1 301 631-2000.
• Hampton Inn Frederick, 5311 Buckeystown Pike, +1 301 698-2500.
• MainStay Suites – Frederick, 7310 Executive Way, +1 301 668-4600.
• Holiday Inn Frederick-Conf Ctr at FSK Mall, 5400 Holiday Drive, +1 301 694-7500.
• Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Frederick, MD, 5579 Spectrum Dr, +1 301 695-2881, cx_frmd@countryinn.com.
• Courtyard Frederick, 5225 Westview Dr, +1 301 631-9030.
• Best Western Historic Frederick, 420 Prospect Blvd, +1 301 695-6200.
• Motel 6 Frederick MD - Fort Detrick, 999 West Patrick St, +1 301 662-5141. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon.
• Econo Lodge, 6021 Francis Scott Key Dr, +1 301 698-0555. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.

Go next

• Brunswick
• Gettysburg
• Sharpsburg is the site of the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest one day battle in American history
• Harpers Ferry