Found in Maryland, this county presents a wide range of activities for tourists to enjoy! With various options such as hiking, fishing, and boating, there is no shortage of things to do in Howard County.
There are also a number of golf courses and parks to enjoy. If you’re looking for a place to relax, you can take a trip to one of the many beaches in the county and spend a day in the sun.
Howard County is also home to some unique entertainment options, like the Autobahn Indoor Speedway & Events and the Monster Mini Golf course. For the more brave tourists, there is the spooky Hell House!
Here’s our list of the top things to do in Howard County, Maryland
The 71 Most Popular Things To Do In Howard County, Maryland
71. Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods
5.0 (1 review)
Credit: Jonathan McKinney, Google Maps
Location: Columbia MD
70. Howard Lodge
5.0 (1 review)
Credit: Zrmachuga, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 12301 Howard Lodge Dr Sykesville MD
Web Address: https://mht.maryland.gov/nr/NRDetail.aspx
69. Patuxent Branch Trail
4.5 (2 reviews)
68. Ellicott Mills Children’s Museum
4.8 (4 reviews)
Location: 3725 Park Ave Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 480 3250
Web Address: https://hchsmd.org/childrens-museum/
67. Old Main Line via Carrie Way Trail
4.8 (5 reviews)
Credit: Preethi kyanam, Google Maps
Location: 9395 Carrie Way Ellicott City MD
66. Howard County Center of African American Culture Columbia 2017
4.0 (6 reviews)
Credit: Myk Crypt, Google Maps
Location: 5434 Vantage Point Road Columbia MD
Tel: 410 715 1921
Web Address: http://hccaac.org/
65. Pavilion D
4.8 (6 reviews)
Credit: Ali Rashidi, Google Maps
Location: Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 313 4682
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/CentennialPark
64. Ellicott City Colored School
4.3 (7 reviews)
Credit: Preservation Maryland, License, Flickr
Location: 8683 Frederick Road Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 313 1428
63. Ellicott City Firehouse Museum
4.4 (11 reviews)
Credit: Preservation Maryland, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3829 Church Road Ellicott City MD
62. Centennial Park Pavilion G
4.9 (16 reviews)
Location: Ellicott City MD
61. Ellicott City Historic District
4.8 (22 reviews)
Credit: Doug Kerr, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 8358 Frederick Road Ellicott City MD
60. Triadelphia Reservoir
3.8 (22 reviews)
Credit: Ben Schumin, License, Flickr
59. I-95 North Welcome Center
4.1 (26 reviews)
Location: I 95 Savage MD
Tel: 301 490 1333
Web Address: https://visitmaryland.org/
58. Penn Oaks Winery
4.8 (27 reviews)
Credit: Penn Oaks Winery, Google Maps
Location: 14607 Riggs Meadow Dr Cooksville MD
Tel: 301 562 8592
Web Address: https://penn-oaks-winery.com/
57. Brown’s Bridge
4.6 (28 reviews)
Location: 2220 Ednor Road Silver Spring MD
Tel: 301 206 7485
Web Address: https://wsscwater.com/watershed
56. Rocky Gorge Reservoir
4.2 (28 reviews)
Credit: ssfaulkn, License, Wikimedia commons
55. African Art Museum of Maryland (AAMM)
4.3 (35 reviews)
Location: 8775 Cloudleap Ct Suite 112 Columbia MD
Tel: 410 740 7411
Web Address: https://africanartmuseum.org/
54. Bollman Iron Truss Bridge
4.5 (42 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Laurel MD
53. Museum of Howard County History
4.8 (58 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 8328 Court Ave Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 461 1050
Web Address: https://hchsmd.org/about-museum-of-howard-county-history/
52. DoodleHATCH Interactive Art Museum
4.6 (61 reviews)
Credit: Jennifer Malloy, Google Maps
Location: 8775 Cloudleap Court Center Suite 1 Columbia MD
Tel: 301 778 0616
Web Address: http://doodlehatch.com/
51. Warfields Pond Park
4.6 (63 reviews)
Location: 14523 Macclintock Dr Glenwood MD
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/WarfieldPondPark
50. Hugg-Thomas Wildlife Management Area
4.5 (68 reviews)
Credit: Bohemian Baltimore, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 13200 Forsythe Road Sykesville MD
Tel: 410 260 8540
49. The Shrine of St. Anthony
4.8 (70 reviews)
Credit: Preservation Maryland, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 12290 Folly Quarter Road Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 531 2800
Web Address: http://shrineofstanthony.org/
48. Howard County Living Farm Heritage Museum
4.7 (73 reviews)
Location: 12985 MD 144 West Friendship MD
Tel: 410 489 2345
Web Address: http://farmheritage.org/
47. Patapsco Female Institute
4.7 (111 reviews)
Credit: License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 3655 Church Road Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 313 0424
46. Color Burst Park
4.4 (139 reviews)
Credit: Color Burst Park, Google Maps
Location: 6000 Merriweather Dr Columbia MD
Web Address: http://merriweatherdistrict.com/
45. Font Hill Wetland Park
4.8 (144 reviews)
Credit: Coco From HoCo, Google Maps
Location: 10018 10020 Autumn View Ln Ellicott City MD
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/FontHillWetlandsPark
44. Rockburn Skills Park
4.8 (151 reviews)
Location: 6105 Rockburn Branch Park Road Elkridge MD
Tel: 410 313 4455
43. Lake Elkhorn
4.7 (160 reviews)
Credit: FlugKerl2, License, Wikimedia commons
42. Daniels Dam
4.6 (161 reviews)
Credit: Bohemian Baltimore, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Ellicott City MD
Web Address: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/PatapscoValley/Daniels/Daniels-Dam.aspx
41. High Ridge Park
4.4 (180 reviews)
Credit: Betty Longbottom, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 10100 Superior Ave Laurel MD
Tel: 410 313 4700
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/HighRidgePark
40. Scotts Cove Recreation Area
4.5 (188 reviews)
Credit: Jeremy Gordon, Google Maps
Location: 11004 Harding Road Scaggsville MD
Tel: 301 206 7485
Web Address: https://cityoflaurel.org/
39. Belmont Manor & Historic Park
4.8 (194 reviews)
Credit: Preservation Maryland, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 6555 Belmont Woods Road Elkridge MD
Tel: 410 313 0200
Web Address: http://belmontmanormd.com/
38. Alpha Ridge Park
4.6 (213 reviews)
Credit: ill ho Jeong, Google Maps
Location: 11685 Old Frederick Road Marriottsville MD
Tel: 410 313 4700
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/alpharidgepark
37. Middle Patuxent Environmental Area
4.6 (230 reviews)
Location: 5795 Trotter Road Clarksville MD
Tel: 410 313 4700
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/MPEA
36. Centennial Park Pavilion H
4.7 (231 reviews)
Credit: Robyn Brown Photography, Google Maps
Location: 4760 4770 Woodland Road Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 313 7271
Web Address: http://howardcountymd.gov/Centennialpark
35. Guilford Park
4.3 (231 reviews)
Location: 9900 Guilford Road Jessup MD
Tel: 410 313 4700
34. Waverly Woods Golf Club
4.6 (246 reviews)
Credit: Waverly Woods Golf Club, Google Maps
Location: 2100 Warwick Way Marriottsville MD
Tel: 410 313 9182
Web Address: http://waverlywoods.com/
33. Patapsco Valley State Park – Daniels Road Trailhead
4.5 (262 reviews)
Credit: hamadou akakpo, Google Maps
Location: 2090 Daniels Road Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 461 5005
Web Address: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/PatapscoValley/Daniels/Daniels.aspx
32. Worthington Off Leash Dog Park
4.6 (264 reviews)
Location: 8170 Hillsborough Road Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 313 4700
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/WorthingtonPark
31. Schooley Mill Park
4.6 (273 reviews)
Credit: Josh Schwartz, Google Maps
Location: 12975 Hall Shop Road Highland MD
Tel: 410 313 4700
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/SchooleyMillPark
30. Historic Ellicott City Inc. (HEC)
4.7 (275 reviews)
Credit: Historic Ellicott City Inc. (HEC), Google Maps
Location: 3480 Street Johns Ln Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 461 6908
Web Address: http://historicec.com/
29. Wincopin Trails
4.7 (281 reviews)
Location: 9299 Vollmerhausen Road Jessup MD
28. Waterloo Park
4.5 (286 reviews)
Credit: David McCormick, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 6951 Old Waterloo Road Elkridge MD
Tel: 410 313 4700
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/Waterloo-Park
27. Howard County Conservancy
4.8 (289 reviews)
Location: 10520 Old Frederick Road Woodstock MD
Tel: 410 465 8877
Web Address: http://howardnature.org/
26. Centennial Park West
4.7 (326 reviews)
Credit: Tammy Blake, Google Maps
Location: 4651 Centennial Ln Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 313 4700
Web Address: http://howardcountymd.gov/Centennialpark
25. Western Regional Park
4.7 (417 reviews)
Location: 14800 Carrs Mill Road Woodbine MD
Tel: 410 313 4700
24. Swinging Bridge at Orange Grove
4.7 (427 reviews)
Credit: F Delventhal, License, Flickr
Location: River Road Elkridge MD
Tel: 410 461 5005
Web Address: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/patapsco.aspx
23. Cedar Lane Park
4.6 (427 reviews)
Location: 5081 Cedar Ln Columbia MD
Tel: 410 313 7285
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/CedarLanePark
22. Cascade Falls Trail
4.7 (468 reviews)
Credit: Matthew Beziat, License, Flickr
Location: Elkridge MD
Web Address: https://alltrails.com/trail/us/maryland/broad-creek-park
21. Long Gate Playground
4.7 (469 reviews)
Location: 5001 Meadowbrook Ln Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 313 2727
Web Address: http://howardcountymd.gov/meadowbrookpark
20. Wilde Lake Park
4.7 (505 reviews)
Location: 10002 Hyla Brook Road Columbia MD
Tel: 410 715 3000
Web Address: https://columbiaassociation.org/venue/wilde-lake-park/
19. Savage Park
4.5 (538 reviews)
Location: 8400 Fair Street Savage MD
Tel: 410 313 4700
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/SavagePark
18. Cascade Falls
4.7 (547 reviews)
Location: Elkridge MD
Tel: 410 461 5005
Web Address: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/PatapscoValley/History-PatapscoValley.aspx
17. Meadowbrook Park
4.6 (691 reviews)
Location: 5001 Meadowbrook Ln Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 313 4700
16. Rockburn Branch Park
4.6 (840 reviews)
Credit: Scott218, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 6105 Rockburn Branch Park Road Elkridge MD
Tel: 410 313 4700
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/RockburnBranchPark
15. Lake Elkhorn Park
4.7 (860 reviews)
Location: Parking lot Patuxent Branch Trail Columbia MD
Tel: 410 715 3000
Web Address: https://columbiaassociation.org/explore-columbia/get-outside/lakes/
14. Blandair Regional Park West Playground
4.7 (1,703 reviews)
Location: 5750 Oakland Mills Road Columbia MD
Tel: 410 313 4700
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/BlandairPark
13. Toby’s Dinner Theatre
4.7 (1,718 reviews)
Credit: Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Google Maps
Location: 5900 Symphony Woods Road Columbia MD
Tel: 410 730 8311
Web Address: http://tobysdinnertheatre.com/
12. Sky Zone Trampoline Park
4.2 (2,533 reviews)
Location: 7175 Oakland Mills Road Columbia MD
Tel: 410 834 5717
Web Address: https://skyzone.com/columbia
11. Autobahn Indoor Speedway & Events – Baltimore, MD-BWI
4.5 (3,577 reviews)
Credit: Autobahn Indoor Speedway & Events – Baltimore, MD/BWI, Google Maps
Location: 8251 Preston Ct Jessup MD
Tel: 410 880 0010
Web Address: http://autobahnspeed.com/
10. Patapsco Valley State Park – Hollofield Area
4.6 (5,932 reviews)
Location: 8020 Baltimore National Pike Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 461 5005
Web Address: http://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/patapsco.aspx
Our Top picks
9. Centennial Lake
4.5 (49 reviews)
Credit: MrSparkle17, License, Wikimedia commons
8. Lake Kittamaqundi
4.7 (82 reviews)
Credit: Preservation Maryland, License, Wikimedia commons
7. Grist Mill Walking Bridge
4.6 (135 reviews)
Credit: Bohemian Baltimore, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Grist Mill Trail at Patapsco Valley Streetate Park Catonsville MD
6. Terrapin Adventures
4.7 (260 reviews)
Location: Fair St and Washington St Savage MD
Tel: 301 725 1313
Web Address: http://terrapinadventures.com/
5. B&O Ellicott City Station Museum
4.6 (294 reviews)
Credit: Core Shaft, Google Maps
Location: 3711 Maryland Ave Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 313 1945
Web Address: https://howardcountymd.gov/recreation-parks/baltimore-ohio-ellicott-city-station-museum
4. Robinson Nature Center
4.7 (570 reviews)
Credit: FlugKerl2, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 6692 Cedar Ln Columbia MD
Tel: 410 313 0400
Web Address: http://howardcountymd.gov/recreation-parks/RobinsonNatureCenter
3. Clark’s Elioak Farm
4.5 (1,825 reviews)
Credit: Clark’s Elioak Farm, Google Maps
Location: 10500 Clarksville Pike Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 730 4049
Web Address: http://clarklandfarm.com/
2. Centennial Park
4.7 (3,638 reviews)
Credit: Sardaka, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 10000 Clarksville Pike Ellicott City MD
Tel: 410 313 7256
Web Address: http://howardcountymd.gov/centennialpark
1. Merriweather Post Pavilion
4.5 (4,559 reviews)
Location: 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy Columbia MD
Tel: 410 715 5550
Web Address: https://merriweathermusic.com/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Howard County, Maryland! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
Join the TouristWire community
At TouristWire, our team works tirelessly to bring you the most comprehensive itineraries and reviews to help you plan your next trip. Don’t miss out, join our mailing list and our reviews delivered directly to your mailbox!
.
