7 Best Things to Do in Elkton, Maryland

By VacationIdea Staff on March 7, 2023 - Updated

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Elktown is a charming town located at the navigational head of the Elk River, originally known as the Head of Elk due to its use as a travel route to the nearby Chesapeake Bay. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the town was known as the "Gretna Green of the East" due to its popularity as an elopement site for area couples. Today, it offers lovely rustic attractions for visitors looking to experience true small-town Maryland life, including the state's oldest preserved historic covered bridge, which can be traversed on foot throughout the year. Each year, the city hosts the annual Fairhill Scottish Games, which attract more than 500 Scottish and Celtic performers and competitors.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Milburn Orchards

Milburn Orchards is a delightful you-pick family farm operated in Elkton for five generations, known for its signature fresh apple cider crafted from apples grown on site at the farm. All apple ciders are made from three to four apple varieties and are pasteurized for safety, available between apple harvesting time and the end of December. Visitors can explore the farm's "Big Back Yard" and pick for their own cherries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, and blackberries throughout the harvest season. Local produce and farm-raised beef and pork are sold throughout the year at the farm's on-farm market, while homemade pies, pastries, and baked goods are served up from its bake shop. Family-friendly attractions include an Ice Cream Deck serving up Hershey's and Kilby hand-scooped ice cream and playground equipment areas for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

1495 Appleton Rd, Elkton, MD 21921, Phone: 410-398-1349

2.Fairhill Scottish Games, Elkton, Maryland

Fairhill Scottish Games is one of the Maryland area's premiere Scottish festivals, attracting more than 500 competitors and performers each year from around the world. The festival, which has taken place each year for more than six decades, attracts some of the world's best Scottish musicians, dancers, and athletes, celebrating traditional Scottish and Celtic culture for several days across the grounds of the Fair Hill Race Track. Visitors can enjoy lively competitions such as caber tosses, bagpipe contests, fiddling competitions, and dance-offs or participate in demonstrations of traditional cultural practices and art forms. A full vendor market is also showcased on site, along with food tents set up throughout the fairgrounds serving up Scottish and American fare. Scottish teas are available for tasting at the event's full-service tea room.

4600 Telegraph Rd, Elkton, MD 21921, Phone: 410-392-8765

3.Gilpin's Falls Covered Bridge

Gilpin's Falls Covered Bridge stretches across North East Creek in Cecil County, originally constructed by bridgewright Joseph George Johnson in 1861. The historic bridge spans a length of 119 feet and showcases lovely Burr arch styling and wooden trusses. It was erected just upstream of Samuel Gilpin's mills and dam at the time of its construction. Though it is closed to vehicular traffic today, it was restored to its historic condition in 1959 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, open to the public as a pedestrian bridge for foot traffic today. Visitors can view its unique architectural elements, including sheltering clapboard walls, king-post trusses, and arched timber beams as they walk across the state's longest remaining covered wooden bridge.

North East Rd, North East, MD 21901

4.Maryland Beer Company

Maryland Beer Company is Elkton's premiere craft microbrewery, founded in 2015 by Jessica Alexander and Scott McCardell. The brewery showcases full five-barrel brewhouse operations, which include a special barrel brewhouse for experimenting with small batches and unusual styles. Year-round beers include the company's 1812 American Pale Ale, Wit Happens Belgian Wit, Dense Black Oatmeal Stout, and Wild Haze New England IPA. Specialty seasonal ales and one-offs have included favorites like the company's Sneaky Pete Belgian Dubbel and Chocolate Chessie Porter. Visitors can enjoy brewery tours and tastings throughout the year and sample all of the company's beers as part of flight tastings. Live special events include weekly music bingo events, hosted each Friday evening.

601 N Bridge St Suite C, Elkton, MD 21921, Phone: 443-406-7319

5.Walnut Springs Farm, Elkton, Maryland

Walnut Springs Farm is a delightful family-operated farm that has been operated by the Johnson family for over 40 years, located within the lovely town of Elkton for over 75 years. The farm, which is overseen by Ruth Ann and Phil Johnson, has offered pick-your-own experiences for customers each year since 1975, showcasing delicious strawberry, blueberry, sweet cherry, and red and black raspberry fields open to the public for picking during harvest months. Environmentally-friendly farming practices guarantee all fruits are safe for eating. Elderberries are also sold for wholesale to restaurants and food companies, with some elderberry products available onsite for visitor purchase. School tours are available for local area student groups with advance reservation.

4040 Blue Ball Rd, Elkton, MD 21921, Phone: 410-398-3451

6.Baker's Restaurant, Elkton, Maryland

Baker's Restaurant was originally established in the early 20th century as the Milk Bar, a small country store offering limited dine-in counter service fare. Since 1958, the restaurant has been operated as a full-service breakfast, lunch, and dinner joint, known for its delicious American classics. Diners can choose from selections like classic or cowboy-style reuben sandwiches, beer-battered cod filets, Maryland crab cakes, and golden-fried shrimp platters. Homestyle entrees are also on the menu, including favorites like roast beef brisket sandwiches, shepherd's pies, country-fried steak, and Chesapeake chicken Imperial. Shareable plates focus on creative eats like fried green beans, Jersey Shore-style beer-battered onion rings, and homemade turkey chili.

1075 Augustine Herman Hwy, Elkton, MD 21921, Phone: 410-398-2435

7.JoJo's Super Dogs, Elkton, Maryland

JoJo's Super Dogs is a unique diner in Elkton specializing in creative hot dog offerings topped with delicious seasonal and regional toppings. The diner, which originally opened in 2005, moved to its current location in 2015 along East Pulaski Highway and has become one of Cecil County's favorite artisanal dining destinations. Diners can enjoy creative hot dog concoctions such as crabmeat-topped Chesapeake dogs, sauerkraut-topped New York City dogs, red onion sauce and home fries-topped Idaho dogs, and baked bean-topped Boston dogs. Classic American-style entrees served up throughout the week include homemade Maryland-style crab cakes, Arizona chicken platters, and open-faced hot turkey or roast beef sandwiches. At breakfast, diners can choose from favorites like Belgian waffles, build-your-own breakfast sandwiches, and sausage biscuits and gravy plates.

214 E Pulaski Hwy, Elkton, MD 21921, Phone: 410-392-9830