Need a convenient, entertainment-packed hub between Baltimore and D.C.? Head to Hanover! Hanover offers shopping, dining, and entertainment galore, all just minutes from BWI Airport. Whether you're hitting the slots, catching a show, or enjoying a family-friendly day out, Hanover is a fun and accessible destination.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Hanover is during the spring and fall (April–June and September–October), when the weather is pleasant for shopping, dining al fresco, and exploring nearby trails and attractions.
How to Get There
- If you are traveling by car: Hanover is conveniently located off MD Route 100 and I-295, about 15 minutes from Baltimore and 40 minutes from Washington, D.C.
- By Air: Hanover is just 10 minutes from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
- By Train: MARC and Amtrak serve the BWI Rail Station, with shuttles and rideshares available to Hanover hotels and attractions.
Where to Stay
- Live! Casino & Hotel – Upscale stay with onsite gaming, dining, and entertainment at Maryland’s premier casino.
- Element Arundel Mills – Eco-conscious hotel with spacious suites and complimentary breakfast near the mall.
- Aloft Arundel Mills BWI Airport – Trendy, pet-friendly hotel with a pool and bar near major attractions.
Top Attractions
⮕ Shop, Dine, and Play at Arundel Mills Mall
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Arundel Mills is a mall located in Hanover, Marylan, just south of Baltimore, near BWI Airport. Covering 1,630,000 square feet, it is the largest outlet and retail shopping, dining and entertainment center located minutes from Washington, DC and Baltimore. Arundel Mills has more than 200 stores, including Coach Factory Store, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, H&M, ULTA Beauty, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, LEGO Store, Under Armour Factory House, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store and others. For a great meal, there is Buffalo Wild Wings, Nando's Peri-Peri, Dave & Buster’s, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament and you can even eat at Cinemark Egyptian 24 Theatres. Arundel Mills also includes Live! Casino & Hotel.
7000 Arundel Mills Cir, Hanover, MD 21076, Phone: 410-540-5100
⮕ Break a Sweat and Build Strength at Powerhouse Gym
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The Powerhouse Gym has been a leader in the fitness industry for the last 40 years. They have 300 gyms in 39 American states and in 17 countries worldwide. Their Hanover, Maryland location is a popular gym for a complete workout. Only a few miles south of BWI Airport and north of Fort Meade, Powerhouse Gym serves a wide range of athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The gym offers all kinds of weight training equipment for any type of workout. There are several benches, squat racks, free weights, treadmills and other machines. The gym is located in a strip mall on a hill in the heart of town.
7476 New Ridge Rd A, Hanover, MD 21076, Phone: 410-691-1590
⮕ Relax and Recharge at Massage Envy Spa
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Located in Arundel Village in Hanover, Maryland, Massage Envy Spa is the perfect place for customized and affordable facials and massages. They have licensed massage therapists and estheticians to take care of your skin, helping you to look and feel your best. Massage therapy is not a luxury. It is known to relax muscles, help relieve stress, boost energy and refresh mental and emotional outlook. Professional skin care helps the skin to effectively use beneficial nutrients and improve the cellular regeneration process. It is important to make regular massage and skin care a normal part of general body care routine.
7645 Arundel Mills Blvd, Hanover, MD 21076, Phone: 410-799-2002
⮕ Savor Bold Flavors at Little Spice Thai Cuisine
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Little Spice Thai Cuisine is a small but very cool family-owned and run Thai eatery in downtown Hanover, Maryland, with minimalist black and white décor, where the only bursts of color come from the beautifully plated dishes. The menu has a large range of authentic home-cooked Thai dishes from family recipes. They use only the finest ingredients and fresh produce to come up with subtle, balanced blend of flavors, textures and colors. It can be as spicy as you wish, the vegetables are the stars of all dishes and flavors are so typically Thai – spicy, sweet, sour, all at the same time. Restaurant has a full bar with a nice selection of craft beers and wines.
1350 Dorsey Rd, Hanover, MD 21076, Phone: 410-859-0100
⮕ Enjoy Authentic Afghan Dishes at Maiwand Kabob
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Maiwand Kabob is a small chain of small restaurants introducing Afghan food to Maryland. The first restaurant opened in 1999 in Columbia, Maryland quickly gained reputation for freshly made authentic Afghan dishes and great flavor. Their Hanover location is a no-nonsense counter-serve eatery in Shops at Arundel Preserve. Each dish is prepared fresh for each customer. Their iconic kabobs are marinated daily in a blend of traditional Afghan spices and seasonings and tandoori breads are made to order. The menu is extensive but check daily specials, there is always something extra. The restaurant does not serve alcohol.
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Arundel Mills 7698, Dorchester Blvd, Hanover, MD 21076, Phone: 443-755-0461
⮕ Feast on German Fare and Beer at Bavarian Brauhaus
© Bavarian Brauhaus
Bavarian Brauhaus is an elegant, upscale family-owned and run restaurant in Hanover, Maryland, serving authentic German-American cuisine. It has a clubby, cozy feel with leather chairs and large paintings on the wall. Considered the best place in Maryland to get German food and beer, Bavarian Brauhouse offers all the popular German delights such as Sauerbraten and the Jägerschnitzel. If you are of German origin, it will take you back to the old country. There is a weekly music and a very special piano made in Bavaria over 85 years ago. The fully stocked bar has an extensive selection of German beers with seven beers on tap and over forty bottled beers. The restaurant is open for lunch, business meetings or family gatherings in the Garmisch Room.
7304 Pkwy Dr S, Hanover, MD 21076, Phone: 410-712-0300
⮕ Try Your Luck and Stay in Style at Live! Casino and Hotel
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The Live! Casino and Hotel, also known as the Maryland Live! Casino, is a popular entertainment center and hotel that was first opened in 2012. Today, the casino continues to go strong and is now home to 4,750 machines in total as well as 52 poker tables, and 189 live table games. The hotel, which has 310 relaxing rooms within a 17-story building, is known for the being the tallest building in Anne Arundel County. Guests to the Live! Casino and Hotel can look forward to a number of delightful restaurants to enjoy a meal at, including the Prime Rib, Luk Fu, Luckie’s, and Phillips Seafood Restaurant, and can also enjoy live performances and concerts at the Live! Center Stage.
7002 Arundel Mills Cir, Hanover, Maryland 21076, Phone: 443-842-7000
⮕ Step Into the Middle Ages at Medieval Times Maryland Castle
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Dine amongst jousters, royalty, and knights at the Medieval Times Maryland Castle, one of the most popular dinner attractions in Hanover. More than just a mere dinner show, the castle will take you back in time to an age of devotion, courage, bravery, and romance unique to medieval times. At the castle, you and your companions are guests of the queen, and as you feast on a mouthwatering four-course meal, your eyes will feast on an incredible show of athleticism and heroism care of spirited horses and expert swordsmen. With a memorable musical score and brilliant showmanship, this dinner show will undoubtedly be one for the history books.
7000 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, Maryland 21076; Phone: 888-935-6878
⮕ Put Your Wits to the Test at Mission Escape Rooms
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If you’re looking for a great team-building exercise with colleagues or just a great way to bond with family and friends, give the exciting Mission Escape Rooms a shot. Located on Arundel Mills, Mission Escape offers five enchanting themed rooms that have varying levels of difficulty but have equal levels of fun and excitement to offer. Try the Curse of the Winter Witch, where you and your teammates will have to battle against the Winter Witch and her armies within fifty minutes, or Medieval Crimes, in which you will have to find your way out of prison before the executioner of the villain, Lord Limerick, arrives. While each room may have a different goal, one thing is for sure, they’ll all be equally challenging, and equally fun.
7000 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, Maryland 21076, Phone: 410-553-4850
Must-see if you are a first-time visitor:
- Patapsco Valley State Park – Avalon Area – Just a short drive away, perfect for hiking, biking, and picnicking along the river.
If you are interested in local events:
- Live! Events at The HALL – Catch national touring acts, comedy shows, and DJs at this top-tier venue.
- Holiday Happenings at Arundel Mills (November–December) – Seasonal décor, visits with Santa, and special shopping hours.
- Food Truck Fridays (Spring–Fall) – Enjoy rotating food trucks and live music at nearby parks and venues.
If you are looking for unique day trips within 30 Minutes of Hanover, Maryland:
- Baltimore Inner Harbor (25–30 min) – Visit the National Aquarium, grab seafood at the harbor, or explore museums and shops.
- Annapolis (30 min) – Walk historic cobblestone streets, tour the Naval Academy, or dine along the waterfront.
- Ellicott City (20–25 min) – Explore a charming downtown filled with antiques, boutiques, and haunted history.
- Savage Mill (15 min) – Unique shopping, art galleries, and riverside trails in a historic textile mill setting.
- Lake Elkhorn (20 min) – Peaceful park with walking paths, picnic spots, and birdwatching opportunities.
FAQ:
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Q: Where is Hanover located?
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A: Hanover is an unincorporated community in northwestern Anne Arundel County and eastern Howard County in Maryland, south of Baltimore.
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Q: What is located at the heart of Hanover?
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A: At the heart of the place is Arundel Mills, a very popular shopping, entertainment, and gaming center.
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Q: What attractions are available at Arundel Mills?
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A: Arundel Mills is home to the popular Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament.
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Q: Where can I find authentic German food in Hanover?
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A: If you're craving authentic German food, don’t miss the elegant Bavarian Brauhaus.
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Q: Where can I relax and take care of my well-being?
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A: Massage Envy Spa will take care of your physical and mental well-being.
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Q: Where can I work out in Hanover?
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A: Powerhouse Gym offers all the necessary tools for a good workout.
Plan Your Trip
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