The Best Fall Activities in Montgomery County

There really is no better place to be than in Montgomery County, Maryland during the fall season. Enjoy a variety of autumn-inspired activities like tasting beer samples at a horse farm or hiking through fall foliage that are sure to make your stay a memorable one! And make sure to add the National Capital Trolley Museum to your fall weekend itinerary!

FALL TIP: Pack your layers—it can be a bit chilly in the morning and evening hours during the fall season, but the sun brings the perfect touch of warmth to make any day brighter!

Start planning out the perfect fall family trip by browsing the best places to stay in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Become a Farm-to-Table Foodie

It’s no secret that Montgomery County, Maryland has some of the best eats around. So start digging in!

Farmers Markets: Shop and stroll around at some of the best farmers markets the county has to offer for local food from vendors all around the county.

Produce Picking: Instead of shopping for a bite to eat, why not just pick it yourself? There are plenty of beautiful farms and orchards around the county that are perfect for an all family outing. Pick from a selection of fresh seasonal autumn produce like apples, pumpkins, tomatoes, and red raspberries.
Oktoberfest: Continue your fall food adventure and swing by the Germantown Oktoberfest celebration, complete with a parade, live music, great food, a beer garden, and more.

Crab Feasts: Of course, no trip to the county is complete without trying the famous Maryland Blue Crab and contrary to popular belief, fall season is prime time for a crab feast! So put on your bib, grab some Old Bay and a mallet, and dig in at some of our favorite spots to grab a delicious crab dish.

Sample Brews like a True Beer Sommelier

Sit back, relax, and enjoy a local ale at some of the best breweries in the county. Sip a beer with horses on a farm at Waredeca Brewing Company, learn the ins and outs of a great beer at True Respite, sample European ales at Silver Branch Brewing Co, and taste classic beers with a modern twist at Elder Pine. Eager to learn more about the makings of a perfect brew? Check out our Q&A interview with a few of our favorite breweries in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Pick a Pumpkin like a Pro

Taking a pumpkin home to carve is a fall tradition and there’s no better place to pick yours than one of the great farms around the county. Butler’s Orchard and Homestead Farm both have large pumpkin patches for you to choose from as well as fun fall activities like straw mazes, hayloft barns, and scenic hayrides.

Hike Your Way Through Vibrant Fall Foliage

Fall foliage is beautiful but hiking through it is a whole other experience that everyone must try during their visit in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Sugarloaf Mountain: One of the best hiking spots for those who want an elevated view. The mountain overlooks the surrounding farmland and once you’re at the top, you’ve reached over 1,000 feet of elevation.

Lake Needwood Trails: For that picture-perfect moment, hiking through the Lake Needwood Trails is the way to go. Take in the variety of fall colors of the leaves and snap the best shot of the trees along the beautiful blue lake- we promise you it’s a site to see!

C&O Canal National Historical Park and Great Falls Park: Looking for a different kind of fall hike? Then a hike along the C&O Canal towpath and Great Falls Park is for you. Not only will you get to see jaw dropping view of the park, but you can also visit the famous Great Falls, stunning falls created over steep, jagged rocks in the river.

Celebrate Halloween with Spooks and Screams

Looking for night of spooks and screams? Well, you have come to the right place! Montgomery County has so many haunted attractions to make your Halloween a spooky one like the Field of Screams, Markoff’s Haunted Forrest, and Murder at the Mansion. If real life scares are more your speed, you’re in for a treat—the county has many places that are known to have paranormal activity. Don’t believe us? Go see for yourself!