At Concord Point, where the Susquehanna River pours into the Chesapeake Bay, a squat granite lighthouse has stood watch since 1827. Its first keeper was John O’Neill, a local who, the story goes, kept firing a cannon at the British when they burned the town in 1813. That lighthouse, a boardwalk along the water, a museum of hand-carved duck decoys and a marina full of boats are the heart of a Havre de Grace visit, and all of it is less than an hour from Baltimore.

The short answer: Havre de Grace is a small waterfront city at the head of the Chesapeake, about 45 minutes from Baltimore and an hour and a quarter from Philadelphia, and it’s worth a relaxed day or a quiet weekend. Walk the Promenade, climb the Concord Point Lighthouse (free, on weekends from April to October), see the Decoy Museum ($8), eat on the water, and browse the antique shops. From November to January, add the bald eagles at Conowingo Dam, and on a longer trip, the canal town of Chesapeake City and Ladew Topiary Gardens.

Every price, date and hour on this page was checked on September 23, 2026 against the operators’ and agencies’ own websites. A few things catch visitors out: the lighthouse and the Lock House Museum close from November through March, Ladew’s 2026 season ends on October 31, and MARC’s Penn Line trains don’t serve Aberdeen or Perryville on weekends, so a weekend trip by train means Amtrak or a car.

On this page: At a glance · Is it worth it? · History · The Promenade and downtown · Attractions and prices · On the water · Conowingo eagles · Where to eat · Where to stay · The Upper Bay · Ladew Gardens · State parks nearby · Events and best time · Getting there · Day trips · A day plan · A weekend · Other Bay towns · With kids · Costs · What to skip · FAQ

Havre de Grace at a glance

Question	Answer (checked September 2026)
Where is it?	Harford County, at the mouth of the Susquehanna River and the head of the Chesapeake Bay, between Baltimore and the Delaware line.
How far?	About 45 to 55 minutes from Baltimore, 45 minutes from Wilmington, 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes from Philadelphia, and 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes from Washington, before traffic.
By train	Amtrak stops at Aberdeen, a short ride away; MARC’s Penn Line serves Aberdeen and Perryville on weekdays only.
Concord Point Lighthouse	Free; Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.; closed November to March.
Decoy Museum	Adults $8, seniors $7, ages 9 to 18 $2; open daily year-round.
Lock House Museum	Free; Friday to Sunday 1 to 5 p.m., April to October.
Conowingo eagles	Best November to January, peaking late November to early January.
Ladew Topiary Gardens	Adults $22; open April 2 to October 31, 2026; closed Wednesdays.
Where to stay	Victorian bed-and-breakfasts in the historic district; chain hotels near I-95 and in Aberdeen.
Getting around	Walk: the waterfront, museums and downtown are a compact, flat grid. You need a car for Conowingo, Chesapeake City and Ladew.
Best time	May to June and September to October; November to January for eagles.

Is Havre de Grace worth visiting?

Yes, for a day or a quiet weekend, and more than most people expect. Havre de Grace is a small city of about 15,000 people with a walkable historic district, a long waterfront boardwalk, a lighthouse, three small museums, antique shops, good waterfront restaurants and bed-and-breakfasts in Victorian mansions. It sits right where the Susquehanna, the longest river on the East Coast, meets the Bay, so the water views are big and the sunsets are too. Smithsonian magazine put it on its 2014 list of the 20 best small towns in America to visit.

What it isn’t is a big-ticket destination. There’s no famous museum or beach here; the pleasures are walking, eating, poking around the shops and watching the water. On a winter weekday some businesses keep short hours, and on a peak summer weekend the Promenade and restaurants are busy. It’s at its best as an easy escape from Baltimore, Wilmington or Philadelphia, or as a stop on an I-95 road trip, and as a base for the Upper Bay’s eagles, gardens and canal towns.

What is Havre de Grace known for?

Decoys, first of all. The Susquehanna Flats drew so many ducks that generations of local carvers made working decoys here, and the town still calls itself the decoy capital of the world. After that comes a list that fills a walking day: the Concord Point Lighthouse and its War of 1812 keeper, the British raid of 1813, the old Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal, a racetrack known as the Graw where Man o’ War ran in 1920 before it closed in 1950, the bald eagles at Conowingo Dam just upriver, and a local legend that the town missed becoming the nation’s capital by a single vote. Around Baltimore, Wilmington and Philadelphia, it’s mostly known as an easy waterfront day out, with crab cakes on a deck at the end of it.

A short history of Havre de Grace

The city takes its name from the French port of Le Havre, once Le Havre de Grâce, “harbor of grace,” a name local tradition credits to the Marquis de Lafayette, who is said to have admired the view as the Susquehanna opened into the Bay. It was founded in 1782 and incorporated in 1785, one of Maryland’s older municipalities, and it grew as a river and Bay port and a crossing point on the main road between Philadelphia and Baltimore.

In May 1813, during the War of 1812, a British raiding force under Rear Admiral George Cockburn attacked and burned much of the town. John O’Neill, remembered for manning a cannon against the raiders, was captured and later released, and became the first keeper of the Concord Point Lighthouse when it opened in 1827. In 1840, the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal opened between Havre de Grace and Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, bringing coal and lumber downriver; its lock tender’s house survives as a museum.

The Susquehanna Flats, the vast shallow beds at the head of the Bay, once drew huge flocks of canvasbacks and other ducks, and Havre de Grace became the center of a decoy-carving tradition that still defines the town. Today’s Decoy Museum honors those carvers. More recently, in September 2003, Hurricane Isabel’s storm surge wrecked the waterfront boardwalk; it was rebuilt, and the Promenade you walk today is the result.

Walking the Promenade and downtown

Havre de Grace is compact and flat, and everything worth seeing in town is walkable. The Promenade, a waterfront boardwalk, follows the shore between the Concord Point Lighthouse and Tydings Park and its marina, with benches, piers and open water views the whole way. A good walk:

1. Concord Point Lighthouse and the Keeper’s House: start at Concord Point, where the river meets the Bay.
2. The Maritime Museum: close to the lighthouse, on the town’s boats, fishing and the Bay.
3. The Promenade: pick up the boardwalk and follow it along the water past the piers.
4. The Decoy Museum: on the waterfront along the way, with its collection of Chesapeake decoys.
5. Tydings Park and the marina: the Promenade ends at the city’s waterfront park, with lawns, a playground and boats.
6. Downtown: walk inland to Washington Street and St. John Street for antique shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants in historic buildings.
7. The Lock House Museum: at the north end of town by the river, the old canal lock house (open April to October).

Plan it: start at the lighthouse when it opens on a weekend (10 a.m. on Saturday, 1 p.m. on Sunday), walk the Promenade to Tydings Park, have lunch on the water, then spend the afternoon downtown. Save the Lock House for Friday to Sunday afternoons.

Best photo spots

The lighthouse looks best from the pier beside it at Concord Point, with the water in front. The Promenade is at its best early in the morning or in the last hour of daylight, when the light is low and the water is often calmer. Tydings Park’s marina gives you masts and hulls, and the waterfront at the north end of town frames the long bridges over the Susquehanna. In winter, the best wildlife shots are at Conowingo, a short drive up the river.

Havre de Grace attractions, with 2026 hours and prices

Attraction	Admission (2026)	Hours	Season
Concord Point Lighthouse and Keeper’s House	Free	Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.	April to October
Havre de Grace Decoy Museum	$8 adults; $7 seniors 60+; $2 ages 9 to 18	Monday to Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4 p.m.	Year-round
Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House	Free	Friday to Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.	April to October
Havre de Grace Maritime Museum	Check before you go	Check before you go	Seasonal
The Promenade and Tydings Park	Free	Daylight	Year-round

Concord Point Lighthouse

Built in 1827 of granite from Port Deposit, just up the river, the Concord Point Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses in Maryland. You can climb the stairs to the lantern for the view over the river mouth and the Bay, and the restored Keeper’s House next door tells the story of the O’Neill family, who kept the light for generations. Both are free during seasonal hours, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.; they close from November through March except for special events.

Havre de Grace Decoy Museum

The Decoy Museum, on the waterfront, holds one of the country’s best collections of Chesapeake Bay decoys, the working wooden ducks that hunters floated on the Susquehanna Flats, plus the tools and stories of the carvers who made them. It’s small but absorbing, even if you’ve never held a shotgun, and it’s open daily year-round: Monday to Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors 60 and over, and $2 for ages 9 to 18; see the museum’s hours page. Every spring it hosts the Decoy and Wildlife Art Festival, held on May 2 and 3 in 2026.

The decoys tell the story of the Flats. In the late 1800s, market hunters shot from sinkboxes, low floating blinds ringed by hundreds of wooden birds, and shipped ducks by the barrel to city restaurants. Federal law ended market hunting in the early 20th century and outlawed sinkboxes by the 1930s, but the carving survived, shifting from working birds for hunters to decorative pieces for collectors. That shift is what the museum’s galleries trace, and it’s why carvers still bring their work to the museum’s spring festival.

Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House

At the north end of town, the lock tender’s house of the old Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal is now a small free museum on the canal era and the river trade it carried. It’s open Friday to Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., April to October; check its hours page before you go.

Havre de Grace Maritime Museum

Close to the lighthouse, the Maritime Museum covers the town’s maritime heritage, from fishing and boatbuilding to the Bay’s ecology, and it hosts boatbuilding and education programs. Hours vary by season, so check before you visit.

Downtown and the antique shops

Havre de Grace’s downtown, on Washington and St. John streets, is a pleasant few blocks of antique and vintage shops, boutiques, galleries, bakeries and cafes in 19th-century buildings. It’s the town’s best rainy-day option and the natural next stop after the waterfront.

On a rainy day

Rain doesn’t sink a Havre de Grace trip. The Decoy Museum is the best indoor stop and is open daily except on four holidays; the Maritime Museum is worth checking when it’s open; and the antique and vintage shops downtown can fill a whole afternoon. Farther afield, the C&D Canal Museum in Chesapeake City is indoors and free on weekdays, and from April to October, Ladew’s manor house tour gets you under a roof, though the gardens are the real reason to go.

On the water: the Susquehanna Flats, fishing and paddling

Havre de Grace sits where the fresh water of the Susquehanna spreads across the Susquehanna Flats, a broad, shallow area of grass beds at the very top of the Chesapeake. It’s some of the most productive water on the Bay: striped bass come up to spawn in spring, largemouth bass hold in the grass, and waterfowl gather in fall and winter.

• Fishing: anglers fish the Flats, the river and the piers along the Promenade. Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Sport Fishing License covers tidal water: $15 for residents ($6 for seven days) and $22.50 for non-residents ($12 for seven days). Striped bass seasons and catch rules on the Flats are tightly managed and change year to year, so check DNR’s current regulations before you keep a fish.
• Paddling: kayaks and paddleboards do well in the calm water near the marina and along the shoreline, but the river current and the open Flats can turn rough in wind, so stay close to shore and check the forecast.
• Boating: the city marina at Tydings Park and private marinas around town take visiting boaters (call ahead for a slip), and some restaurants, including the Tidewater Grille, have docks for diners who arrive by water.
• Birding: the waterfront and the Flats draw herons, egrets, ospreys, eagles and, in cooler months, rafts of ducks.

Conowingo Dam and the bald eagles

A short drive up the Susquehanna, the Conowingo Dam, a hydroelectric dam built in the late 1920s, is one of the best places in the eastern United States to see bald eagles. US 1 crosses the river on top of it. Fish stunned or churned up by the dam’s turbines draw eagles, herons, gulls and cormorants to the river below, and viewers gather at Fisherman’s Park, beside the river below the dam.

The eagles are there year-round, but the numbers jump from November through January, when roughly 200 more eagles arrive from New York and Canada as lakes and rivers freeze up north. Peak viewing is usually from late November to early January. On peak weekends, photographers with long lenses line the riverbank from first light and the parking lot fills early, so arrive at dawn or come on a weekday.

Plan it: go early on a weekday in December for the best combination of eagles and elbow room, then warm up with breakfast or lunch back in Havre de Grace.

Tips for eagle watching

• Watch the water: the birds gather when water is moving through the turbines and churning up fish, so activity rises and falls through the day.
• Go early: on peak weekends the lot at Fisherman’s Park fills early; a weekday or first light is easier.
• Bring binoculars: you’ll see plenty with them, and a long lens only matters if you’re shooting.
• Dress for the river: December mornings by the water are cold and windy; layers, a hat and hand warmers help.
• Give the birds room: stay on the paths and the riverbank, don’t block other people’s views, and never approach a perched eagle.

Where to eat in Havre de Grace

For a small town, Havre de Grace eats well, and eating on the water is the local specialty.

• Tidewater Grille, at 300 Franklin Street, sits right on the river with indoor and outdoor seating, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and has a free 90-foot dock for diners who arrive by boat. Its deck is pet-friendly.
• MacGregor’s Restaurant, at 331 St. John Street, has served American and seafood dishes on the waterfront since 1987, with views across the water.

Downtown adds cafes, bakeries, pubs and casual spots along Washington and St. John streets. Crab cakes, rockfish and oysters are the local order in season. On summer weekends, book dinner ahead or arrive early for a table with a view, and in winter check hours, since some places close a day or two midweek.

What to order

This is the top of the Chesapeake, so eat like it. Crab cakes are on nearly every menu all year; steamed crabs by the dozen are a warm-weather meal, best from late summer into fall. Rockfish, the Bay’s name for striped bass, turns up in season, and oysters are at their best in the colder months. Ask what’s local that day, and if you want a deck table on a summer evening, go early: the good ones go first.

Where to stay in Havre de Grace

Havre de Grace’s lodging is small-scale, which is part of the appeal.

• Bed-and-breakfasts: the historic district’s Victorian mansions include the Vandiver Inn, an 1886 Queen Anne house, and the Spencer Silver Mansion, an 1896 stone mansion. Both are a short walk from the waterfront; book ahead for weekends.
• Hotels near I-95: chain hotels on the edge of town and in nearby Aberdeen, usually with free parking and lower rates than the B&Bs, a short drive from downtown.
• By boat: the town’s marinas welcome transient boaters for a night or more.

Where to stay in Havre de Grace, Maryland: which to choose

For a romantic weekend, a B&B in the historic district lets you walk to dinner and the Promenade. For families or a quick overnight on an I-95 trip, a hotel near the highway is easier and cheaper. For eagle season at Conowingo, either works; you’ll be driving at dawn anyway.

What drives the price: summer and fall weekends, the Decoy Festival in early May and other festival weekends cost the most, and midweek and winter stays cost the least. B&Bs include breakfast, so compare them with a hotel rate plus a meal out, and check for two-night minimums on peak weekends. Highway hotels are simpler and easier to book at short notice.

The Upper Bay: Chesapeake City, North East and Elk Neck

Across the Susquehanna, Cecil County has a handful of small places that pair well with Havre de Grace.

Chesapeake City

A short drive east, Chesapeake City sits on the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, the shipping channel that has linked the Bay with the Delaware River since 1829. Its small historic district of 19th-century houses, shops and restaurants faces the canal, and the big draw is watching ocean-going ships pass right through town. The C&D Canal Museum, run by the Army Corps of Engineers, is free and open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the canal’s old steam pumping machinery.

The canal splits the town in two. The south side holds most of the historic district, and a high bridge carries MD 213 over the water. Ships and tugs pushing barges pass close to the town’s waterfront, and watching them go by is the main event, so give yourself time to sit rather than tick off sights. It’s a half day on its own, or an easy add-on to a Havre de Grace weekend.

North East

The small town of North East, at the head of the North East River, has a main street of shops, antiques and places to eat, and it’s a short stop on the way to Elk Neck.

Elk Neck State Park

At the end of the Elk Neck peninsula, Elk Neck State Park has beaches, trails, campsites and the Turkey Point Lighthouse on a bluff over the Bay. It’s the Upper Bay’s best outdoor day.

Ladew Topiary Gardens

West of Havre de Grace, in the horse country of Monkton, Ladew Topiary Gardens is one of the country’s best-known topiary gardens: 22 acres of garden rooms, clipped hedges and fanciful topiary animals, including a famous hunt scene of horses and hounds, created by Harvey Ladew in the 20th century. The 2026 season runs from April 2 to October 31, and the gardens are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Wednesdays, with Twilight Tuesdays open until 8 p.m. from May 12 to August 25. Admission is $22 for adults, $18 for seniors 62 and over and ages 13 to 18, and $7 for ages 2 to 12; a guided tour of the manor house costs $7 more. Details are on Ladew’s visit page.

State parks nearby: Susquehanna, Elk Neck and Kilgore Falls

Three state parks within easy reach add hiking and scenery to a Havre de Grace trip:

• Susquehanna State Park, just upriver, with trails along the Susquehanna, a historic grist mill and river access, and close to Conowingo.
• Elk Neck State Park, across the river in Cecil County, with Bay beaches and the Turkey Point Lighthouse.
• Kilgore Falls, in the Falling Branch area of Rocks State Park near Pylesville, in northern Harford County, a small waterfall with a 28-car lot. On weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, it needs a day-use reservation from parkdayuse.maryland.gov, bookable up to seven days ahead, at $3 per person for Maryland residents and $5 for out-of-state visitors, plus a booking fee.

Events and the best time to visit

When	What’s on
Spring (April to May)	The lighthouse and Lock House open for the season; the Decoy and Wildlife Art Festival in early May (May 2 to 3, 2026); Ladew opens in early April
Summer (June to August)	Waterfront dining, boating and fishing; weekly farmers market; Havre de Grace Bike Fest (Aug 28, 2026)
Fall (September to November)	Susquehanna Wine and Seafood Fest (Sept 19, 2026); fall color on the river; Ladew closes Oct 31
Winter (December to March)	Bald eagles at Conowingo; quiet streets and B&B deals; lighthouse and Lock House closed

The town’s farmers market runs weekly from May through December, and in 2026 Havre de Grace is also marking America’s 250th anniversary with events and dedications through the year. For 2027 dates of the Decoy Festival and other events, check the town’s and the museums’ calendars early in the year.

The best time to visit

May, June, September and October are the sweet spots: warm enough for the waterfront, everything open on weekends, and fewer crowds than midsummer. Come from November to January if the eagles are the point.

Havre de Grace in spring

Spring is when the town wakes up. The lighthouse and the Lock House reopen in April, Ladew’s gardens open in early April (April 2 in 2026), and the Decoy and Wildlife Art Festival comes in early May (May 2 and 3 in 2026). Striped bass move up the Bay toward the Susquehanna to spawn, which makes it a big season for anglers on the Flats, under DNR rules that change from year to year. The farmers market opens in May, and the restaurant decks start filling on warm weekends.

Is Havre de Grace worth visiting in July?

Yes, if you want a summer waterfront day: the Promenade, the restaurant decks and the marina are at their liveliest, and the lighthouse and museums are open on weekends. It can be hot and humid, and summer weekends are busy, so walk the waterfront in the morning or evening, book dinner ahead, and cool off in the Decoy Museum in the afternoon.

Is Havre de Grace worth visiting in October?

Yes, October is one of the best months: cooler weather for walking, color along the river, the lighthouse and Lock House still open on weekends, and your last chance of the year for Ladew, which closes on October 31. It’s also a good month to combine Havre de Grace with Chesapeake City or Elk Neck State Park.

Havre de Grace in winter

From November through March, Havre de Grace goes quiet, which suits some visitors fine. The lighthouse and the Lock House close for the season and Ladew shuts after October 31, but the Decoy Museum stays open daily except on four holidays, the shops and restaurants carry on, and the farmers market runs into December. The real draw is up the river: Conowingo’s eagles peak from late November to early January. A good winter day starts at the dam soon after first light, comes back to town for a late breakfast, spends the afternoon in the Decoy Museum and the antique shops, and ends with dinner by the water. Check restaurant hours before you go, and dress for the wind off the Bay.

Getting to Havre de Grace

By car

From	Distance	Drive, no traffic
Baltimore	36 to 41 miles	About 45 to 55 minutes
Wilmington, DE	36 miles	About 40 to 50 minutes
Philadelphia	64 to 68 miles	About 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes
Washington, DC	73 miles	About 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes
Harrisburg, PA	84 to 85 miles	About 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours
New York City	156 miles	About 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes
Richmond, VA	182 to 188 miles	About 3 hours 10 minutes to 3 hours 50 minutes
Pittsburgh, PA	278 to 284 miles	About 4 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours 40 minutes

Havre de Grace is just off I-95. The Susquehanna crossings on I-95 and US 40 are toll bridges run by the Maryland Transportation Authority, so check current rates and payment options before you drive.

How to get to Havre de Grace by train

Amtrak’s Northeast Regional stops at Aberdeen, a few miles from downtown Havre de Grace, which saw about 53,000 Amtrak riders in fiscal 2025; from the station, take a taxi or ride-share. MARC’s Penn Line runs from Baltimore and Washington to Aberdeen and Perryville, across the river, but only on weekdays: on weekends, MARC trains stop well short of Aberdeen and Perryville, so weekend visitors need Amtrak or a car.

How to get to Havre de Grace from New York City

By car, it’s about 156 miles, roughly 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes without traffic, down the New Jersey Turnpike and I-95. By train, take Amtrak toward Baltimore and Washington and get off at Aberdeen, choosing a Northeast Regional that stops there, then a short taxi ride into town.

Getting around and parking

Once you’re in town, walk. The historic district, the waterfront and the museums sit on a compact, flat grid, and most visitors can park once and leave the car for the day. There’s street parking downtown and parking near the lighthouse and Tydings Park; read the signs for time limits and any fees, which can change. A bike makes the longer run up to the Lock House easy. For Conowingo, Chesapeake City, Ladew or Elk Neck, you’ll want a car.

Havre de Grace as a day trip

Most visitors come for the day, and the town is sized for it. Here’s how it works from the nearest cities.

From Baltimore

It’s about 45 to 55 minutes up I-95 without traffic, so you can leave after breakfast and be on the Promenade by mid-morning. On weekdays, some MARC Penn Line trains run on from Baltimore’s Penn Station to Aberdeen, with a taxi or ride-share for the last few miles; on weekends, MARC doesn’t go that far, so drive. If you’re driving on a weekday, staying for dinner lets you miss the evening rush on I-95.

From Philadelphia and Wilmington

It’s about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes from Philadelphia and 40 to 50 minutes from Wilmington down I-95, an easy day with time for Conowingo or Chesapeake City on the way home. By train, an Amtrak Northeast Regional that stops at Aberdeen gets you within a short taxi ride, but check the timetable: not every train stops there.

From Washington

Allow about 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes by car, and more when traffic through Baltimore is heavy. On weekdays, some MARC Penn Line trains run from Union Station to Aberdeen and Perryville, which makes a car-free day possible if you start early; on weekends, take Amtrak or drive.

A day in Havre de Grace

From Baltimore, Wilmington or Philadelphia, this plan fits a weekend day from April to October:

1. 10 a.m.: the Concord Point Lighthouse and Keeper’s House when they open on Saturday (Sunday opens at 1 p.m.).
2. 11 a.m.: the Maritime Museum, if it’s open, then the Decoy Museum along the waterfront.
3. 12:30 p.m.: walk the Promenade to Tydings Park.
4. 1:30 p.m.: lunch on the water at the Tidewater Grille or MacGregor’s.
5. 3 p.m.: the Lock House Museum (Friday to Sunday) and the antique shops downtown.
6. 5 p.m.: sunset on the Promenade, then dinner downtown or back on the water.

In winter, when the lighthouse is closed, swap it for an early morning at Conowingo for the eagles. With a second day, pick one of the plans below.

A weekend in Havre de Grace and the Upper Bay

A second day turns Havre de Grace from a day trip into a proper Upper Bay weekend. Spend day one in town, as above, then choose a day two by season.

April to October: Ladew and the horse country

Drive west into the horse country of northern Baltimore County to Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, which opens at 9 a.m. every day but Wednesday. Allow a couple of hours for the garden rooms, add the manor house tour if you like interiors, and take the back roads home for a late lunch. On a summer Tuesday through August 25 (in 2026), stay for Twilight Tuesday, when the gardens are open until 8 p.m.

A weekday: Chesapeake City and the canal

Cross the Susquehanna into Cecil County for Chesapeake City. Start at the C&D Canal Museum, free and open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, then walk the historic district and find a lunch table where you can watch ships pass through the canal. Stop in North East on the way back for its main street and antique shops.

Any season: Elk Neck State Park

Drive down the Elk Neck peninsula for a walk out to the Turkey Point Lighthouse on its bluff above the Bay and a picnic by the water. North East is on the way in or out.

November to January: eagles and river trails

Be at Conowingo’s Fisherman’s Park early for the eagles, then walk the riverside trails at Susquehanna State Park nearby before heading back to Havre de Grace for lunch and the Decoy Museum.

Havre de Grace or another Chesapeake town?

Maryland has several small towns on the Bay, and they suit different trips.

Town	Best for	Trade-off
Havre de Grace	An easy waterfront day off I-95, a lighthouse and small museums, winter eagles nearby	Small and quiet; little nightlife
Annapolis	The Naval Academy, sailing, the State House and a big dining scene	Busier, pricier and harder to park
St. Michaels	An Eastern Shore inn weekend, the maritime museum and time on the water	Across the Bay Bridge from Baltimore and Washington
Chesapeake City	Watching ships in the C&D Canal from a tiny historic district	Only a few blocks; best as a half day
Chestertown and Rock Hall	Colonial streets and a working waterfront on the Upper Eastern Shore	A longer drive around the head of the Bay, or over the Bay Bridge

The short version: Havre de Grace and Chesapeake City are the quickest of these to reach from Philadelphia and Wilmington, and Havre de Grace has more to fill a day, with Conowingo’s eagles next door. Annapolis has more to do; St. Michaels is the stronger overnight escape. If you’re coming down I-95 from the north, Havre de Grace is the natural first stop in Maryland.

Havre de Grace with kids

• The lighthouse: climbing to the lantern is the highlight for most kids, and it’s free.
• Tydings Park: a playground, lawns and boats to watch at the end of the Promenade.
• The Decoy Museum: ages 9 to 18 get in for $2.
• Fishing off the Promenade piers, with the right license for anyone who needs one.
• Conowingo’s eagles in winter, with binoculars.
• Chesapeake City, where huge ships glide through the canal right past the town.
• Strollers: the Promenade and Tydings Park are flat and easy going; the lighthouse climb is stairs only.

What a Havre de Grace trip costs

Item	Cost (checked September 2026)
Concord Point Lighthouse and Keeper’s House	Free
Havre de Grace Decoy Museum	$8 adults; $7 seniors 60+; $2 ages 9 to 18
Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House	Free
Conowingo eagle viewing	Free
C&D Canal Museum, Chesapeake City	Free
Ladew Topiary Gardens	$22 adults; $18 seniors and ages 13 to 18; $7 ages 2 to 12
Kilgore Falls, summer weekends	$3 Maryland residents, $5 out of state, plus booking fee
Fishing license, 7 days	$6 residents, $12 non-residents

Havre de Grace is a cheap day out: the lighthouse, the Lock House, the Promenade and the eagles are free, and the Decoy Museum costs $8. Your main costs are a meal on the water, a B&B if you stay, and gas and tolls.

What to skip

Havre de Grace FAQ

Is Havre de Grace worth visiting?

Yes. It’s a walkable waterfront city at the head of the Chesapeake with the 1827 Concord Point Lighthouse (free on spring-to-fall weekends), the Decoy Museum ($8), a waterfront boardwalk called the Promenade, antique shops, waterfront restaurants and Victorian B&Bs, about 45 minutes from Baltimore. Add Conowingo’s eagles in winter or Chesapeake City and Ladew on a longer trip.

Where to stay in Havre de Grace Maryland?

For a romantic weekend, stay at one of the historic district’s bed-and-breakfasts, such as the Vandiver Inn, an 1886 Queen Anne mansion, or the Spencer Silver Mansion, an 1896 stone house, both walkable to the waterfront. For families or an I-95 stopover, chain hotels near the highway in Havre de Grace and Aberdeen are cheaper and have free parking.

Where to stay in Havre de Grace MD?

The historic district is the best base, with B&Bs a few blocks from the Promenade, the lighthouse and the restaurants. Hotels near I-95 on the edge of town and in Aberdeen suit budget travelers and early starts at Conowingo for the eagles. Boaters can stay at the town’s marinas. Book ahead for summer weekends and wedding season.

Is Havre de Grace worth visiting in July?

Yes, for a summer waterfront day. The Promenade, restaurant decks and marinas are at their liveliest, and the lighthouse and museums are open on weekends. Expect heat, humidity and busy weekends, so walk the waterfront in the morning or evening, book dinner ahead and spend the hottest hours in the Decoy Museum or the downtown shops.

How to get to Havre de Grace from NYC?

Drive about 156 miles, roughly 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes without traffic, via the New Jersey Turnpike and I-95. By train, take an Amtrak Northeast Regional that stops at Aberdeen, then a short taxi or ride-share into town. MARC doesn’t help from New York, and its trains don’t reach Aberdeen on weekends.

How to get to Havre de Grace by train?

Take Amtrak to Aberdeen, a few miles from downtown, then a taxi or ride-share. On weekdays, MARC’s Penn Line also runs from Washington and Baltimore to Aberdeen and Perryville, across the river. On weekends, MARC trains don’t serve Aberdeen or Perryville, so use Amtrak or drive.

Is Havre de Grace worth visiting in October?

Yes, it’s one of the best months. The weather is cool and clear for walking the Promenade, the lighthouse and Lock House are still open on weekends, the river trees turn, and Ladew Topiary Gardens is open until October 31. Pair it with Chesapeake City or Elk Neck State Park for a full fall weekend.

Sources and verification

Every price, date and hour on this page was checked on September 23, 2026 against the organizations listed below. The guide is compiled from those sources; it doesn’t claim first-hand visits.

• Concord Point Lighthouse and Keeper’s House Museum: visit
• Havre de Grace Decoy Museum: hours and admission
• Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House: hours and admission
• Ladew Topiary Gardens: visit and FAQs
• City of Havre de Grace, including its events calendar
• Maryland Transit Administration: MARC Penn Line timetable

We also used Explore Havre de Grace, Visit Harford, the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, the C&D Canal Museum, restaurants’ and inns’ own sites, Maryland DNR (Kilgore Falls and fishing licenses), Amtrak’s Maryland fact sheet, published guides to Conowingo’s eagles, and routed drive-time estimates, which are free-flow figures before traffic.

Maryland Tourism Guide is an independent publication. It is not affiliated with Visit Maryland or any agency or business named here, and no one paid to be included.

Photo credits

• Havre de Grace and Concord Point from the air (featured image): photo by Mbinebri, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• The Promenade after Hurricane Isabel, 2003: photo by Crystal Payton, Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
• Houses in the historic district: photo by Dougtone, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
• The Decoy Museum: photo by Patrick Nouhailler's…, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
• Conowingo Dam: photo by Bohemian Baltimore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• The Susquehanna River and a rail bridge: photo by Dclemens1971, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
• Chesapeake City: photo by WhisperToMe, Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
• Ladew Topiary Gardens: photo by BushelOcrabs1814, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)