Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway
History, Water and Wildlife along Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway

Departure: Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, Maryland
Destination: Stevensville, Maryland
Time to allow: 1 day

The activities along this byway are so varied and abundant, this itinerary is just a sampling of the kinds of things you can do as you travel the area. Whether you like early American history, Revolutionary War battlefields, water recreation, birding and wildlife watching, or exquisitely prepared seafood, you'll find it here.

Day 1

  • Start: Chesapeake & Delaware Canal

    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    Tugboats, ships, barges and pleasure craft from ports around the globe travel the busiest canal in the U.S. to their varied destinations.

  • Stop 2: Georgetown

    From previous stop: same location
    Directions:

    Continue along Byway, crossing the Sassafras River. Continue through Fredricktown to Georgetown.
    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    Once a bustling port town, Georgetown was burned by the British during the War of 1812. All that remains now from those days is an old church and two brick buildings, now the Kitty Knight House Inn, named after the woman who saved them from the British.

  • Stop 3: Betterton Beach

    From previous stop: same location
    Directions:

    Take MD 298 east from MD 213 then turn right on MD 292 to Betterton.
    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    A once thriving 19th Century Victorian resort with its own steamboat landing, Betterton Beach today provides a sandy beach and pier for the many people who want to play and relax on the Chesapeake Bay.

  • Stop 4: Chestertown

    From previous stop: same location
    Directions:

    Return to the Byway from Betterton Beach and continue to this city.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    Tour the city's historical district, featuring the large brick homes of the wealthy merchants and planters who populated the city in the late 18th century. Begin your visit at the Kent County Visitor Center, where you'll start a self-guided walking tour of the historical district, or stop by the Custom House at the corner of High and Water Streets to take an audio-guided tour of Chestertown's historic waterfront.

  • Stop 5: Rock Hall Beach

    From previous stop: same location
    Directions:

    From Chestertown take MD 20 to the city of Rock Hall.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    A perfect place for barbecues and relaxation while enjoying one of Maryland's beaches. Not to mention you should sit tight for one of the most spectacular sunsets you'll ever see.

  • Stop 6: Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge

    From previous stop: same location
    Directions:

    Continue along MD 20, then take MD 445 to the refuge.
    Suggested time at this stop: 30 minutes

    Established in 1962, this 2,285-acre refuge is a major feeding and resting place for migratory and wintering waterfowl.

  • Stop 7: St. Luke's Episcopal Church c.1732

    From previous stop: same location
    Directions:

    Located within the city of Church Hill.
    Suggested time at this stop: 20 minutes

    Erected in 1732, the "church on the hill" is the oldest intact brick church in the state and gave the town of Church Hill its name.

  • Stop 8: Church Hill Theater

    From previous stop: same location
    Directions:

    Return to Chestertown and head South on MD 213 to the city of Church Hill.
    Suggested time at this stop: 20 minutes

    Built in 1929 for use as a town hall, movies came to the town in 1935 when motion picture equipment was installed in the building.

  • Stop 9: Queen Anne's County Courthouse

    From previous stop: same location
    Directions:

    Follow Main Street back to MD 213 and head South to the city of Centreville.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    Queen Anne's County Courthouse can boast its long heritage as the oldest Maryland courthouse in continuous use and was completed in 1792.

  • Stop 10: Kent Narrows

    From previous stop: same location
    Directions:

    Follow MD 18.
    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    A center for marine industry for centuries, Kent Narrows is a fine place to stop and enjoy some freshly caught oyster, crab, or clam at a waterfront restaurant.

  • End: Stevensville

    From previous stop: same location

Totals for Day 1

Total Distance Traveled: 0 miles / 0.0 km
Total Travel Time: 0 minutes
Total Stopping Time: 6 hours 40 minutes