Free & Cheap Things to Do in Cumberland

History & Museums

The western terminus of the C&O Canal (Mile 184.5), housed in Cumberland's historic Western Maryland Railway station at Canal Place. Interactive exhibits cover the canal's mules, locks, and crews, with a walk-through model of the Paw Paw Tunnel and a life-size section of a canal boat.

Address: 13 Canal St, Cumberland, MD 21502

Tip: Open Wed–Sun; start here to orient before stepping onto the towpath and Great Allegheny Passage right outside. Free passport stamp and restrooms on site.

Parks & Nature

Cumberland is the shared trailhead where the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage (Mile 0, running to Pittsburgh) meets the 184.5-mile C&O Canal Towpath to Washington, DC. The flat, crushed-stone rail-trail follows Wills Creek and the Potomac through the mountains — free to walk, run, bird-watch, or bike.

Address: Canal Place, Cumberland, MD 21502

Tip: Bike shops and rentals cluster at Canal Place, and the level grade is stroller- and beginner-friendly. Pair a stretch of trail with the canal visitor center.

History & Museums

A regional history museum in Cumberland's grand 1930s former federal courthouse, telling the story of the Allegheny region's rail, canal, and industrial heritage across two floors of interactive exhibits. It's a Certified Autism Center and fully accessible.

Address: 3 Pershing St, Cumberland, MD 21502

Tip: Open April–December, Wed–Sat and Sunday afternoons; museum-lot parking is free. School group tours are free with advance notice.

Quirky & Local

A small log cabin in Riverside Park — the only surviving structure of Fort Cumberland — that served as George Washington's headquarters during the French and Indian War and briefly during the Whiskey Rebellion. It's viewable through glass with interpretive panels and a recorded narration.

Address: 38 Greene St, Cumberland, MD 21502

Tip: A quick, quirky 10-minute stop two blocks from Canal Place; push the button to hear the recorded history, and combine it with the canal visitor center and rail depot nearby.

Shops & Markets

A three-block brick pedestrian mall along Baltimore Street lined with restaurants, independent shops, and art galleries in turn-of-the-century architecture. The recently renovated mall hosts farmers markets, sidewalk festivals, and block parties.

Address: Baltimore St Pedestrian Mall, Cumberland, MD 21502

Tip: Free to stroll; look up at the twin spires of Emmanuel Episcopal Church and the restored 1930s Embassy Theatre nearby. Best on a festival weekend.

Tours & Rail

A heritage railroad running the 'Frostburg Flyer' behind restored 1949 steam locomotive No. 1309 — the largest operating steam engine of its type — on a 16-mile mountain route from Canal Place to Frostburg. The depot and station area at Canal Place are free to walk through, where you can often see the 1309 up close.

Address: 13 Canal St, Cumberland, MD 21502

Tip: Excursion tickets run well over $20 (coach from about $45), but seeing the steam locomotive at the free public depot costs nothing. Watch for occasional promo fares and the seasonal Polar Express.

History & Museums

One of the nation's finest collections of restored horse-drawn vehicles — from milk wagons to Vanderbilt sleighs and Teddy Roosevelt's inaugural coach — in a former rail freight depot beside the Scenic Railroad's Frostburg station. It's run by the Allegany Museum.

Address: 19 Depot St, Frostburg, MD 21532

Tip: Open May–Sept Thu–Sun 12–2, daily in October, closed Nov–Dec — a tight window, so plan around it. A natural pairing with a Frostburg Flyer train day; call 301-777-7200 to confirm admission.

History & Museums

Maryland's only surviving tollhouse on the historic National Road — a distinctive seven-sided 1835 building where travelers once paid to use the young nation's first federally funded highway. Interpretive signage and a historic fee plaque are viewable outside at any time.

Address: 14302 National Hwy, LaVale, MD 21502

Tip: The grounds and signage are open anytime; the interior opens for docent tours on select weekends, May–October. About 10 minutes west of downtown Cumberland.

Parks & Nature

A roughly 3,000-acre mountain park built around 243-acre Lake Habeeb, with two swimming beaches, canoe/kayak/SUP rentals, and hiking trails including the 5.3-mile Lakeside Loop and a quarter-mile Canyon Overlook. It sits in a dramatic gorge about 10 miles east of Cumberland.

Address: 12500 Pleasant Valley Rd NE, Flintstone, MD 21530

Tip: Heads-up for 2026: a severe drought has left the lake unseasonably low, which may affect swimming and boating, and weekend/holiday day-use now needs an advance reservation. The trails remain open.

Arts & Culture

A free folk-arts gallery and shop in downtown Frostburg showcasing Appalachian craft — handmade instruments, pottery, and regional artwork — with a small stage for live traditional music, readings, and performances.

Address: 25 E Main St, Frostburg, MD 21532

Tip: Free to browse; check the calendar for evening old-time and bluegrass jams. It pairs well with a Frostburg stop on a Scenic Railroad or Great Allegheny Passage day.