Religious Freedom Byway
Southern Maryland from Port Tobacco to Point Lookout, past colonial churches, Potomac River views and Historic St. Mary's City.
Also known as Religious Freedom Scenic Byway
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length195 miles[1]Visit Maryland lists 189 miles.
- Drive timeAllow 5 hours to drive the byway[1]Visit Maryland says five to seven hours of driving and suggests three to five days for the trip.
- RoadsMD 6, MD 425, MD 224, MD 234, MD 238, MD 243, MD 5 and MD 249[2]
- Start and endPort Tobacco to Point Lookout[2]
- Fees and passesNone[1]Some museums and parks along the way charge.
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.
About the drive
The Religious Freedom Byway runs through Southern Maryland from Port Tobacco to Point Lookout at the tip of the peninsula. Branches reach toward the Potomac River, and the route passes farmland and many of the oldest churches in the country.
Early stops include Port Tobacco, Thomas Stone National Historic Site and Smallwood State Park. Farther on, St. Ignatius Church at Chapel Point and the St. Clement's Island Museum mark early Catholic history in Maryland, followed by Leonardtown and Historic St. Mary's City, the colony's first capital.
The drive ends at Point Lookout State Park, with bay beaches and the site of a Civil War prison camp. FHWA suggests about five hours of driving; with stops it fills several days.
Stops along the way
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Smallwood State Park
Home of Gen. William Smallwood, with camping and a marina.
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Thomas Stone National Historic Site
Plantation home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
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Port Tobacco
Former colonial port with a courthouse and jail museum.
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St. Ignatius Church
Catholic parish established in 1641, at Chapel Point.
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St. Clement's Island Museum
Museum at Coltons Point with a water taxi to St. Clement's Island.
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Leonardtown
County seat with the Old Jail Museum and a wharf park on Breton Bay.
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Historic St. Mary's City
Maryland's first capital, with living-history exhibits.
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Point Lookout State Park
Beaches and a Civil War prison camp site at the south end.
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- North Stafford Farmers' MarketStafford, VA · about 8.3 mi from the route
- Heathsville Farmers MarketHeathsville, VA · about 11.9 mi from the route
- Fredericksburg, VA Farmers MarketFredericksburg, VA · about 13.5 mi from the route
- Long Farmers MarketFredericksburg, VA · about 15.3 mi from the route
- West End Farmers MarketAlexandria, VA · about 15.6 mi from the route · listed as year-round
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Farms along the way
- Virginia Honey Bees llcHoney · Alexandria, VA · about 17.2 mi from the nearest stop
- Bee Haven HoneyHoney · Annandale, VA · about 21.5 mi from the nearest stop
- Mount Olympus Berry FarmBerry · Ruther Glen, VA · about 22.4 mi from the nearest stop
- HiveFive ApiaryHoney · Tappahannock, VA · about 23.4 mi from the nearest stop
- Willowlyn Farms ProduceOrchard · Catlett, VA · about 23.6 mi from the nearest stop
- Burnside FieldsFlower · Nokesville, VA · about 24.3 mi from the nearest stop
8 farms in our directory are within about 25 miles; these are the closest. Farm stands and pick-your-own seasons vary, so check with the farm before you go.
Food events nearby
- DMV Chocolate & Coffee Festival — VirginiaNov 14-15, 2026 · Sterling, VA · about 33.4 mi from the nearest stop
- Gingerbread House Contest & Exhibit at George Washington's Ferry FarmNov 29 - Dec 30, 2026 · Fredericksburg, VA · about 23.9 mi from the nearest stop
- Fairfax Chocolate Lovers FestivalFeb 5-7, 2027 · Fairfax, VA · about 21.7 mi from the nearest stop
Dated public events within about 50 miles, from our events calendar. Dates can change; confirm with the organizer.
Keep exploring
Scenic drives nearby
- George Washington Memorial ParkwayVA · about 36 mi away
- Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad BywayMD · about 52 mi away
- Journey Through Hallowed Ground BywayMD, PA, VA · about 63 mi away
- Nanticoke Heritage BywayDE · about 69 mi away
- Chesapeake Country Scenic BywayMD · about 71 mi away
- Baltimore's Historic Charles StreetMD · about 72 mi away
More scenic drives in Maryland
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- America's Byways: Religious Freedom Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Religious Freedom Scenic Byway (Visit Maryland, Maryland Office of Tourism) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-29.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).