Cumberland Travel Guide

City Historic canal town in western Maryland

Costs

$90-140 / day (mid-range USA)

Affordable compared with big US cities; dining and lodging moderate.

Safety

Mixed - some rough neighbourhoods

Downtown tourist areas are okay; some neighbourhoods have higher crime.

Best Time

April-October

Pleasant spring-to-fall weather for hiking and canal visits.

In This Guide

Why Visit
Best Things to Do
Bucket List
Best Time to Visit
How to Get There
How to Get Around
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Local Time

11:25 AM

GMT-4

Weather

47°F

Overcast

Population

34,843

Infrastructure & Convenience

Walkable downtown but limited public transit; car recommended for wider area.

Popularity

Draws hikers, history buffs and Appalachian Trail visitors.

Known For

C&O Canal National Historical Park, National Road terminus, historic downtown, rail heritage, Appalachian Trail access, outdoor recreation, industrial history, craft breweries, canal towpaths, scenic rail journeys

Cumberland was the eastern terminus of the National Road, the United States' first federally funded highway.

Why Visit Cumberland? #

Best Things to Do in Cumberland

All Attractions ›

Roger Williams National Memorial

Urban memorial honoring Rhode Island founder and religious freedom

Park

Lake Chaubunagungamaug

Massachusetts lake famous for notably long Algonquian name

Lake

Gillette Stadium

Large US stadium hosting NFL and soccer events

Stadium

Glocester, Rhode Island

Rural town in Rhode Island with historic villages

Reservoir

Aquidneck Island

Rhode Island island home to Newport and coastal towns

Island

Cumberland Hill, Rhode Island

Local hill and residential neighborhood in Cumberland

Mountain

Conanicut Island

Rhode Island island hosting Jamestown community and marinas

Island

Dighton Rock

Glacial boulder with enigmatic petroglyphs in Massachusetts

Island

Cumberland Bucket List

Don't Miss

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad - Ride the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad through Allegheny Mountains aboard restored vintage trains.
Canal Place - Explore Canal Place shops, museums, and the C&O Canal basin's historic industrial exhibits.
Cumberland Historic District - Walk Cumberland's Historic District to see 19th-century architecture, museums, and local eateries.

Hidden Gems

Wills Creek waterfront - Stroll along Wills Creek for quiet river views, historic bridges, and photo opportunities.
George Washington's Fort Hill sites - Seek out small interpretive sites describing early forts and frontier military history nearby.
Local antique shops - Browse family-run antique shops for regional collectibles, maps, and Civil War memorabilia.

Day Trips

C&O Canal and Potomac Valley - Drive to the C&O Canal towpath for scenic walks, cycling, and historic canal sites.
Frostburg and Cumberland Gap attractions - Take the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad to Frostburg for history, hiking, and mountain views.

Best Time to Visit Cumberland #

Climate

Cumberland's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -9°C to 28°C. Abundant rainfall (1222 mm/year), wettest in November, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Air Quality: AQI 24 Good

Best Time to Visit

JulyAugustJune

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

38°

Warmest Month

-26°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coldest month with highs of 2°C and lows of -9°C. Significant rainfall (104 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

35 Poor

Comfort

-3°

Feels Like Freezing

-3°C

Temperature

-9° – 2°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

104 mm

Rainfall

4.5 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.2

UV Index

Low

9.4h daylight

February

February is freezing with highs of 3°C and lows of -8°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

45 Poor

Comfort

-3°

Feels Like Freezing

-3°C

Temperature

-8° – 3°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

95 mm

Rainfall

4.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.4

UV Index

Low

10.5h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -3°C. Significant rainfall (109 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

44 Poor

Comfort

2°

Feels Like Cold

2°C

Temperature

-3° – 8°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

109 mm

Rainfall

4.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.7

UV Index

Moderate

11.8h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 2°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

58 Acceptable

Comfort

8°

Feels Like Cold

8°C

Temperature

2° – 14°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

105 mm

Rainfall

4.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.1

UV Index

High

13.2h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 7°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

66 Good

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

7° – 20°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

94 mm

Rainfall

4.1 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.5

UV Index

High

14.4h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 12°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

80 Excellent

Comfort

18°

Feels Like Mild

18°C

Temperature

12° – 24°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

93 mm

Rainfall

3.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.7

UV Index

Very High

15.0h daylight

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 28°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (89 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

82 Excellent

Comfort

22°

Feels Like Mild

22°C

Temperature

16° – 28°

75%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

89 mm

Rainfall

3.5 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.8

UV Index

Very High

14.7h daylight

August

August is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 16°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm).

82 Excellent

Comfort

21°

Feels Like Mild

21°C

Temperature

16° – 27°

73%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

103 mm

Rainfall

3.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.6

UV Index

Very High

13.7h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 11°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

80 Excellent

Comfort

17°

Feels Like Cool

17°C

Temperature

11° – 23°

75%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

96 mm

Rainfall

3.5 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.2

UV Index

High

12.3h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 5°C. Significant rainfall (102 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

68 Good

Comfort

11°

Feels Like Cool

11°C

Temperature

5° – 17°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

102 mm

Rainfall

3.9 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.6

UV Index

Moderate

11.0h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 0°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (120 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

54 Acceptable

Comfort

6°

Feels Like Cold

6°C

Temperature

1° – 11°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

120 mm

Rainfall

4.2 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.3

UV Index

Low

9.7h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -5°C. Significant rainfall (112 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

44 Poor

Comfort

0°

Feels Like Cold

0°C

Temperature

-5° – 5°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

112 mm

Rainfall

4.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.2

UV Index

Low

9.1h daylight

How to Get to Cumberland

Cumberland, MD is a historic Appalachian town served directly by Amtrak's Capitol Limited and reachable by car from major regional airports. Overland (car or train) travel is usually the most practical approach.

By Air

Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) / Hagerstown Regional (HGR): Cumberland, Maryland has no major commercial airport; the nearest larger airports with frequent service are Pittsburgh International (PIT) and Baltimore/Washington (BWI) or Dulles (IAD) for larger networks. From BWI to Cumberland is typically a 1.5-2 hour drive by car; taxi/shuttle prices vary widely. Hagerstown Regional (HGR) is closer for some regional flights but services are limited.

Regional connections: Many visitors fly into BWI or Washington-area airports and continue by car or bus; check current shuttle providers for fixed routes to Cumberland.

By Train & Bus

Train: Amtrak serves Cumberland via the Capitol Limited route (Washington/Baltimore to Chicago), with Cumberland station on the city’s north side. Train travel is a comfortable option from Washington/Baltimore or Pittsburgh; check Amtrak schedules and fares for exact times and prices.

Bus: Local and regional buses (transit providers) serve Cumberland and the surrounding Allegany County; Greyhound and regional carriers may have routes into the area from larger cities, but schedules can be infrequent - plan ahead.

Where to Stay in Cumberland #

Budget

Near highway strip - $40-90/night

Small motels and budget inns cluster near major roads. Options vary by which Cumberland is meant; double-check state and location before booking.

Mid-Range

Central / near downtown - $90-160/night

Chain hotels and comfortable independent properties provide predictable mid-range stays. Good for overnight business or university visits; facilities vary by property.

Luxury

Historic district or nearby city - $160+/night

True luxury is limited in smaller Cumberlands; expect boutique or historic inns in nearby larger towns rather than five-star hotels in town.