Maryland Encourages You to Travel the Open Road this Fall

BALTIMORE, MD (September 22, 2020) – The Maryland Department of Commerce Office of Tourism in partnership with the state’s 25 Destination Marketing Organizations has launched a new “Open Road” campaign. Created to ignite fall travel along the state’s 18 scenic byways and newly-created road trip itineraries, the campaign is designed to encourage overnight stays in paid accommodations while touting the wide range of travel products in Maryland to increase visitation and economic impact.

“Fall is a beautiful time to explore Maryland and travel our scenic routes, helping to support all of the  accommodations, attractions, restaurants and their employees along the way,“ said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz. “Working with health officials, the tourism industry has implemented protocols so they can be open for guests safely and comfortably.”

Independent research shows that American consumers are cautiously returning to travel, and are favoring driving trips, which are closer to home. Additionally, many people are easing into getting out of the house and are looking for comfortable lodging with responsible safety protocols in place.

The scenic byways are scenic routes with numerous points of interest that give travelers the opportunity to customize the pace, geography, and activities.  The new fall itineraries are designed to take the guesswork out of creating a complete road trip by offering suggested routes, restaurants, and points of interest.

Tools and services to assist fall road travelers are also now available.  The official website for Maryland travelers, www.visitmaryland.org, has been redesigned both visually and operationally to make research easier and more exciting with stunning photography and videos.  Content has been organized around 40 unique topic “hubs,” with related information readily available from each hub’s home page.  Additional hubs will be added in the future per user needs and desires.

Additionally, Maryland’s eight state-operated Welcome Centers have reopened and are staffed with travel experts ready to share all the state has to offer.  The Welcome Centers comply with the latest safety guidelines. Hours of operation are currently 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Wednesday through Sunday with a goal of returning to seven days a week.  Travelers are urged to call 1-833-Open4You for current hours of Welcome Center operation and other trip-planning tips.

Start planning a Maryland vacation now! Travel experiences can be shared on social media using the hashtag #MDinFocus. For more inspiration on planning your fall journey in Maryland, visit www.visitmaryland.org.

About Maryland Tourism
The Maryland Office of Tourism is an agency within the Maryland Department of Commerce. Visitors to the state spent $18.6 billion on travel-related expenses in 2019. The Maryland tourism industry also generated $2.6 billion in state and local taxes essentially saving Maryland households $1,175 in annual taxes. The industry provided Marylanders with 150,000 jobs. For more information, go to www.visitmaryland.org.