Bear Branch Nature Center
Bear Branch Nature Center is a nature center in Carroll County, Maryland near Westminster. It comes under Carroll County. Around it, Raven Rock Mountain Complex (24 mi) comes first on our list.
A museum, 5 mi north of Westminster
Hanover is the nearest base
Hanover is 12 miles north, with 9 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Baltimore
Baltimore is about 31 miles southeast and Washington is about 51 miles south (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Aug, Sep and Oct
April, May, June, August, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 64–84°. When to go ↓
Established in 1993
Bear Branch Nature Center dates from 1993 and is run by Carroll County. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
The year’s weather
This is the year’s weather near Bear Branch Nature Center.
Bear Branch Nature Center
Bear Branch Nature Center is a nature center in Carroll County, Maryland near Westminster. It features interpretive exhibits about local plants and animals, an outdoor water feature and play area, a Discovery Room for children, live animals including an eagle, hawks, owls, snakes, salamanders, turtles, frogs, and toads, a planetarium and observatory. The center is a facility of Carroll County Recreation & Parks.
The nature center is adjacent to Hashawha Environmental Center, a residential facility that is also operated by Carroll County Recreation & Parks. Hashawha Environmental Center is home to the Carroll County Public Schools Outdoor School, a residential environmental education program open to every sixth-grade student in the county.
- Type
- Museum
- Established
- 1993
- Run by
- Carroll County
Rooms near Bear Branch Nature Center
Close by, places to stay are in Gettysburg (31) and Hanover (9).
Gettysburg
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
8,365 people
18 mi northwest of Bear Branch Nature Center
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Bear Branch Nature Center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gettysburg | 18 mi northwest | 25 min | 31 11 hotels · 1 motel · 18 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins | 8,365 | $242K | B+ |
| Hanover | 12 mi north | 15 min | 9 3 hotels · 1 motel · 4 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins | 16,684 | $213K | C |
| Cumberland Township | 18 mi northwest | 25 min | 18 6 hotels · 3 motels · 5 inns & B&Bs · 4 campgrounds | 7,219 | $293K | A |
| Westminster | 5 mi south | 5 min | 3 3 hotels | 20,589 | $338K | C |
| New Windsor | 9 mi southwest | 15 min | 4 1 hotel · 3 inns & B&Bs | 1,749 | $374K | — |
| Straban Township | 19 mi northwest | 30 min | 12 10 hotels · 1 motel · 1 campground | 4,968 | $319K | — |
| Mount Joy Township | 13 mi northwest | 20 min | 5 3 hotels · 2 inns & B&Bs | 3,881 | $345K | — |
| West Manheim Township | 8 mi north | 10 min | 2 2 hotels | 11,139 | $300K | A− |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Beyond Bear Branch Nature Center
Every place here is under 54 miles away.
Big draw52 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw124 mi LandmarkRaven Rock Mountain Complex
Big draw52 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year
Big draw53 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw53 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw52 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
Big draw52 mi National MemorialLincoln Memorial7.7M visitors a year
Big draw51 mi Stadium & arenaNorthwest StadiumPhoto credits
White House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Raven Rock Mountain Complex: US Government, Public domain · Washington Monument: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · Lincoln Memorial: Aerial_view_of_Lincoln_Memorial_-_east_side.jpg: Carol M. Highsmith derivative w, Public domain · Northwest Stadium: Maryland GovPics, CC BY 2.0
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Before visiting Bear Branch Nature Center
What town is Bear Branch Nature Center near?
Westminster, MD, about 5 miles south.
When is the best time to visit Bear Branch Nature Center?
April, May, June, August, September and October, with highs of 64–84°.
How far is Bear Branch Nature Center from Baltimore and Washington?
About 31 miles southeast of Baltimore and about 51 miles south of Washington, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Bear Branch Nature Center?
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI), about 37 miles away.
Where should I stay near Bear Branch Nature Center?
Gettysburg (18 mi, 31 places to stay), Hanover (12 mi, 9 places to stay) and Cumberland Township (18 mi, 18 places to stay).
Ask people in Westminster
Tips will appear here once someone posts in Westminster’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.