The rural enclave of Fairplay is between historic parks and Hagerstown
Fairplay offers a small-town, rural environment for residents, while still being just minutes away from commercial hubs in Hagerstown and several expansive parks in Western Maryland. "It's outside the city, so it's an easy commute, and it's also close to Frederick County, but it's more affordable to live here than there," says Sherry Scire, a real estate agent with RE/MAX Results with over 17 years of experience serving Maryland and Pennsylvania. Locals often explore historic landmarks and nearby attractions, such as Crystal Grottoes Caverns, or shop in neighboring towns and support local farm businesses.
Rustic homes on spacious lots
Popular home styles around Fairplay include ramblers, Cape Cods, Colonial Revivals and bilevels, and homes here often come with multi-acre lots and sit along winding country roads. Prices range from $300,000 to $500,000 and vary depending on square footage and lot size. Although there are not many commercial farms in the area, agriculture remains a significant part of life. "This is definitely a farming area; Washington County even has an agricultural center north of here," says Scire.
Hiking through history at Antietam or C&O Canal Park
Antietam National Battlefield is a national park a few miles south of Fairplay. Visitors can camp, hike and take interactive tours detailing the park's history as a major flashpoint of the American Civil War. Devil's Backbone County Park features picnic pavilions, a playground and miles of nature trails beside Antietam Creek, a quiet fishing spot. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park features a visitor center with exhibits that cover the history of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, a major commercial waterway in the 19th century. The park is also home to campsites, the multi-use C&O Canal Towpath and a public boat ramp. Additionally, guests can try several excursions, including overnight stays at the historic lockhouses and a mule-drawn canal boat ride. Crystal Grottoes Caverns is east of Fairplay in Boonsboro, where guests can tour almost 900 feet of scenic underground passageways.
Nearby Washington County schools
Washington County Public Schools serves Fairplay. Students can attend Fountain Rock Elementary School and Springfield Middle, which both get B-plus ratings from Niche. Williamsport High School has a B-minus rating and underwent construction projects early in the 2025 school year to modernize infrastructure and remove asbestos.
Boonsboro and Hagerstown for groceries and retail
Locals can head to Weis Markets just seven miles east in Boonsboro to grab groceries. Residents can also support nearby farm businesses, such as Litton's Produce & Berries, which offers a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as a pick-your-own produce orchard. The Washington County Agricultural & Education Center is located a couple of miles north in Boonsboro and is often the venue for trade shows, tractor pulls, and events such as the Washington County Agricultural Expo and Fair, an annual carnival that supports local producers. Hagerstown is home to several shopping centers, including Valley Mall, which features over 100 retailers, including JCPenney and H&M.
Twenty minutes from Hagerstown
Due to the secluded, rural nature of Fairplay, residents here are reliant on personal cars for travel. Hagerstown is an 8-mile drive north on Sharpsburg Pike, which takes roughly twenty minutes to reach. Commuters can head there for work or play, or to catch a flight out of Hagerstown Regional Airport. Meritus Medical Center is a nearby hospital 9 miles away.
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Maxwell Olarinde
