The trail connects Historic East Towson to Historic Hampton in a linear route with over 10 historical landmarks in between.
There are public parking locations across the trail.Lennox Ave and Jefferson Ave: We recommend beginning your tour at the Carver Community Center (Carver Community Center, 300 Lennox Avenue Towson, MD 21286.) There is both free and metered street parking on the surrounding blocks. This will place you within a few minutes walk of several landmarks on the trail (Carver Community Center, Jacob House, Historic Parker House, St. James AUMP Church, and Pride of Towson Elks Lodge). Between these sites are the homes of many of the remaining descendant residents of Historic East Towson.Hampton: Until the land bridge portion of the trail is constructed, there is not an easy walking path to Hampton National Historic Site. To reach Hampton by car, drive up York Road until it turns into Dulaney Valley, then turn right on Hampton Lane. Parking is available at the Towson United Methodist Church or at the Hampton National Historic Site itself. Please check Hampton’s operating hours at the NPS website.
The trail is hidden in plain sight with landmarks across East Towson. You can navigate the trail on your own using our Google Earth Virtual Tour, which includes information about each site on the trail.
Yes! The trail is free and open to the public.
The trail is open from dusk to dawn.
Pets on a leash are allowed at all outdoor locations on the trail.
The Road to Freedom Trail helps to preserve the history of Historic East Towson, and patronizing the trail helps to ward against its further erasure through the destruction of its historic sites. If you would like to donate to ongoing preservation efforts for the trail, your support is greatly appreciated.
The trail is navigable by foot, car, bicycle, and scooter. There are sidewalks along most of the route, though you may wish to drive between the Historic East Towson sites on the trail to the Hampton National Historic Site.
The Road to Freedom is multi-use trail that will provide a historical account of the connection between Hampton National Historic Site, a former plantation, and Historic East Towson, the county’s oldest African American community. To make our story known in a creative and lasting way, we propose the creation of a three-and-a-half-mile-long urban trail where people would be able to walk, jog, and bike, all while learning about local history.
