Day Trips

While there is enough to do and see within the Washington, DC area for any vacation or trip, there is plenty more within a few hours drive of the nation's capital. Please don't assume that the attractions listed below for each region are the only sites of interest; many of the website links provide additional information for visitors on tourist sites and other traveler details. Listed below are some suggestions for day or overnight trips.

Great Falls National Park
16 miles northwest from Washington, DC
9200 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA 22102 (Virginia side) 
The Maryland side of Great Falls is part of the C&O Canal National Historical Park.
11710 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac MD 20854

Hours and Admission
Great Falls Park is open year round 7am to thirty (30) minutes after sunset.
The park is closed December 25.
Great Falls Park Visitor Center is open from 10 AM to 4 PM
Fee for admission

Great Falls is where the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge. The Patowmack Canal offers a glimpse into the early history of this country.  Great Falls Park has many opportunities to explore history and nature in an 800-acre park.

Annapolis, Maryland
34 Miles from Washington, DC

Annapolis Maritime Museum is located on a waterside campus and focuses on the maritime heritage of the region, which includes Annapolis Harbor and Chesapeake Bay.Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum lets you take a peek into the history of railroads. It was within the museum's campus that the first commercial long-distance railroad track was first laid. The museum also offers train rides during certain months of the year.

Banneker-Douglass Museum, named for Benjamin Banneker and Frederick Douglass, is the state of Maryland's official repository of African American material culture. It is located in Annapolis's historic district.

Charles Carroll House of Annapolis and Chase-Lloyd House both served as homes for signers of the Declaration of Independence. Public tours are available at both 18th century homes.

Baltimore, Maryland
41 miles northeast from Washington, DC

Baltimore is located along the waterfront and hosts historic neighborhoods, full of history that dates back to early America.

Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum, just two block from Camden Yards (home of the Baltimore Orioles), baseball fans can visit the row house at 216 Emory Street where George Herman Ruth (the Babe) was born in 1895. In 1974, it opened as a museum to celebrate the life and times of the greatest baseball player ever.

Inner Harbor in Baltimore features a sparkling waterfront with ethnic festivals, art shows, concerts and many other forms of entertainment.

Maryland Science Center houses an IMAX theater, planetarium, three floors of hands-on exhibits and live demonstrations throughout the day.

National Aquarium at Baltimore houses many exhibits ranging from a seal pool to a rain forest. It contains a diverse collection of animals representing more than 6000 species of fish, birds, anmphibians, reptiles and marine mammals from all over the world.

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is best known for its role during the War of 1812. The Fort withstood a grueling 25-hour bombardment by the British fleet. In spite of the rockets and bombs, Francis Scott Key saw the fort's 30'x42' flag waving after the battle. He penned the poem that would later become the national anthem for our country.

Charlottesville, Virginia
117 miles southwest of Washington, DC

Highlights of a visit to Charlottesville include three presidential homes, the University of Virginia, founded and designed by Thomas Jefferson, and various sites that give you insight in early American life.

A visit to this area can include stops at the following locations:

Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home). Estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States.

Montpelier (James Madison's home). Home of James Madison, 4th President of the United States and the Father of the Constitution. Madison was raised at Montpelier and lived here for his entire life except during his presidency.

James Monroe's Highland (James Monroe's home). Home to our 5th President James Monroe for nearly a quarter of a century.

Michie Tavern served as the social center of the community, starting in 1784. It provides a great example of the Colonial Revival period. Visitors can tour the original Tavern and participate in the activities from that period--write with a quill pen, dance a colonial reel, play period games, done 18th century-style clothing.

Fredericksburg, Virginia
53 miles southwest from Washington, DC

In the Fredericksburg/Stafford/Spotsylania area you can trace events from the colonial days to the Civil War, walk in the footsteps of Civil War soldiers, visit the boyhood home of George Washington and much more. Four major Civil War battles took place here and buildings from the 18th and 19th century have been restored, including Mary Washington's home, James Monroe's law office, and the circa 1752 plantation house, Kenmore. Walking and Civil War tours are available. Some of the attractions that you can tour include:

Kenmore Plantation (Family home of George Washington's sister). This Georgian mansion, built in the 1770s by Fielding and Betty Washington Lewis, George Washington's sister, is famous for its ornate plasterwork ceilings.Ferry Farm (George Washington's home). George Washington's family roots are deep in historic Fredericksburg. He lived on Ferry Farm from six years old to about 19 when he moved to Mount Vernon.Mary Washington House was purchased in 1772 by George Washington for his mother, Mary.

Civil War Life-The Soldier's Museum has displays of original Civil War arms and equipment as well as a children's area with hands-on play opportunities.Chatham Manor, which is best-known for the role it played as Union headquarters during the Battle of Fredericksburg, when Red Cross founder Clara Barton and the poet Walt Whitman joined in the treatment of the hundreds of wounded soldiers. The Georgian mansion is part of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, operated by the National Park Service, and open daily for tours.

James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library. Our 5th president started his career practicing law in Fredericksburg. The Museum contains a collection of Monroe's personal possessions, furnishings and papers; many were purchased in France and later used in the Monroe White House.

Scotchtown Plantation (Patrick Henry's home). Home to Patrick Henry, Virginia's first governor and one of the most well-known orators and patriots, from 1771 to 1778. It is located 32 miles southwest of Fredericksburg in Beaverdam.

National Museum of the Marine Corps (Quantico, VA) contains the original Iwo Jima flag; in fact, the design of the building mirrors the silhouette of the famous photograph of the flag being raised at Iwo Jima. Visitors will enjoy the sites, sounds and experiences of the Marines through interactive displays.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
85 miles north from Washington, DC

Gettysburg was recorded as the bloodiest battle of American history. Adjoining the park is Gettysburg National Cemetery in which veterans of the Civil War and subsequent wars are buried. At the dedication of this cemetery on November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous "Gettysburg Address." You can plan to visit:

Gettysburg National Military Park delves into the battle that was the turning point in the Civil War. It was the war's bloodiest battle with 51,000 casualties. A visit to the National Military Park gives you insight into the event that is called the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy."

Eisenhower National Historic Site is located adjacent to the Gettysburg Battlefiled, and was the home and farm of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. A park ranger will take you on an exploration of 1950s Secret Service operations, including special features that appeal to children.

Shriver House Museum focuses on the civilian experience during the Battle of Gettysburg. During the battle, George and Hettie Shriver lived there with their two daughters, Sadie (7) and Mollie (5). The house remains much the way it did in 1860; tour guides give the Shriver family's experience during the battle and the lasting effects on their lives.

Gettysburg Heritage Center highlights the Civil War era and the Battle of Gettysburg. The museum, formerly the National Civil War Wax Museum, brings history to life with life-sized dioramas of various scenes from history. It was at the David Wills House that President Lincoln put the finishing touches on the Gettysburg Address. The museum focuses on Lincoln and the speech that is one of the most famous in the country.

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
67 miles northwest of Washington, DC

The site of John Brown's futile attempt to seize the U.S. arsenal, this community was captured and recaptured by Union and Confederate forces eight times during the Civil War. Nearby Charles Town, home of the Charles Town Races and Slots, was the site of John Brown's trial.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. While John Brown may be the individual most associated with the area, other prominent early Americans left a mark here, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis and Frederick Douglass. Tours are conducted daily.

Appalachian Trail runs along with Virginia-West Virginia border nearly Harpers Ferry for about 20 miles.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania
127 miles northeast of Washington, DC

In the heart of Amish country, you will find a slower pace to life and may be sharing the road with a horse and buggy. Throughout Amish country, you will find antique shops, stone mills, wooden covered bridges, restored church, filling meals, farmers' markets and throwback farming methods: all result in a quieter, more peaceful lifestyle. And if you want to escape back to modern life, HersheyPark is nearby with the Hershey's Chocolate World Visitors Center.

Other attractions include:

Buggy Rides. A number of private operators offer buggy rides of varying duration to visitors. You can find one that will take you through covered bridge or non-commercial Amish farms.

Indian Echo Caverns provides guided tours through a fascinating show of stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstone and crystal clear lakes. You will also learn about local legends surrounding the early explorers and Susquehannock Indians.

Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine. Tour an underground anthracite coal mine and ride an old-time steam train.Strasburg Rail Road takes you through Amish Country aboard a train pulled by a coal-burning steam locomotive. During the summer, children will enjoy "Day Out with Thomas." Other special events include November's Trains and Troops Weekend and Santa's Paradise Express in December.

Lynchburg, Virginia
180 miles southwest of Washington, DC

Outside of Lynchburg, you can visit Thomas Jefferson's favorite home, Poplar Forest. This plantation and octagonal-shaped home near Lynchburg, Virginia, was used as a retreat by our nation's 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson. He considered it "the most valuable" of his possessions and called it "the best dwelling house in the state except that of Monticello." National Geographic magazine once listed Lynchburg as one of the best small towns in the U.S.

Some points of interest include:

Miller Claytor House. In the garden of this surviving pre-19th century townhouse, Thomas Jefferson allegedly ate a tomato to prove to the home's owner that tomatoes were not poisonous.

Legacy Museum of African-American History, opened in 2000, provides rotating exhibitions and programs on local African American history and culture, beginning with the first arrival of Africans in central Virginia.

Thomas Road Baptist Church, the church founded by Dr. Jerry Falwell, broadcast services each Sunday from its Lynchburg location.

Sandusky Historic Site & Civil War Museum, a formal Federal-style home built in 1808, was used as Union headquarters during the June 18-19, 1864 Battle of Lynchburg. In 2000, it was purchased by the Historic Sandusky Foundation to develop as a historic site interpreting Lynchburg's role in the Civil War.

Richmond, Virginia
105 miles southwest of Washington, DC

Richmond is steeped in the history of our country, with restored homes and buildings, presidential boyhood and retirements homes, African American sites, walking tours, museums and more. capital of colonial Virginia offers an experience of 18th century American life, from its food, furnishing and architecture to its transportation and various crafts. Southeast of Richmond in nearby Williamsburg, you will find  The Governor's Palace and the College of William and Mary among other sites particular interest.

Other attractions that you may find of interest are:

Kings Dominion, located in Doswell about 30 miles from Richmond, was voted one of Virginia's most exciting amusement parks, including some outstanding roller coaster rides.

Maymont includes Maymont House, a 33-room mansion representing the Gilded Age lifestyle, a nature and visitor center, gardens, carriage collection, children's farm and wildlife exhibits.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens has more than 40 acres of spectacular gardens with a Children's Garden and a Conservatory.

Children's Museum of Richmond provides a safe, fun and stimulating environment for learning and play. Interactive exhibits include exploring caves, climbing up to eagles' nests, grocery shopping and harvesting apples in an orchard.

Science Museum of Virginia has scores of hands-on exhibits on chemistry, computers, natural science, electricity and physics. They are presented in a fun way that makes learning about science entertaining and fun.

Berkeley Plantation (Harrison ancestral home). This home, located 35 miles southeast of Richmond in Charles City, is considered one of the first great estates in America; the first official Thanksgiving was celebrated here (December 4, 1619). Berkeley Plantation was home to the Harrison family--Benjamin Harrison and William Henry Harrison.

Stratford, VA
75 miles south of Washington, DC

In this small Virginia town, you will find Stratford Hall Plantation, a National Historic Landmark that was home to the Lee family (Thomas Lee, birthplace of Richard Henry Lee and Robert E. Lee). Thomas Lee served as acting Governor of the Virginia colony, and raised eight children there; all would play a role in the early history of our nation. Richard Henry Lee and Francies Lightfoot Lee, two of Thomas' sons, were signers of the Declaration of Independence. Robert E. Lee, son of Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee and great-grandson of Thomas, served as the Confederate General-in-chief in the Civil War. The site is maintained by the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association; visitors can tour the Greta House and numerous outbuildings, including a restored working gristmill, as well as explore the gardens, walking trails and Miocene-era cliffs on the site.

Virginia Peninsula Region, which includes:

Virginia Beach/Newport News, Virginia
208 miles south of Washington, DC

Jamestown/Yorktown
158 miles south of Washington, DC

Williamsburg, Virginia
152 miles south of Washington, DC

The Virginia Peninsula Region is rich in colonial American history. It is within this region, you can visit the sites of the Historic Triangle (Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg), which provide insight into early colonial live. America's military and shipping history is on display throughout Virginia Beach and Newport News, where visitors can enjoy the beach life.

Among the attractions in this area are:

Jamestown is our country's first permanent English settlement, established in 1607. The Jamestown National Historic Site is a Living History interpretive site.

Yorktown is the site of the final major battle in the American Revolutionary War. Victory here secured independence for the United States. The Colonial National Historic Park takes you from the beginnings at Jamestown to the end of English Colonial America in Yorktown.

Williamsburg was Virginia's first state capital and now takes you into everyday life of colonial America.

Fort Monroe is the country's oldest military base still in use. It was built between 1819 and 1834, but the history of the site goes back as early as 1608 when Captain John Smith recognized the value of building a fort at this location. Fort Monroe is currently the home to the Training and Doctrine Command.

Historic Villages at Cape Henry give an educational and engaging tribute to first English explorers in the New World and the Native Americans of the Chesapeake region. You can also check out the Old Cape Henry Lightouse.

False Cape State Park is located in southern Virginia Beach and provides primitive camping along one of the last undisturbed coastal environments on the East Coast.

Beaches at Virginia Beach run the gamut from relaxing along the scenic Chesapeake to resort beaches with rollerbladers, live music and street performers. Use the link to find the perfect beach for you.

Lee Hall Mansion is one of the last remaining antebellum homes on the Virginia Peninsula. Located in Newport News, the mansion was completed in 1859 and provides a look back into the lives of a wealthy family during the 1860s.

The Mariners' Museum provides a view of the clash between two Civil War ironclads--the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia. Visitors to the museum can enjoy miniature ship models as well figureheads, scrimshaw and folk art related to maritime activities.

Virginia Living Museum takes its visitors right into the wild where you can view red wolves, bald eagles, otters and a loggerhead sea turtle up close. The living exhibits and hands-on experiences provide a terrific opportunity to gain an appreciation to the environment in the Virginia Peninsula.

York, Pennsylvania
99 miles north of Washington, DC

York County bills itself at the Factory Tour Capital of the World. You can sample fresh pretzels and potato chips, visit one of the last surviving U.S. textile mills, watch Harley-Davidson motorcycles or solid wood furniture being assembled, learn about glass hand cutting and metal molding for tableware, check out a 19th century brewery, tour a robotic milking dairy farm, and learn about the world-famous Hershey's Chocolate. More than 20 factories in the area offer public tours, many of them free of charge. Other locations of interest include several museums, Civil War sites and river and buggy rides.

Factory Tours will give you a listing of the area factories that conduct public, along with admission information, tour descriptions, links to company websites and any restrictions for the tour.

The National Civil War Museum incorporates artifacts, manuscripts, documents, photographs and other printed matter to portray the entire story of the American Civil War.

National Watch & Clock Museum wants you to take time to learn about clocks, watches, tools and other time-related items. The centerpiece of the museum is a collection of 19th century American clocks and watches.

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