7 best day trips from Washington, D.C.

Day trips compared

The day trips

25 km · About 30–40 minutes by car

1.Mount Vernon

George Washington's riverside estate includes the mansion, his tomb, working outbuildings, a reconstructed distillery and gristmill nearby and gardens overlooking the Potomac. Cyclists can ride the Mount Vernon Trail along the river from Arlington.

Getting there

Car, or Metro to Huntington then a local bus; seasonal boats

Best for

First-timers, Families, Culture

12 km · About 20 minutes by Metro

2.Old Town Alexandria

An 18th-century port town on the Potomac with cobbled lanes, Federal townhouses, King Street's shops and restaurants and the Torpedo Factory Art Center, where artists work in open studios by the river.

Getting there

Metro Blue or Yellow line to King St–Old Town, or water taxi from the Wharf

Best for

Couples, Food lovers, Quiet stays

65 km · About 40–60 minutes by train

3.Baltimore

Maryland's largest city has the National Aquarium on the Inner Harbor, Fort McHenry, whose defence in 1814 inspired the national anthem, the cobbled waterfront of Fells Point and crab houses serving Old Bay-dusted blue crabs.

Getting there

MARC Penn Line or Amtrak from Union Station

Best for

Families, Food lovers, Culture

50 km · About 45 minutes by car

4.Annapolis

Maryland's sailing capital on the Chesapeake Bay has brick colonial streets, the Maryland State House and the US Naval Academy, where visitors can join guided walking tours of the grounds.

Getting there

Car

Best for

Couples, Culture, Quiet stays

115 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by car to Front Royal

5.Shenandoah National Park

Skyline Drive runs along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains through the park, with dozens of overlooks and trailheads for waterfall hikes and sections of the Appalachian Trail. Autumn colour usually peaks in mid-to-late October.

Getting there

Car

Best for

Couples, Quiet stays, Families

105 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car

6.Harpers Ferry

A historic town at the meeting of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, known for John Brown's 1859 raid on the federal armoury. The national historical park's restored streets, river views and the Appalachian Trail crossing make it a satisfying day out.

Getting there

Car; limited commuter trains on weekdays

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays

25 km · About 30 minutes by car

7.Great Falls Park

The Potomac crashes through a series of rocky cascades and the narrow Mather Gorge just outside the city. Overlooks are a short walk from the visitor centre, and the River Trail continues along the gorge rim.

Getting there

Car

Best for

Families, Quiet stays

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Metrobus covers areas the trains don't reach, including Georgetown and upper Northwest, and accepts the same SmarTrip card.
• Union Station is the hub for Amtrak and MARC trains to Baltimore and the Northeast Corridor, and VRE commuter trains to northern Virginia.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask