Road Trip! 16 Last Minute Getaways Near DC

Kiptopeke's Concrete Fleet

Cape Charles is a beautiful family-friendly beach town perfect for any getaway with your crew. While you're there, check out the fleet of ghost ships in the Chesapeake Bay. The eerie-looking vessels consist of 9 of the 24 concrete ships made during World War II. The sunken ships serve as a breakwater to protect the pier and beach and a home for tons of local sea life. If you want an up-close look at this super cool site, rent a kayak, and you'll be all set to paddle out for a better view.

Kiptopeke State Park
Cape Charles, VA 
Online: dcr.virginia.gov

Shenandoah National Park

Just 75 miles from DC, your crew will fall in love with our local National Park. It is bursting with epic waterfalls, spectacular views, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded areas for a family picnic. With over 200,000 acres to explore, you'll likely see deer, songbirds, and black bears; oh my.

Dickey Ridge Visitor Center
3655 US-211
Luray, VA 22835
540-999-3500
Online: www.nps.gov

Trough Creek State Park

If you want to see waterfalls, head to  Balanced Rock Viewing Area at Trough Creek State Park in Pennsylvania. Bonus: in addition to waterfalls, you'll find cool natural stone steps and a huge balanced rock on the side of a mountain. Your little adventures will love to make the suspension bridge sway back and forth over the creek. Grab a picnic table in front of Copperas Rock or picnic in your warm car parked across the street, but don't miss one of the most breath-taking rock formations around.

16362 Little Valley Rd
James Creek, PA 16657
Online: dcnr.pa.gov

Colonial Williamsburg

Washingtonians have the largest living history museum right in their back yard and it’s a three-hour drive from the city. Colonial Williamsburg features 301 acres of restored, reconstructed, and historically furnished buildings designed to take you back to 18th century life and the American Revolution. Spend a day walking the streets and interacting with interpretive characters from 18th century Virginia life.

Safety regulations: Masks are required both indoors and outdoors. Colonial Williamsburg now offers touchless tickets for those seeking a contact-free experience. 

101 Visitor Center Dr.
Williamsburg, VA
855-771-3290
Online: colonialwilliamsburg.org

Sunset Beach

Warm weather and crowdless beaches make spring one of the best times to visit the charming town of Cape May , NJ. Getting to this beach is half the fun; in under 4 hours you can reach the southern-most tip of the Jersey cape by making use of the vehicle-friendly (and kid favorite) Cape May Ferry Service. Year round, this sandy shore boasts some of the best sunsets on the eastern seaboard. Littles and big kids alike will geek out over the concrete ship, SS Atlantus, wrecked just off the coast. Cape May is famous for quartz pebbles known as "Cape May Diamonds" that often wash ashore. The best place to score a handful? You got it! Sunset Beach.

Sunset Blvd.
Cape May, NJ
Online: capemaycountynj.gov

Luray Caverns

Discovered by a small party of men in 1878, among them a thirteen year old boy, this famous series of caverns is still believed to be the biggest in the East. The fascinating rock formations with names like Dream Lake and Double Column make for an incredible backdrop to an hour long tour along a 1.25 mile stroller-friendly path. 

Insider tip: Follow up your trip with The Street Beneath My Feet (Look Closer) by Charlotte Guillain, a beautifully illustrated look at the world under our feet. 

Safety regulations: Masks must be worn in the caverns. Hospital-grade sprays are used to sanitize hand railings and high touch points within the cavern. For more safety precautions, go here. 

101 Cave Hill Rd.
Luray, VA
540-743-6551
Online: luraycaverns.com

Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center

Get ready for the mind-blowing thrills of skiing and tubing without having to deal with the contentious whimsy of a weather forecast. Snowflex is synthetic snow that offers multiple layers of cushioning to protect you from falls. Kids as young as two years old can enjoy the beginner slopes, as well as the nursery Neveplast tubing run (waterless tubing), which features an 80-foot run with speeds near 10 mph. Older kids can take advantage of the bigger, faster runs. 

Insider tip: Every Tuesday you can score $10 passes for 2-hours of sledding, skiing, snowboarding and more. Bonus: rentals are included! 

4000 Candlers Mountain Rd.
Lynchburg, VA
434-582-3539
Online: liberty.edu/snowflex

Chestertown, MD

The best part about Chestertown on the Eastern Shore of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay is the tourist-free feel it has all year round. Chestertown is just a place out of yesteryear to enjoy a stroll with the family along a riverfront walk or indulge in a fresh, but simple farm to table dinner. 

Visitors Center
122 N. Cross Street
Chestertown, MD
410-778-9737
Online: townofchestertown.com

Annapolis, MD

For those who prefer urban amenities, but in a setting that exudes charm, then Maryland’s Capitol City of Annapolis is a winning mini-vacation spot. Annapolis is a quaint bayside town with picturesque, sailboat-studded water views. Luckily, you don’t have to own your own boat to enjoy the Chesapeake Bay. You can join any number of popular boating experiences from guided tours to sunset sailing. In addition to a boating adventure, the perfect weekend getaway to Annapolis would include some time walking down Main Street where you’ll find a great selection of shops selling souvenirs, antiques, art, and nautical-themed gifts.

Insider tip: Bring a pair of binoculars and play Eye Spy with the sailboats! 

Visitors Center
26 West St.
Annapolis, MD
410-280-0445
Online: visitannapolis.org

Harpers Ferry National Historic Park

One of several Civil War history hot spots in the region, Harper's Ferry National Park has the most to see and do, not to mention its location along the famed Appalachian Trail. While standing on the fields of Antietam or Gettysburg offers great perspective on the bloodshed of the Great Rebellion, this town instead tells the story of what it was like to live during that time. 

Safety regulations: Masks are required in all buildings and outdoors when physical distance can not be achieved. 

171 Shoreline Dr.
Harpers Ferry, WV 
Online: nps.gov

Virginia Safari Park

For an unforgettable day trip, try Virginia’s only drive-thru zoo, where you can see wild animals from the safety of your own car while they roam freely in a natural environment. This 180-acre park is home to more than 1000 exotic animals from six different continents. Just make sure you’re not in a hurry, because many of the animals are known to chillax in the middle of the road for as long as they feel like it. All you can do is watch and wait.

Insider tip: Be sure to reserve your tickets online if you plan to visit on a weekend. 

229 Safari Ln.
Natural Bridge, VA
Online: virginiasafaripark.com

Massanutten Water Park

Prepare the kids for mind-blowing fun, because that’s what you get at the Massanutten Water Park, just a couple hours west of DC. Here you’ll find a multitude of ways to get wet: waterfalls, sprayers, dumping buckets…you name it. Float down the lazy river, conquer one of eight giant waterslides, surf the waves, and soak in the hot tub. There’s something for everyone, from your littlest guppy to your most fearless shark.

Safety regulations: Capacity at this waterpark is limited (be sure to purchase tickets in advance!). For the most current updates, check in with the water park's Facebook page. 

1200 Adventure Dr.
Massanutten, VA
540-437-3340
Online: massresort.com

Science Museum of Virginia

The Science Museum of Virginia is where science, fun and hands-on learning team up for a day of mind-bending bliss. The lobby features an enormous example of Focoult’s Pendulum where you can witness the earth’s rotation in action as the pendulum knocks over a giant metal peg every 15 minutes. And that’s just the lobby. Throughout the museum you’ll find hands-on-fun with a variety of interactive exhibits. You can stack blocks to form a gravity-defying cantilever; marvel at the mechanics of labor-saving devices such as pulleys and gears; perform experiments of perception through lenses, lights, mirrors and prisms; understand the power of air pressure by launching a rocket; and study an actual moon rock recovered from Apollo 17. It’s a great educational and unforgettable day trip.

Safety regulations: All guests 5 & up must wear a mask. Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the museum. For more information on current safety precautions, go here.  

2500 West Broad St.
Richmond, VA
Online: smv.org

Rocks State Park

Kilgore Falls served as backdrop to the film Tuck Everlasting, and is a cool treat at the conclusion of a reasonably easy hike at this State Park in Harford County Maryland. Other highlights include formations of the kind found in the name of the park itself, including King and Queen Seat believed to be a ceremonial site for Native Americans. Also bring your little rock scramblers to the Park's Natural Playspace, one of a handful of designated areas across the State where you'll find miniaturized versions of the local landscape. 

Insider tip: Reservations are required to visit this park on weekends and holidays. 

3318 Rocks Chrome Hill Road
Jarrettsville, MD
410-557-7994
Online: dnr.maryland.gov

Gettysburg Battlefield Tours

Join one of the group stereo bus tours of this historic battlefield and get an unforgettable recreation of the famed battle by Hollywood actors. Spend some time strolling the scenic cobblestoned streets and perusing civil war artifacts on display in various shops. If you and the little ones are feeling brave, you can indulge in a nighttime ghost walking tour that leads you to a year-round haunted house.

Safety regulations: As of April 1st 2021 all coaches have been equipped with HEPA UV-C air filtration units which kill 99.99% of viruses. Masks are required on buses and in all buildings. 

778 Baltimore St.
Gettysburg, PA
877-680-8687
Online: gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com

Anne Marie Sculpture Garden

The beautiful grounds of the Anne Marie Sculpture garden alone are worth the trip to this enclave where you will find paved paths through the woods with artistic surprises, and a variety of special events all year long making for some of the most unique family outings anywhere. Tease out your little modern-day Picasso with a visit to ARTlab where artists of all ages repurpose a variety of materials to make new works of art.

Safety regulations: Masks must be worn in the Art Building. 

13470 Dowell Rd.
Solomons, MD
410-326-4640
Online: annmariegarden.org