Capital getaways: the best day trips from Washington, DC

DC residents may be intent on making the world go round, but even politicos need a break. And the region around the USA’s capital delivers day trips for every mood. Have a hankering for wine-tasting? You got it. How about exploring a super cool new-old neighborhood? Check. National park vistas, Civil War history, sampling oysters? Yep, yep and yep.

Mountains, lakes, an ocean and countryside are within easy reach. Adorable small towns and bustling cities are filled with fascinating history. Day trippers from Washington, DC have plenty of options; here are six, for starters.

Verdant trails in Shenandoah National Park, barely an hour’s drive from Washington, DC © Barbara Noe Kennedy / Lonely Planet

Look for bears at Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

One of the greatest perks of living in Washington is that, within an hour’s drive, you can be deep within the natural beauty of Shenandoah National Park. Hikes for every taste and fitness level await. For an easy stroll there’s Dark Hollow Falls, leading to a pretty waterfall. More challenging is Hawksbill Mountain, featuring an uphill trudge that rewards with magnificent, nearly 360-degree views from the national park’s highest peak. Wherever you are, you’ll enjoy waterfalls, mountain laurel, stunning vistas, and – if you’re lucky – a black bear sighting. You can stay overnight at Big Meadows Lodge or Skyland, or camp.

Getting there: The best option is to drive. Shenandoah National Park has three gated entrances: the North Entrance at Front Royal (off I-66); Thornton Gap east of Luray (via US 211); and the South Entrance at Rockfish Gap, near Waynesboro. The closest one to DC is the North Entrance, about an hour’s drive west. The entrance fee is $25 per vehicle.

Cobblestones meet up-and-coming culture in Baltimore’s revived Fell’s Point neighborhood © Walter Bibikow / Getty Images

Discover Fell’s Point, Baltimore’s comeback neighborhood

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor has long been a draw for Washingtonians. With its shops, restaurants, historic ships and famous aquarium, you can spend a fun day there. But Baltimore is a city on the move, and there’s no place that showcases this better than nearby Fell’s Point. This historic cobblestoned neighborhood is anchored by Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, which merits a walk-through at the very least, just to see its gorgeous interior garden courtyard. Founded by William Fell in 1730 and once a thriving shipbuilding center, Fell’s Point is making a comeback with locally owned boutiques, casual eateries and bench-dotted parks. Take a walking tour with Baltimore National Heritage Area or Baltimore Ghost Tours (this was the last place Edgar Allan Poe was seen alive, you know). Afterwards find a table at The Point in Fell’s for local fare and glorious harbor views.

Getting there: Baltimore is located about an hour’s drive north of DC via I-95 (avoid rush hour). Or hop aboard the Amtrak Northeast Regional from Union Station, which departs several times daily (prices range between $15 and $45, depending on the time of day). You’ll need a cab or ride-share to reach Fell’s Point, a couple miles from Baltimore’s Penn Station.

Crack a claw, squeeze on some lemon, eat and repeat: feasting on the bounty of the seas in Annapolis © Barbara Noe Kennedy / Lonely Planet

Crack crabs in Annapolis, Maryland

Maryland is all about its blue crabs, best enjoyed along a bucolic waterway at a traditional crab shack. One of the best is Jimmy Cantler’s Riverside Inn, tucked away on quiet Mill Creek beyond downtown Annapolis. You sit at a community table covered with butcher paper and join in the fun as a huge bucket of boiled crabs, doused with Old Bay spice, is strewn across the table. The wait staff will give you a lesson on how to eat the guys. (Or avoid the hard work and order a crab cake sandwich!) Walk off the meal in downtown Annapolis, with colonial-era buildings housing art galleries, clothing stores and, if you’re still hungry, local eateries. Check out Ego Alley at the foot of Main Street (aka Annapolis City Dock), where million-dollar yachts strut their stuff. You can also walk around the US Naval Academy, with highlights including the chapel (burial place of John Paul Jones) and a visitor center spotlighting the Navy’s history and greatest moments.

Getting there: Annapolis is located about a half-hour’s drive east of Washington, DC, via US 50.

A fresh haul of oysters in Northern Neck, Virginia, waiting to be prised open and slurped by visiting Washingtonians © Barbara Noe Kennedy / Lonely Planet

Slurp oysters in Virginia’s Northern Neck

Maryland may have blue crabs, but Virginia has oysters. The Northern Neck is the place to discover how these succulent bivalves have influenced every aspect of local life. Rappahannock Oyster Company in Topping provides the 411 on oyster harvesting. This seemingly small operation, perched on a scenic offshoot of the Chesapeake, daily sends fresh, luscious oysters as far away as Las Vegas. Walk out on the dock and see the sorting in action, then sample them at the on-site, waterside Merroir restaurant. You’ll find oyster-related artwork at Allure Art Center in White Stone, oyster-inspired jewelry at Burkes Fine Jewelers, a historical overview of regional oystering at the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum, and oyster and wine pairing at Dog & Oyster Vineyard in Irvington. Consider staying overnight at Tides Inn, where you can sample the signature Angry Oyster (a local twist on buffalo wings) and take part in the inn’s Virginia Oyster Academy – or simply relax by the creek and do nothing at all.

Getting there: The Northern Neck extends east of Fredericksburg, located south of DC off I-95, and requires a car to get around. It takes close to three hours to drive to Irvington, the heart of oyster country.

Hike through Civil War history at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

History and natural beauty are always a winning combo, and few places do it better than Harpers Ferry. Set at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, surrounded by oak-covered mountains, it’s a sight to behold. Plenty of Washingtonians head here to hike one of its many trails. Most notably, the Maryland Heights trail leads to a stunning promontory overlooking the town (and showing why the heights were such a strategic target during the Civil War). The town’s other claim to fame is none other than John Brown, the abolitionist who led his ill-fated raid here in 1859, setting the stage for the Civil War. Be sure to join a walking tour of the arsenal historic area, delving into the dramatic story, and save time for the excellent John Brown Museum. (Tip: Don’t confuse it with the nearby John Brown Wax Museum, unless you’re into eerily kitsch wax figures crowding a rambling old house.)

Getting there: Harpers Ferry is an easy 90-minute drive northwest of DC via I-270 and US 340.

Wineries like Greenhill create a soundtrack of popping corks across Middleburg, Virginia © Barbara Noe Kennedy / Lonely Planet

Sip wine in sophisticated Middleburg, Virginia

DC is a cork’s toss away from hundreds of wineries. There’s no better wine-tasting destination than the beautifully preserved, colonial town of Middleburg, deep in the heart of Virginia horse country. Greenhill (one of the few wineries to offer sparkling wine) and Chrysalis (advocate of the indigenous Norton grape) are both nearby, where tastings, winery tours and picnicking abound amid rolling countryside. Middleburg itself offers one-of-a-kind boutiques, antique shops, the Mount Defiance Cidery and Distillery and the decadent Salamander Resort & Spa. Market Salamander is a favorite spot to pick up picnic supplies, including cheese, charcuterie, soups and salads.

Getting there: Middleburg is about an hour’s drive from DC via I-66 and US 50.

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Explore the best of the USA’s monumental capital with Lonely Planet’s Washington, DC guide.