The nation’s capital is, unsurprisingly, heavily influenced by politics, and Washington, D.C. often gets a bad rap from politicians of both parties. The truth, though, is that the city is also a treasure trove of American history and culture. It’s also surrounded by amazing natural beauty in all directions. (I lived in the area for almost 40 years, so I should know!) Here are some great places to visit that you can reach within 3-4 hours of the city, grouped by state.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
If you remember your history, you know the battle at Gettysburg was a major turning point in the Civil War. It’s also where President Abraham Lincoln delivered the famous and moving Gettysburg Address. The area is now preserved as a national historical park.
Hersheypark, Pennsylvania
Formerly Hershey Park, this is a family-friendly theme park with roller coasters, other rides, a zoo, and more. Originally, it was a leisure park for employees of the Hershey Corporation.
Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia
Tannins give the water here its dark color, and the namesake waterfall is one of the largest and most spectacular in the East. In the winter, there’s a sled run that includes a lift to get you back to the top of the hill.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry is where abolitionist John Brown led his failed raid and attempt to incite a slave rebellion in 1859. During the Civil War, the town was a strategic location, situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, and control of it changed hands several times. Today, it’s a quaint historical town surrounded by a national historical park.
Spruce Knob, West Virginia
Spruce Knob is the highest peak in West Virginia. That and a road leading to the top make it a popular destination. At the summit, the trees are more like what you’d find far north in subarctic zones.
Big Schloss, Virginia
Near the West Virginia line, Big Schloss is a rocky, exposed summit with excellent views. The long drive there on paved and dirt roads gives it a really remote feel.
Middleburg, Virginia
This town in Virginia’s Piedmont region has become a popular weekend destination for people in the D.C. metro area. It’s situated in the midst of a lot of horse farms and wineries.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Shenandoah is the scenic gem of Virginia’s mountains and has hundreds of miles of trails leading to summits, waterfalls, cathedral-like tree groves, and more. Skyline Drive winds for 105 miles along the crest and provides access to many of those trails as well as campgrounds, lodges, and visitor centers. My top don’t-miss recommendations if you go are Old Rag Mountain and Whiteoak Canyon, but over the years I lived in the region, I was able to explore many lesser-known gems that few people ever see; many of them required off-trail adventures.
Luray Caverns, Virginia
Just west of Shenandoah is this famous destination. The site itself definitely has a tourist trap feel, but the caverns are spectacular and worth seeing at least once.
Bull Run, Virginia
The Manassas area saw much fighting during the Civil War, and those battlefields are memorialized at Manassas National Battlefield Park. One of the most significant occurred at Bull Run, the first major battle of the war.
Chincoteague, Virginia
Despite its fame and closeness to the ocean, Chincoteague hasn’t lost its small-town charm. When my wife and I were dating and then after we started a family, this was a favorite destination for the relaxed atmosphere, the adjacent national wildlife refuge, and ocean. And yes, you’ll probably see the fabled ponies made famous by the book Misty of Chincoteague.
Rappahannock River, Virginia
The Rappahannock is a major state river, and there are many places to see and enjoy it. A favorite from back in my college days was tubing in Fredericksburg, where the river has some mild rapids but is mild enough to tow along a cooler with your favorite beverages.
Mason Neck, Virginia
This is a peninsula extending into the Potomac River near Alexandria. With two-thirds of it protected as a state park and a national wildlife refuge, it provides a needed place of serenity for the people who live in the always-busy D.C. area,
Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia
Just across the Potomac from D.C. is this moving cemetery, perhaps the most famous in the United States. It’s the final resting place of many veterans and important public figures, including President John F. Kennedy. One of the biggest draws is watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is guarded round the clock every day of the year.
Mount Vernon, Virginia
Mount Vernon is where George Washington—a legendary Revolutionary War general, a Founding Father, and our first president—had his home and plantation. It’s on the banks of the Potomac about 15 miles south of D.C.
George Washington Memorial Parkway, Virginia
This road runs between Mount Vernon and McLean. It gets really congested during the morning and evening commutes. At other times, it’s a scenic and relaxing drive with access to scenic overlooks and trails.
Great Falls, Virginia-Maryland
Here, the Potomac River constricts and drops at Great Falls and then rushes through Mather Gorge for a couple of miles after that. This was my favorite local place when I lived in the region. It gets crowded on weekends, but it’s beautiful, and you can enjoy hiking, fishing, wildlife watching, whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, and more there.
C&O Canal National Historical Park, Maryland
The historical C&O canal and its towpath run for 184.5 miles, parallelling the Potomac in Maryland and Virginia. There are many places to access it, including the Maryland side of Great Falls, and the most popular activities are hiking, including the ultra-fun and ultra-popular Billy Goat Trail, and bicycle riding.
Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland-Virginia
If beach towns stress you out with all the traffic and crowds, skip Ocean City and head to Assateague Island just south of it. You won’t escape other people here, but there’s definitely a more pristine feel here. Another way to reach the national seashore is via Chincoteague, the gateway to its southern end.
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Maryland
The Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia seems almost like its own country. I always enjoyed Blackwater for its scenic beauty and also because a lot of bald eagles call it home, and you’re almost guaranteed to see one there.
Calvert Cliffs State Park, Maryland
This is a park along the shores of Chesapeake Bay. The scenic highlight is the cliff bands along the water, but the real highlight is beneath them. As the crumbly cliffs erode, they release ancient fossils that wash up on the sandy shores. The most popular and very common are fossilized shark teeth. When I was a teacher, I once took a class here, and finding shark teeth was a huge hit.
Sugarloaf Mountain, Maryland
Although this mountain rising abruptly from surrounding farmlands is on private property, it’s open to the public most days of the year. Trails lead to scenic views, and it’s also a popular spot for rock climbing. Since commercial outfitters are prohibited, you have to have your own gear or know someone else who does.
Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland
The national battlefield here preserves and tells the story of the Civil War’s bloodiest one-day battle. 22,727 people were killed, wounded, or missing from both sides combined. This 1862 battle was an important turning point for the Union forces, even though it suffered more casualties than the Confederates did.
Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware
Cape Henlopen has Delaware Bay on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. There are two lighthouses on the bay side, and there are numerous recreational opportunities and facilities, including a 24-hour fishing pier, a watchtower dating back to the WWII era, and a bathhouse on the Atlantic.
Seneca Rocks, West Virginia
Two amazingly narrow fins of rock (I can tell you that parts of the southern ridge are only wide enough for your feet) rise from the valley floor here. You can hike to the top of the higher north summit, but you need technical climbing skills (or a guide) to get to the top of the south peak, which is the highest peak east of the Black Hills, only reachable by technical climbing.
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Robert Sihler is an educator, freelance writer, and rock climbing guide and instructor living with his family in Driftwood, Texas. In his spare time, he enjoys reading fiction, streaming films, completing crossword puzzles, and rock climbing. When he goes on vacation, he likes to visit the mountains of the West and climb remote, obscure peaks that have seen few or no prior ascents.