Day trips from Washington DC

[Flatleak]

Anyone got any good ideas that can be done by train/ bus?

I'm in DC a lot for work and feel like I've done it now! Would love to use the chance to see more places as I usually have a free day or two tacked on.

Would love some tips as the destinations google are giving me are either 6 hrs by train or need a car!

Take the Amtrak to Williamsburg VA (about 3.5 hours), which is a little too far for a day trip but certainly worth an overnight trip. Colonial Williamsburg is gorgeous.

We got the metro out to Arlington, saw the cemetery and then went on to a lovely little town called Alexandria. From there you can get a boat along the river back to Georgetown, Washington where there are lots if nice restaurants and shops. Probably was my favourite thing we did in Washington!

Have you been out to Annapolis?

Another vote for Williamsburg. It’s gorgeous!

I was eyeing up anapolis but there's no train route. Maybe a bus is best.

Have you been?

Baltimore is about 30-40 minutes out from Union Station and the Inner Harbor area is very nice (do take a taxi from the station in order to get there). You can also tour the harbour by boat and travel to Fort McHenry where the US National anthem was written.

Mount Vernon near DC is also worth visiting for the day.

You can get organised coach trips to Mount Vernon. Train to Alexandria. Train to Philadelphia (although have to admit we didn't like it very much). You can look at a map of the Amtrak network on their website.

I was going to suggest this. The waterfront is nice. The rest of the city not so much though.

There is a train service to Annapolis from DC via the MARC train service.

Philadelphia is only a few hours away by train.

When we lived in DC, for the first couple of years we were without a car. We would rent one for trips etc which was normally cheaper and easier than trains. Could that work?

Destinations depend on your interest! Gettysburg is a full day-trip and some companies run bus tours from DC.

Alexandria is great, we stayed for a few days. We did a boat trip to Mount Vernon which I loved and I loved Arlington too.

I'd get a car for the day, then you could do Skyline drive and Shenandoah national park, drop into Charlottesville have lunch, go to Monticello and then go back to Dulles (its a 2 hour drive, but very easy).
I have to say I usually love an odd day in DC as I hit the museums, and there are just so many of them!

are you sure? It's not coming up on any route planners.

Thanks for tips all! Have done all the DC 'suburb' bits like Arlington and Mount Vernon, so looking further afield.

Have also considered Baltimore as I can fly in there and Philly!

Not up for car unfortunately as my work insurance won't cover car travel.

you are correct sadly, there is a station called Savage on the Marc that connects to Annapolis junction but it’s not the same place.

A long day but the fast train to NYC?

Yes - friends lived there as it’s an easy commute into DC.

I think you can do FlixBus, it’s only about a 45 min journey.