Day Trips from the DMV

• America the Beautiful - National Park and Federal Recreational Land Pass  

  • Cost: $80 for US citizens and residents

  • Annual pass

  • Covers 1 private vehicle or 4 per person fees

  • Where in DC, Maryland, and Virginia does this pass cover:

    • Maryland

      • • Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Great Falls - Maryland side

        • Antietam National Battlefield - a Civil War site in Sharpsburg, MD - 1.5 hours from DC

          • • driving tours and walking trails

        • Assateague Island National Seashore - 2.5 - 3 hours from DC

          • • wild hourses, beaches, kayaking, campking, hiking

        • Fort McHenry National Monument an Historic Shrine in Baltimore 

        • Cactoctin Mountain Park in Thurmont,MD - 1.5 hours from DC

          •  - no entrance fee - but pass offers discounts on camping

          • hiking, waterfalls, near Camp DAvid

    • Virginia

      • 🚗 Shenandoah National Park

      • 📍 Front Royal, VA (about 1.5–2 hours from DC)

• Skyline Drive

• Old Rag Mountain

• Waterfalls and wildlife

• 🌊 Great Falls Park

  • • 📍 McLean, VA (about 30 minutes from DC)

• One of the best quick nature escapes from the city

• Dramatic waterfalls and overlooks

• 🌲 George Washington & Jefferson National Forests

  • • 📍 Multiple Virginia locations

• Day-use areas and trailheads often honor the pass

Maryland

• Assateague Island - 2.5 - 3 hours from DC

  •  to see the wild horses on the Beach

  • Link: https://www.nps.gov/asis/planyourvisit/index.htm

    • Check in at the Assateague Island Vistor Center

    • Open year round from 9am - 4pm

    • Passes

      • Entrace pass $25 per vehicle

      • America the Beauiful - NAtional Park and Federal Recreational Land Pass - $80 for US citizens and residents

        • annual pass

        • covers 1 private cehicle or 4 per person fees

• Ocean City Maryland

Delaware

• Bethany Beach

• Rehoboth Beach

• First State National Historical Park - free admission - New Castle, Dover, and Wilmington Delaware

West Virginia

• 🚂 Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

  • • 📍 Harpers Ferry, WV (about 1–1.5 hours from DC)

• Historic town where Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia meet

• The pass covers entrance fees.

• 🌉 New River Gorge National Park & Preserve

  • • 📍 Fayetteville, WV (about 4.5–5 hours from DC)

• One of America's newest national parks

• Hiking, whitewater rafting, and iconic bridge views

Beaches