Interactive Map
Use this map to get your bearings in Washington, D.C. and see how far popular day trips like Arlington, Alexandria, Mount Vernon, Baltimore, Annapolis, Gettysburg, Harpers Ferry and Shenandoah actually are.
Washington, D.C.
Arlington & Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery guide: free walking entry, restricted driving, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier schedule, and reaching JFK's grave. Old Town Alexandria: A Historic River Town Beyond DC Old Town Alexandria's cobblestone streets and waterfront, minutes from DC by Metro — what's free, what's paid, and how long to stay. Washington, D.C.: A First-Time Guide to the Nation's Capital How Washington, D.C. works: what it is, how to get around, and how to split your days between the Mall, Georgetown and beyond. Capitol Hill & the Library of Congress How to visit the U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress, and why the building tour and the congressional gallery pass are two separate things. Georgetown Georgetown is DC's historic riverside district: cobblestone streets, Georgian architecture, waterfront dining, and shopping — no tickets needed. Mount Vernon: George Washington's Estate on the Potomac Mount Vernon is a paid, ticketed estate 15-30 minutes south of DC — no free pass, no Metro. Here's how to plan the visit properly. Northern Virginia Suburbs: Fairfax, Tysons and Leesburg Fairfax-Tysons-Leesburg: where to stay, shop and eat near DC by car, and why it's not a monuments destination. Potomac Waterfront & The Wharf The Wharf and DC's Potomac riverfront: restaurants, marinas and boat tours, a paid evening-out district — not the free Mall or historic Georgetown. Smithsonian Museums The Smithsonian is many free museums, not one. Here's how each entrance actually works, and which two need a free timed pass. The National Mall & Its Memorials The National Mall's memorials are free, outdoor and open 24/7 — here's how to walk it without underestimating the distance. The Tidal Basin & the Cherry Blossoms The Tidal Basin's cherry blossoms peak on a shifting forecast, not a fixed date. Here's how to plan the walk, the light and the mementos right. The White House & President's Park No walk-up tours at the White House. Here's how the real request process works, and the free alternative for same-day visitors. Washington, D.C.: The National Mall, Capitol Hill and the Federal Core Washington, D.C.'s federal core: the National Mall, Capitol Hill, the White House, the Smithsonian, Georgetown and the Potomac waterfront.
Day trips & excursions
Annapolis Annapolis is Maryland's sailing capital: a walkable historic waterfront and the Naval Academy, 35-60 minutes from Washington, D.C. Baltimore Baltimore's Inner Harbor, 35-60 minutes from DC by train or car: what's free, what's paid, and how to plan your day. Colonial Williamsburg Plan Colonial Williamsburg: ticket types, why it needs more than a day, and how it differs from nearby Jamestown, Yorktown and Richmond. Gettysburg Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: the Civil War's biggest battlefield, an hour from DC. What's free, what's paid, and why you need a full day. Ocean City, Maryland Ocean City, Maryland's boardwalk resort: rides, seafood, hotels, and an honest guide to the long drive from Washington, D.C. Richmond, Virginia: The State Capital, Not a Colonial Museum Richmond is Virginia's living state capital, not a colonial recreation. Here's how it differs from Williamsburg and what a real visit looks like. Shenandoah National Park & Luray Caverns Skyline Drive, mountain overlooks and Luray Caverns near DC: entrance fees, drive times and why this trip deserves a full day. Virginia Beach: Washington DC's Atlantic Beach Escape Virginia Beach is a 2.5-4 hour drive from DC: a boardwalk beach escape, not a naval city like nearby Norfolk. Antietam & Sharpsburg Antietam is the bloodiest single day of the Civil War, in a rural Maryland field with none of Gettysburg's crowds. Here's how to visit. Assateague Island & Berlin Assateague's wild ponies, unspoiled barrier-island beaches and the town of Berlin, MD — how to visit from Washington, DC, and what to expect. Atlantic Coast: Norfolk's Naval Harbor and Ocean City's Wild Shores Norfolk's naval harbor, Virginia Beach, Ocean City's boardwalk, and Assateague's wild ponies — two separate coastal trips from Washington DC. Charlottesville & Monticello Plan a trip to Charlottesville, Virginia: Jefferson's Monticello, the university town, and how it fits a DC itinerary. Civil War Country: Gettysburg, Antietam, Harpers Ferry and Fredericksburg Gettysburg, Antietam, Harpers Ferry, Fredericksburg and Frederick: the Civil War battlefields within reach of DC, and how to tell them apart. Frederick, Maryland Frederick is a walkable Maryland town near Antietam and Harpers Ferry, good for a night's stay, dinner, and a stroll before or after the battlefields. Fredericksburg Fredericksburg is a walkable Civil War town 1.5-2.5 hours from DC — farther than Gettysburg, Antietam or Harpers Ferry, and worth the drive. Harpers Ferry Harpers Ferry sits in West Virginia, not Virginia — a river confluence mixing John Brown's raid with Appalachian Trail hiking. Historic Virginia: Williamsburg, Yorktown, Jamestown & Richmond Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, Jamestown and Richmond: four separate paid sites, 2.5-4 hours from DC. What to see and how to plan it. Maryland: Baltimore, Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay Maryland from Washington DC: Baltimore's harbor, sailing in Annapolis, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Montgomery County suburbs. Norfolk Norfolk is a working naval port near Washington, DC — a harbour city to pair with beach-focused Virginia Beach next door. Shenandoah & the Blue Ridge: Skyline Drive, Luray Caverns and Charlottesville Skyline Drive, Luray Caverns and Charlottesville's Monticello: the mountain region west of DC where a car is essential, not optional. The Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay beyond the cities: crab houses, marinas, sailing and a slow, salt-air coastline within reach of Washington, D.C. The Maryland Suburbs: Rockville, Bethesda & Gaithersburg Rockville, Bethesda and Gaithersburg: Montgomery County suburbs with good food and Metro access, not tourist sights. A practical guide. Yorktown & Jamestown Yorktown and Jamestown are separate historic sites near Williamsburg, each with its own ticket. Here's how to plan a visit to both.