101 Family Day Trips and Staycation Ideas Around the DC Metro Area
Remember, it's always best to follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation, as well as to check each venue's COVID requirements (masks, limits, social distancing).
Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from DMV. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!
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Explore Gardens & Sculpture Gardens
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US Botanic Garden Conservatory |
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National Arboretum |
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Seven Oaks Lavender Farm |
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Soleado Lavender Farm |
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Purple Rain Lavender Farm |
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Kharis Lavender Farm |
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Annemarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center |
Get Wild on a Hike
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Audubon Naturalist Society - Woodend Sanctuary |
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Locust Grove Nature Center |
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Lee District Park - Chessie's Trail |
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Sugarloaf Mountain |
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Patuxent Research Refuge - Cash Lake Trail |
Time Travel Today
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Mt. Vernon |
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Ford's Theatre -Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy Tour |
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Button Farm Living History Center |
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Historic Jerusalem Mill Village |
Make Life a Beach
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North Beach, MD |
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Kent Island, MD - Matapeake Beach |
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Rehoboth Beach |
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Dewey Beach |
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Tilghman Island |
Splash into Some Water Fun
Spend the Day at a Museum
Explore These Cities
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St. Michael's, MD |
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Gettysburg, PA |
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Harpers Ferry/Bolivar, WV |
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Cambridge, MD |
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Winchester, VA |
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Chincoteague, VA |
All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!)
Grow Some Fun at the Farm
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Loudon Heritage Farm Museum |
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Butler's Orchard |
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Great Country Farm |
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Heartland Orchard |
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Montpelier Farms |
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Cox Farms |
Play Ball!
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Washington Nationals |
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Washingon Commanders |
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Washington Capitals |
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D.C. United |
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Washington Wizards |
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Washington Mystics WNBA |
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Baltimore Orioles |
Treat Yo' Self
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Toby's Homemade Ice Cream and Coffee |
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Lil City Creamery |
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Nicecream Factory |
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Thomas Sweet |
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Sugar Factory |
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Larry's Homemade Ice Cream |
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Dolci Gelati |
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Pitango Gelato |
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Ice Cream Jubilee |
Connect with Nature
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Tubing With Shenandoah River Outfitters |
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Skyline Caverns |
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Fishing at Lake Artemesia Natural Area |
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Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Garden |
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National Arboretum |
Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks
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Busch Gardens |
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Kings Dominion |
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Six Flags America |
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Jolly Roger Amuseument Park |
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Hershey Park |
Talk to the Animals
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Roer's Zoofari |
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Clark's Elioak Farm |
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Green Meadow's Petting Farm |
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Catoctin Wildlife Preserve & Zoo |
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Frying Pan Farm Park |
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Ticonderoga Farm |
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Leesburg Animal Park |
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Virginia Safari Park |
Explore the Globe Close to Home
Let's Go Chasing Waterfalls
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Cascade Falls at Patapsco Valley State Park |
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Waterfalls at Cunningham Falls State Park |
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Waterfalls at Shenandoah National Park |
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Kilgore Falls at Rocks State Park |
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Great Falls Park |
Get Active Indoors
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Sky Zone Trampoline |
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Lucky Strike Washington DC |
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iFly Indoor Skydiving |
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Fort Dupont Ice Arena |
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Adventure Park USA |
Challenge Yourself
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Earth Treks Indoor Climbing- Columbia |
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Earth Treks- Rockville |
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The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School |
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Terrapin Adventures |
Shop Your Heart Out
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Fair Oaks Mall |
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Potomac Mills |
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Fashion Centre at Pentagon City |
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Tysons Galleria |
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Crystal City Shops |
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Tysons Corner Center |
Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!
Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown Washington. For those that are a bit farther away:
= Less than 1 hour away
= 1 to 2 hours away
= 2 to 3 hours away
= Just over 3 hours away