Summer in Alexandria is lovely, but sometimes the best way to enjoy the season is to point the car somewhere new for the day. Within a few hours of Old Town you'll find roller coasters and roaming ponies, mountain overlooks and underground cathedrals, a drive-in double feature and a garden built around a Korean bell. Here are 10 trips worth the tank of gas, sorted from quickest getaway to grand adventure — with drive times and costs to help you plan.
(Drive times are estimated one-way from Alexandria and will vary with traffic. Admission prices are current for summer 2026 and lowest when purchased online in advance; children's, senior and military discounts are common, so check each venue before you go.)
Photo courtesy of Great Falls Park
Great Falls Park is a fun getaway near Alexandria.
1. Great Falls Park — A Picnic With a Roar
Barely outside the Beltway, the Potomac squeezes through a series of steep, jagged cascades that feel a world away from the suburbs. Three overlooks put you right above the falls within a five-minute walk of the parking lot, and the River Trail rewards anyone willing to scramble a little farther. Pack a blanket and lunch for the picnic areas near the visitor center, and keep little ones close — the overlooks are dramatic. It's the easiest "big nature" day on this list. Picnic tables and restrooms are available.
The details: About 30 minutes from Alexandria. $20 per vehicle, good for seven days.
Photo courtesy of Visit Fairfax County
Meadowlark Gardens in Virginia features the Korean Bell Garden
2. Meadowlark Botanical Gardens — Blooms and a Korean Bell
Just up the road in Vienna, Meadowlark spreads 95 acres of ornamental gardens, native-plant collections and quiet ponds across gently rolling Piedmont hills. Paved paths make it stroller- and wheelchair-friendly, and the crown jewel is the Korean Bell Garden, anchored by a three-ton handcrafted bell — the first of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Summer hours stretch to 8 p.m., so it's a fine spot for a cooler evening stroll after the midday heat breaks.
The details: About 30 minutes from Alexandria. Roughly $8 for adults, $4 for seniors 55+ and youth 6–17, free under 6.
Photo courtesy of the Maryland Zoo
The Maryland Zoo carousel in Baltimore.
3. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore — Penguins, Pandas and a Free Parking Lot
Tucked into Baltimore's leafy Druid Hill Park, the Maryland Zoo is home to elephants, chimpanzees, giraffes, grizzlies and a beloved colony of African penguins, plus recent arrivals in red pandas. Admission includes unlimited rides on the carousel and the Zephyr train, and parking is free — a rare and welcome combination. Bring a picnic or graze the concession stands; you can easily fill a morning and early afternoon before the 4 p.m. close.
The details: About one hour from Alexandria. $33 for adults (ages 2–64), $28 for seniors 65+; open daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Photo courtesy of NPS
Dark Hollow Falls at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
4. Shenandoah National Park — Skyline Drive and a Waterfall Hike
For mountain air and long views, Skyline Drive threads 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge, with more than 70 overlooks and dozens of trailheads branching off. From the Front Royal entrance you can cherry-pick a short leg-stretcher or commit to a classic like Dark Hollow Falls. Bring water, layers and a full tank — services are limited once you're on the ridge. Summer wildflowers and the occasional black bear sighting are part of the deal.
The details: About one hour, 15 minutes to the Front Royal entrance. $30 per vehicle, good for seven days.
Photo courtesy of Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Bureau
Historic Route 11 Drive-In
5. Historic Route 11 Drive-In — A Double Feature Under the Stars
The Shenandoah Valley is home to one of the last drive-in theaters in the region, and it's back for the 2026 season under new ownership and a new name — the Historic Route 11 Drive-In in Stephens City (formerly the Family Drive-In). Two screens, first-run double features, a playground and a full snack bar make it a delightfully retro night out. Arrive before dusk, back into a good spot, tune your radio to the movie's FM channel, and settle in for two films for the price of one.
The details: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Alexandria. Roughly $12 per adult and $7 per child, for a double feature. Cash-friendly; confirm the weekend lineup and gate time before you drive out.
Photo courtesy of Kings Dominion
A water ride at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Va.
6. Kings Dominion — Coasters, Water Park and Funnel Cake
Northern Virginia's go-to theme park sits just north of Richmond in Doswell, with more than 60 rides, shows and attractions plus the sprawling Soak City water park included with admission. Thrill-seekers can chase the towering coasters while younger kids stick to Planet Snoopy; summer also brings live music, a water parade and character shows. Buy online in advance — it's roughly half the gate price — and go early to beat both the lines and the afternoon heat.
The details: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Alexandria. Online tickets from about $45 (gate around $90); ages 2 and under free. Peak-summer hours run roughly 10:30 a.m.–8 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Lake Anna State Park
The beach at Lake Anna State Park
7. Lake Anna State Park — Sandy Beach, No Ocean Required
If a freshwater swim sounds better than a beach-day drive, Lake Anna delivers a genuine sandy swimming beach about halfway between D.C. and Richmond. Beyond the guarded beach (open Memorial Day through Labor Day) you'll find shady hiking trails, a fishing pond built for kids, boat launches, a snack bar and even gold-panning programs — the land was once home to a working gold mine. Day-use lots near the beach fill up fast on summer weekends, so arrive early.
The details: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Alexandria. Parking runs roughly $7–$10 per vehicle on weekends, plus a guarded-beach swimming fee of about $8 for adults and $7 for kids 3–12.
Photo courtesy of Destination Gettysburg
An interpreter talks about the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
8. Gettysburg — Where History Feels Close Enough to Touch
Just over the Pennsylvania line, the Gettysburg battlefield is one of the most moving day trips in the region. You can tour the grounds by car on a self-guided auto route entirely for free, stopping at monuments, fields and overlooks along the way. The Museum & Visitor Center adds context with a film and the restored 360-degree Cyclorama painting, and licensed guides are available for hire if you want the full story. Pair it with lunch in Gettysburg's walkable historic downtown.
The details: About 1 hour 30 minutes from Alexandria. Touring the battlefield is free; the Museum & Visitor Center film-and-Cyclorama experience carries a separate admission (adults typically in the low $20s).
Photo courtesy of LurayCaverns.com
Luray Caverns
9. Luray Caverns — A Cathedral Beneath the Valley
Ten stories underground, Luray Caverns opens into cavern rooms the size of concert halls, draped in flowstone and mirrored by glassy pools. The paved, well-lit walkways make it accessible for most visitors, and the famous Great Stalacpipe Organ "plays" the formations themselves. Admission also covers the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum and a heritage village, and it stays a cool 54 degrees inside — a welcome escape on a scorching August afternoon.
The details: About 2 hours from Alexandria. Around $36 for adults and $18 for children 6–12 (often a few dollars less online); ages 5 and under free. Open daily; summer hours 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of NPS
Assateague Island wild horses
10. Assateague Island — Wild Ponies and Ocean Waves
Save this one for a full day and an early start, because the payoff is a stretch of undeveloped Atlantic shoreline where wild horses roam the dunes and marshes. On the Maryland end you'll find guarded swimming beaches (mid-June through Labor Day), gentle surf and quiet compared to nearby Ocean City; your entrance pass also covers Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on the Virginia side. Pack insect repellent — the biting flies are legendary — and never approach or feed the ponies; they're genuinely wild.
The details: About three hours from Alexandria. $25 per vehicle, good for seven days and valid at Chincoteague as well.
