Washington DC is an attractive travel destination for many reasons. Its history and museums are amazing, but there’s also a world of spectacular country surrounding the area. If you’re flying into the Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), just grab your IAD car rental from our Avis Dulles location and hit the open road.
Check out some of these popular travel destinations on your road trip from Washington DC:
2001 Daniel K Ludwig Dr, Woodbridge, VA 22191
Leesylvania is known for its history and natural beauty. Situated 30 miles down the Potomac from Washington, this location was explored by Captain John Smith and was the home of Virginia’s famous Lee and Fairfax families. Visitors can see a cornerstone remaining from the Lee house in addition to a restored chimney from the Fairfax home.
The state park offers many recreational opportunities as well. The Potomac wetlands make for excellent bird watching. If you visit between April and October, you can take a canoe tour on the river. The park has six miles of hiking trails, and if you like to fish, Leesylvania has a 300-foot pier for casting from the shore. Anglers catch largemouth bass, catfish, and perch in this park.
18170 Park Entrance Rd, Triangle, VA 22172
Prince William Forest holds some of the greatest natural wonders of Northern Virginia. Known for its tranquil woods and babbling brooks, this park shows visitors what the eastern seaboard looked like before major human settlement. The park’s main natural feature is Quantico Creek, a tributary of the Potomac. Visitors can find several pieces of Virginia history in the park, like old mines and the remains of old settlements.
In addition to hiking, there are 21 miles of bike-accessible roads and trails. The park is full of wildlife including turtles, frogs, and salamanders to birds bears, and deer. For anyone wanting to stay the night in the park, tent camping, RV camping, and cabins are all available to rent.
3655 U.S. Highway 211, East Luray, VA 22835
See for yourself what John Denver was talking about when he wrote “Country Road” by visiting Shenandoah National Park. Shenandoah is one of the best places to visit in the area. With over 500 miles of scenic hiking trails, your greatest challenge will probably be choosing which one to take. Approximately 105 miles of the famous Appalachian Trail runs through the park. Old Rag Mountain is the park’s most popular trail, but it can be dangerous, so hikers should exercise extreme caution there.
Shenandoah is home to many breathtaking waterfalls. Visit some of the more popular falls, including Overall Run Falls, Rose River Falls, South River Falls, and Jones Run Falls. Hiking isn’t the only recreational activity in Shenandoah—visitors enjoy horseback riding, rock climbing, bicycling, and fishing too.
Avis is here to make sure you have a wonderful time in Washington and Northern Virginia. To help you rent a car in Washington DC, Avis has several locations in the area, and our fuel plans can help you save money on gas. Traveling with small children? Get rid of some travel hassle with child safety seat rentals. Whatever your rental car needs, we’ll do everything we can to make your trip go as smoothly as possible.