WHAT TO DO. WHEN TO DO IT.
Seasonal things to do in and around Washington, DC, including day trips within 250 km (155 miles): explore activities, festivals and outings by season, distance and type, with sources and dates on Chronopin.
Oct 31 · Fall. Seasonal windows; check the organizer for opening hours and exact dates.
33 activities within 155 mi (250 km) of the city center · straight-line distances
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Penn Quarter· Sports· 1.1 mi / 1.7 km from Washington, DC
NHL hockey in Chinatown-Penn Quarter, easy to reach by Metro.
Capital One Arena · Oct – Apr · until Apr 30 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Capitol Hill· Food & drink· 2.7 mi / 4.4 km from Washington, DC
Historic Capitol Hill market hall with weekend flea market, farmers' stalls, prepared foods and local makers.
Suggested trip: 1 day
Eastern Market · Jan – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Buzzard Point· Sports· 3 mi / 4.8 km from Washington, DC
MLS soccer at a riverside stadium near the Wharf and Navy Yard.
Audi Field · Feb – Oct · until Oct 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Northwest DC· Outdoors· 4.4 mi / 7 km from Washington, DC
Hiking, biking and leaf viewing along Rock Creek.
Suggested trip: 1 day
Rock Creek Park · Oct – Nov · until Nov 30 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Landover, MD, 10 mi east· Sports· 9.3 mi / 15 km from Washington, DC
NFL Sunday football at the Commanders' home stadium just outside the Beltway.
Northwest Stadium · Sep – Jan · until Jan 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Potomac, MD, 14 mi northwest· Outdoors· 13 mi / 21 km from Washington, DC
Walk or bike the flat historic towpath past locks and the Potomac falls, with seasonal mule-drawn boat rides run by the park.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal NHP · Jan – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Great Falls, VA, 15 mi northwest· Outdoors· 13 mi / 21 km from Washington, DC
Watch the Potomac plunge through Mather Gorge from overlooks, then hike or rock-watch along the river trails.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Great Falls Park (NPS) · Mar – Nov · until Nov 30 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Manassas, VA, 30 mi southwest· Outdoors· 27 mi / 43 km from Washington, DC
Rolling Civil War battlefield with walking trails, historic Henry Hill and seasonal ranger programs.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Manassas National Battlefield Park · Apr – Nov · until Nov 30 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Bluemont, VA, 55 mi west· Family· 44 mi / 71 km from Washington, DC
A Loudoun County farm for u-pick berries, pumpkins, animals and playgrounds, with seasonal events and a holiday run in Nov-Dec.
Suggested trip: 1 day
Great Country Farms · May – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Lusby, MD, 55 mi southeast· Family· 48 mi / 77 km from Washington, DC
Hike a wooded trail to a Chesapeake Bay beach where visitors hunt for Miocene shark teeth and other fossils.
Calvert Cliffs State Park · Apr – Oct · until Oct 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Harpers Ferry, WV, 65 mi northwest· Outdoors· 48 mi / 77 km from Washington, DC
Explore a historic river town at the Potomac-Shenandoah confluence, with Appalachian Trail access and Maryland Heights hikes.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Harpers Ferry NHP Visitor Center · Apr – Nov · until Nov 30 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Thurmont, MD, 65 mi northwest· Outdoors· 55 mi / 88 km from Washington, DC
Rocky overlooks like Chimney Rock and Hog Rock reward short hikes, with strong fall color in October.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center · Apr – Nov · until Nov 30 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Front Royal, VA, 70 mi west· Outdoors· 63 mi / 101 km from Washington, DC
Drive or hike the 105-mile ridge road through peak Blue Ridge color, with overlooks and trailheads every few miles.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Shenandoah National Park · Oct – Nov · until Nov 30 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWWashington, DC· Luray, VA, 90 mi west· Family· 80 mi / 128 km from Washington, DC
Walk lit paths through towering limestone formations and hear the Great Stalacpipe Organ in a Shenandoah Valley cave open year-round.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Luray Caverns · Jan – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Lancaster, 65 mi west· Food & drink· 87 mi / 141 km from Washington, DC
The country's oldest continuously operating public farmers market sells local produce, baked goods and Pennsylvania Dutch fare on set market days.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Lancaster Central Market · Jan – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Strasburg, Lancaster County, 65 mi west· Family· 88 mi / 141 km from Washington, DC
A vintage steam locomotive pulls wooden coaches through Amish farmland on a short scenic run, with seasonal themed trains through the year.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Strasburg Rail Road · Mar – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Hershey, 95 mi west· Family· 98 mi / 157 km from Washington, DC
A chocolate-themed amusement park with coasters and a water-park section, which also runs fall and holiday events later in the year.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Hersheypark · May – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Winterthur, DE, 35 mi southwest· Outdoors· 99 mi / 159 km from Washington, DC
The former du Pont estate pairs a 1,000-acre naturalistic garden with a vast collection of American decorative arts.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Winterthur · Jan – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Chadds Ford, 30 mi southwest· Arts & culture· 102 mi / 164 km from Washington, DC
A converted grist mill beside the creek holds works by three generations of the Wyeth family and American illustrators, with riverside trails outside.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Brandywine Museum of Art · Jan – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Chester, 15 mi southwest· Sports· 109 mi / 176 km from Washington, DC
MLS soccer on the Delaware River waterfront, with a supporters section known for drums and chants.
Subaru Park · Mar – Nov · until Nov 30 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Cape May, NJ, 85 mi south· Outdoors· 112 mi / 180 km from Washington, DC
Climb the 199-step 1859 lighthouse for views over the Atlantic and Delaware Bay, then wander the Victorian streets and beaches nearby.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Cape May Lighthouse · Apr – Oct · until Oct 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Millville, NJ, 45 mi southeast· Arts & culture· 113 mi / 183 km from Washington, DC
A South Jersey arts campus with a glass museum and live glassblowing demonstrations in a working studio.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
WheatonArts and Cultural Center · Apr – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· King of Prussia, 20 mi northwest· Outdoors· 119 mi / 192 km from Washington, DC
Rolling parkland preserving the 1777-78 Continental Army winter camp, popular for cycling, hiking and kite flying.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Valley Forge National Historical Park · Jan – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· South Philadelphia Sports Complex· Sports· 121 mi / 195 km from Washington, DC
NFL home games draw a famously loud green-clad crowd to the stadium from September through the regular season's end.
Lincoln Financial Field · Sep – Jan · until Jan 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Center City· Arts & culture· 123 mi / 198 km from Washington, DC
A museum of medical history displaying anatomical specimens, antique instruments and pathology collections.
Suggested trip: 1 day
Mutter Museum, College of Physicians of Philadelphia · Jan – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Avenue of the Arts· Arts & culture· 123 mi / 198 km from Washington, DC
One of America's major orchestras plays its subscription season in the Center City concert hall, from classics to film-score evenings.
Suggested trip: 1 day
Marian Anderson Hall, Kimmel Center · Sep – May · until May 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Logan Square· Family· 123 mi / 198 km from Washington, DC
Hands-on science exhibits, a giant walk-through heart and a planetarium make this a dependable rainy-day outing for families.
Suggested trip: 1 day
The Franklin Institute · Jan – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Center City· Family· 123 mi / 198 km from Washington, DC
A plaza fountain beside City Hall where kids and adults cool off in warm months.
Suggested trip: 1 day
Dilworth Park · Apr – Oct · until Oct 31
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Center City· Food & drink· 124 mi / 199 km from Washington, DC
A historic indoor market where Amish bakers, deli counters and roast-pork sandwich stands let you graze your way through lunch in any weather.
Suggested trip: 1 day
Reading Terminal Market · Jan – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Fairmount· Holidays· 124 mi / 199 km from Washington, DC
A Halloween haunted-attraction experience inside the historic prison, with multiple themed attractions.
Suggested trip: 1 day
Eastern State Penitentiary · Oct · until Oct 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Chestnut Hill· Outdoors· 126 mi / 203 km from Washington, DC
The official state arboretum of Pennsylvania offers a canopy walk, a fernery and blooming collections across Chestnut Hill's hillside grounds.
Suggested trip: 1 day
Morris Arboretum · Jan – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Germantown· Arts & culture· 127 mi / 204 km from Washington, DC
A cluster of colonial and Revolutionary-era house museums in northwest Philadelphia, including the site of the 1777 Battle of Germantown.
Suggested trip: 1 day
Historic Germantown · Apr – Oct · until Oct 31 · typical season
IN SEASON NOWPhiladelphia· Lahaska, Bucks County, 35 mi north· Festivals· 146 mi / 235 km from Washington, DC
A Bucks County shopping village with themed gardens and a year-round calendar of seasonal weekend festivals, from spring blooms to a lit holiday display.
Suggested trip: 1 day or 2 days · 1 night
Peddler's Village · Mar – Dec · until Dec 31 · typical season