Thursday, 25 August, 2022
If you don’t have time for a week-long vacation to a far-away destination, you don’t have to sit at home on an upcoming day off of work. Woodbridge, Virginia, is near some fascinating attractions you and your family will want to see. Below, you can read some ideas for day trips from Woodbridge, Virginia.
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park is a vast landscape of over 200,000 acres of protected land that belongs to the U.S. National Park Service. You can get to Shenandoah from Woodbridge by first hopping onto VA-286 N from VA-123 N. Eventually, you’ll get on I-66 W and take exit 13 to get on VA-55 W. You’ll take VA-55 W all the way to Skyline Drive, where Shenandoah Park will await you with its magnificent and inviting wooded areas, wildflower fields, and waterfalls.
Once you arrive, you’ll have over 500 miles of hiking trails to choose from, so you have plenty of options to explore. Many trails are meant for visitors to complete within a few hours, making it easy to fit at least one or two into your day trip schedule. One of our favorite short hikes is on the Frazier Discovery Trail on Loft Mountain. You can drive to mile 79.5 and begin this 1.3-mile hiking loop. It lets you pass through wooded areas where you’ll encounter diverse plants and animals.
If you want something a bit more challenging, you can take on a hiking trail with a designation of medium-level difficulty. For example, the Rose River Falls trail is nearly 4 miles long. Your hard work won’t go unnoticed, as you’ll arrive at a roaring 67-foot waterfall at the end. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous while at Shenandoah, you can hike up to the park’s highest point, which is at the top of Hawksbill Mountain. You’ll be standing at around 4,000 feet, giving you a breathtaking view of the Linville Gorge Wilderness below.
Charlottesville
Charlottesville is a city rich in history and culture. It’s a little less than a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Woodbridge, and the route to this city is pretty straightforward. Start by hopping on I-95 S and follow the signs for VA-3 W. Then, you can get on VA-20 and take this road to East High Street in Charlottesville. This city is a good central area from which you can begin your adventures around the city.
Interestingly, Charlottesville is Virginia’s only UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s home to fascinating historical sites like the University of Virginia and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. You can begin your trip to Charlottesville by exploring the University of Virginia and marveling at the 1,600 acres of well-kept landscapes, beautiful architecture, and sophisticated charm. Then, you can take a guided tour of Monticello, where you can learn about the life and home of the third U.S. president, Thomas Jefferson.
After you take some time to appreciate the history of Charlottesville, you can make your way to the downtown area. Once you find a parking spot, you can check out the various restaurants and craft breweries on foot, as the downtown area is quite walkable. One of our favorite spots is The Alley Light, which is a quaint fine dining restaurant with a speakeasy feel. Here, you can order various cheese, vegetable, and meat plates and boards and sip on various wines and custom cocktails.
Arlington National Cemetery
If you’re looking for an easy drive for your day trip from Woodbridge, consider visiting Arlington National Cemetery. This historic spot is a little more than a 30-minute drive from Woodbridge, and you can get to it by first getting on I-95 N in Lorton from US-1 N. Then, you can follow I-95 N and I-395 to VA-27 N/S Washington Boulevard. Once you take exit 8B from I-395 N, you can continue on South Washington Boulevard until you get to Memorial Avenue.
Once you’re at Arlington National Cemetery, you can see various memorials and grave sites, including the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. If you time it right, you can see the ceremonious “changing of the guard” that occurs at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every half hour or every hour, depending on what time of year you come to visit.
After visiting the Arlington National Cemetery, you can drive over the Theodore Roosevelt bridge. You’ll find other fascinating historical sites on this side of the Potomac River, such as the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and Ford’s Theater.
Colonial Beach
If you want to spend the day by the water, Colonial Beach is an excellent day trip you can take from Woodbridge. The drive is about an hour and a half, and you can start your journey by following I-95 S and US-1 S to Hope Road. Then, you’ll take Courthouse Road and Brook Road to get on VA-218 E. After turning right onto State Route 605, you’ll follow VA-3 E and VA-205 E to Colonial Avenue. Colonial Avenue will take you to Washington Avenue, where you can find beach parking.
Colonial Beach is a quaint spot between the Potomac River and Monroe Bay. It’s home to several marinas, so you can plan a day full of fun-filled water-based activities, including fishing, boating, swimming, and water-skiing. The beach is pet-friendly from Oct. 1 to March 31, so feel free to bring your pooch with you as long as they stay on a leash. After a long day on the water, you can spend a few hours exploring the small surrounding town before heading back home.
Before you take off on your day trip from Woodbridge, Virginia, we encourage you to visit our dealership at Koons Woodbridge Hyundai. Our service technicians will ensure your current vehicle is up to date on the maintenance it needs so that you can drive off confidently. If you need a new family vehicle, you can browse our lot of available preowned and new Hyundai vehicles and find the one that suits your preferences. Contact us today to speak with a team member or schedule an appointment.
Shenandoah by Alyson Hurt is licensed by CC BY 2.0
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