Day Trips from Richmond, VA

1. Charlottesville - 1 hour 15 min Day Trip from Richmond

Picturesquely nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville offers both indoor and outdoor activities for day visitors. Charlottesville is your gateway to the well-known Monticello Artisan Trail, which is one of the major draw-cards to the area, enticing visitors from near and far to come and visit a long list of crafters and agricultural artisans.

If you enjoy winery and brewery visits and tastings you can join a tour from Charlottesville and leave the driving to your guide. History lovers should definitely include a visit to Monticello, the historic Thomas Jefferson home, while families can take the children to have hours of hands-on fun at the Virginia Discovery Museum..

2. Annapolis

Annapolis is widely regarded as the sailing capital of the US and should feature prominently on any sailing enthusiasts list of day trips. Getting there from Richmond will require a two and a half hour drive across the border into Maryland, where you can anticipate hours of fun and entertainment both on and off the water. Experience Annapolis from a scenic Annapolis Harbor Cruise, experiment with yachting on the Schooner Windward or let the kids have fun on a Pirate Adventures excursion. Canoeing, paddle boarding and kayaking are other fun Chesapeake Bay adventures. Off the water you can enjoy the galleries located in the vibrant Annapolis Art District, go shopping on Maryland Avenue or feast on fresh Maryland Blue Crab and Rockfish.

Weekend itinerary if you decide to stay longer:

3. Baltimore

Baltimore truly has something for everyone, whether you yearn to explore interesting museums and historic districts or prefer to spend your time browsing art galleries and shops.

If you are visiting for the first or the twentieth time you will want to spend some time in Baltimore Inner Harbor where many attractions vie for your attention.

Highlights include the Historic Ships in the Baltimore Maritime Museum and the very impressive National Aquarium.

History enthusiasts can browse historic areas of the city like Auchentoroly Terrace and Baltimore East while art lovers should not miss visiting the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Walters Art Museum.

Baltimore has a reputation as a Foodie Mecca – spend some time exploring her many restaurants, breweries and distilleries.

4. Kerr Lake (aka Buggs Island Lake) - 1 hour 45 min Day Trip from Richmond

Kerr Lake (aka Buggs Island Lake) is located just less than two hours south of Richmond where it offers day trippers an excellent location for getting back to nature.

The lake is a favorite fishing location – you can bring along your boat to launch from one of several boat ramps.

Other activities on the lake include sailing, boating, kayaking and canoeing – rentals are available from Buggs Island Boat Company and Clarksville Water Sports.

If you don’t enjoy boating you can go hiking along the Panhandle trail at Occoneechee State Park, visit a butterfly garden at the Joseph S. J. Tanner Environmental Education Center or take the children to see the Model Train Museum in Clarksville.

5. Culpeper

Located about 90 minutes northwest of Richmond , Culpeper is a popular day trip destination offering a variety of activities.

The town is home to many historic sites which history and architecture enthusiasts might like to visit – highlights include the Crooked Run Baptist Church, the Culpeper National Cemetery and the Culpeper Country Courthouse which dates back to 1870.

There are several interesting shops and antiques stores to explore and recently the town has become known for its excellent selection of farm-to-fork eateries, farm stalls and artisan breweries.

If you are looking for outdoor recreation you can go horse-back riding at Grovespring Farm or try canoeing, tubing or kayaking at Kelly’s Ford.

Culpeper is a 1 hour 45 minute day trip from Richmond (88.0 miles via US-522 S and I-64 E).

6. Frontier Culture Museum

For a great family day trip you can load up all the children (and their friends) and take a drive to Staunton, where you can learn all about the life and times of Virginia’s earliest settlers at the Frontier Culture Museum.

This amazing “living” museum will teach children all about the trials and tribulations of Virginia’s pioneers through a collection of eleven fun and educational exhibits which showcase farms from as early at the 1600’s when English settlers arrived in Virginia.

You can explore the museum on a self-guided tour along walking paths and trails – shuttles are available when little legs get tired.

Frontier Culture Museum, 1290 Richmond Ave, Staunton, VA 24401, Phone: 540-332-7850

7. George Washington and Jefferson National Forest

The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest is an enormous outdoor recreation area located along the Appalachian Mountains, approximately 170 miles from Richmond.

The forests cover over 1.8 million acres of land and there are no less than fifty campgrounds where you can set up camp if you wish to stay overnight.

Recreational activities include hiking, mountain biking and fishing, as well as bird watching and horse-back riding.

In winter many of the hiking trails are suitable for cross-country skiing. There are several day-use areas which offer restrooms and picnic areas.

There are almost 2,000 miles of hiking and biking trails and several areas where you can enjoy boating and fishing.

8. Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

While Great Dismal Swamp does not exactly sound like an attractive place to visit, nature lovers, birders and wildlife enthusiasts flock here to enjoy hiking, biking and wildlife watching.

The refuge protects the last remaining pocket of an outstanding natural habitat which once covered large tracts of Virginia and Carolina and can be reached in less than two hours from Richmond.

You can spend your day in the refuge exploring along a network of hiking trails and boardwalks which lead you deep into the refuge and offer excellent birding and photographic opportunities.

Other activities include boating and fishing on Lake Drummond, seasonal hunting (October and November) and guided interpretive nature walks.

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Suffolk, VA 23434, Phone: 757-986-3705

9. Greensboro

Greensboro is widely known for its International Civil Rights Museum (which should be the first stop on your visit), but the town offers much more than a history lesson for day trippers.

Art lovers can spend an inspirational day admiring the town’s many art galleries, while families can spend hours at the Greensboro Science Center, which is part-zoo, part-aquarium and part interactive museum.

The Greensboro Children’s Museum and outdoor learning garden is another must for families while historians will enjoy visiting the Guildford Courthouse National Military Park and the Greensboro History Museum.

There are also several beautiful gardens to visit including the Bog Garden, the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden and the Greensboro Arboretum.

10. James River Rapids

For your next day trip excursion you need look no further than your own city center. Richmond residents are uniquely lucky to have the James River Rapids right in the heart of their city.

Here water-sport enthusiasts can have unlimited fun without having to travel long distances. The river offers several areas for entering and leaving the water including Belle Isle, one of the most popular gathering places for enthusiasts who can wade and paddle directly off the rocks.

If paddling is not your thing you can ride or hike the James River Park System instead. When you have worked up a thirst you can simply stroll to your favorite river-side brewery or restaurant.