I didn’t realize how tightly I’d been holding everything until I left the city. Just a few hours from Washington, D.C., the landscapes started to shift—trees leaning in, roads softening, and silence arriving in waves. At each of these escapes, I felt something uncoil. “You don’t need a plane ticket to feel far away,” I thought as I watched the sun rise over a still pond somewhere in Virginia horse country.
Best Weekend Getaways from DC:
Salamander Resort & Spa - 1 hour from DC
It took us about 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach the resort from Washington, DC. Set on 340 acres, Salamander Resort & Spa was relaxing and elegant.
My first stop was the spa which was quiet...just what I needed to unwind.
That night, I had a bowl of wild mushroom risotto. It was creamy, woodsy, and comforting in all the right ways.
In late summer, the air carried hints of lavender and hay. I got up early next day and I walked along the tree-lined paths, past horses grazing in the distance.
Primland - 4.5 hours and 30 minutes from DC
The drive to Primland took over 5 hours. It was scenic and well worth it but I recommend it as a long weekend getaway.
The Blue Ridge Mountains unfurled in every direction. We were surrounded by stars at night and misty quiet in the morning. I explored forest trails. I also took the time to enjoy the stillness of the surrounding nature. I stood still on a wooden deck watching clouds drift through the hills.
Inside, the lodge offered quiet luxury. My breakfast (stone-ground grits with brown butter and herbs) tasted amazing.
Glen Gordon Manor - 1 hour 20 minutes
Compared to Primland, Glen Gordon Manor was an easy 1 hour 30 minute drive from D.C.
Driving into Glen Gordon Manor felt like stepping into an old countryside romance. Everything was curated, but never cold. I loved their antique furniture, soft bedding, and gardens in bloom.
During dinner, I had lamb with rosemary jus in a dining room that smelled faintly of lemon and thyme. “This is how dinner must’ve felt before the world rushed in,” I thought, sipping sparkling water as candlelight danced on the silverware.
Goodstone Inn & Restaurant, a Romantic Getaway from Washington, DC - 1 hour driving time
I wandered through ivy-covered walls and winding stone paths at Goodstone Inn & Restaurant. Time moved like a breeze...unseen but felt.
In the morning, breakfast was served in a sunroom. I had flaky biscuits with honey butter and hot coffee, the scent mingling with the fresh scent of dew-covered fields just outside the window. I watched a rabbit pause in the grass, and for a moment, that was enough.
I discovered that Goodstone makes a great day trip from D.C. as well (1 hour 15 minutes each way). You can buy a pool pass through Resort Pass ($55) and spend the day by the pool. I had lunch at The Bistro and food there was like a work of art. If you need more suggestions from D.C., check out my article with day trip ideas sorted by driving time.
Turf Valley - 50 minutes from Washington, DC
Just 40 minutes from D.C., Turf Valley offered a quick reset.
I swam laps in the indoor pool, the echo of water the only sound. In the spa, I let eucalyptus steam drift over me until I forgot I had emails waiting.
At Alexandra’s American Fusion, I ordered pan-seared salmon—crispy skin, tender middle, a citrus glaze that lit up the plate. The view out the window: rolling greens and the soft arc of golf carts in the distance.
Chesapeake Bay - The Inn at Perry Cabin - 1 hour 30 minutes from DC
Arriving at The Inn at Perry Cabin by the water felt cinematic. Sailboats bobbed nearby, and the air smelled like bay salt and cedar.
Next day, I rocked slowly in an Adirondack chair, wrapped in a blanket as morning fog drifted across the water. At Stars restaurant, I had crab cakes with lemon aioli. The dish was light, buttery, and perfectly crisp. “This is what stillness tastes like,” I remember thinking.
The Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort
The Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort was where the weekend turned playful—pools, firepits, hammocks between trees. I walked along the river trail early, the Choptank waters calm and silver.
At the Water’s Edge Grill, I ordered fish tacos with mango salsa, fresh and spicy with a hint of lime. The hotel buzzed with families and couples.
The drive from D.C. took us about two hours.
The Cavalier Virginia - 3 hours 20 min
The Cavalier stood like an old soul above the ocean. White columns, black-and-white floors, and a hush that echoed history.
I visited the gardens at sunrise, the sky brushed pink and gray. I thought, “This hotel remembers things.” Inside, my room was indulgent. There was velvet, marble, and ocean light. For breakfast, I had brioche French toast with berries and warm syrup, the air full of vanilla and sea salt.
Conclusion
What surprised me most wasn’t how far these places felt from D.C., but how they returned me to myself. Each one left a different note in my mind—soft, resonant, and necessary. I went looking for rest. What I found was room to breathe.
Jump to a Spot...
- • Salamander Resort & Spa - 1 hour from DC
- • Primland - 4.5 hours and 30 minutes from DC
- • Glen Gordon Manor - 1 hour 20 minutes
- • Goodstone Inn & Restaurant, a Romantic Getaway from Washington, DC - 1 hour driving time
- • Turf Valley - 50 minutes from Washington, DC
- • Chesapeake Bay - The Inn at Perry Cabin - 1 hour 30 minutes from DC
- • The Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort
- • The Cavalier Virginia - 3 hours 20 min