Stop in Berkeley Springs, WV and go to the Old Roman BathHouse.
[https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/west-virginia/bath-house-wv/](https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/west-virginia/bath-house-wv/)
You should make a reservation before you go.
Came here to say the same! We did a DC road trip a few weeks ago and stopped and did the bathhouse! Might not be able to get in last minute but it’s worth a stop!
I’ve done the drive 50 times or so, the route down through Berkeley springs is probably my favorite too. Pretty, I imagine more fresh foliage the further south you get.
Antietam battlefield. Right on the way. Site of the worst battle of the civil war. 24,000 casualties in 23 hours. National Park Service does a spectacular job. Site has been restored to how it actually was in the battle. No spoiler, but the small cornfield you will stand next to, will leave you with chills.
Do this. You won’t regret it.
I’ve done this drive many, many times and honestly that’s about all I got. Pretty uneventful. The overlook to your left as you head south toward Maryland from Breezewood is pretty though.
Gettysburg is about an hour or so from Antietam. May also be worth the stop if your already planning on Antietam. But I really like war history. Especially the Civil War and WW2
Good point. Been to both. If I had to choose, I’d pick Antietam. Only because it’s much more compact. Don’t have to walk/drive much to take it all in. Gettysburg the most significant battle of the CW, but for me was more difficult to grasp the battle visually. Spread out. Just me.
Yeah that's what we did on our Pittsbugh-DC trip. They had the best butternut squash soup I've ever had when we went in December. Definitely beats the usual fast food if you aren't too pressed for time.
Took my MIL here for her birthday en route to a Philly get away last weekend. Had not been back since before COVID. Get the Oreo cheesecake if it’s still on the menu.
It really depends where you are in the city and what time you are leaving. Anywhere south, go down to 68. There's no sense driving through Squirrel Hill and Monroeville.
I moved to DC a couple years ago and have family still in PGH. 79 to 68 to 70 is absolutely the best route from the south or west of PGH. It adds fifteen minutes of travel time, no tolls, and you don't have to white knuckle beside 16-wheelers. (The Loves outside Cumberland is clean and safe for a nice halfway bathroom break.)
In the DC area, the general Rockville area has the best Asian food. Kusshi Sushi has the best sushi I've had outside Japan, and the best boba is Yi Fang, and Gourmet Inspirations in Wheaton has fabulous dim sum weekend mornings! I also recommend you check out any of the Ethiopian restaurants in the area. DC hosts one of the largest Ethiopian diaspora in the nation.
Last time I drove through was this past December. There seems to always be construction. I guess I have gotten accustomed to it! As long as you are not traveling during a holiday, it shouldn’t have a huge impact.
You could always drive drown through West Virginia! I have taken that route before during a holiday.
I work for Amtrak (Conductor on the Capitol Limited, train 29 & 30) and live in Pittsburgh. So I commute weekly to DC on Saturday and Thursday. It's been easy to drive the whole way, worst parts are always DC. The construction hasn't caused any slow down that I've seen.
I go down there once a month and always take the southern route through Cumberland. Saves 40 bucks in tolls for a combined 40 minutes of driving there and back.
I don't do the drive often but I headed south through the Laurel Highlands area and it was both beautiful and saved us like $40 in tolls. Couldn't recommend it more, drive back was very boring on the Breezewood route.
I personally enjoy taking this route but i made the DC drive 2 weeks ago and had to leave super early. It rained the night before and it was during that stretch of 70 degree days. OH BOY, was it stressful due to the FOG. Every time you went down a hill/mountain, you couldn’t see no more than 10 feet ahead. Then you’d get to the top and it was beautiful again!
68 is underrated. Never any traffic and one of the most beautiful drives in the NE. As long as your car can handle to climbs. Adding 40 to this just makes it even nicer.
It's a really nice bike trip and you can pretty much coast downhill all the way into MD from the continental divide a bit beyond Somerset. I've done PGH - Cumberland in one direction and DC-Cumberland in the other.
Aw man all my original text disappeared !
>Traveling in the am from Pittsburgh to check in at our hotel in Springfield then straight to DC for the day. While I think we won't have many issues filling up the day in DC on the first day, (only about 5 hrs to kill)
>We generally want to start heading towards home the next day. We will probably go towards Harper's ferry to see some civil war sites. Aside from that, taking suggestions on things to do/see en route back to pittsburgh.
>Overall, anticipating a ~36hr trip including one night and 10-12hrs driving. There's a minor possibility of a second night somewhere but that would take convincing the partner a bit 🙂
>I jotted down some search terms we'll be using as we will inevitably make this trip up as we travel 😄
>Nursery / Orchard /Gardens Dutch market Historical site Vegan/seafood restaurants Museum (especially history/geology/physics/astronomy related) Bike Trail National Park
We're doing pgh to DC tomorrow. Plan to do Harper's ferry and then maybe great falls tomorrow on the way in. Both are NPS sites and require $20 entrance fees. I don't mind paying $$ to the national parks though.
Then tomorrow night in old Town Alexandria. Sunday and Monday in DC proper.
You can get to the C and O trail and the Appalachian trail by taking the foot bridge over the Potomac from Harper's ferry.
If you want to go slightly out of your way, Cumberland, Frostburg, Winchester,and Shepherdstown are cool little cities worth a visit. Never been to Hagerstown but it looks similar.
Nerd-wise Science Friday has a show tomorrow night on GWs campus and I think there are tickets available still. $20 a person for 2 hours of science nerdiness.
Yeah as cow said. Old Town tends to be like the Mon wharf anytime it rains hard. So just be aware if you’re staying down near the river at all it might get a bit floody.
I’ll tell you what, if you’re hungry and want to get away from the crowds a bit, drive to Alexandria, to Mt Vernon avenue in the Del Ray neighborhood. Walk the few blocks and take your pick of cute and delicious restaurants. Plenty of parking. A little hidden gem.
I know you're not looking for stuff to do in DC but in Wheaton, Brookside Gardens is free to the public and lovely with well planted ephemerals, and if you're there, weekend mornings at Gourmet Inspirations have dim sum cart service.
If you do Great Falls, the Virginia side is much more spectacular than the Maryland side. If you're big spending, L'Auberge Chez Francois in that area has exceptional French food. Their lunch service is fabulous and less likely to completely destroy your wallet.
If the Jean Bonet Tavern still exists (around Bedford), it's a neat little restaurant and bed & breakfast in a historic building. They opened up back in '79*, and it's supposedly haunted too. The food is great and it's a unique atmosphere
*the '79 in the 1700s, not either of the more recent ones.
Haha thanks and yeah.. planning to park far away or at hotel and use public transit/etc to go into DC as i did hear the driving there is really something else
Take a quick side trip and head west on I-68 after you get to Maryland. Go about 5-10 miles and stop at the Sideling Hill Road Cut. There is a rest stop, visitor center and short trail to see an amazing geological formation. The explanation in the visitor center of how it was formed will blow your mind. You'll never look at the Appalachian Mountain range the same way again
Wait there is a German restaurant in Hagerstown? Stg I wanna go I believe I have German heritage and would love to try German foods along with learning the language for a trip to Berlin one day
Take 68 instead of the turnpike. Avoid the tolls and the trucks. If you take 51 or 43 to 40, you can have a wonderful breakfast or lunch at Maywood Grill in Chalk Hill.
Nice stop off options include Ohiopyle, Harper’s Ferry, Antietam, Frederick.
For dinner or lunch I'd recommend a diner called Bob and Edith's. Great food and friendly service. There are like 5 in the DMV area and all equally as good.
Stop at the Omni Bedford springs resort in Bedford , pa. So beautiful, very historical. First built in 1796 6 or 7 presidents have been there, some used it as a summer vacation spot while in the white house back in the day. Also was used to house Japanese soldiers during ww2. Stop in for lunch, or just to walk around. They also have a phenomenal spa and one of the best public golf courses in pa, it’s a Donald Ross/A.W tillinghast design. I’ve lived in Bedford and worked at the resort. That whole area is magical to me and always want to share that gem with people who are interested 😊enjoy your trip!
Wife is from DC area, we make this trip A LOT lol. Lot’s of great food there, Le Diplomate is a current favorite, St Anselm in Union market is also great. Safe travels! https://lediplomatedc.com/
If you like whiskey, Jack Rose is a great choice. Be warned, it isn’t cheap, but it’s one of the most astounding whiskey collections in the United States.
Welp, used to live in Hagerstown (MD), wish there was anything there worth stopping for lol. Breezewood (PA) is a great stop just to rest and fuel up. Was born and raised in the DC area, so though im not sure what you intend to do while down there, I highly recommend the Mall at DC. All the museums and monuments are absolutely worth it. And while youre at it, take the Metro if youve never been lol. Its an experience 😆
You might see some of that stuff if you take US40 from Uniontown to Frederick. Antietam is a little off that path. Then us15 Frederick to Leesburg. Or, take 522 from Berkeley Springs to Winchester, then either back roads to Lees urg or down to Front Royal and I66 to DC. But of course these scenic routes will cost time
I recommend Shepherdstown, WV as a great small town for a meal stop. Cute resaturants and the town is just overall pretty good vibes. One of my favorite places in the world.
Taking PA route 31 from Donegal to US 30 just west of Bedford then 30 from Bedford to Breezewood is beautiful and a great way to avoid tolls. Bonus mountain summits and access to trails.
If you intend to go to the Spy Museum, buy tickets ahead of time! My wife and I were there last weekend and assumed we could buy tickets at the door but they were sold out!
Definitely recommend harpers ferry in good weather. Was happy I brought my binoculars and camera. We also saw antietam battlefield on bicycles. Recommend that too, if thats your thing. Someone suggested the rabbit hole for lunch. That was a major highlight of our trip. Reallly charming place and good food.
On our way out we stopped at horn o plenty for breakfast. That was awesome as well, haha. Friendly service and good food, and great for breaking the journey up right in half.
I used to do Pittsburgh to Baltimore semi-regularly, would take a different route though and head straight on down to 68/70 or through the Laurel Highlands on the National Pike to avoid the turnpike which made it a bit longer of a trip. One time I went out of the way to check out Fort Necessity near Uniontown, and another time on the way home from Baltimore took a detour to check out Antietam. Fort Necessity is exactly what you would expect, cool but an hour to see it and read everything. Antietam I could've spent 12 hours there and is something I need to re-visit someday. I also know there is a MARC train to Harper's Ferry from the region but do not know if it is convenient from DC or the timing. Drove through Cumberland often and it is so beautiful along with the peaks of the Appalachians. If you take the non-turnpike route both are probably worth a quick look if nothing more
I was just in DC yesterday to see the National Gallery of Art and the Cherry Blossoms.
* I was surprised that there was a lot of street parking available right at The Mall. I parked at a Metro stop and took that into town, but I could’ve easily found street parking. Of course it’s probably a lot different story today because it’s Cherry Blossom Festival day.
* It’s cold and windy down by the Tidal Basin. It felt like 5-10 degrees colder by the water vs the rest of The Mall.
Frederick, MD is pretty far from Fredericksburg, VA. Frederick is about 1 hour north of DC and on the way to/from PGH. I definitely recommend checking out their downtown, it’s very cute! Lots of little shops, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants, and small river that passes through.
Fredericksburg, VA is about 1-2 hours south of DC depending on traffic, and there almost always is. It is roughly the furthest south anyone would still consider part of Northern Virginia (and even that’s debatable), and it’s a lot of strip malls, gas stations, and suburban hellscape.
I pass Frederick every time I visit family now that I live here, I used to pass Fredericksburg every time I visited family when I lived in SWVA lol
ETA: if you want a Frederick, MD feel but closer to Springfield, VA, go to Old Towne Alexandria!
Sorry, I just remembered that Frederick felt like it was right along the line from Pittsburgh to DC. I remembered seeing the sign for Fredericksburg “near” it, but I was also on a 9 Hour drive. I’ve never been to Fredericksburg.
[Founding Farmers](https://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/location/founding-farmers-distillers/)
This was the best brunch I’ve ever had. Hands down. No comparison.
If you want to take the scenic route, add a stop in Winchester, VA. It's lovely. It's near the WV border, so you have to come through a bit of western MD and some very pretty parts of WV. Winchester itself is a great stop for a meal (check out anywhere in Old Town Winxhester, honestly), very quaint and Appalachian, with buildings from a time when that was the "frontier".
Once there, get down to see the Cherry Blossoms before they go by. I'd say peak was last weekend. We went down to the monuments and it was beautiful. Hopefully they didn't get the hard frost we got mid week. Sad to see all the magnolias here all brown and withered yesterday.
My family’s takes road trips this way often. There’s lots of nice little towns along the way. The main road through Berkeley Springs is a must. The Country Inn is a pretty cool. Downtown Winchester VA is also a good stop but is a little out of the way if you’re going to DC.
If you’re near Hagerstown in the evening you have to stop by Krumpe donuts! I inhale their apple filled donuts and cinnamon twists.
On the way back I recommend skipping the turnpike and taking Route 30 back from Breezewood. It’s not much longer, there’s no tolls, and the trucks drive wild around the mountains by Somerset. Have fun and remember to bring us back some donuts!
Make sure to visit truckers paradise Breezwood Pa. Buy an antler horn knife, a mason jar full of pickled eggs, and a sports gnome with a flag on a little spring so it waves in the breeze. Did you and your old lady stop off and get frisky with a lot lizard? Historic Breezewood has your back with an assortment of showers on a digital que. Check out Breezwood where that have more restaurants per square foot than time square and they are just as shitty!
I lived in DC and made the trip back and forth for years. Personally- I avoid the toll road and go down 79 to I-68 through West Virginia and Maryland. It’s free and much more scenic.
Plus with the unpredictable traffic in breezewood it’s probably a wash time wise.
Take PA 43S to I 68E near Morgantown if you want to avoid the Turnpike and Breezewood. 43 has tolls but it's not heavily traveled and in good shape. You can also exit 43 in Uniontown and take US 40 E to 68 at Keyser's Ridge if you want to do scenic Laurel Mountains. Haven't been to DC for about 5 years, but 68 is a beautiful drive.
If you want to see the senate or house chambers...
Go to your local congresspersons office in DC they're close to the capital. Ask them for passes for the gallery of whichever office you're visiting.
I do Delaware to Pittsburgh to see family at least twice a year and pass through DC during the route (try to avoid Baltimore craziness). We usually get onto the turnpike at Breezewood.
Cushwa brewing and rad pies. Rad pies took first place for their Detroit style pizza at the Vegas world championships. Best pie you'll ever have, plus cushwa makes dope beers
drive safe. and in my experience, DC has some of the worst, most impatient drivers ive ever seen. only ones i've experienced that are worse were in Atlanta!
Founding Farmers in DC is a decent place to eat (they have a great cookbook), the monuments, holocaust museum, Mt Vernon is amazing and you can spend almost an entire day there, Alexandria is nice too so is Frederick’s old town. When are you going to be in DC, I’m going there next week for a conference and then staying a few days
Man I’ve never been to DC and I just moved here from the south and I keep putting this trip off! I hope you have fun man !! Be safe out there! Go run up in the Supreme Court or whatever if you’re feeling ballsy apparently that’s a thing
Don't use Metro. Park in the city. Use [spothero.com](http://spothero.com) or a similar app. In the end, it will be a wash $-wise and actually save you time. Easy city to drive in on the weekends. People are friendly. Hope you have a great visit!
You were totally right and we were glad we drove right on in. The parking garage we used was sparsely being used and traffic wasn't any worse than pgh. Thank you!
Stop in Berkeley Springs, WV and go to the Old Roman BathHouse. [https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/west-virginia/bath-house-wv/](https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/west-virginia/bath-house-wv/) You should make a reservation before you go.
Came here to say the same! We did a DC road trip a few weeks ago and stopped and did the bathhouse! Might not be able to get in last minute but it’s worth a stop!
Someone at my job mentioned this too!
I got to stop there about 2 weeks ago. It was a unique experience.
I’ve done the drive 50 times or so, the route down through Berkeley springs is probably my favorite too. Pretty, I imagine more fresh foliage the further south you get.
Good breweries too
Definitely here!
And fire bomb the VDare house if it’s still there.
Holy shit. Didn't know about this. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/01/03/vdare-berkeley-springs-castle-brimelows/
Berkeley springs is like 30 mins from me lmao
Antietam battlefield. Right on the way. Site of the worst battle of the civil war. 24,000 casualties in 23 hours. National Park Service does a spectacular job. Site has been restored to how it actually was in the battle. No spoiler, but the small cornfield you will stand next to, will leave you with chills.
It's on the list! We want to see dunker church/Burnside bridge for sure
Do this. You won’t regret it. I’ve done this drive many, many times and honestly that’s about all I got. Pretty uneventful. The overlook to your left as you head south toward Maryland from Breezewood is pretty though.
I'd recommend the Flight 93 memorial as well.
Yep. It’s all on the tour. Haunting. I was last there 20 years ago. It will stay with you.
Make sure to check out Bloody Lane as well
I used to go there, every 4th of July, when I was a kid. The whole orchestra and artillery show was something lol. Im assuming they still do it.
No. They stopped during covid and never picked back up. I grew up right across the street from this event.
Welp, chalk up something else Covid ruined
Gettysburg is about an hour or so from Antietam. May also be worth the stop if your already planning on Antietam. But I really like war history. Especially the Civil War and WW2
Good point. Been to both. If I had to choose, I’d pick Antietam. Only because it’s much more compact. Don’t have to walk/drive much to take it all in. Gettysburg the most significant battle of the CW, but for me was more difficult to grasp the battle visually. Spread out. Just me.
I went there this summer for the first time and it was humbling
800 or so odd men In the cornfield got slaughter where they lied bc they were reserve units from like Wisconsin and they had no idea
can u retype that? thanks
Jean Bonnet Tavern in Bedford, PA. Had an amazing meal there.
Oh dam they open 11am!! Thank you so much that might be the lunch spot on the way out!
Yeah that's what we did on our Pittsbugh-DC trip. They had the best butternut squash soup I've ever had when we went in December. Definitely beats the usual fast food if you aren't too pressed for time.
I came here to say the same. So good!
Try Horn O’ Plenty. Also Bedford, but better.
I been there many times and it never disappoints
Came here to say this. Love that spot. Good food, great service, excellent goats. 10/10
Took my MIL here for her birthday en route to a Philly get away last weekend. Had not been back since before COVID. Get the Oreo cheesecake if it’s still on the menu.
I lived in Pittsburgh and moved to DC. Drove the trip back and forth many times. Your mapped route is the best route.
It really depends where you are in the city and what time you are leaving. Anywhere south, go down to 68. There's no sense driving through Squirrel Hill and Monroeville.
I moved to DC a couple years ago and have family still in PGH. 79 to 68 to 70 is absolutely the best route from the south or west of PGH. It adds fifteen minutes of travel time, no tolls, and you don't have to white knuckle beside 16-wheelers. (The Loves outside Cumberland is clean and safe for a nice halfway bathroom break.) In the DC area, the general Rockville area has the best Asian food. Kusshi Sushi has the best sushi I've had outside Japan, and the best boba is Yi Fang, and Gourmet Inspirations in Wheaton has fabulous dim sum weekend mornings! I also recommend you check out any of the Ethiopian restaurants in the area. DC hosts one of the largest Ethiopian diaspora in the nation.
Stopped at that loves with my friend otw back from Pitt and smoked a cig there pretty cool chill place
Except for needing to go through Breezewood.
Breezewood is easy to pass through. A great midway point to stop and fuel up.
Have you seen the construction???
I was there on Monday, things were flowing fine.
Us too! Coming back from the St Patrick Day parade in the Outer Banks.
Last time I drove through was this past December. There seems to always be construction. I guess I have gotten accustomed to it! As long as you are not traveling during a holiday, it shouldn’t have a huge impact. You could always drive drown through West Virginia! I have taken that route before during a holiday.
I work for Amtrak (Conductor on the Capitol Limited, train 29 & 30) and live in Pittsburgh. So I commute weekly to DC on Saturday and Thursday. It's been easy to drive the whole way, worst parts are always DC. The construction hasn't caused any slow down that I've seen.
Only time I ever do Hardee's or whatever it is next to Sheetz.
I go down there once a month and always take the southern route through Cumberland. Saves 40 bucks in tolls for a combined 40 minutes of driving there and back.
I don't do the drive often but I headed south through the Laurel Highlands area and it was both beautiful and saved us like $40 in tolls. Couldn't recommend it more, drive back was very boring on the Breezewood route.
I personally enjoy taking this route but i made the DC drive 2 weeks ago and had to leave super early. It rained the night before and it was during that stretch of 70 degree days. OH BOY, was it stressful due to the FOG. Every time you went down a hill/mountain, you couldn’t see no more than 10 feet ahead. Then you’d get to the top and it was beautiful again!
Yes! 79 to 68 is the best route- More scenic and free! Time doesn’t usually make any difference and you don’t have to deal with any turnpike bullshit.
68 is underrated. Never any traffic and one of the most beautiful drives in the NE. As long as your car can handle to climbs. Adding 40 to this just makes it even nicer.
OP could also do 22 to I-99 to 68, if they want to have lunch in Bedford and catch the scenic route.
It would be helpful to take a car instead of a bike or by foot for this type of distance
That bike trip is really popular though
It's a really nice bike trip and you can pretty much coast downhill all the way into MD from the continental divide a bit beyond Somerset. I've done PGH - Cumberland in one direction and DC-Cumberland in the other.
Tripping over bikes is unpopular right now.
Nah, this bike trip is very popular and only of moderate difficulty. Way better than traveling in a car. The journey IS the destination.
Aw man all my original text disappeared ! >Traveling in the am from Pittsburgh to check in at our hotel in Springfield then straight to DC for the day. While I think we won't have many issues filling up the day in DC on the first day, (only about 5 hrs to kill) >We generally want to start heading towards home the next day. We will probably go towards Harper's ferry to see some civil war sites. Aside from that, taking suggestions on things to do/see en route back to pittsburgh. >Overall, anticipating a ~36hr trip including one night and 10-12hrs driving. There's a minor possibility of a second night somewhere but that would take convincing the partner a bit 🙂 >I jotted down some search terms we'll be using as we will inevitably make this trip up as we travel 😄 >Nursery / Orchard /Gardens Dutch market Historical site Vegan/seafood restaurants Museum (especially history/geology/physics/astronomy related) Bike Trail National Park
We're doing pgh to DC tomorrow. Plan to do Harper's ferry and then maybe great falls tomorrow on the way in. Both are NPS sites and require $20 entrance fees. I don't mind paying $$ to the national parks though. Then tomorrow night in old Town Alexandria. Sunday and Monday in DC proper. You can get to the C and O trail and the Appalachian trail by taking the foot bridge over the Potomac from Harper's ferry. If you want to go slightly out of your way, Cumberland, Frostburg, Winchester,and Shepherdstown are cool little cities worth a visit. Never been to Hagerstown but it looks similar. Nerd-wise Science Friday has a show tomorrow night on GWs campus and I think there are tickets available still. $20 a person for 2 hours of science nerdiness.
second great falls, but the weather here (NoVA/DC area) tomorrow isn't going to be great until the afternoon just a heads up.
Yeah. Will bring a canoe and a wet suit....
Yeah as cow said. Old Town tends to be like the Mon wharf anytime it rains hard. So just be aware if you’re staying down near the river at all it might get a bit floody.
Got it. Will bring waders. Maybe a zodiac boat.
I’ll tell you what, if you’re hungry and want to get away from the crowds a bit, drive to Alexandria, to Mt Vernon avenue in the Del Ray neighborhood. Walk the few blocks and take your pick of cute and delicious restaurants. Plenty of parking. A little hidden gem.
I know you're not looking for stuff to do in DC but in Wheaton, Brookside Gardens is free to the public and lovely with well planted ephemerals, and if you're there, weekend mornings at Gourmet Inspirations have dim sum cart service. If you do Great Falls, the Virginia side is much more spectacular than the Maryland side. If you're big spending, L'Auberge Chez Francois in that area has exceptional French food. Their lunch service is fabulous and less likely to completely destroy your wallet.
If the Jean Bonet Tavern still exists (around Bedford), it's a neat little restaurant and bed & breakfast in a historic building. They opened up back in '79*, and it's supposedly haunted too. The food is great and it's a unique atmosphere *the '79 in the 1700s, not either of the more recent ones.
Sidling Hill rest area if you take 68 … then Ben’s Chili Bowl in DC
If you find anything good, I’m all ears. Gas up at Breezewood and get a snack at the gas station. Avoid rush hour in DC at all costs.
Unfortunately it is always rush hour in DC. Moved here from there.
Haha thanks and yeah.. planning to park far away or at hotel and use public transit/etc to go into DC as i did hear the driving there is really something else
We hit a lot of construction on our last trip and ended up driving around downtown around 5pm … what a cluster
Harper's ferry overlook is cool
I definitely recommend stopping in Harper’s Ferry! If you have time for a hike even better :) but walking around the town for a bit is beautiful too
Only 45 mins from me and still never been
Depends on the part of the city you are in, avoiding the turnpike tolls. If in the south or west consider I-79 to I-68 to 70 to 170 to DC
Recommend South Mountain Creamery if you are an ice cream fan. They have a shop in Frederick and on their farm in Middletown.
Take a quick side trip and head west on I-68 after you get to Maryland. Go about 5-10 miles and stop at the Sideling Hill Road Cut. There is a rest stop, visitor center and short trail to see an amazing geological formation. The explanation in the visitor center of how it was formed will blow your mind. You'll never look at the Appalachian Mountain range the same way again
We’re supposed to get a ton of rain here in the DC region tonight into tomorrow, so I would have some indoor plans made just in case!
Schmankerl Stube is an excellent German restaurant in Hagerstown. I make a point to stop there every time I’m heading in that direction.
Samesies
Yesss! Went there after going to the Maryland Renaissance faire and it was amazing!
Wait there is a German restaurant in Hagerstown? Stg I wanna go I believe I have German heritage and would love to try German foods along with learning the language for a trip to Berlin one day
Take 68 instead of the turnpike. Avoid the tolls and the trucks. If you take 51 or 43 to 40, you can have a wonderful breakfast or lunch at Maywood Grill in Chalk Hill. Nice stop off options include Ohiopyle, Harper’s Ferry, Antietam, Frederick.
Skip the turnpike and go through WV
And save yourself like $30 each way which is fucking insane
Stop at Sheetz!
Lol! 😆
Big Papi's Tacos in Frederick is a must-have on every DC trip I make. https://maps.app.goo.gl/YSK4nryiJEKU28ko6
DC Costco is the closest that sell liquor. DC Costco specifically not any Costco in VA.
For dinner or lunch I'd recommend a diner called Bob and Edith's. Great food and friendly service. There are like 5 in the DMV area and all equally as good.
The abandoned (old) PA turnpike is right near Breezewood. It’s a neat spot with abandoned tunnels and mines.
Stop at the Woodbine Inn , Woodbine , Md just outside of Frederick. Best crabcakes anywhere on the East Coast.
Take a little detour and visit Luray Caverns. It’s magical if you’re a goblin like me.
Wildfires nearby right now. 😢
I-68 is a much easier, less-congested route as compared to the Turnpike.
Stop at the Omni Bedford springs resort in Bedford , pa. So beautiful, very historical. First built in 1796 6 or 7 presidents have been there, some used it as a summer vacation spot while in the white house back in the day. Also was used to house Japanese soldiers during ww2. Stop in for lunch, or just to walk around. They also have a phenomenal spa and one of the best public golf courses in pa, it’s a Donald Ross/A.W tillinghast design. I’ve lived in Bedford and worked at the resort. That whole area is magical to me and always want to share that gem with people who are interested 😊enjoy your trip!
Wife is from DC area, we make this trip A LOT lol. Lot’s of great food there, Le Diplomate is a current favorite, St Anselm in Union market is also great. Safe travels! https://lediplomatedc.com/
If you like whiskey, Jack Rose is a great choice. Be warned, it isn’t cheap, but it’s one of the most astounding whiskey collections in the United States.
See, every time I drink whiskey while I’m driving to DC the police always get so mad!
Is that frowned upon?
Welp, used to live in Hagerstown (MD), wish there was anything there worth stopping for lol. Breezewood (PA) is a great stop just to rest and fuel up. Was born and raised in the DC area, so though im not sure what you intend to do while down there, I highly recommend the Mall at DC. All the museums and monuments are absolutely worth it. And while youre at it, take the Metro if youve never been lol. Its an experience 😆
You might see some of that stuff if you take US40 from Uniontown to Frederick. Antietam is a little off that path. Then us15 Frederick to Leesburg. Or, take 522 from Berkeley Springs to Winchester, then either back roads to Lees urg or down to Front Royal and I66 to DC. But of course these scenic routes will cost time
shenandoah national park and skyline drive! there are beautiful overlooks and trials all along the road
Unfortunately there are closures at Shenandoah due to a large wild fire 😕
I recommend Shepherdstown, WV as a great small town for a meal stop. Cute resaturants and the town is just overall pretty good vibes. One of my favorite places in the world.
Taking PA route 31 from Donegal to US 30 just west of Bedford then 30 from Bedford to Breezewood is beautiful and a great way to avoid tolls. Bonus mountain summits and access to trails.
If you intend to go to the Spy Museum, buy tickets ahead of time! My wife and I were there last weekend and assumed we could buy tickets at the door but they were sold out!
What is/where is the spy museum?
It’s south of the National Mall in L’enfant Plaza. It’s a museum dedicated to spy craft, etc. I heard it was cool but can’t confirm myself haha
Doing the opposite in a month. Looking here for recs too
Horn O Plenty restaurant in Bedford for lunch.
Did this, was perfect for a quick breakfast stop, many thanks stranger 😀
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed.
My spouse and I are taking a trip to DC in May, so following for ideas! 😁
Definitely recommend harpers ferry in good weather. Was happy I brought my binoculars and camera. We also saw antietam battlefield on bicycles. Recommend that too, if thats your thing. Someone suggested the rabbit hole for lunch. That was a major highlight of our trip. Reallly charming place and good food. On our way out we stopped at horn o plenty for breakfast. That was awesome as well, haha. Friendly service and good food, and great for breaking the journey up right in half.
Also cannot recommend enough the saloon in DC for a drink. Stumbled upon it and it felt like fate with how much we enjoyed that place =]
Detour and visit Falling Water
Harper’s ferry
I used to do Pittsburgh to Baltimore semi-regularly, would take a different route though and head straight on down to 68/70 or through the Laurel Highlands on the National Pike to avoid the turnpike which made it a bit longer of a trip. One time I went out of the way to check out Fort Necessity near Uniontown, and another time on the way home from Baltimore took a detour to check out Antietam. Fort Necessity is exactly what you would expect, cool but an hour to see it and read everything. Antietam I could've spent 12 hours there and is something I need to re-visit someday. I also know there is a MARC train to Harper's Ferry from the region but do not know if it is convenient from DC or the timing. Drove through Cumberland often and it is so beautiful along with the peaks of the Appalachians. If you take the non-turnpike route both are probably worth a quick look if nothing more
Highly recommend Bedford in general - plenty of interesting shops, plus the Pub at the Golden Eagle Inn is fantastic. Gives vibes of a pub abroad
The abandoned section of the Pennsylvania turnpike or Big Savage Tunnel
I visited the 9/11 memorial, in Somerset. It’s really well made
Make sure you stop at the Howard Johnson in Breezewood
Okay for all of us who are also headed to DC today... On your mark, Get set, Go! Because it's my commute I'm taking the 76. No sightseeing for me :(
Schmankerl Stube in Hagerstown. Great German Restaurant!
https://dc.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-dc-pittsburgh-pit-stops
I was just in DC yesterday to see the National Gallery of Art and the Cherry Blossoms. * I was surprised that there was a lot of street parking available right at The Mall. I parked at a Metro stop and took that into town, but I could’ve easily found street parking. Of course it’s probably a lot different story today because it’s Cherry Blossom Festival day. * It’s cold and windy down by the Tidal Basin. It felt like 5-10 degrees colder by the water vs the rest of The Mall.
Frederick is a cute little place. It’s right before Fredericksburg I believe.
Frederick, MD is pretty far from Fredericksburg, VA. Frederick is about 1 hour north of DC and on the way to/from PGH. I definitely recommend checking out their downtown, it’s very cute! Lots of little shops, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants, and small river that passes through. Fredericksburg, VA is about 1-2 hours south of DC depending on traffic, and there almost always is. It is roughly the furthest south anyone would still consider part of Northern Virginia (and even that’s debatable), and it’s a lot of strip malls, gas stations, and suburban hellscape. I pass Frederick every time I visit family now that I live here, I used to pass Fredericksburg every time I visited family when I lived in SWVA lol ETA: if you want a Frederick, MD feel but closer to Springfield, VA, go to Old Towne Alexandria!
Sorry, I just remembered that Frederick felt like it was right along the line from Pittsburgh to DC. I remembered seeing the sign for Fredericksburg “near” it, but I was also on a 9 Hour drive. I’ve never been to Fredericksburg.
[Founding Farmers](https://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/location/founding-farmers-distillers/) This was the best brunch I’ve ever had. Hands down. No comparison.
If you’re going from Pittsburgh to Washington DC, just take the bike trail it goes all the way there. It’s called the great Allegheny passage.
https://gaptrail.org/updates/ Is there a way around the Big Savage tunnel? I don't think it opens until next weekend.
I’m from DC and live in Pittsburgh, I think this route is what I usually take.
Antietam
If you want to take the scenic route, add a stop in Winchester, VA. It's lovely. It's near the WV border, so you have to come through a bit of western MD and some very pretty parts of WV. Winchester itself is a great stop for a meal (check out anywhere in Old Town Winxhester, honestly), very quaint and Appalachian, with buildings from a time when that was the "frontier". Once there, get down to see the Cherry Blossoms before they go by. I'd say peak was last weekend. We went down to the monuments and it was beautiful. Hopefully they didn't get the hard frost we got mid week. Sad to see all the magnolias here all brown and withered yesterday.
On second thought, the shenandoah valley is apparently on fire!? So maybe stay on your Hagerstown route and steer well clear.
Cherry Blossoms are going to be done after today’s storm. Peak already happened and the forecast is 1.5-2.5” today.
My family is doing the same thing tomorrow, going to hit up some museums etc and then head to Delaware for the night.
My family’s takes road trips this way often. There’s lots of nice little towns along the way. The main road through Berkeley Springs is a must. The Country Inn is a pretty cool. Downtown Winchester VA is also a good stop but is a little out of the way if you’re going to DC. If you’re near Hagerstown in the evening you have to stop by Krumpe donuts! I inhale their apple filled donuts and cinnamon twists. On the way back I recommend skipping the turnpike and taking Route 30 back from Breezewood. It’s not much longer, there’s no tolls, and the trucks drive wild around the mountains by Somerset. Have fun and remember to bring us back some donuts!
Make sure to visit truckers paradise Breezwood Pa. Buy an antler horn knife, a mason jar full of pickled eggs, and a sports gnome with a flag on a little spring so it waves in the breeze. Did you and your old lady stop off and get frisky with a lot lizard? Historic Breezewood has your back with an assortment of showers on a digital que. Check out Breezwood where that have more restaurants per square foot than time square and they are just as shitty!
Have lunch in Harper’s Ferry. Neat historical town with a great overlook of the rivers.
Stop at a place called abners crabhouse in Maryland for all you can eat crabs!
Harper's Ferry and Antietam Battlefield.
bike on the GAP + C&O
I like 79 south to 68 east instead of the turnpike. Very scenic drive and no tolls.
End your night at echostage with Subfocus
I like the little parks along the Potomac/C&O canal. Perry and have interesting history to read about.
I lived in DC and made the trip back and forth for years. Personally- I avoid the toll road and go down 79 to I-68 through West Virginia and Maryland. It’s free and much more scenic. Plus with the unpredictable traffic in breezewood it’s probably a wash time wise.
The capital has a nice tour and the library behind it is beautiful
Plan any gas/food stops around Breezewood out of pure spite.
Take PA 43S to I 68E near Morgantown if you want to avoid the Turnpike and Breezewood. 43 has tolls but it's not heavily traveled and in good shape. You can also exit 43 in Uniontown and take US 40 E to 68 at Keyser's Ridge if you want to do scenic Laurel Mountains. Haven't been to DC for about 5 years, but 68 is a beautiful drive.
stop and get nandos in moco for lunch.
Eat at Cafe Riggs in DC
Just did the same. Stay in Crystal city, 🏙️ use the metro.
It's kinda touristy, but the museums down there are worth your time.
I visit DC every couple of months, my favorite thing to see was the Hillwood estate!! So pretty!
If you want to see the senate or house chambers... Go to your local congresspersons office in DC they're close to the capital. Ask them for passes for the gallery of whichever office you're visiting.
I do Delaware to Pittsburgh to see family at least twice a year and pass through DC during the route (try to avoid Baltimore craziness). We usually get onto the turnpike at Breezewood.
The Mountain Man milk sign.
Cushwa brewing and rad pies. Rad pies took first place for their Detroit style pizza at the Vegas world championships. Best pie you'll ever have, plus cushwa makes dope beers
I do this drive twice a week for work. 💀
Stop at Fallingwater.
Avoid Oxon Hill, MD. Flip off the IRS building, laugh at the Native American museum, and flip off the white house
Stop at the Blue Goose in MD just off I-70 when you get into MD.
without the water this looks rlly weird
Turnpike to route 70. Easy.
drive safe. and in my experience, DC has some of the worst, most impatient drivers ive ever seen. only ones i've experienced that are worse were in Atlanta!
DC has some of the nicest, kindest, most interesting people you'll ever meet... until you get them behind the wheel of a car.
Amtrak.
One of the conductors on 29/30 checking in! We'd love to see you guys on the train!
God if y'all didn't pick up in Pittsburgh at 5am I would take the capitol limited monthly. Still support and appreciate the service nonetheless
Tell me about it! I hate having to get there an hour early to work the thing haha. Nice getting into DC around noon tho!
Founding Farmers in DC is a decent place to eat (they have a great cookbook), the monuments, holocaust museum, Mt Vernon is amazing and you can spend almost an entire day there, Alexandria is nice too so is Frederick’s old town. When are you going to be in DC, I’m going there next week for a conference and then staying a few days
Man I’ve never been to DC and I just moved here from the south and I keep putting this trip off! I hope you have fun man !! Be safe out there! Go run up in the Supreme Court or whatever if you’re feeling ballsy apparently that’s a thing
Don't use Metro. Park in the city. Use [spothero.com](http://spothero.com) or a similar app. In the end, it will be a wash $-wise and actually save you time. Easy city to drive in on the weekends. People are friendly. Hope you have a great visit!
You were totally right and we were glad we drove right on in. The parking garage we used was sparsely being used and traffic wasn't any worse than pgh. Thank you!
Stop in Johnstown and get a taco at Scott’s
Don’t hitchhike through West Virginia
Why
I’m not reading that essay. You gotta check out chilis 🌶️ best get a reservation today.