It’s the season to gather friends and family and head to a national park or historic site. How does the National Park Service provide fun, memorable, and inspiring experiences? Camping, fishing, hiking, history, grand vistas, and horseback riding - there are so many possibilities in our national parks. Head to a local national park or even plan a longer trip for an end-of-summer big adventure! If you are traveling with children, be sure to check out the Junior Ranger program available at many parks.
Go Local
These national parks and historic sites are located within an easy drive of our area.
- Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania Battlefields
- George Washington's Birthplace, Westmoreland County
- Great Falls, Northern Virginia
- Maggie L. Walker home, Richmond
- Manassas Battlefield
- The National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, D.C.
- Prince William Forest Park, Northern Virginia
- Richmond Battlefields
- Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C.
Make a Weekend of It
Whilst you can visit one of these in a day, planning a stayover will give your family more chances to enjoy their time together.
- Assateague Island
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- C & O Canal National Historical Park
- Catoctin Mountain Park
- Chesapeake Bay
- Colonial National Historical Park
- Shenandoah National Park
Plan a Longer Road Trip
Now's the time to plan for a big adventure. These amazing places are part of our national park system around the U.S.
- Acadia National Park, Maine
- The Appalachian Trail, Maine to Georgia
- Bryce Canyon, Utah
- Crater Lake, Oregon
- Ellis Island, New York/New Jersey
- The Everglades, Florida
- The Grand Canyon, Arizona
- Grand Teton, Wyoming
- The Great Sand Dunes, Colorado
- The Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina/Tennessee
- Redwood Forest, California
- Yellowstone, Idaho/Montana/Wyoming
- Yosemite, California
Special Rates
Seniors, military personnel, volunteers, and special needs visitors can qualify for free or reduced rates. Click here for information on the Park Service's special passes.
More to Explore
Want to learn more about our National Parks? Check out these books & videos, and visit the NPS Web site. The video below gives a brief overview of the history of our National Park Service:
