Get Outta Town: 15 Day Trips Within 1.5 Hours of Richmond
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Drives so quick and painless, they don’t even count as road trips.
Itching to explore someplace new, but not looking to make a whole weekend out of it? Then these nearby destinations are just what you’re looking for.
From history buffs to nature lovers to foodies and more, there’s a day trip for everyone in this roundup of spots you can get to within an hour and a half of RVA.
— by the RVAx team
Outdoor Adventures
Pocahontas State Park
Driving Distance from Richmond: 25 minutes
Why Visit: This nearby state park offers 90+ miles of trails for hiking and biking, three lakes for fishing and boating, and a variety of pools and water slides — plus areas for picnicking, camping, and more.
Lake Anna State Park
Driving Distance from Richmond: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Why Visit: If you’re looking for a day at the beach but don’t want to drive all the way to the ocean, Lake Anna offers a great compromise with a beach on one of Virginia's most popular lakes! Plus, you’ll find 15+ miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding; fishing; camping areas; picnic areas; and more.
[RELATED: A WEEKEND TRIP TO LAKE ANNA: WHAT TO EAT, DRINK, SEE & DO]
Shenandoah National Park
Driving Distance from Richmond: 1 hour and 25 minutes
Why Visit: Everyone talks about how close Shenandoah National Park is to Washington, DC, but it’s also a quick trip from Richmond! Here you'll find more than 200,000 acres of protected lands with gorgeous views, fields of wildflowers, majestic waterfalls, and more.
Food & Drink
Courthouse Creek Cider
Driving Distance from Richmond: 30 minutes
Why Visit: This family-owned cidery grows their own apples on-site at their orchard in Maidens and follows a natural method of wine-making for deliciously dry wines that are 100% worth the half-hour drive.
Fine Creek Brewing Co.
Driving Distance from Richmond: 35 minutes
Why Visit: Located in between Richmond and Charlottesville, this limited-production farm brewery produces unique craft beers that are nearly all "limited time only" in nature, along with a mouth-watering, chef-driven food menu.
Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery
Driving Distance from Richmond: 45 minutes
Why Visit: Most of the ingredients used in Lickinghole Creek's craft beers are locally sourced and grown on their 305-acre farm in Goochland, so you know it’s fresh. Pro tip: Stop by in late June/early July for their annual sunflower festival to pick your own flowers for $5 per bundle — it's an Instagram-worthy experience, to say the least!
Richlands Dairy Farm
Driving Distance from Richmond: 55 minutes
Why Visit: You don’t want to pass up the chance to taste-test freshly-homemade ice cream at this nearby dairy farm! Be sure to bring a cooler so you can take some farm-fresh milk, cream, and more home with you when you leave, too.
New Kent Winery
Driving Distance from Richmond: 25 minutes
Why Visit: This family-owned winery and tasting room is one of our go-to spots when we’re craving a fine glass of wine. We know we can always get one of the delicious craft beers on tap while we're there, too. It's also a popular wedding venue, thanks to the location's beautiful views!
Upper Shirley Vineyards
Driving Distance from Richmond: 40 minutes
Why Visit: This riverside estate, winery, and restaurant feels rural without requiring a super long drive, and the scenic vistas you'll find once you get there are just about as dazzling as the wine list.
Historical Sites
Yorktown Beach
Driving Distance from Richmond: 1 hour
Why Visit: Yes, we could have just included historic Yorktown on this list — but we thought that the two-acre public beachfront you'll find there would be a more enticing day trip option! It includes a fishing pier and picnic area, and you're able to rent kayaks, paddle boards, and bikes nearby.
Historic Jamestowne
Driving Distance from Richmond: 1 hour
Why Visit: There’s Jamestown, then there’s Historic Jamestowne — home to what remains of the first permanent English settlement in the "New World." You'll also find the Jamestown Settlement nearby, which is a living history museum demonstrating what life would have been like in the 1610s in this area, with a fort and a Powhatan village.
Colonial Williamsburg
Driving Distance from Richmond: 50 minutes
Why Visit: Speaking of Virginia's history, Colonial Williamsburg is actually touted as the world's largest living history museum! Take a trip here to check out immersive and authentic 18th-century experiences like a blacksmith shop, carpenter's yard, colonial garden, public armoury, and so much more.
Attractions
Kings Dominion
Driving Distance from Richmond: 25 minutes
Why Visit: Did you know that Kings Dominion is actually two parks in one? There's a 20-acre water park (Soak City) on one side, which is included with admission, as well as the main amusement park with 12 world-class roller coasters and 60+ rides overall for a thrilling time for all ages.
Metro Richmond Zoo
Driving Distance from Richmond: 25 minutes
Why Visit: Animal lovers can feed giraffes, budgie birds, and more at this nearby zoo! Aside from those interactive experiences, this spot is home to 2,000+ animals representing 175+ species from all over the globe. Other on-site experiences include the train ride, sky lift, drop tower, and carousel.
Busch Gardens
Driving Distance from Richmond: 55 minutes
Why Visit: Another not-too-far amusement park option is Busch Gardens, which has actually been voted the "World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park" by the National Amusement Park Historical Association yearly since 1990 — whoa! In addition to beauty, experience total adventure with 30 rides and coasters, nationally acclaimed on-site food and drink, a water park (!), animal experiences, and more.
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