Food destinations within easy reach of Washington DC. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.

Worth the trip

Annapolis (Maryland blue crab) ★ 4.5

45 min by carDrive east on US 50 to Annapolis, 35 miles from Washington DC

Famous forSteamed Maryland blue crab by the bushel and Chesapeake oysters

Annapolis on a day trip from Washington DC is the Maryland capital on the Chesapeake Bay, a 45-minute drive east where Cantler's Riverside Inn and Boatyard.

Baltimore (Lexington Market) ★ 4.4

1 hour by MARC trainMARC Penn Line from Union Station to Baltimore Penn Station, then bus or walk

Famous forLexington Market crab cakes and Faidley's lump-meat crab

Baltimore on a day trip from Washington DC is the Maryland city north of DC where Lexington Market since 1782 holds Faidley's lump-meat crab cake counter.

Little Washington Virginia (Inn at Little Washington) ★ 4.9

1.5 hours by carDrive west on I-66 to US 211 to Washington, Virginia

Famous forThree-Michelin-star tasting menu at the Inn at Little Washington

Little Washington Virginia on a day trip from Washington DC is the village 1.5 hours west where Patrick O'Connell's Inn at Little Washington holds three.

Charlottesville (Virginia wine country) ★ 4.5

2 hours by carDrive south on US 29 to Charlottesville, 115 miles from Washington DC

Famous forMonticello AVA wineries and farm-to-table downtown

Charlottesville on a day trip from Washington DC is the Virginia university town in the Monticello American Viticultural Area, with 30 wineries within 30.

Loudoun County (Virginia DC Wine Country) ★ 4.3

45 min by carDrive west on Route 7 to Leesburg, 35 miles from Washington DC

Famous forWineries, breweries, distilleries within 45 minutes of DC

Loudoun County on a day trip from Washington DC is the Northern Virginia wine region 45 minutes west of the city, with 40 wineries marketed as DC's Wine.

Old Town Alexandria ★ 4.3

20 min by MetroYellow or Blue line to King Street-Old Town, 8 miles from Washington DC

Famous forCobblestone-street oyster houses and Federal-era taverns

Old Town Alexandria on a day trip from Washington DC is the cobblestone Federal-era riverfront 20 minutes south on Metro, where Hank's Oyster Bar.

Shenandoah Valley (orchards and cider) ★ 4.2

1.5 hours by carDrive west on I-66 to I-81 south to Front Royal area

Famous forHard cider, apple orchards, Mid-Atlantic farm produce

The Shenandoah Valley on a day trip from Washington DC is the Virginia orchard region 1.5 hours west, with Bold Rock Cider, hard cider tastings.

Eden Center (Falls Church Vietnamese) ★ 4.5

20 min by carDrive west on I-66 to Wilson Boulevard, 9 miles from Washington DC

Famous forEden Center pho, banh mi and Vietnamese diaspora food court

Eden Center on a day trip from Washington DC is the Falls Church Vietnamese-American complex since 1984, the third-largest Vietnamese-diaspora retail hub.

Book food day trips in Washington DC

See all 396 food experiences in Washington DC

← Back to Washington DC food guide