Road trip around Washington DC
 

Hi
We are a couple renting a car in Washington DC and planning a road trip for 6 days in early May. We are wanting to take in some civil war battle fields, especially the Gettysburg, but also scenic areas. We are hoping to get as far south as Savannah and loop back on an inland route to Washington. x We would like to stay out of big cities and off interstates. Are we being too ambitious? We also enjoy good food and local cuisine. We plan to stay in airbnb or other bnb accommodation where possible but haven't booked anything yet. Look forward to your responses. krwicke

On the interstate it is about 9 hours from DC to Savannah - so you would spend 2 of your 6 days driving to/from Savannah. Looping back on smaller roads would add to that travel time. I guess you could spend 2 days driving, 1 day seeing Savannah, 1 day seeing DC metro area and 2 days driving to/from and seeing Gettysburg. But you would mostly see the interior of your rental car.

I think you need to decrease your geography or increase your time.

I agree trying to get to Savannah is too ambitious. My husband and I just came back from a trip to DC/Virginia and in 5 days toured some lovely areas in VA --the Northern Neck, Colonial Williamsburg/James River plantations and the area around Orange, VA (Montpelier, Madison's home) north of Charlottesville.
IMO something like this plus Gettysburg, maybe Harper's Ferry and part of the Skyline drive would be a much more pleasant trip.

I could give more detail about what we saw if you are interested.

If you decide you like the trains, take either the Palmetto or Silver Star from Washington Union Station to Savannah (about 11 hours) and a taxi or Uber to your B&B.
Your rental car from Washington to Gettysburg does make sense.

On your way to Gettysburg stop in Harper's Ferry and Berkeley Springs, WV.

We did a trip that included Charlottesville, VA, Appomattox Courthouse, Staunton, Luray, Harper's Ferry, Winchester, and other small towns on the way back to DC. I think we spent 4 days on the road. It's a beautiful part of the country.

As to the battlefields, at least three come to mind: Gettysburg, Antietam (they are relatively close to one another geographically and road-wise) Appomattox could be incorporated on your way south.

The problem is that you are vague (yes, understandable) about anything else (besides the Savannah part and it would help to know what it IS about Savannah which appeals..would Charleston suffice and even that is a stretch).

Can you be a little more specific? Scenery? I am thinking Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway as a possibility. Charlottesville and Monticello. Even Luray Caverns (which a lot of people are going to laugh about). Asheville and Biltmore? Great Smokies. Need more info.

Oh, and are you in any way, shape, or form "beach" people?

Gettysburg is pretty much due north of DC, you don't go near Harper's Ferry or WV to get there from DC. Now you could go to Harper's Ferry and WV first, then go NE to Pennsylvania and Gettysburg then back to DC, but I would do that circle in the reverse and throw in some of VA or WV for the scenery. I just would not go south of Virginia.

So I'd go up to Gettysburg first, then SW to Antietam and Harpers Ferry, then you can go down into WV and over into VA and Appamatox as you wish, and back up to DC. I think that would be enough for 6 days. But at the most, I wouldn't go south of North Carolina.

You really need to look at an online map such as mapquest.com or googlemaps

These three: Gettysburg, Antietam (actually Sharpsburg, Maryland), and Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, are less than two hours total driving time from one another.

I like sf7307's itinerary, plus Antietam and Gettsyburg.

Id head to Virginia, plenty to keep you busy there for 6 days and without a lot of driving, dogwood and redbud might be in bloom also.

As others have said, Gettysburg, Antietam and Harper's Ferry are all easy to do as a loop from DC, although I would plan on at least a day in Gettysburg and a half day in Antietam and Harper's Ferry. We've stayed in Gettysburg and once we stayed on the battlefield at Antietam in the Piper Farm. It was a B&B at the time and was where Longstreet stayed during the battle. I don't know if they still do that. I was surprised at how close it was to DC.

South of DC there are National Battlefield parks all over the place, just a short jog off I-95. Look at Fredricksburg, Richmond, Petersburg for well developed ones. There are signs all throughout VA that have a white background and red and blue writing that show routes to various Civil War sights. The VCs give nice overviews of the battles but some of the smaller places just have a sign or plaque.

DH has used the book "The Civil War Battlefield Guide" by The Conservation Fund, edited by Francis H. Kennedy to find some of the sites. He even managed to find a site when we were in New Mexico.

Once you are away from the cities, the drive through VA is very pretty.

Dear all
That is all fantastic advice. I have been persuaded that heading south as far as Savannah is too far, so will shorten our plan. Once I get my hands on a good road map we will firm up our plans - we will be leaving Washington in a few days. Haven't actually booked accommodation yet - hope that we can do that as we go. Any other advice is really welcome.
Many thanks everyone

You asked before about B & B's: We recently stayed at a very nice one in Gordonsville Va. The area has Civil War history sites, James Madison's home, Montpelier, and good vineyards. There are some very nice restaurants and good BBQ within a few miles. Uphill House B & B.
If you want to travel part of the Skyline Drive, Big Meadows Lodge is in a beautiful spot

I think you will be happy you scaled back your trip. There is a lot to see closer to DC

I know there is a recent TR about Harper's Ferry if you decide to go there.

BTW, if you like bacon, the bacon produced by Edward's is mouth-wateringly good. It's sometimes advertised as such on menus.

If you head south, be sure to visit Woodlawn Plantation and Gunston Hall, a venerable house and garden from colonial days. Both are not far from Mount Vernon.

If you are leaving in a few days, make sure you can find a hotel. College graduations are soon and that will cause a lot of people to be in areas like Charlottesville, VA.

sallytakemyhand is right! JMU's grad was last weekend and hotels were booked as far as an hour away.