Looking for scenic drive from DC to Charlottesville with stops
 

We are flying into Dulles on a Wednesday in November and spending one night in DC before heading to Keswick Hall for 3 nights. I am trying to figure out a scenic drive (even if it takes a little longer) from DC to Keswick Hall where we could make a few stops at wineries, views, or some other point of interest along the way. We can't check into the hotel Thursday until 4:00 anyway, so may as well enjoy the leisurely trip there.

Also looking for a nice DC hotel that's easy to drive out of the next day.

What is your date, how many people, and how much do you want to spend for the DC or DC-area hotel? If cost is an issue, check the hotels in Rosslyn and Crystal City. They tend to be less expensive and also the parking is a little cheaper.

They're staying at Keswick Hall. My guess cost isn't much of an issue.

>>Also looking for a nice DC hotel that's easy to drive out of the next day.<<

Not much is going to be easy about driving from Dulles into DC and out again the next morning. Lots of nice hotels though. The Monaco (Penn Quarter) and the Palomar (Dupont Circle) are two of my favorites. The W Hotel is right across from the White House and has a rooftop bar with one of kind views of the city.

For scenic drives en route to Keswick, suggest you take 66 west to US 29/US 15 to Warrenton. From there you can head west on Rt 211 to Amissville, Sperryville, and Washington -- all cute little towns with wineries in the area. Or you can head south through Culpeper and take Rt 15/Rt 614 to Gordonsville, another cute town with wineries in the vicinity. The southern trip will get you closer to Keswick which will be less than 30 minutes from Gordonsville.

Lots of info about wineries here: http://www.virginiawine.org

I hate it when people don't answer the question asked, but here goes, do you have have stay in DC? Scenic drives are mostly going to start west of the city where your plane is landing. If money isn't a consideration, suggest you drive from the airport to Washington VA and eat dinner and/or stay at the Inn At Little Washington.

<<For scenic drives en route to Keswick, suggest you take 66 west to US 29/US 15 to Warrenton. From there you can head west on Rt 211 to Amissville, Sperryville, and Washington -- all cute little towns with wineries in the area.>>

This is perfect advice.

You might also be able to get on the Skyline Drive at Sperryville then head to Waynesboro and go east to Charlottesville from there. But Skyline Drive might be closed in November.

I recommend stopping in Downtown Culpeper and having lunch at It's About Thyme. There are also a number of shops and the Thyme Market which has wonderful prepared items and snacks.

I also agree with OBXGirl's suggestion as far as route and a place to stay in the general DC vicinity. If you don't need to be in DC proper, the Inn at Little Washington has a wonderful reputation.

We also like Auberge Provencale in White Post http://www.laubergeprovencale.com/ on the way to Keswick if you don't have to stay in DC

Recommend google mapping your route from DC to take you through Fairfax to Clifton then on to C'ville. This will route you away from the Gainesville/Warrenton route which is frankly not that pretty (it's all too built up). The stretch from Fairfax to Clifton takes you on Yates Ford Road which is a gorgeous stretch through Fairfax Station and some beautiful houses and scenery. (The Google map recommendation is just so you can see the same thing I'm talking about not because I think you don't know how to map out a route.)

I don't know where the Inn at Little Washington is but I hear it's amazing so perhaps loop around to catch that as well.

I really enjoyed visiting Madison's home, Montpelier, a few years ago. I did a brief TR if you are interested. It is basically right on your way and there are several wineries in the area (Orange)

cocopan, I lived on Henderson Rd for thirty years and spent much time on Henderson, Clifton, and Yates Ford Roads, and in Clifton. Upon leaving Clifton they would either have to go through Centerville into Gainesville/Warrenton area or take Yates Ford Road the other direction into Manassas and non scenic route 28 to the Bealeton/Warrenton area.