Fall Day Trips From DC for Families

1. Apple Picking

As fall arrives, so do thoughts of apple picking! Head to one of several great apple picking farms and orchards to pick a bushel of fresh, delicious apples. Then tackle some of these easy apple recipes when you get home.

2. Pumpkin Patches

Visiting a pumpkin patch is an October rite of passage for many families. Head to one of these pumpkin patches near DC to pick the perfect pumpkin—sometimes right off the vine! Many of them have fall festivals with cider, apple cider donuts, live entertainment, and family photo ops and activities.

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Meet P. Rex, the Pumpkin-Eating Dino, at Great Country Farms.

3. Farms with Family Entertainment

If seasonal activities are you family's priority when spending a day at the farm, these farms with family entertainment are your best bet. They offer loads of fun things to do such as hayrides, mazes, giant slides, playgrounds, petting zoos, jumping pillows, and so much more. Plus, you can pick out some pumpkins (and maybe even apples) while you're there!

4. Corn Mazes

Not all corn mazes are created equal. The ones on our list of the best corn mazes near DC are worth the drive for various reasons, from fun themes to interactive elements to their sheer size. Some of them have flashlight nights, when your family can tackle the maze in the dark.

5. Family-Friendly Wineries, Breweries, and Beer Gardens

If the grown-ups want to enjoy the fall weather and some adult beverages, there's no need to hire a babysitter. Just head to one of the many family-friendly wineries or kid-friendly breweries and beer gardens near DC. Several of these spots have wide-open spaces where the kids can run around and play. Others offer lawn games or board games for kids to enjoy, and some even have live entertainment on weekends.

6. Maryland Renaissance Festival — Annapolis, MD

Take your family on a trip back in time to the reign of King Henry VIII at the annual Maryland Renaissance Festival. Enjoy jousting, Shakespeare, jugglers, jesters, and other medieval entertainment and games. You can also feast on a wide range of delicacies and shop from the artisan crafters. Costumes are encouraged to get into the spirit—you can even rent them at the festival for both adults and children.

7. Kensington, MD

Fall is the perfect time to visit this charming Montgomery County town. You can browse the antique shops on Antique Row, take a stroll to see the historic houses, and lounge in the various parks without feeling too hot. If you have little ones, stop by the Noyes Library for Young Children, an adorable one-room library with many board books and picture books. For more ideas, see our list of things to do in Kensington, Maryland with kids.

RELATED: 25 Fun Things To Do in Fairfax, Virginia with Kids

 
On a day trip to Clifton, be sure to hit up Peterson's Ice Cream Depot before it closes for the winter. Photo by Bob Sivinski

8. Clifton, VA

The historic town of Clifton, which has been around since the 1700s, is charming, picturesque, and small. There are plenty of things to do with kids there in fall, including checking out historic homes, looking for wildlife at Webb Nature Center, hiking at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, and more. The Clifton Haunted Trail is fantastic for families with older kids looking for a fright. Check out our guide to visiting Clifton, Virginia with kids for all the details.

9. Kings Dominion — Doswell, VA

Fall weekends are a great time to visit Kings Dominion amusement park thanks to its three fantastic festivals. Tricks and Treats is perfect for the younger crowd with pumpkin painting, ghostly games, not-so-scary live entertainment, and more. For older kids and teens that love a good scare, the park transforms into Halloween Haunt from 6pm to midnight, with monsters, scary mazes, and haunted attractions. And Oktoberfest features authentic German food, music, games, and more for the whole family.

10. Shenandoah Valley

No list of fall day trips from DC would be complete without Shenandoah National Park and the beautiful Skyline Drive. The fall foliage usually peaks in Shenandoah in late September and early October—along with the crowds—so we recommend purchasing an entrance pass online in advance. While in the area, you can also visit the famous Luray Caverns, the largest caverns in the eastern US. Check out our list of 40 fun things to do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Want to extend your visit into an overnight or weekend trip? Find out why Massanutten Resort and Water Park is the perfect place to stay with kids in the Shenandoah Valley!

11. Baltimore, MD

Although Baltimore is less than an hour's drive from DC, it's an entirely different city with its own identity. At the famed Inner Harbor, enjoy the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, the Port Discovery Children's Museum, the B&O Railroad Museum, and many other attractions, shops, and restaurants. Our list of the 50 best things to do in Baltimore with kids has even more ideas.

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Soak up the gorgeous scenery at Harper's Ferry. Photo by Lisa Warden

12. Harpers Ferry, WV

For an outdoorsy day trip full of history and natural beauty, head to Harpers Ferry, a National Historical Park. Visit the site of John Brown's Raid, a failed attempt to end slavery that sparked the Civil War. Take a foliage-filled hike on the Appalachian Trail and visit The Point, the spot where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet. Find even more things to do in our guide to visiting Harpers Ferry with kids.

Additional reporting by Meredith Kiryakov