6 Quietest Small Towns Near Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia, is the capital of the United States and a city defined by history, power, and iconic landmarks. Its unforgettable skyline is shaped by world-renowned monuments and memorials that line the National Mall, each telling part of the nation’s story through architecture and symbolism. From the Washington Monument to the World War II Memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the city captures the capital’s infectious energy at every turn. While spending time in Washington, visitors can also discover a collection of quiet, inviting small towns within a roughly two-hour driving distance, making it easy to slow the pace and extend the experience. Here are six small towns easily covered from Washington, D.C., that are ideal for a calm weekend retreat.
Solomons Island, Maryland
A favored weekend escape within the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, Solomons Island, Maryland, sits roughly 65 miles from Washington, D.C., and can be reached in under 1.3 hours. Set along the Patuxent River where it meets the Chesapeake Bay, the town has evolved into a relaxed waterfront destination known for its marinas, seafood restaurants, gift shops, and walkable boardwalk. Visitors can explore the Calvert Marine Museum, climb aboard a former lighthouse, join harbor cruises, or catch occasional outdoor concerts, all while enjoying views shaped by the rhythms of the water.
Art and maritime history significantly contribute to Solomon’s appeal. The Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, a Smithsonian-affiliated site, features a forested sculpture park showcasing works by notable artists such as Kenneth Snelson, George Rickey, and Arnaldo Pomodoro, alongside indoor galleries and site-specific installations. Nearby, the Drum Point Lighthouse, one of four surviving Chesapeake Bay screw-pile lighthouses, stands as an exhibit at the marine museum. For time outdoors, Spring Cove Marina anchors the experience with upscale facilities, a 25-yard waterfront pool, shaded picnic areas with grills, manicured lawns, and a playground. To complete the stay, Solomon's Inn Resort & Marina serves as a comfortable home base for a weekend retreat.
Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Shepherdstown is a quiet riverside retreat located about 75 miles and just under 1.5 hours from Washington, D.C., making it an easy escape from the capital’s infectious energy. The heart of town lies within the Shepherdstown Historic District, anchored along German Street and defined by preserved 19th-century buildings, mature trees, iron fencing, and original street features that give the area a timeless feel. Independent restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, and a small museum line the street, creating a relaxed atmosphere well-suited for a weekend stroll.
Furthermore, Local history is carefully preserved at the Historic Shepherdstown Commission & Museum, founded in 1983 and housed in a former hotel. Period rooms, historic documents, and rotating exhibits bring the town’s past to life. Nearby, the James Rumsey Monument rises above the Potomac River, honoring the inventor’s early steamboat work. Some interesting outdoor time unfolds at Morgan’s Grove Park, with its wooded paths, open meadows, and a spring-fed stream, all of which encourage slow afternoons. For lodging in the town, the Bavarian Inn, Resort and Brewing Company sits atop a bluff overlooking the river, providing a European-inspired stay with refined rooms, acclaimed dining, and a setting designed for complete relaxation.
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Long before modern visitors make the roughly 65-mile drive and around 1.5 hours from Washington, D.C., Harpers Ferry stood as an antebellum manufacturing and transportation hub at the meeting point of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. Largely destroyed during the Civil War, the town later shifted its future toward preservation and tourism, creating the peaceful setting seen today. Its most famous landmark, John Brown’s Fort, remains the only surviving structure from the original Armory and marks the site of the abolitionist’s 1859 raid, making it West Virginia’s most visited attraction.
Much of the surrounding area is protected within Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, where museums, family-friendly trails, and living history programs encourage unhurried exploration. A short hike along the Appalachian Trail leads to Jefferson Rock, a dramatic shale formation overlooking the rivers just before they merge. History continues at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, where Sunday Mass welcomes park visitors and docents in period attire who share stories of the chapel’s role in early Western expansion. For overnight stays, the Quality Inn Harpers Ferry-Charles Town is a convenient base near major sites, the Appalachian Trail, and river access, offering a complimentary breakfast that makes for an easy weekend escape.
Chestertown, Maryland
Roughly 80 miles from Washington, D.C., about a 1.3-hour drive, Chestertown sits quietly along the Chester River. Founded in 1706, the town gained prominence after being named one of colonial Maryland’s six Royal Ports of Entry. The shipping boom that followed brought prosperity, shaping a waterfront community that still reflects its early importance through preserved streetscapes and river views.
Chestertown’s heritage comes alive during the Chestertown Tea Party Festival, held each Memorial Day weekend, when parades, colonial music, fife and drum performances, military drills, and a complete reenactment on the river recall the town’s revolutionary past. On the first Friday of every month, the main street fills with residents, students, and visitors as shops extend their hours and display their merchandise. Art lovers have long been drawn to MassoniArt Gallery, a respected Mid-Atlantic institution for over three decades. Just outside town, Chesapeake Farms spans 3,000 acres, featuring a free self-guided driving tour through its wildlife and agricultural research grounds. For overnight stays, Brampton 1860, a historic boutique inn set on 35 acres near the river, is a peaceful base for a restorative weekend retreat.
Occoquan, Virginia
Located about 25 miles from Washington, D.C., and reachable in roughly 30 minutes, Occoquan feels far removed from the capital’s pace. The town’s name originates from an Algonquian Doeg word meaning “at the end of the water,” a reference to its location along the Occoquan River, where Indigenous communities resided long before European settlement. Today, Occoquan is a restored artists’ community known for 19th-century buildings, small shops, outdoor dining, ghost walks, and a town boat dock. Its compact historic district encourages slow wandering, with river views and a calm atmosphere that rewards lingering rather than rushing.
Cultural and outdoor spaces are a key part of the town’s appeal. The Workhouse Arts Center, once a prison complex, now spans 55 acres as a hub for galleries, studios, and arts classes. Nearby, Occoquan Regional Park stretches along a Potomac tributary with wooded landscapes, paved trails, river access, and the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial. River Mill Park adds a quieter note, with open green space, a walking path, and an event pavilion used for concerts and community gatherings. For a restful stay, Hampton Inn Potomac Mills/Woodbridge is situated approximately two miles from the historic district, offering a complimentary hot breakfast, Wi-Fi, and convenient access to Interstate 95, which is just a short drive to Washington.
Middleburg, Virginia
Less than 50 miles and an hour drive from Washington, D.C., Middleburg sits amid rolling countryside that feels worlds away from the capital. From the early 1900s, the village became a destination for foxhunting and steeplechasing, attracting visitors who helped shape its lasting identity as the “Nation’s Horse and Hunt Capital.” Grand estates and open fields define the landscape, while the town center remains compact and walkable. A focal point of its heritage is the National Sporting Library, a 15,000-square-foot research center dedicated to horse and field sports, reinforcing Middleburg’s long connection to equestrian traditions and sporting culture.
The town’s attractions reflect that legacy. The Museum of Hounds & Hunting North America preserves artifacts related to hunting with hounds while promoting education about land conservation and the history of sports. Just outside the village, Chrysalis Vineyards at The Ag District showcases Virginia-grown Norton grapes and other European varieties well-suited to the local climate, offering a relaxed stop among vineyards and open land. For staying a night in the town, The Red Fox Inn & Tavern places guests directly in the heart of Virginia’s Hunt and Wine Country, with rooms, suites, and cottages that echo Middleburg’s refined rural character while keeping everything within easy reach.
Visitors to Washington, D.C. can also take time to explore a collection of quaint small towns just beyond the capital. While the city’s vibe, landmarks, and museums shape much of the experience, nearby destinations add a slower, more reflective side to a trip. Within a short drive are towns defined by waterfront settings, preserved history, scenic landscapes, and locally rooted communities that invite a change of pace. Places such as Solomons Island, Maryland, and Middleburg, Virginia, highlight how easily calm, character-rich escapes fit into a weekend anchored around the capital.
