This Virginia Scenic Byway Is The Road Trip Of A Lifetime

When it comes to scenic drives, few routes can match the historical significance of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Following the western shore of the Potomac River and connecting the dots of America’s founding story, don’t be tempted to shrug it off as a short drive. Sure, it’s just 25 miles long. But this magnificent journey through the past requires at least a full day if you plan on seeing everything. And you should absolutely see everything!

Built in sections starting in 1929 and completed in 1970 as a memorial to America’s first president, this bucket list linear park preserves not only the natural beauty of a large chunk of the Potomac shoreline but also several historic sites that played important roles in the founding of the United States.

And as the country prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence in 2026, this scenic drive takes on renewed significance. Not only is it a pilgrimage through the same attractive countryside that Washington himself would have known, but it also provides a magnificent opportunity for all of us to experience a little of the fascinating history that led to the founding of America.

Designed To Be Enjoyed

The parkway's construction is a fine example of the conservation-minded road building undertaken in the early 20th century. Combining the knowledge and skills of landscape architects alongside engineers, great care was taken to ensure minimal disruption to the region’s natural environment. And it worked.

Pay a visit, as I did recently, and you’ll see original bridges, walls, and other structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps using local stone, ensuring every man-made structure blends in well with the surrounding scenery. It’s also remarkable as, despite its proximity to Washington, D.C., you really do feel like you’re driving through the countryside. The road's designers deliberately curved the route to follow the land’s natural contours, creating a relaxed driving experience that feels entirely organic and pleasant. Speed limits are deliberately on the low side, encouraging you to stop frequently, not just to appreciate the scenery, but to learn something new along the way.

Starting just south of Arlington, the Potomac Heritage Trail runs parallel to the parkway for 10 miles and provides hikers and bikers a traffic-free parkway experience. Along the way, you may catch glimpses of wildlife, including herons and even bald eagles. It’s an especially pleasant path to tackle during the fall with the trees on full display.

First Stop: Arlington's Sacred Burial Ground

While you can, of course, tackle the parkway by starting at Mount Vernon, I chose to save George Washington’s home for last. Beginning in McLean, the parkway’s northern terminus connects with the busy Capital Beltway, making it easy to get to. Here, the built-up urban landscape gives way immediately to dense woodland and beautiful views over the Potomac, setting the mood for the entirety of your drive.

Arlington National Cemetery is the first historically significant stop as you head south. The final resting place of more than 400,000 American service members, along with dozens of notable figures, this park-like cemetery occupies land that once belonged to George Washington's step-grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, and later to Robert E. Lee through marriage.

Time it right and you’ll see the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a ceremony performed every hour (or half-hour in summer) since 1937. The eternal flame at President John F. Kennedy's gravesite draws countless visitors, while Arlington House, restored to its 1860s appearance, addresses the complex history of this now-sacred land from plantation to national shrine.

The Memorial Bridge, also accessible from the parkway, provides one of the best views you’ll ever see of Washington and links Arlington Cemetery with the Lincoln Memorial across the river. Completed in 1932 as a symbolic connection between North and South, the bridge's neoclassical design features massive granite eagles that represent American strength and unity.

Alexandria's Colonial Roots

Gadsby's Tavern, where Washington celebrated his last birthday in 1799, continues to operate as both a museum and restaurant, its ballroom also having hosted the likes of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Located nearby, Carlyle House was built in 1753 and is famous as the spot where General Braddock's conference with five colonial governors in 1755 saw the planning of the early campaigns of the French and Indian War.

There’s so much more to see in Alexandria that you may even want to do as I did and break your trip up with a night or two stay. Spending a night at The Alexandrian Old Town not only placed me close to other historic attractions like the superb Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, a perfectly preserved pharmacy shop opened in 1792, but it also meant I could join an excellent ghost tour that shed further light on historic sites like Carlyle House and Gadsby Tavern, both located just a minute’s walk from the hotel.

Mount Vernon's Presidential Legacy

The parkway's ultimate destination is, of course, Mount Vernon. Covering around 500 acres of Washington’s original 8,000-acre estate, this attractive mansion features a distinctive two-story piazza with superb views overlooking the Potomac. Fully renovated in time for the nation’s America250 celebrations in 2026, you’ll see Mount Vernon much as Washington would have done in 1799, his final year. Other highlights include several other structures and gardens, as well as Washington’s gravesite.

You’ll also pass by George Washington’s Distillery, reconstructed in 2007 based on archaeological findings and operated using traditional techniques just as it did in Washington's time. By 1799, it was one of America's largest distilleries, producing 11,000 gallons of that delicious amber nectar each year. It still tastes good, and buying a bottle of whiskey to take home with you is the ideal way to finish this Virginia road trip of a lifetime.

The Final Word

As you drive The George Washington Memorial Parkway, you’ll find yourself intimately connected not just to the route’s natural splendor, but also to its deep connection to America’s origin story. And it’s no accident that this remarkable scenic drive is named after the country’s first president. As 2026's Independence Anniversary approaches, it’s now an even more meaningful way to engage with the people and places that shaped the nation's founding. From Arlington's honoring of prominent people of the past to Mount Vernon's living history, this remarkable route is not only Virginia’s road trip of a lifetime, it’s the road trip of George Washington’s lifetime, too.