The weather is warm and summer break is fast approaching. It’s a great time take a quick day trip into nature with the kiddos. Looking for adventure and places to explore? These nearby state parks offer more than trees and hikes. The best part–they’re all located within a 90-minute drive (or in some cases, even closer).
Calvert Cliffs State Park
Drive time from Arlington: 1 hour 40 minutes
You’ll find plenty of visitors hunting for fossils under the namesake cliffs of this state park’s Chesapeake Bay shoreline. As the sea receded over time, erosion revealed the remains of prehistoric species dating back 10 to 20 million years. Walk the quarter-mile sandy beach and paddle in the calm water as you hunt for the fossils of sharks, whales, rays and seabirds. If you tire of that, try fishing in the one-acre pond or choose among 13 miles of hiking trails. Cost: $7 per vehicle for out-of-state residents. // 10540 H.G. Trueman Road, Lusby, Maryland
Cunningham Falls State Park
Drive time from Arlington: 1.5 hours
Swim, hike, fish and canoe at this Maryland State Park in the Catoctin Mountains. Lifeguards are on duty from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day on the sandy beach of Hunting Creek Lake. Enjoy a picnic on beachside tables or use the nearby barbecues. Let the kids loose on the recycled tire playground, then hike to Cunningham Falls, the largest cascading waterfall in Maryland. Day trip not long enough? Stay overnight at a campsite or cabin (April through October). Cost for out-of-state visitors: $5 per person on weekdays; $7 per person weekends. See website for details. // 14274 William Houck Drive, Thurmont, Maryland
Lake Anna State Park
Drive time from Arlington: 1 hour 20 minutes
Families can pan for gold, swim, hike and fish at this park on one of Virginia’s most popular lakes. Swimming is unguarded and there’s also a fishing pond and a boat launch. Note that parking is limited and the park closes regularly due to capacity on the weekends, so plan to arrive early. There are no boat or equipment rentals, but you can stay the night in rented cabins, lodges, campsites and yurts. Take a tour of the Goodwin Gold Mine, a local hot spot during the gold rush of the 1800’s, and try one of the park’s popular gold panning programs. Cost: $10 parking fee. // 6800 Lawyer’s Road, Spotsylvania, Virginia
Leesylvania State Park
Drive time from Arlington: 40 minutes
Explore waterside trails and take in stunning river views at this 500-acre peninsula on the shores of the Potomac River. Activities include fishing and boating, hiking and picnicking. Give your muscles a boost along the 20-station fitness trail. Children can burn off steam on the playground and then learn about the area’s wildlife and ecosystems at the nature center. Check the website for details on fishing classes, bird-watching canoe trips and ranger-led events. Cost: $10 parking fee. // 2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Drive, Woodbridge, Virginia
Mason Neck State Park
Drive time from Arlington: 40 minutes
Walk through the woods, rent a kayak and chat with rangers in the visitor center. Leafy and forested Mason Neck is a bird-watchers dream come true. Located on a peninsula surrounded by the Belmont Bay, the park hosts one of the largest heron nesting rookeries along the Potomac River. Wildlife lovers can also spot bald eagles, whistling swans and several species of ducks. The park boasts several hundred acres of hardwood forests. Cost: $10 parking fee. // 7301 High Point Road, Lorton, Virginia
Sandy Point State Park
Drive time from Arlington: 1 hour 10 minutes
This 786-acre state park on the northwestern shore of the Chesapeake Bay offers views of the Bay Bridge. Here you’ll also find a marina where you can rent a boat, kayak or standup paddleboard; food and beverage concessions; fishing; picnic areas and a mile-long beach with areas designated for swimming. A bathhouse near the beach provides park users with restrooms and showering facilities. Learn about the bay’s plants and animals at the Sandy Point Nature Center. Cost: $5 per person on weekends and holidays; $4 per person on weekdays, May 1–Sept. 30. // 1100 East College Parkway, Annapolis, Maryland