The DMV area (and the whole east Coast) offers lots of historic, cute towns & cities that are great to visit. When people visit DC, they usually just stay in the city itself without venturing further— but I think the best parts of DC are outside the city.

Here are the Most Instagrammable Day Trips from Washington DC (Small Town Edition)

I’ve also created a map with EXACTLY where to I took these photographs at the end. These pins come directly from the GPS marker on my photos.

Annapolis, Maryland

This is one of the cutest cities I’ve ever had the privilege to visit. Annapolis has lots of colonial architecture, which is gorgeous to photograph. It’s also home to the United States Naval Academy, which is worth a day trip by itself.

Map Coordinates: 38°58'40.1"N 76°29'21.2"W

Distance from DC: 31 Miles, about 40 minutes

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

This is a small town, but it has a lot of history and and is very instagrammable with 19th-century style buildings.

Map Coordinates: 39°19'22.8"N 77°43'42.9"W

Distance from DC: 66 Miles, about 1+ hour

Winchester, Virginia

Winchester is a must-visit for history buffs, and has played a role in both the Revolutionary War & Civil War. Here, you can visit the office of George Washington, and Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum. Old Town Winchester is incredibly scenic for your photography needs.

Address: 136 S Loudoun St, Winchester, VA 22601

Distance from DC: 75 Miles, about 1.5 hour

Occoquan, Virginia

Occoquan is another extremely cute historic small town that’s not far from DC at all!

Map Coordinates: 38°41'08.8"N 77°15'45.0"W

Distance from DC: 23 Miles, about 30 minutes

Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria has been named as one of the “Best Small Cities to Visit in America”, and it’s easy to see why they got this distinction. King Street alone has historic architecture, brick-lined streets, cobblestone alleys, with lots of great food options.

Map Coordinates: 38°48'16.3"N 77°02'31.2"W (King Street Mile)

Distance from DC: 9 Miles, about 19 minutes

National Harbor, Maryland

National Harbor’s Waterfront district is such a change of scenery from most of the historic small towns on this list, but still worth a visit. It’s a resort, so you should gamble, shop, enjoy the Ferris Wheel, or go for a cruise here!

Map Coordinates: 38°47'05.5"N 77°01'02.2"W

Distance from DC: 11 Miles, about 20 minutes

George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Virginia

George Washington’s historic home in Mount Vernon is definitely worth a visit. The guided tour is extremely informative and fascinating, and the grounds and house itself offer plenty of Instagrammable spots.

Address: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mt Vernon, VA 22121

Distance from DC: 16 Miles, about 30 minutes

Map of the Most Scenic and Beautiful Small Towns from Washington D.C.

Here’s a map of exactly where you can get the best Instagram photos for your next trip. In order to use it, just open it on your phone and these pins should show up when you get to the island.

My most instagrammable maps include photos and a description at each pin so you know what you’re heading to.

You can also save and customize my maps for your own trip planning! Just click on the ‘view larger’ rectangle on the right hand corner -> copy map, and now you have a copy that you can customize to your interests during your visit!

Pin it for later!