Washington, DC to Virginia Beach Drive With Kids
Plan one break on the way down, then let the beach or the aquarium be the reward at the end.
The drive
- Distance
- 200 miles to the Virginia Beach Convention Center
- Typical drive time
- About a 3.5-hour drive
Measured from Washington, DC, as stated by the official source listed at the bottom of this page. Traffic, weather and stops with kids add time, so plan for a longer day than the map shows.
1 city near the direct line
Washington DC to Virginia Beach · ~153 miles straight-line. These are nearby city ideas, not driving directions or measured detours. Check your road route before choosing a stop.
Your route is ready. Want the stop checklist to take with you?
One page on when to stop, how to pick an indoor backup for rain and how to add up the family cost of each stop. We email it now, then The Weekend Scout once a week with one weekend outing idea. Optional, and free.
Build the actual day
Free road-trip stop checklist
Stop before everyone runs out of patience: how to plan a real break to burn energy, pick an indoor backup in case it rains, and add up the family total before you pay. One page, emailed now. Then The Weekend Scout once a week: one family outing idea for the weekend. Free. Unsubscribe from any email.
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Kid-friendly stops on the way
Each stop was checked on its own official site. Open it before you go for current hours, prices and any closures.
Fort Monroe National Monument
Hampton, VA
A national monument at the largest stone fort ever built in the United States, where people escaping slavery sought freedom during the Civil War.
Official siteFirst Landing State Park
Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia's most-visited state park, with 20 miles of trails and Chesapeake Bay beach.
Official siteVirginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Virginia Beach, VA
A large aquarium with exhibits on hundreds of animal species.
Official site
Three things to plan before you leave
- Leave room for I-95 and tunnel traffic near Hampton Roads.
- Keep the aquarium as a rainy-day backup.
- Pack sunscreen and a change of clothes in easy reach for the beach.
Checked against: Visit Virginia Beach: directions, Visit Virginia Beach: getting your group here (checked )
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Plan the Washington, DC to Virginia Beach family drive with Fort Monroe, First Landing State Park and the Virginia Aquarium.
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