Best Five Attractions Near Dulles International Airport

Washington Dulles International Airport is in Virginia, just west of Washington, D.C. It has more international planes coming into the Capital Region than any other airport in the area: Take advantage of the fact that some of the best places in the area are close to the airport if you have some extra time. Before the airport’s Metro station is finished being built, travelers can take the Silver Line Express bus from the airport to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro stop, which is only a few minutes away. From there, they can connect to the Washington, D.C. Metro system, which has both rail and bus service.

Memorial Parks and the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Monuments and markers like the Lincoln and Jefferson markers and the Washington Monument can be found in the U.S. national park that gets the most visitors. The National Museum of American History and the National Gallery of Art are two of the most well-known Smithsonian sites. The Smithsonian Museums and every other building on the Mall are all free to visit.

It takes an hour to get there by Metro bus and train, or it only takes 40 minutes to get there by car.

A lively group of people at the Lincoln Memorial

The National Battlefield Park at Manassas

This 5,000-acre park protects the site of the First and Second Battles of Manassas, which were also called the Battles of Bull Run. There are trails you can drive or walk on the battlefield that are both beautiful and somber. Markers, monuments, and memorials tell the story of the place. There are electronic battle maps, displays of equipment and battle memorabilia, and a movie about both fights at the Henry Hill Visitors Center.

It takes 20 minutes to drive there.

In Manassas National Battlefield Park, the land is green and hilly.

Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center

The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., has a sister site called the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. It is right next to Washington Dulles Airport. There are two huge hangars at the facility that hold a lot of flight and space artifacts, such as the space shuttle Discovery, the Gemini VII space capsule, and the Boeing B-29 Enola Gay. Simulators and theaters let people have amazing experiences without having to leave the museum. The viewing tower lets people watch planes land at Dulles Airport. Free to get in.

To get to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, take Fairfax Connector No. 983 from the Dulles Airport Ground Transportation Level. The ride will only take one stop.

At the National Air and Space Museum, we saw the Space Shuttle Discovery.

 

The Mount Vernon

The plantation home of George Washington, the first president of the United States, has been carefully rebuilt and has a commanding view of the Potomac River. You can see the mansion, its gardens, and the museum, which has 23 halls and theaters with more than 700 artifacts and hands-on exhibits.

It takes, 45 minutes to drive there.

Aerial view of stately Mount Vernon

Places to Go Shopping

After shopping at the airport’s many high-end stores, buyers can take the Silver Line Metrorail to Tysons Corner Center, which has more stores than any other place on the east coast besides Manhattan. The Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets are a great place to find great deals from well-known stores.

How to get there: You can take the Metro and bus for an hour to get to Tysons Corner Center, or you can drive there in 20 minutes. You can drive to Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets in 20 minutes or take the bus for an hour.

Tysons Galleria shopping mall lit up at night