These beautiful Virginia State Parks are all less than an hour's drive from our nation's capital and perfect for a day trip.

Pack a picnic and breathe fresh air as you recharge your batteries on one or more of these scenic hiking trails.

1. SKY MEADOWS STATE PARK - DELAPLANE VA

Breathtaking scenery awaits you at Sky Meadows State Park

The park has 22 miles of hiking trails, 10.5 miles of bridle trails and 9 miles of biking trails ranging from easy to difficult. You can also access the Appalachian Trail at Sky Meadows.

11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane, VA. The park is less than two miles south of Paris. Drive Time: Northern Virginia, 45 minutes to one hour; D.C., over one hour; Richmond, two hours.

Learn more about Sky Meadows State Park here.

2. MASON NECK STATE PARK - LORTON, VA

Explore Belmont Bay at Mason Neck State Park

This park has hiking, biking and self-guided trails. More than six miles of unpaved hiking trails and three miles of paved multi-use trails wind through the park providing a glimpse of nature by the bay. Elevated walkways allow visitors to explore some of the marsh areas in the park. Bikes can be rented at the visitor center.

7301 High Point Rd., Lorton, VA. The park is in southern Fairfax County, about 20 miles from Washington, D.C. Drive Time: Northern Virginia, half an hour (park is in Northern Virginia); Washington, D.C., 45 minutes.

Learn more about Mason Neck State Park here.

3. LEESYLVANIA STATE PARK - WOODBRIDGE VA

Take a stroll along the Potomac River at the scenic Leesylvania State Park

The park has five hiking trails passing through rich natural and historical features of the Potomac River. The park also includes a segment of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. The park boasts many gorgeous overlooks on the Potomac. 

2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Dr., Woodbridge, VA. Leesylvania State Park is in the southeast area of Prince William County, about 25 miles from Washington, D.C., and Fredericksburg. Drive Time: Northern Virginia, half an hour; Richmond, one and a half hours.

Learn more about Leesylvania State Park here.

4. WIDEWATER STATE PARK - STAFFORD VA

Our newest park, Widewater has limited trails but more are being built

Our newest state park is still under construction, but be among the first to explore, there’s a 1-mile hiking trail, Long Pond Trail, near the visitor center. The trail runs along Aquia Creek. (Hiking in areas under construction is prohibited.)

101 Widewater State Park Road, Stafford, VA. Widewater State Park is in northeastern Stafford County, about 40 miles south of Washington, D.C., and 20 miles northeast of Fredericksburg. Drive Time: Northern Virginia, an hour; Richmond, one and a half hours.

Learn more about Widewater State Park here.

BONUS: CALEDON STATE PARK - KING GEORGE VA

Wander down this road or trail to Boyd's Hole and the Potomac River at Caledon State Park

Ten hiking and four multi-use trails take park visitors through environmentally sensitive marshlands and picturesque wooded areas of the park. The 2-mile Boyd's Hole Trail that leads to the Potomac River is one of the most popular trails.

Caledon is located in King George County between Fairview Beach and Owens, 23 miles east of Fredericksburg on Route 218. Drive Time: Northern Virginia, 1 hour 45 minutes; Richmond, 1 hour, 30 minutes.

Learn more about Caledon State Park here.

HIKE THIS

Hiking is a popular activity at Virginia State Parks with more than 160 miles of the park system's 626 miles of trails are reserved for hiking, and hiking is also allowed on more than 397 miles of the multi-use trails.

Parks with handicapped accessible trails include Bear Creek Lake, Belle Isle, Chippokes, Claytor Lake, First Landing, James River, Lake Anna, Leesylvania, Southwest Virginia Museum, Natural Tunnel, New River Trail, Pocahontas, and Westmoreland. 

Learn more about our trails here.

CAMPING

All of the parks featured above do not offer overnight accommodations in cabins, or campgrounds. But Sky Meadows has a primitive hike-in campground, and Caledon has six paddle-in and hike-in primitive campsites available for rent year-round. Leesylvania offers a small, tents-only primitive campground is available for groups. Four tents-only primitive camp sites are available only for guests arriving by canoe or kayak. Widewater is under construction, and it will have tent-only primitive campsites for paddle-in camping (with a campground being built later).

For general information about Virginia State Parks accommodations at nearby parks, you can check here for camping, and here for cabins, or call 1-800-933-PARK. (Park fees can be found here.)

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