Want to bring the whole squad? From fun day trips to a big friends weekend, here are some ideas for a group trip from Washington, DC:
1. Tube the River in Harpers Ferry
When it comes to river tubing, the more people the more fun. You can caravan from the city, everyone can buy a ticket online ahead of time. You can link up the tubes and float down the river in a giant clump, and take breaks to lie out on the rocks. Don’t forget the cooler tube.
For more info on Harpers Ferry, see Chapter 12 in Easy Weekend Getaways from Washington, DC.
2. Deep Creek Lake
Many of the lake houses here can sleep 10 or more people. Bring the crew for a lake weekend, rent a pontoon and make your own party. In the winter, you can stay up the mountain for easier access to the ski resort.
For more info on Deep Creek Lake, see Chapter 9 in Easy Weekend Getaways from Washington, DC.
3. Beach House Weekend
This one’s a no-brainer; beach houses are meant for groups. Head to Dewey if you want to get wild, Bethany for something a bit more subdued, or Rehoboth for anything in between. If your crowd is really dedicated, you can always spring for a full summer share, and do the beach every weekend.
For more info on the Delaware beaches, see Chapter 2-4 in Easy Weekend Getaways from Washington, DC.
4. Vineyards
Stone Tower is one of the area’s most popular vineyards and it’s huge. You can set up at the picnic tables or bring a blanket and sit in the grass. Outside Middleburg, Quatro Goombas is also set up for groups, with a brewery, winery and pizzeria all on one site. Breaux near Leesburg is also good with a crowd; there’s a huge tasting room and plenty of outdoor space. Some vineyards are strict about group reservations or aren’t set up for hanging out all day, so if you know you’re coming it’s best to just call ahead.
For more info on Middleburg and Leesburg wineries, see Chapter 15 & 16 in Easy Weekend Getaways from Washington, DC.
5. Algonkian Park Cabins
For a fun group getaway a little closer to the city, head to this NoVa regional park on the Potomac. (It’s a little north of Reston, so you could metro out there and then Uber.) You can rent riverfront cabins here which sleep up to 10 and have big decks that are perfect for grilling out. Bonus: some have hot tubs.
6. Sugarloaf Hiking
The Maryland mountain is easy to get to and has a good variety of trails. You can claim some of the picnic tables near the parking lots or hang out on the rocks around the summit. After you’ve hiked, you can spend the rest of the day chilling at the vineyard at the bottom of the mountain.
For more info on Sugarloaf Mountain, see Chapter 11 in Easy Weekend Getaways from Washington, DC.
7. Get a House on the Bay
Not as far as the beach, but just as watery, you can snag a big Airbnb in the Annapolis or the Eastern Shore. Charter boats are plentiful, so you can do a big group fishing outing or make your own booze cruise. Group dining is easy — pick up a bushel of crabs, throw down some newspaper and go to town.
For more info on Annapolis and the Eastern Shore, see Chapter 1 & 5 in Easy Weekend Getaways from Washington, DC.
