8 stops to make on a George Washington Memorial Parkway road trip

Explore nature and history.

Parks aren’t the only National Park Service (NPS) sites to explore in the United States. NPS recreation areas, memorials, and even seashores invite visitors to enjoy nature’s marvels. One exciting way to see several of these fascinating attractions is by taking a scenic drive down George Washington Memorial Parkway.

Established in 1930, this epic road trip route takes drivers through Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. The lands surrounding the parkway feature stunning landmarks, lush parks, and charming trails. In 2022, the parkway recorded over 7.3 million recreation visits as people traveled from the U.S. to experience these sights. If you want to see what makes this destination so popular, plan your own George Washington Memorial Parkway road trip around these eight points of interest.