Fredericksburg, VA Road Trips

Fredericksburg was founded in colonial era as a port city on the Rappahannock River—the fifth longest river in Virginia. At the time, it was at the farthest point navigable by large ships trading goods with the Old World. Although the city became a key trading center for the plantation owners and farmers nearby, it never achieved the level of commerce enjoyed by Richmond and Alexandria. The city was contested during the American Civil War, changing hands numerous times between Union and Confederate forces. In the most famous battle in Fredericksburg, Union General Burnside repeatedly marched thousands of his troops across the Rappahannock River and up Marye's Heights to their doom. Three other significant battles were fought around Fredericksburg: Chancellorsville, Wilderness and Spotsylvania. The population of Fredericksburg and surrounding communities has boomed as housing costs closer to Washington, DC, has forced commuters to seek neighborhoods farther out. Many living in Fredericksburg drive up to two hours or catch the VRE commuter rail to work in DC. Fredericksburg is also a popular home for military families employed by the nearby Quantico Marine and Dahlgren Naval bases. Visit Fredericksburg website

1 University of Mary Washington, 1301 College Ave, ☏ +1 540 654-1000. A small liberal arts college near Downtown Fredericksburg. It has been voted, in the past, as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States, according to the Princeton Review. Its architecture is comparable to that of the University of Virginia. (updated Jun 2019) 2 Fredericksburg Battlefield. Was the site of a key battle during the American Civil War. You can visit, for example, the infamous Marye's Heights. Just outside the city in Spotsylvania County (a separate political jurisdiction in Virginia), 3 other large major battlefields to see: Chancellorsville, Lee's "masterpiece" and where Stonewall Jackson fell in battle; The Wilderness, known for its brutal fighting in some of the most dense forest and thicket in Virginia; and Spotsylvania Courthouse, known for its 2-week-long bloody stalemate on Grants march to Richmond in 1864. 3 James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, 908 Charles Street, ☏ +1 540 654-1043. (updated Aug 2018) 4 Kenmore Plantation. A Georgian mansion that was once occupied by Fielding Lewis and Betty Washington Lewis, George Washington's sister. 5 Mary Washington House. A short walk from Kenmore. A small frame structure, it was purchased by George Washington in 1772 for his mother, Mary Ball Washington, who lived much of her widowhood in Fredericksburg. Of interest is the garden now maintained by a volunteer group of certified Master Gardeners. A huge crepe myrtle is thought to have been planted by Mary herself. 6 Hugh Mercer Apothecary, Caroline St.

Canoeing or Kayaking on the Rappahannock River.[1] The river can be very dangerous if you are not careful. There have been many drownings since the early 1960s. It is not unheard of at least one or two drownings to occur along the river each year. Therefore, if you decide to go adventure on the Rappahannock River, be sure to check out the safety information and water levels before you begin your adventure[2]. Hiking along the Rappahannock River near Francis Thornton's Mill just off of Riverside Drive on the south bank of the river, upstream of the US-1 bridge. It is also possible to hike up along the canal to where the old Embrey Dam used to be. There are a network of hiking/biking trails all the way up along the river, well past the I-95 bridge. Beware when hiking through the quarry, that there are "No Trespassing" signs posted. As tempting as it would be on a hot day, do not swim in the quarry, lest you want to run the risk of meeting Frederiskburg's Finest. If merely hiking through the area, it is unlikely you'll be hassled, however. If you hike up the river far enough, you may be able to get a glimpse of some of the old canal locks. Golfing at any of the several nearby golf courses, such as Meadow Farms, Cannon Ridge, or Lees Hill.

1 Castiglia's, 324 William St, ☏ +1 540 373-6650. Big-plate Italian dishes 2 Goolrick's, 901 Caroline St, ☏ +1 540 373-3411. Quick stop for a diner-style lunch with an old-time pharmacy in the back 3 Benny's, 722 Caroline St., ☏ +1 540 368-1690. Su-Th 11AM - 11PM, F Sa 11AM - 2AM. Pizza joint where one slice needs two plates. (updated Dec 2017) 4 Orofino, 1006 Caroline St., ☏ +1 540 373-2953. Italian restaurant that imports products from different regions of Italy 5 Cork and Table, 909 Caroline St, ☏ +1 540 479-1291. Tu-Th 4:30PM–9PM; F Sa 4:30PM–10PM. Modern American cuisine with French influences Osan Japanese Restaurant, 707 Caroline St. Japanese restaurant 6 Foode, 900 Princess Anne St, ☏ +1 540 479-1370. casual dining American Mercantile, 900 Princess Anne St, ☏ +1 540 371-3280. Daily 8AM–3PM. brunch 7 Fahrenheit 132, 318 William St, ☏ +1 540 940-2614. Su-Th 4PM–10PM; F Sa 4PM–11PM. Steakhouse 8 2400 Diner, 2400 Princess Anne St, ☏ +1 540-373-9049. Family-run Greek diner with a big, vintage neon sign up top. Typical diner food with Greek specialties for good measure (spanakopita, baklava, etc.) Lots of bar stools and bunched up booths lend an undeniable charm. (updated Dec 2017) 9 Allman's Bar-B-Que, 1299 Jefferson Davis Hwy, ☏ +1 540 373-9881. Funky old barbecue house right off of US Route 1. Unpretentious, authentic interior down to the hand painted menu on the wall and cutaways to the kitchen. Aside from the obvious menu selection, their onion rings and hamburgers are a nice, greasy treat.

Downtown Fredericksburg may not be huge, but due to the presence of a college and a fun-loving local crowd from both the city and the surrounding counties, it does have a good number of decent places to catch a drink. Catering to those who want a relatively low-key atmosphere to catch up with friends and to those who simply want to let loose and get drunk, there should be something for everyone. A good route for a downtown bar crawl: start at Capitol Ale House for some good beers and burgers; hit Spirit's for a can of PBR; stop by J. Brian's for a pint of Guinness; then check the scene at Fatty J's, Brock's or The Colonial Tavern, and stop in if they're hopping and let loose. 1 Brock's, 503 Sophia St. Rather fancy dining by day, full scale bar scene at night. Another local hang out full of mini-reunions, especially in the summer when the spacious outdoor deck is open and the DJ is spinning. 2 Capital Alehouse, 917 Caroline St, ☏ +1 540 371-2337. Offers 62 beers on draught and over 300 bottle beers, as well as wine, mixed drinks, and regional/European food. Casual upscale atmosphere, great for big groups, darts and board games are freely available in back. Lots of weekly specials on food and drink. On Friday nights, they tap a firkin (wooden barrel of beer), it's a great way to enjoy traditional brews. 3 Colonial Tavern, 406 Lafayette Blvd, ☏ +1 540 373-1313. Irish-themed pub, regularly features karaoke and live music, sometimes features touring acts. 4 J Brian's Tap Room, 200 Hanover St, ☏ +1 540 373-0738.

Hilton Garden Inn, 1060 Hospitality Ln, mid-range hotel located in or near Central Park. 1 Holiday Inn Fredericksburg Conference Ctr, 20 Sanford Drive, ☏ +1 540-368-8000. Central location. 2 Marriott Courtyard Historic District, 620 Caroline Street (Downtown Fredericksburg), ☏ +1 540-373-8300. Hotel in the heart of the Fredericksburg historic downtown area. Quality Inn near Central Park, 2310 Plank Road (take exit 130A off I-95, right at first stop light, it's on the left), ☏ +1 540 371-0330. The Quality Inn near the University of Mary Washington is an affordable option for Fredericksburg Virginia hotels.

Fredericksburg is nearly halfway between Washington, D.C., and Richmond. One Amtrak train station serves Fredericksburg at Caroline St. and Lafayette Blvd., which is a stop for Amtrak's Carolinian and Piedmont and Regional trains. Virginia Railway Express. Commuter trains for Fredericksburg's Amtrak station leave Union Station in Washington, DC on weekdays from 7:20AM to 7:05PM. The trip from DC takes approximately an hour and a half, depending on freight train schedules and track work. A single ticket from Union Station is $12.15 ($6.05 for seniors and Americans with disabilities). Discounts are offered for ten-trip, five-day, and monthly passes. VRE does not run on federal holidays but does run special service on Independence Day. (updated Dec 2019) 1 Fredericksburg railway station, 200 Lafayette Blvd. (updated Nov 2019) Fredericksburg is about fifty miles south of Washington D.C. located directly on Interstate 95 at exit 130. It is also one hour north of Richmond on Interstate 95. Travel time from the north (Washington, DC) will vary due to traffic conditions (avoid rush hour). Between 2:30PM and 7PM, typical travel times to Fredericksburg are 1½-2½ hours. Alternative routes include taking either State Highway 28 through Manassas to US Route 17, or by taking US Route 29 through Warrenton to US Route 17. Both routes take about an hour and a half, but the traffic is much more bearable and most of the trip consists of rural driving at full speed.

Downtown Fredericksburg is a walking city - the sidewalks are wide, inviting, and mostly paved in brick. Many locals frequent the streets as well as the occasional street musician. Biking downtown can be fun, but stay off the sidewalks and be sure to follow the traffic laws. Taking the local bus (known as the Fred) is convenient and free (as of 2024). There are stops throughout downtown, at all major surrounding shopping locations, and most local subdivisions. Racks on the front of the buses allow you to take a bike along for the ride. Schedules and route planning can be found at the official website, ridefred.com Driving is a good option. Downtown roads are largely straightforward aside from some non-standard intersections and one-way streets; outside the city numerous signs point to places of interest and major through ways. If possible, avoid driving during rush hour as traffic is intolerable, especially on I-95, US-1, US-3, and US-17. There is plenty of free parking downtown, either on the street or in the many public lots (PDF map). During normal business hours (8AM-5PM), much of the street parking has a two-hour time limit, after which cars will be ticketed. Parking at a city-owned garage at 600 Sophia Street is free for the first two hours. After that, the rates vary, but they are roughly $1 per hour, $8 or less per day.