Take the train to these notable parks outside of Washington, D.C.

When it comes to getting outdoors to explore woods, wetlands and waterways, Washington, D.C. is one of the best cities in the Chesapeake Bay region. 

But if you want to get outside of the city—and leave your car behind—there is a whole range of parks worth exploring. 

The area’s Amtrak, MARC train and other regional carriers offer swift and carefree travel to some of the region’s best parks. Below are just a few places from across the Bay watershed that you can visit. 

Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry is a historic town located at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, two major tributaries that flow into the Chesapeake Bay. The Harpers Ferry National Historical Park offers a variety of activities to explore the rich history and recreation opportunities of the area, including hiking the Maryland or Loudon Heights trails, biking along the C&O Canal or tubing in one of the rivers.

The MARC Brunswick-Washington Line and the Amtrak Floridian both provide train service to Harpers Ferry, but with limited schedules. Alternatively, the C&O Canal offers a 60-mile scenic bicycle route along the Potomac River from Georgetown, DC to the heart of Harpers Ferry with camping opportunities and picnic stops along the way.

Perryville Community Park

Perryville serves as the northern terminus of the MARC Penn-Washington Line on weekdays, offering a great mid-week daytrip destination. From the station, you can head down to the Lower Ferry Pier for views of the Susquehanna River, the largest tributary to the Bay. As you look across the river, you’ll see about 19 million gallons of water per minute flowing into the Bay! 

Perryville Community Park also offers a public kayak ramp, walking trails and multiple fishing piers a 45-minute walk from the station. You can pack up a foldable or inflatable kayak on the train and get out on the mainstem of the Bay – all car-free.

Patuxent Wildlife Refuge

Patuxent Wildlife Refuge is one of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 570+ refuges and is the only one to be established to support conservation research and habitat management. The large, unfragmented forest provides habitat to many species, including key songbirds and amphibians. 

You can access the Refuge by a quick bike ride or ride share from the Bowie State University MARC Station on the Penn - Washington Line. Bring your bike on the MARC Train for a multi-modal adventure, which will let you explore more of the Refuge’s 15 miles of trails in the North Tract (open Sundays only).

Greenbelt Park

For camping enthusiasts, Greenbelt Park in Prince George’s County offers 172 camping sites all within walking distance of the Metro Station. To get there, take the Yellow or Green Line to College Park Metro Station and follow an approximately 2-mile walk along Campus Dr. While there, explore the nine miles of hiking trails within the park and stop by Lake Artemesia on your way to or from the Metro Station.

Urban waterfronts across the watershed

The Northeast Regional Amtrak Line also runs through many major cities in the watershed that are worth exploring. In Baltimore, the Amtrak stops at Penn Station, just a few miles from the Inner Harbor where you’ll find the National Aquarium and its floating wetland. For Richmond, visit anything within the James River Park System, which is a short walk from the Main Street Station. Norfolk’s Amtrak station is right on the Elizabeth River and at the beginning of the 10.5-mile Elizabeth River Trail. And in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the Amtrak will drop you off less than a mile from Riverfront Park on the Rappohannock River. 

If you’ve been trying to book a getaway, this is your sign to take a chance and try one of these train destinations. Or, closer to home, you may have a park in your neighborhood you’ve never been to. Visit it this weekend and get outside to ring in the end of Summer!