Whether you have a long layover or you’re waiting to meet a loved one, waiting at an airport can feel exhausting if there’s nothing to do. Luckily, there’s so much to do near Dulles Airport that you’ll never be bored!
Here are just 5 things you can do for fun in and around Dulles Airport.
1. Tours!
See all the iconic sights of Washington, DC via a bus tour!
Big Bus Tours offers Landmark Tours that take you around the capital, with landmarks like the Supreme Court and the Washington Monument. The history of these landmarks is provided through commentary.
Three different routes are offered, including a Night Tour. Tours run throughout the day, and you can join or leave a tour at any time.
Big Bus also offers more leisurely sightseeing tours that allow for flexible sightseeing
2. Rides!
Get a bird’s-eye view of the capital at the top of The Capital Wheel!
This Ferris wheel at National Harbor brings you 180 feet above the Potomac River, where you can see DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Each of the gondolas in the Capital Wheel is climate-controlled, and 6-8 adults can ride in one gondola at a time.
For ground-level fun for kids, check out the Carousel at the same location!
3. Explore Mount Vernon!
Tour George Washington’s Mount Vernon, from each of the rooms to the gardens outside.
The mansion has been undergoing careful restoration efforts since the 1850s, and it is undergoing ongoing restorations while the doors are open to visitors.
Special events are often held at the restored mansion, including historical reenactment and reproduction.
Visitors can also simply tour the mansion to learn the history of George Washington and his family. Check out the museum for galleries, interactive displays, and more than 700 artifacts.
4. Visit a Museum!
Just one bus stop away from the airport is The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, a companion to the National Air and Space Museum.
Thousands of aviation and airspace artefacts are on display in the Udvar-Hazy Center, including the very first Boeing 707 prototype. Visitors can watch as specialists preserve these artefacts.
The museum provides simulations and theaters as well, to make you feel like you’re flying or blasting off without you ever having to leave the ground.
Plus, you can watch planes take off and land at the neighboring airport from the museum’s observation tower.
5. Shopping!
The airport is only a 20-minute drive from the largest concentration of shopping centers this side of Manhattan: Tysons Corner Shopping Center.
Enjoy free parking and browse nearly 300 stores, from upscale retailers to big name brands like Louis Vuitton, Apple, and much more.
When you’re finished, grab a bite to eat at one of 40 dining destinations, and maybe even watch a movie at the IMAX theater.
You don’t even need to leave the airport for a great shopping experience. The Dulles Airport also offers a variety of high-end stores, including brands such as Estée Lauder and InMotion, and eateries such as Capitol Grounds Coffee.
6. As an aside…
Don’t want to bring your luggage with you while you’re sightseeing and having fun? Vertoe has you covered!
Vertoe provides the best on-demand luggage storage Dulles Airport has to offer.
Just find a Vertoe location online and drop your bags off there. You’re free to have all the fun you want, and your bags will be safe when you get back!
Conclusion
Don’t worry about being bored the next time you make a flight to Dulles Airport. From history and education to shopping and sightseeing, there are many activities nearby that are sure to help you have fun.