Before your driving tour of the region begins, spend a few days exploring the iconic sites and attractions of Washington, DC. From the inspiring monuments and memorials lining the National Mall, America’s most visited national park, to the renowned Smithsonian Institution’s 17 museums, galleries, and National Zoo, to the dozens of unique neighbourhoods that make up the city, there is plenty waiting to be explored in the nation’s capital. Pick up your motorhome from the Cruise America depot in Manassas, Virginia. From there, you’ll continue heading west toward the Shenandoah Valley and then north into Maryland. Surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains and home to Lake Habeeb, Rocky Gap State Park’s 3,000 acres of public lands are an outdoor lover’s paradise.

• 122 miles to Rocky Gap State Park
• Rent bicycles to cycle portions of the Great Alleghany Passage rail trail https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/western/rockygap.aspx

The Historic National Road scenic byway travels through this part of Maryland and leads you to your next stop, Gambrill State Park located on the ridge of the Catoctin Mountains in Frederick County. Enjoy breathtaking mountain views from three overlooks and miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails.

• 75 miles to Gambrill State Park
• Nearby attractions include the historic district of Frederick, Antietam National Battlefield, and Gettysburg National Battlefield. https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/western/gambrill.aspx

Now that you’ve had a few days of fresh mountain air, it’s time for a change of scenery. Today you’ll travel east through the city of Baltimore (Maryland’s largest city) to the Eastern Shore. Elk Neck State Park situated on a peninsula in the region’s famed Chesapeake Bay, will be your home for tonight.

• 114 miles to Elk Neck State Park
• Highlights of the park include the North East Beach and Turkey Point Lighthouse. https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/elkneck.aspx

Continue your exploration of Maryland’s Eastern Shore as you travel portions of the Chesapeake Country scenic byway. Along the way you’ll discover charming coastal towns, maritime villages, and miles of unspoiled landscape. Assateague State Park is located at the north end of Assateague Island, a barrier island and national seashore home to herds of wild horses.

• 159 miles to Assateague State Park
• Ocean City’s 3-mile long boardwalk is packed with eateries, shops, and amusements https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/eastern/assateague.aspx

Today you’ll finish traveling the length of the Eastern Shore region into Virginia. Your route will include the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, a 17.6-mile bridge-tunnel crossing at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. First Landing State Park is where English colonists first landed in 1607, earning the park National Natural Landmark and National Register of Historic Places designations.

• 133 miles to First Landing State Park
• Virginia Beach boasts the longest pleasure beach in the world, with different beach districts offering a variety of experiences. https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/first-landing

Your route today will take you through Virginia’s tidewater region. Chickahominy Riverfront Park offers opportunities to enjoy the park’s namesake river, including a 290-foot lighted fishing pier, boat ramp, and equipment rentals. The park is located along the Virginia Capital Trail, a 52-mile long cycling and pedestrian trail between Richmond, Virginia’s current capital city and Williamsburg, the state’s former capital.

• 60 miles to Chickahominy Riverfront Park
• Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown are known as America’s Historic Triangle due to their historical significance and proximity. https://www.jamescitycountyva.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Chickahominy-Riverfront-Park-2

Travel west today along rural roads to Douthat State Park. Opened in 1936, Douthat was one of Virginia’s original six state parks and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for the role its design played in the development of parks nationwide.

• 211 miles to Douthat State Park
• Take a quick detour to visit Natural Bridge, a 215-foot tall limestone gorge once billed as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/douthat

Your motorhome tour of the region wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Shenandoah National Park. The 105-mile Skyline Drive is a scenic byway that travels along the mountain ridgeline through the park. Overlooks along the way allow you to pull off and take in the magnificent views of the Shenandoah Valley. Within the park, the Mathews Arm, Big Meadows and Loft Mountain campgrounds all have pull-through and deep back-in sites.

• 90 miles to Shenandoah National Park
• Keep your eye out for black bears as you travel along the 105-miles of Skyline Drive to Front Royal. https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

The park’s boundaries ends in Front Royal, from here it is a 40-mile drive to return your motorhome to Cruise America depot in Manassas.