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Self Drives > Eastern USA

Colonial America

Self Drive Tour: Inclusive Car, Standard or Upgrade Accommodation
Duration: 11 Days / 10 Nights
Start/Finish: Washington D.C / Washington D.C

01 Apr 2024 - 31 Oct 2024

  • Capture a photo of the White House.
  • See the “Discovery” Space Shuttle, Apollo 11, and more at the Smithsonian Museum.
  • Explore the history of the Civil War and stand on the spot where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.
  • Hike one of the many trails along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.
  • Walk the boardwalk of Virginia Beach.
  • Swim or take a cruise in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Shop and dine in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
  • See the Liberty Bell and Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.

*Admission fees not included


WASHINGTON, D.C. - ARRIVAL 

Day 1: Arrive in Washington, D.C., and pick up your rental car at the airport, then proceed to your hotel. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

Day 2: A full day to explore Washington, D.C. Start by strolling along the Mall. Here you will find some of the most important monuments and have the opportunity to lose yourself in some of the world’s most inspiring museums. After lunch, why not journey across the Potomac to nearby Alexandria, or perhaps you would prefer to rent a bicycle and continue your exploration of the city? This evening, we suggest a visit to the lively Georgetown area of the city, where some of the best chefs vie for your attention.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - GETTYSBURG 

Day 3: Leave the seat of government behind today as you travel to the fascinating Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg. There are many excellent self-guided interpretative trails you can follow that will give you an understanding of this formative period in U.S. history. 

Driving Distance: 90 MI / 150 KM 

GETTYSBURG - SHENANDOAH 

Day 4: Today there is time for further exploration of Gettysburg before you head west to visit Luray Caverns, one of the most beautiful caves in the world. Then enter Shenandoah National Park, a haven for plants, wildlife, and people alike. 

Driving Distance: 150 MI / 250 KM 

SHENANDOAH - SKYLINE DRIVE - CHARLOTTESVILLE - COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG 

Day 5: Drive south and enjoy the natural wonders along each mile of Skyline Drive, one of America’s most scenic routes. You can see the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which have a distinctly bluish cast, especially in summer. Then continue to Charlottesville and visit Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, designed and built on a glorious mountaintop. Continue to Richmond, Virginia’s capital, rising high above the sparkling James River, before traveling along the scenic road by the James River Plantations to Williamsburg, where restoration and preservation have turned back the clock 200 years. 

Driving Distance: 172 MI / 275 KM 

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG - NORFOLK - VIRGINIA BEACH 

Day 6: Visit Colonial Williamsburg, then see the earliest permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown. Continue to the Yorktown Battlefield, where Washington’s decisive victory over General Cornwall’s forces turned the colonists’ dream of a new nation into reality. Continue through Norfolk, Virginia’s premier port city, to Virginia Beach, with 30 miles of sandy shoreline and a 2-mile-long boardwalk. It's time to relax this evening and dip your toes in the ocean. 

Driving Distance: 63 mi / 101 km 

VIRGINIA BEACH 

Day 7: Today, spend your time in the city that is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as having the longest pleasure beach in the world. To continue with this record-breaking tradition, the city itself is located at the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, the longest bridge-tunnel complex in the world. 

VIRGINIA BEACH - EASTERN SHORE - ANNAPOLIS - BALTIMORE 

Day 8: Drive north across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to the tranquil Eastern Shore. Cross into Maryland and continue on to Annapolis, home to the U.S. Naval Academy. See the State House and visit the Academy before continuing to Baltimore. This evening, stroll along the magnificently rebuilt Inner Harbor and enjoy a typical dish of the region in one of the many restaurants. 

Driving Distance: 248 MI / 397 KM 

BALTIMORE - PHILADELPHIA 

Day 9: This morning you are bound for the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia. This historic city is home to both Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Philadelphia also boasts a world-class art museum as well as superb shopping and dining. 

Driving distance: 100 MI / 160 KM 

PHILADELPHIA - WASHINGTON, D.C. 

Day 10: Time to explore Philadelphia a little further this morning before driving to Washington, D.C., in the afternoon. If you did not see the monuments of D.C. by night at the start of your trip then tonight is your opportunity to do so. 

Driving Distance – 140 MI / 250 KM 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - DEPARTURE 

Day 11: Return your rental car to the airport in time for your departing flight. 


Inclusions

  • Accommodation as specified.
  • Compact rental car for 11 days inclusive of unlimited mileage, LDW loss damage waiver, theft protection, waiver (zero excess), 1 million USD liability cover (EP/SLI), local sales tax/es, airport surcharges/fees, homeland security fee, customer facility charge, mechanical assistance.
  • Sightseeing as per itinerary
  • Admission to attractions where applicable.

Exclusions

  • International or Domestic flights
  • Meals, admissions, and/or optional tours unless specifically mentioned as being included in the itinerary.
  • Items of a personal nature, i.e. telephone calls, laundry, liquor, etc.
  • Use of hotel rooms before or after normal check-in and check-out times and resort fees, if applicable
  • Tolls, ferries, and parking fees

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