Pop Quiz: Is Presidents Day really a holiday? We’ll try to answer that but, whether it is or isn’t, you should forget about the traditional White Sales (whatever those are). Instead, celebrate with this special Presidents Day Road Trip in Virginia and Washington, and meet four Founding Fathers!

The Presidents Day Road Trip

Presidents Day may not be the most hotly contested holiday on any calendar; we’ll take a look at its legitimacy in a moment. As with many holidays – especially in the US of A – it’s been overly commercialized in a way that has no relation to the actual celebration. Regardless, we’d like to make a pitch for you to celebrate the occasion anyway.

Fun Fact: Presidents Day is not a federal holiday!

Americans of a certain age may remember George Washington’s Birthday popping up on our calendars every February 22nd. In 1971, something called the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved it to the third Monday in February, because…three day weekend! Since Abe Lincoln’s birthday is close by, why not make it Presidents Day?

Nope. Tried that. Also tried a second holiday for Honest Abe, but neither got through Congress. Officially, it’s still George Washington’s Birthday, as established back in 1879. In most places, though, Presidents Day is at least state holiday.

Official or not, by the mid-1980s it had been adopted as a holiday, and celebrated with Presidents Day Sales at every mattress store in town. Department stores, grocery stores, and pretty much everyone else hopped on the bandwagon. Even the tire store down the street is having a Presidents Day Sale. At least, with a Presidents Day Road Trip, tires are something we could use! We have to ask, though: Why celebrate with a sale? Let’s hit the road instead!

The Presidents Day Road Trip Route

Did you know that four of the United States’ first five presidents were from Virginia? Or that three of them lived near Charlottesville? Two of them were actually neighbors! The fact that you can see and tour their homes today makes this jaunt through the gorgeous Virginia Piedmont the perfect Presidents Day Road Trip.

We started and ended this trip in Washington, DC, but you can easily make it a one-way drive. Our map assumes that you start in either Charlottesville or Washington, and you can follow the route in either direction. We’ve added markers for airports and Amtrak train stations in both cities, in case you don’t live within driving distance of either.

For this post, we’re going from Charlottesville to Washington. The entire trip is about 150 miles, with about four hours of drive time. Most of the trip will be spent in the Charlottesville area, with a scenic drive to or from Washington. There will be other sites you’ll be tempted to visit along the way, including several Revolutionary and Civil War sites, so the more time you can take, the better.

Charlottesville: Jefferson’s Virginia

To make the most of the Presidents Day Road Trip, we suggest stretching it out over a three day weekend, and spending at least one night in Charlottesville. Not only is the town convenient to several presidents’ homes, no other city has quite the connection to Thomas Jefferson. (Aside, perhaps, from the nation’s capital.)

In Charlottesville, be sure to visit the University of Virginia, often rated the Most Beautiful College Campus in America. The centerpiece of campus is the Rotunda, around which the original university was built. In 1822, Jefferson designed the Rotunda to represent the “authority of nature and power of reason.” In 1966, the Rotunda was designated a National Historic Landmark. It achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status, along with Monticello, in 1987.

Other popular spots in Charlottesville include the Historic Downtown Mall, a pedestrianized section of Main Street, where you can shop and dine in a comfortable, casual atmosphere. Kids will enjoy the Virginia Discovery Museum, while the grown-ups might enjoy The Glass Palette Interactive Glass Studio. The Charlottesville area is also home to the Monticello Wine Trail and several wineries, with an active brew and cider scene, too. And, if you’re up for more driving, you shouldn’t miss the phenomenal Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, just outside of Charlottesville.

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

As a Founding Father, statesman, and President #3, Thomas Jefferson needs little introduction. A tour of his Virginia mansion, Monticello, is filled with stories and mementos from those heady political days establishing the United States. Amazingly, by all accounts, the home looks much like it did in Jefferson’s day. It was meant to impress, but also to be functional.

Did You Know? Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is the only U.S. President’s home that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Thomas Jefferson you didn’t get to know in history books comes to life when you tour Monticello. He was an architect, lawyer, family man, and farmer, running an impressive plantation. There are generally six to eight tour options at Monticello focusing on different aspects, with some being seasonal. A Day Pass gets you access to the grounds and gardens, and a tour of the first floor. A Behind the Scenes Day Pass lets you go upstairs, all the way to the great Dome Room. Tickets start at $29/adult and $10/child 12-18. Tours can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on tour, but allow for up to a half day to see all of the gardens and grounds, too.

James Monroe’s Highland

As if to underscore the importance of Virginia farmers in establishing the United States, one of Thomas Jefferson’s fellow Founding Fathers lived literally next door. That neighbor was President #5, James Monroe.

Like Jefferson, James Monroe had a long and illustrious history in early American government before serving as President. But Monroe’s humble “cabin castle” in Virginia is a stark contrast to the accolades and accomplishments of his public career. Unlike Monticello, President Monroe’s home, called Highland, was a simple family home at the center of a 3500-acre plantation. Ongoing restoration is bringing back the estate Monroe would have known, though some additions over the years have been incorporated. You can tour both new and old buildings, and the working farm, for $19/adult, $13/child 6 to 11. Tours last 40 minutes, and there are several you can choose from. Allow another hour to explore the grounds, or hike the Highland Trails.

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James Madison’s Montpelier

Another of Thomas Jefferson’s friends, and almost-neighbor, was James Madison. He served as President #4, and is known as the Father of the Constitution.

The Madison family home, Montpelier, is near Orange, Virginia, about 45 minutes from Monticello and Charlottesville. It’s evident when you arrive that the Madisons were successful: Montpelier is grand, and somewhat reminiscent of Monticello, minus Jefferson’s beloved dome.

Guided tours of the home will last about two hours, and are $20/Adult, $8/child 6 to 14. Admission includes the landmark slavery exhibit, The Mere Distinction of Colour, which you can see at your own pace. Take time to explore the beautiful Visitor Center, where you can also have breakfast or lunch, and the splendid Annie duPot Garden. If you have the time, the Montpelier estate includes eight miles of trails in the James Madison Landmark Forest, and an active Archeology Lab.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

We all know George Washington as The Father of the Country, a Revolutionary War hero, and President #1. First and foremost, though, he was a farmer, and his Mount Vernon plantation was the most successful in the Virginia Colony. There were five farms at Mount Vernon, along with looms and a blacksmith that produced fabric and metalworks. Washington harvested fish from the Potomac River, brewed and distilled spirits, and experimented in the most advanced greenhouse in the young country.

Tours of Mount Vernon feature the large family home, rich in Washington’s political history but emphasizing his leading role among colonial farmers. The sprawling grounds include the blacksmith shop and distillery, salt house, smoke house, and more. Touring his gardens, greenhouse, and Pioneer Farm, you gain an appreciation for the farmer and businessman George Washington was most known for in his time.

General Admission to George Washington’s Mount Vernon is $20/adult, and $12/child 6 to 11. (There is a $6 Active Duty and Veteran military discount.) Tours are additional ($10 to $30), and vary by season, so check the website before you visit. The standard mansion tour lasts about 30 minutes, but lines to get in can take much longer. Be prepared to spend half a day at Mount Vernon, maybe more, depending on your interests.

The National Mall

Having visited the homes of four American presidents, the National Mall seems a fitting addition to this special Presidents Day Road Trip! In keeping with the theme, you’ll want to see the monuments and memorials for American presidents. Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln are the best known monuments, but Franklin D. Roosevelt, James Garfield, and Ulysses S. Grant are honored as well. While you’re there, don’t miss the memorials to Americans who served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. They are some of the most moving you’ll ever see.

Visiting the monuments on the National Mall can be done in just a few hours. The National Mall is so much more than memorials, though! You can see the United States Capital, the White House, and more than 20 museums! Best of all, visiting all of these monuments and museums is free, so you may want to consider staying an extra day or two in Washington.

The National Park Service website for the National Mall and Memorial Parks is an indispensable trip planning tool for your visit. Any park closings, renovation work, and special events will be listed there as well. For more on museums and other things to see and do, we recommend WashingtonDC.org’s website.

Park the Car

Since this is a Presidents Day Road Trip, there’s going to be parking involved. You’ll be glad to know there is free parking at all of the presidential homes on this trip. Parking in Washington DC is another matter. If you’re staying in or near Washington, we suggest leaving the car at the hotel, and taking public transportation to the National Mall. Or your feet, if you’re staying in the area.

Likewise, you can do this trip toll free. Most of this road trip is on Interstate or State Highways. The drive from Charlotte to Montpelier is on well-maintained local roads dubbed “The Constitution Route.” As a bonus, the scenery along the entire trip is fantastic! The Virginia Piedmont is a beautiful piece of America.

Ready to Take the Wheel?

We have to say that Washington is one of our favorite destinations, and we are ready and willing to visit pretty much anytime. When we decided to venture out from the city, we thoroughly enjoyed driving the Constitution Route to learn more about our Founding Fathers. We made it a weekend trip, staying in Charlottesville, and it was well worth the extra time. If you’d like to plan this road trip for yourself, feel free to reach out with questions, or if you need some recommendations. We’re always glad to help!

Now it’s your turn. We’d love to hear about your experience if you’ve visited these gems, or taken a similar road trip. Feel free to leave any recommendations for fellow travelers in the comments below!

As always, thanks for coming along for the read!