Lorton, VA Autotrain - coming in a day early - WHAT TO DO ALL DAY?

[scooffer]

We are driving in the night before our train leaves. We did this last year, stayed at the Comfort Inn. This was very convenient, but we took the advice of getting to the station by 1:00pm. We could not find much to do in the area while we were waiting. Is there a better place to stay, maybe an hours drive that could give us something to do in the AM before we check in with the train??

 

[Capt_BJ]

just a wee bit south on 95 is Potomac Mills Outlet Mall which is HUGE
http://www.simon.com/mall/?id=1260

In Lorton you are not all that far from Mt Vernon
http://www.mountvernon.org/

Actually most of DC is in your 1 hour range (depending on traffic) and you could stay downtown and do a little on the Mall, a monument or two if you've never been

Downtown old town Alexandria is nice too

being familiar with the area (lived near P Mills for 6 years and took AT twice), I'd add my strong warning about traffic on 95 and probably recommend P Mills - there's a couple of motels right there and plenty of places to eat.

 

[jsilvers]

There's a small museum at the former prison in Lorton, but it doesn't seem to be open in the morning. See http://workhousemuseums.org/.

In addition to Mount Vernon, other historic attractions in the area are the Pope-Leighey House (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; http://woodlawn1805.org/) and Gunston Hall, the home of (second-tier) founding father George Mason (http://www.gunstonhall.org/).

As noted by the PP, I-95 traffic can be horrific, but the Marine Corps museum is about 10 miles to the south, in Quantico. See http://www.usmcmuseum.org/.

 

[scooffer]

The mall sounds like a great idea! Thanks!!

 

[nordkin]

The Marine Corp Museum is just south of Lorton in Quantico and is well worth a visit and admission is free.