There are many incredible weekend trips from Durham, NC. If you want to learn more about these destinations, you’ve come to the right place!
Spending time in Durham is a wonderful experience as there are a lot of great things to see and do, but it can also be great to explore places nearby! You can visit a large city with a lot of museums and landmarks, but there are also great options for a relaxing weekend trip.
To help you find the perfect destination for your weekend, I made this guide to the best weekend getaways from Durham, NC.
Weekend Trips from Durham
Washington DC
Distance from Durham: 4 hours
Washington DC, the capital city of the United States, is a place that you can reach by car from Durham in about 4 hours.
The city was named for George Washington, the first president of the country.
There are many amazing things to do in the city, including world-class museums and famous landmarks.
When you are doing a weekend trip, you can see the United States Capitol and the White House, two must-visit places in Washington DC.
The National Mall, where you can find all kinds of monuments, including the Washington Monument, is a highlight of the city to check out as well.
The city also has incredible museums that you should see during a trip. There are too many ones to choose from to fit into a weekend, so you’ll need to choose the ones that you will visit. Two great ones are the National Gallery of Art and the National Air and Space Museum.
Asheville, NC
Distance from Durham: 3.5 hours
Western North Carolina’s Asheville is a wonderful city to consider going to for a weekend getaway from Durham. You can get to Asheville by car from Durham in about 3.5 hours.
From visiting iconic landmarks to exploring places with nature to admiring art at local art galleries, there are many interesting things to do in Asheville.
Biltmore, a very large historic house and estate, is an interesting sight that you should not miss out on visiting.
Furthermore, you can go to the Asheville Pinball Museum when you are doing a weekend trip to the city. This is a museum where you can find 70 vintage pinball machines and play them.
There are many amazing local places to see art in Asheville. For example, you can go to the art galleries of the River Arts District for this.
Other notable places in the city are the WNC Nature Center and the North Carolina Arboretum.
Charleston, SC
Distance from Durham: 4.5 hours
Charleston, SC, the most populous city in South Carolina is a very old city that was founded in the year 1670. It is a wonderful destination to spend your weekend and you can get to the city from Durham in about 4.5 hours.
Charleston is a beautiful city with historic architecture and cobblestone streets. You can find many great examples of architecture throughout the city. For example, you can check out Rainbow Row, which is a row of several colorful houses.
You can also find the Dock Street Theatre in the historic downtown area of Charleston. This is a theater that is located in a building that dates back to the year 1809 and where you can attend a large variety of events.
Other notable places in the historic area are the Charleston City Market and the Joe Riley Waterfront Park.
You can also find Fort Sumter, a sea fort that was built in 1829, in Charleston Harbor, and it is possible to do a guided tour of this fort.
The South Carolina Aquarium is another highlight for a weekend trip to the city.
Baltimore, MD
Distance from Durham: 5 hours
Baltimore, located in the state of Maryland and reachable by car from Durham in about 5 hours, is a large city with many things to do and see that makes for one of the best weekend trips from Durham.
The city has many amazing museums that are worth checking out, such as The Walters Art Museum, the Baltimore Museum of Art, the American Visionary Art Museum, and the Maryland Science Center.
In addition to that, you can go to the Inner Harbor during your trip. This is a part of the city with many attractions and historic sights, such as historic ships.
Savannah, GA
Distance from Durham: 5 hours
From Durham, NC, you can get to the city of Savannah by car in about 5 hours.
Savannah is a coastal city with a beautiful historic district that is home to amazing antebellum houses and cobblestone streets. Exploring the historic district is one of the highlights of the city, and doing this is possible through a guided tour.
You should also go to River Street for views of the Savannah River. There are also great restaurants and shops along the waterfront.
In addition to that, it is possible to go to the historic Savannah Theatre, a theater that dates back to the year 1818, and see a live performance there.
Other notable sights in Savannah that you may want to check out during a trip to the city are Forsyth Park and the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Augusta, GA
Distance from Durham: 4 hours and 45 minutes
Augusta, Georgia’s third most populous city, is a city that dates back to the year 1736. You can get to the city of Augusta from Durham in about 4 hours and 45 minutes by car.
When you are in the city, there are many interesting sights and historic landmarks to check out.
For example, you can go to the Morris Museum of Art for amazing works of art, including art from the American South.
Another interesting sight to check out is The Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson.
You can also enjoy great performances during your weekend trip as there are good venues in the city. For example, you can go to the Miller Theater, a former vaudeville movie theater, for great live performances.
Knoxville, TN
Distance from Durham: 5 hours
You can reach the city of Knoxville, Tennessee, from Durham in about 5 hours, which makes it a perfect destination for a weekend trip from Durham.
The city of Knoxville dates back to the year 1786 when it was the state’s first capital.
The city hosted the 1982 World’s Fair, and you can still visit places related to the fair when you are doing a trip to the city. You can go to World’s Fair Park, where you can find landmarks, including the Sunsphere.
The Knoxville Museum of Art is an interesting museum to go to when you are here. This museum is dedicated to art from East Tennessee.
Attending a football game at the Neyland Stadium, which is one of the largest stadiums in the country, is another fun thing to do in the city.
You can also attend a show at one of the performing arts theaters in Knoxville, such as the beautifully decorated Tennessee Theatre.
Myrtle Beach, SC
Distance from Durham: 3.5 hours
Myrtle Beach is a resort city that you can find on the Atlantic Coast of South Carolina.
The city is a very fun destination and boasts a huge variety of activities for all ages. You can get to the city by car from Durham in about 3.5 hours.
From seeing marine animals at Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach to going to a dinner show at Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show to seeing interesting and fun exhibits at WonderWorks Myrtle Beach, you can do a lot of fun things in Myrtle Beach.
You can also go to Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Goff and play miniature golf.
In addition, you can go to Broadway at the Beach to shop or attend a show at The Carolina Opry Theatre.
Because of the huge number of activities in Myrtle Beach, you’ll have to make a selection of the things that you want to do during your weekend getaway and come back later for the rest.
Virginia Beach, VA
Distance from Durham: 3.5 hours
From Durham, NC, you can get to Virginia Beach, VA, in about 3.5 hours.
Virginia Beach is a wonderful coastal city that you can find on the Atlantic Ocean.
The city is home to great museums, such as the Military Aviation Museum, the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.
You can also find many great theaters in Virginia Beach, including the Beach Cinema Alehouse which is a movie theater where you can have food while watching a movie.
There are also many family-friendly places in Virginia Beach, including various miniature golf courses.
Richmond, VA
Distance from Durham: 2 hours
Richmond, VA, is also a great city to check out if you’re looking for weekend getaways from Durham. You can get there in about 2 hours from Durham. Richmond is the capital city of the state of Virginia and was founded in 1742. Several important events took place here during the Civil War and the Revolutionary War.
When you are doing a weekend trip to Richmond, you should not miss out on the city’s museums where you can see art or learn new things. For example, you can go to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts or the American Civil War Museum.
The city also has historic sites, such as the White House of the Confederacy and Maymont that you may want to see during a trip.
Richmond, VA, also has great options for entertainment. For example, you can go to a historic theater, such as the Byrd Theatre or the Altria Theater to see a show.
Ocean City, MD
Distance from Durham: 6 hours
Ocean City is a fun resort city that is located in the state of Maryland. You can find the city, which was founded in 1875, on the barrier island Fenwick Island.
From Durham, you can get to Ocean City in less than 6 hours by car, which is doable for a weekend trip.
One of the city’s highlights is the Ocean City Boardwalk, which is located on the oceanfront of the city and where you can find a variety of shops.
From seeing a Broadway show to riding a roller coaster to go-karting, there’s a lot to do in Ocean City.
You can also do a variety of guided tours in Ocean City, including cruises.
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Durham Weekend Trips Tips
When doing one of the Durham weekend getaways, you’ll spend a few hours on the road to get to your destination. Along the way, you likely drive by various other cities or small towns. I recommend looking at the route that will get you to your chosen destination and see if there are places where you can make a stop while driving for an even better getaway.
Weekend Getaways from Durham Map
Thanks for reading my guide to the best weekend trips from Durham, NC. I hope I helped you find the perfect destination for your weekend getaway!