Ready to take a vacation right in your hometown? Here’s the best overnight trip from Washington DC. Only an hour and twenty minutes away from Northern Virginia is Getaway’s new DC Outpost cabins. If you’re looking for hidden gems in DC itself, we’ve also got you covered in this full post here.

What is it

Getaway is a new glamping venture that has made its way into the heart of Virginia. Their philosophy is simple – to provide “an experience designed to bring us back to our elements” – a step back from the bustling urban life, stresses of work and technology. An immersive experience to enjoy nature, quiet, and work around boredom.

The Getaway houses are popping up all over the US and although they’re mapped in major cities, they tend to be a little outside said cities. Here’s where you can snag a cabin: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh/Cleveland, Portland and our very own DC/VA.

Getting there

The DC outpost is located on Madison Road in Stanardsville – probably a town you’ve never heard of. But don’t shy away, as we’ve found that it is absolutely breathtaking. Even the drive is incredibly scenic.

Two hours before checking-in you’ll get instructions on reaching your cabin – & your cabin’s very own name! Yes – the cabins are named, supposedly after the staff’s grandparents. Ours was the delightful Agnes.

What to expect

So what actually is it? Getaway is a selection of minimalist cabins in Stanardsville, Virginia. The cabins come equipped with the simpler things in life and a handful of essentials. There’s the queen-sized bed overlooking the woods (photo op of course), a small bathroom & shower (water is sourced from a nearby well, so be conscious of your usage), a kitchenette with a mini-fridge, stove and a sink, and little trinkets of organic and biodegradable products for washing.

Each cabin has a private fire pit, grilling grate, picnic table & chairs. There are also logs & fire starters to get your true camping experience fired up.

What to pack

As we mentioned, most essentials are already in the cabin. But bring snacks & easy to grill food for your time. S’mores are always a good idea – so is fixing up a quick pot of pasta and freshly grilled protein.

Now, although the cabins have food, fire starters, and logs – life costs money. You’ll actually be charged at the end of your trip for any provisions you use. It might make sense to bring your own fire starters/logs to save additional charges!

Cleaning products, paper towels, blankets, are all provided for convenience! There’s a direct emergency line to the Getaway team in the cabin, but there’s always 911 if black bear encounters become a thing.

Disconnect

Remember you’re somewhat in the middle of nowhere deep within rural Virginia and on the cusp of the Shenandoah Valley. There’s absolutely no connectivity in the cabins, no Wi-Fi and little service. Prepare a long playlist to get you going through the evening, cards and board games, a book and other activities.

Honor the rules! My favorite was the Cellphone Lockbox! You are to put your phone away, let the battery die, and just forget about it until you head back to civilization.

The cabins are quite near each other, so you may hear or see your neighbors during your stay. Remember the house rules – quiet time starts at 10 pm until 8 am the next morning. Then you can blast your Lady Gaga soundtrack to a Star is Born as our neighbor so kindly did.

Explore the Trails

There are a few close by trails that you can enjoy to keep the nature momentum going.

Blue Hole – a 2.5-mile hike which takes about an hour and a half altogether. There’s a swimming hole at the end of the trail, which is nice for a refreshing dip.

Hightop Mountain –  a bit longer for those who are genetically prone to athleticism, this hike is 5.6 miles. We haven’t done it but from what we know it’s a great overlook of the South district of the Shenandoah Valley.

What else

Booking is easy – but the cabins book up fast as you can imagine. Head over to the Getaway House website and use our referral code through this link to get $25 off your first stay.

ALERT! Check-in at the cabins is at 3 p.m., we recommend heading to the outpost area and exploring the trails then checking in, refresh and relax. That way you don’t waste the beginning half of your day.

Each cabin has a driveway for at least two cars – & they’re also pet-friendly just make sure to respect the rules of the cabin, keep your pets clean and off the bedding!

A perk! Getaway’s philosophy is to unplug, respect nature, appreciate it and treat yourself. In doing so, they are also committed to keeping our earth even greener. Every time you book a stay, they plant a tree through their partnership with One Tree Planted – an awesome non-profit that supports global reforestation.

We’re leaving this all the way at the end, but if you’re longing for civilization (or genuinely ran out of supplies), there’s Payton Grocery shop only 5 minutes away.

Thanks for stopping by, & remember to treat yourself with our secret coupon code! There you have it enjoy the best overnight trip from Washington DC on the edge of the Shenandoah Mountains – a close retreat for the busy minds. We’ve also put together a handy dandy list of other favorite weekend getaways around Washington here!

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