A day trip from The Watergate Hotel: Mount Vernon or Old Town Alexandria
Both are realistic day trips from The Watergate Hotel: Mount Vernon is best for a museum-and-estate visit to George Washington’s home (commonly a half- to full-day) while Old Town Alexandria is a quicker, more flexible option for shopping, waterfront dining, and colonial sites (often a half-day). Choose Mount Vernon for history and guided tours; choose Old Town if you prefer strolling shops, cafes, and a shorter transit time back to the hotel.
In this guide
How to get there from The Watergate Hotel
The Watergate Hotel sits on the Potomac near the Kennedy Center; you can reach both Mount Vernon and Old Town Alexandria without leaving central DC by car, rideshare, water taxi (seasonal), or organized tour. The hotel concierge can help arrange taxis, water taxi tickets from the Wharf, or recommended tour operators.
If you prefer public transit, rideshare and taxis are commonly used and generally the quickest door-to-door option for these day trips. Water taxi service and the Mount Vernon Trail are seasonal alternatives for a more scenic route along the river.
- Rideshare/taxi: convenient, door-to-door; travel times depend on traffic.
- Water taxi: seasonal—connects from DC Wharf to Old Town Alexandria and can be used for a scenic route to Alexandria (check seasonal schedules).
- Bike: the Mount Vernon Trail runs along the Potomac and can be used to reach Alexandria by bike for active travelers.
- Concierge: BookResorts agents and the hotel concierge can advise and book transportation.
| Option | Notes |
|---|---|
| Rideshare / Taxi | Fastest and most direct; good for Mount Vernon or Old Town. |
| Water taxi (seasonal) | Scenic to Old Town from DC Wharf; check schedules and seasonality. |
| Bike / Mount Vernon Trail | Scenic, active option to Alexandria; distance and fitness required. |
Visiting Mount Vernon: what to expect
Mount Vernon is George Washington’s estate with a house tour, museum and education center, gardens, and Washington’s tomb. Visitors often allow a half-day for the house tour and museum, or a full day if including special programs and grounds exploration.
Typical visitor activities include a guided or audio tour of the mansion, visiting the museum exhibits, walking the landscaped grounds, and seeing the tomb. The estate offers seasonal programming and rotating exhibits at its museum complex.
- Allow at least 3–4 hours for mansion + museum; a full day if you want to explore trails and participate in programs.
- Mount Vernon is commonly reached by a short drive from Washington, D.C.; many guests expect roughly a 30-minute drive under normal conditions.
- Tours and some special programs may have set start times; check Mount Vernon’s official site for reservations and hours.
| On-site highlights | Why visit |
|---|---|
| Mansion tour | Interior rooms and period furnishings |
| Museum & education center | Exhibits on Washington’s life and 18th-century history |
| Grounds & tomb | Gardens, river views, and Washington’s burial site |
Exploring Old Town Alexandria
Old Town Alexandria offers a compact historic district with King Street’s shops and restaurants, a well-preserved waterfront, and colonial-era sites such as Christ Church. It’s a good half-day destination for shopping, dining, and short walking tours.
Travel time by car from central DC is commonly about 20 minutes under normal traffic. Water taxi service from the Wharf to Alexandria is a scenic option in season and drops you close to the waterfront.
- Stroll King Street for independent shops, galleries, and cafes.
- Walk the waterfront for views and restaurants along the Potomac.
- Historic sites: colonial-era churches and houses with interpretive signage.
- Combine Alexandria with a riverside meal before returning to The Watergate Hotel.
| Good for | Why choose |
|---|---|
| Shops & cafes | Compact streets ideal for casual browsing |
| Waterfront dining | Easier to fit into a half-day than Mount Vernon |
| Short walking tour | Historic buildings and colonial-era points of interest |
Combining both in one day: logistics and tips
Visitors sometimes pair Old Town Alexandria and Mount Vernon in a single day, starting in Alexandria for a morning stroll and moving to Mount Vernon for an afternoon house tour. Doing both depends on how much time you want at each place and on traffic or seasonal water taxi schedules.
If you plan a combo, check opening hours and tour times, and allow buffer time for travel. The hotel concierge can advise on the day’s traffic and help secure timed tickets or a guided tour that bundles transport.
- Morning in Old Town: breakfast or coffee, short walk on King Street.
- Afternoon at Mount Vernon: timed mansion tours and museum visit.
- Ask concierge about tour operators that run combined trips or private car options.
- Bring water and wear comfortable shoes—both sites include outdoor walking.
| Segment | Typical plan |
|---|---|
| Morning | Old Town: walk King Street, visit shops, waterfront lunch |
| Afternoon | Mount Vernon: mansion and museum tour, grounds |
| Evening | Return to The Watergate Hotel for dinner or the rooftop |
Evening back at The Watergate Hotel
After your day trip you can return to The Watergate Hotel for spa time at Argentta Spa (pool and amenities are included for hotel guests) or dinner at Kingbird. Kingbird serves breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch and afternoon tea and has a dinner/bar program; reservations are recommended.
If you prefer cocktails, Top of the Gate (seasonal) and The Next Whisky Bar are hotel options — check current hours with the concierge. The hotel’s rooftop offers Potomac and Kennedy Center views when open for the season.
- Argentta Spa: steam room, sauna, indoor heated saltwater pool — spa treatments are paid services and may require reservations.
- Kingbird: reserve ahead, check specific meal hours with concierge; children's menu available if you’re traveling with family.
- Top of the Gate and The Next Whisky Bar: seasonal hours — ask concierge for current availability.
| Hotel amenity | Notes |
|---|---|
| Argentta Spa | Pool & facilities included for hotel guests; treatments are paid |
| Kingbird | All-day dining; reservations recommended |
| Top of the Gate | Seasonal rooftop bar; check opening months and daily hours |
Where to stay at The Watergate Hotel after a long day
Choose a room that suits how you like to relax: Deluxe Room, River View and Premier Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, River View put you closest to Potomac views and a balcony if available. Suites like Suite (Diplomat) or Suite (Ambassador) provide more living space if you plan to unwind in-room.
All guest rooms include Wi‑Fi and marble baths per the hotel’s room descriptions. If you need help selecting or requesting a particular room type, the hotel’s concierge and BookResorts agents are available 24/7 to assist.
- Superior Room — a standard guest room option for a practical stay.
- Deluxe Room, River View — helpful if you want a river view without upgrading to a suite.
- Premier Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, River View — choose this for a private balcony and skyline outlook.
- Suite (Diplomat) or Suite (Ambassador) — better if you want separate living space after returning from a day trip.
| Room name (exact) | When to pick it |
|---|---|
| Deluxe Room, River View | If you want Potomac views without a suite |
| Premier Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, River View | If you want a balcony to sit outside in the evening |
| Suite (Diplomat) | If you want extra living space after a long day |
