Things to Do Near Dulles Airport

You are on your own near Dulles International Airport. Your time is limited so you have nothing to do and no place to go. This is not true.

You are close to Dulles Town Center. It is a major shopping mall but it is rarely crowded. Some major chain restaurant chains, such as Red Robin, Red Lobster, and The Cheesecake Factory, ring the mall. The mall itself has a large food court. It also has a Regal Cinemas movieplex. There is also the Regal Countryside Stadium 10, which is in nearby Sterling.

One the Loudoun County Parkway, near the intersection of Route 7, there is One Loudoun. This is an outdoor mall that has an array of upscale restaurants, stores, an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, and much more.

The Dulles Golf Center & Sports Park is just a couple of minutes from Dulles Town Center. The Park has a driving range, putting green, miniature golf, batting cages, and a beach volleyball court. If you are interested in ice skating you can check the schedule of the Ashburn Ice House to see if they have public skating.

There is a recreation center at Claude Moore Park. The center has an aerobics studio, a 20-lane competition pool, a leisure pool with a hot tub spa, a rock climbing wall, jogging track, and more. If you like fishing there are two ponds in the park. The two ponds are stocked with fish, albeit small ones. Claude Moore Park is also a good place for a walk in the park.

If you would like to do some touring there are two nearby places. At the airport there is the Udvar-Hazy Center. This aviation museum is an aviation buff’s dream. It has a vast collection of aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles. Its collection includes the B-29 Superfortress, Enola Gay, and the Space Shuttle Discovery. The center also has an IMAX theater and an observation tower. From the observation tower you will get a close up look at aircraft as they fly by the tower. While admission is free parking costs $15. The museum is open every day except Christmas. Its hours are 10:00am-5:30pm.

On the other side of Route 28, Sully Road, is the Sully Plantation. This historic plantation will give you a good view of life in the anti-bellum south. The plantation is open from 11:00am-4:00pm and the last tour is at 3:00pm. Tickets are $7 for adults under 65 and $5 for seniors.

Claude Moore Park and the Sully Plantation have special events and activities. Probably the most famous event in the area is the annual Plane Pull at Dulles Airport. This takes place in September. On a Saturday in June the Udvar-Hazy Center hosts a fly in of civilian owned aircraft. The Dulles Expo Center has numerous events, such as the National Gun Show, the Washington Camping RV EXPO, and the Tet Festival, throughout the year[i]. On Friday evenings during the summer antique car owners bring their vehicles to the Dulles Crossing Plaza. Owners park their vehicles next to the Chick fil A.

One Loudoun is hosting Light Up Fest from November 8, 2018 - January 2, 2019. It is open nightly from 5:30 to 10:30, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.[ii]

If you are near Dulles International Airport you don’t have to travel far to find something to do or somewhere to go.

[i]https://www.dullesexpo.com, last accessed 10/26/2018

[ii]http://thelightupfest.com, last accessed 10/26/2018.