Overview
Fredericksburg is a city in Northern Virginia. The downtown area has experienced a revival since the 1970s allowing a strong arts community to thrive. Galleries, music venues, and fine dining can all be found in the historic district. While the city has seen massive growth, the downtown area and battlefields have been well preserved due to strong local commitment to historic preservation, providing a unique blend of old and new culture.
12 sights · 22 places to eat · 9 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Fredericksburg
University of Mary Washington
A small liberal arts college near Downtown Fredericksburg. It has been voted, in the past, as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States, according to the Princeton Review. Its architecture is compar…
Fredericksburg Battlefield
Was the site of a key battle during the American Civil War. You can visit, for example, the infamous Marye's Heights.
James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library
Kenmore Plantation
A Georgian mansion that was once occupied by Fielding Lewis and Betty Washington Lewis, George Washington's sister.
Mary Washington House
A short walk from Kenmore. A small frame structure, it was purchased by George Washington in 1772 for his mother, Mary Ball Washington, who lived much of her widowhood in Fredericksburg. Of interest is the garden now mai…
Hugh Mercer Apothecary
A restored 18th-century pharmacy. Take a tour, the guides are dressed in period attire and take you through the building explaining 18th-century medicine and local history.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 30°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Washington, D.C.)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- IAD Washington Dulles International Airport, Dulles — 44 mi away (major hub). Directions
- DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington — 45 mi away (major hub). Directions
Fredericksburg is nearly halfway between Washington, D.C., and Richmond.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, Mary Washington House, Rising Sun Tavern Museum
- Lunch Orofino
- Afternoon Kenmore Plantation, Chatham
- Dinner Hyperion Espresso
- Evening Capital Alehouse
Day 2
- Morning University of Mary Washington, Hugh Mercer Apothecary
- Lunch Battlefield Restaurant
- Afternoon Fredericksburg Battlefield, Lower Caroline Street
- Dinner Umi Japanese Fine Dining
- Evening Sunken Well Tavern
Day 3
- Morning Belmont/Gari Melchers Museum
- Lunch 2400 Diner
- Dinner Carl's Ice Cream
- Evening KC's Music Alley
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Central Park has many notable (if not generic) chain eateries. The Stafford Marketplace has a few places to eat, also generic chains.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Fredericksburg was founded in colonial era as a port city on the Rappahannock River—the fifth longest river in Virginia. At the time, it was at the farthest point navigable by large ships trading goods with the Old World. Although the city became a key trading center for the plantation owners and farmers nearby, it never achieved the level of commerce enjoyed by Richmond and Alexandria.
The city was contested during the American Civil War, changing hands numerous times between Union and Confederate forces. In the most famous battle in Fredericksburg, Union General Burnside repeatedly marched thousands of his troops across the Rappahannock River and up Marye's Heights to their doom. Three other significant battles were fought around Fredericksburg: Chancellorsville, Wilderness and Spotsylvania.
The population of Fredericksburg and surrounding communities has boomed as housing costs closer to Washington, DC, has forced commuters to seek neighborhoods farther out. Many living in Fredericksburg drive up to two hours or catch the VRE commuter rail to work in DC. Fredericksburg is also a popular home for military families employed by the nearby Quantico Marine and Dahlgren Naval bases.
Tourist information
- Visit Fredericksburg website
Get in
Fredericksburg is nearly halfway between Washington, D.C., and Richmond.
By train
One Amtrak train station serves Fredericksburg at Caroline St. and Lafayette Blvd., which is a stop for Amtrak's Carolinian and Piedmont and Regional trains.
Go Virginia Railway Express
Commuter trains for Fredericksburg's Amtrak station leave Union Station in Washington, DC on weekdays from 7:20AM to 7:05PM. The trip from DC takes approximately an hour and a half, depending on freight train schedules and track work. A single ticket from Union Station is $12.15 ($6.05 for seniors and Americans with disabilities). Discounts are offered for ten-trip, five-day, and monthly passes. VRE does not run on federal holidays but does run special service on Independence Day.
Go Fredericksburg railway station
By car
Fredericksburg is about fifty miles south of Washington D.C. located directly on Interstate 95 at exit 130. It is also one hour north of Richmond on Interstate 95.
Travel time from the north (Washington, DC) will vary due to traffic conditions (avoid rush hour). Between 2:30PM and 7PM, typical travel times to Fredericksburg are 1½-2½ hours. Alternative routes include taking either State Highway 28 through Manassas to US Route 17, or by taking US Route 29 through Warrenton to US Route 17. Both routes take about an hour and a half, but the traffic is much more bearable and most of the trip consists of rural driving at full speed.
Another alternative to I-95 South from Fairfax is to take the following routes:
- Fairfax County Parkway to Hwy 123
- Hwy 123 South to right on Hwy 641 (Chapel Rd)
- Hwy 641 to left on Hwy 610 (Wolf Run Shoals Rd)
- Hwy 610 to right on Hwy 643 (Henderson Rd)
- Hwy 643 to left on Hwy 612 (Old Yates Ford Rd)
- Left onto Hwy 3000 (Prince William Parkway)
- Right onto Hwy 642 (Hoadly Rd)
- Left onto Hwy 234 (Dumfries Rd)
- Right onto Bristow Rd
- Left onto Hwy 646 (Aden Rd)
- Left onto Fleetwood Drive
- Left onto Hwy 612 (Brent Town Rd)
- Straight onto Hwy 610 (Garrisonville Rd)
- Right onto Hwy 648 (Shelton Shop Rd)
- Left onto Hwy 630 (Courthouse Rd)
- Exit onto I-95 South
This way takes about 2 hours, but you avoid the stop-and-go traffic from the mixing bowl (I-95/I-495 interchange) all the way to the Express Lanes merge (just south of the Garrisonville/Aquia Exit). You also avoid the bottleneck on Hwy 123 at Occoquan. As of 2021 the Express Lanes are being extended another 10 miles into Fredericksburg, and are expected to open to traffic in 2022. This along with other projects along I-95 should help speed up the drive to and from Fredericksburg.
By bus
Greyhound buses stop at 1400 Jefferson Davis Hwy.
Get around
- Downtown Fredericksburg is a walking city - the sidewalks are wide, inviting, and mostly paved in brick. Many locals frequent the streets as well as the occasional street musician.
- Biking downtown can be fun, but stay off the sidewalks and be sure to follow the traffic laws.
- Taking the local bus (known as the Fred) is convenient and free (as of 2024). There are stops throughout downtown, at all major surrounding shopping locations, and most local subdivisions. Racks on the front of the buses allow you to take a bike along for the ride. Schedules and route planning can be found at the official website, ridefred.com
- Driving is a good option. Downtown roads are largely straightforward aside from some non-standard intersections and one-way streets; outside the city numerous signs point to places of interest and major through ways. If possible, avoid driving during rush hour as traffic is intolerable, especially on I-95, US-1, US-3, and US-17. There is plenty of free parking downtown, either on the street or in the many public lots (PDF map). During normal business hours (8AM-5PM), much of the street parking has a two-hour time limit, after which cars will be ticketed. Parking at a city-owned garage at 600 Sophia Street is free for the first two hours. After that, the rates vary, but they are roughly $1 per hour, $8 or less per day.
See
See University of Mary Washington
A small liberal arts college near Downtown Fredericksburg. It has been voted, in the past, as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States, according to the Princeton Review. Its architecture is comparable to that of the University of Virginia.
- Just outside the city in Spotsylvania County (a separate political jurisdiction in Virginia), 3 other large major battlefields to see: Chancellorsville, Lee's "masterpiece" and where Stonewall Jackson fell in battle; The Wilderness, known for its brutal fighting in some of the most dense forest and thicket in Virginia; and Spotsylvania Courthouse, known for its 2-week-long bloody stalemate on Grants march to Richmond in 1864.
See Mary Washington House
A short walk from Kenmore. A small frame structure, it was purchased by George Washington in 1772 for his mother, Mary Ball Washington, who lived much of her widowhood in Fredericksburg. Of interest is the garden now maintained by a volunteer group of certified Master Gardeners. A huge crepe myrtle is thought to have been planted by Mary herself.
See Hugh Mercer Apothecary
A restored 18th-century pharmacy. Take a tour, the guides are dressed in period attire and take you through the building explaining 18th-century medicine and local history.
See Belmont/Gari Melchers Museum
A great little estate near the Rappahannock. Impressionist painter Gari Melchers lived here. The estate is very well maintained and features beautiful gardens and a separate art gallery where many of his works are on display. Guided tours of the mansion are also available.
See Chatham (pronounced, "chat-um")
A Civil War-era mansion that overlooks the Rappahannock where Union soldiers crossed at the battle of Fredericksburg. It also provides a great view of the city. Take US-17 or US-1 to River Road, or cross the Hwy 3 bridge from downtown Fredericksburg and make a left when you see the sign.
See Lower Caroline Street
a long block of privately owned homes built between the late 18th and early 20th centuries. Some still contain shell fragments from the battle of Fredericksburg.
See Mary Washington Monument
a large obelisk off of Washington Avenue at the site of Mary Ball Washington's grave.
Do
- Canoeing or Kayaking on the Rappahannock River. The river can be very dangerous if you are not careful. There have been many drownings since the early 1960s. It is not unheard of at least one or two drownings to occur along the river each year. Therefore, if you decide to go adventure on the Rappahannock River, be sure to check out the safety information and water levels before you begin your adventure .
- Hiking along the Rappahannock River near Francis Thornton's Mill just off of Riverside Drive on the south bank of the river, upstream of the US-1 bridge. It is also possible to hike up along the canal to where the old Embrey Dam used to be. There are a network of hiking/biking trails all the way up along the river, well past the I-95 bridge. Beware when hiking through the quarry, that there are "No Trespassing" signs posted. As tempting as it would be on a hot day, do not swim in the quarry, lest you want to run the risk of meeting Frederiskburg's Finest. If merely hiking through the area, it is unlikely you'll be hassled, however. If you hike up the river far enough, you may be able to get a glimpse of some of the old canal locks.
- Golfing at any of the several nearby golf courses, such as Meadow Farms, Cannon Ridge, or Lees Hill.
Buy
- Downtown Fredericksburg has many antique shops with war and sports memorabilia and collectible toys and comic books. The Card Cellar sells trading cards and action figures as well as other new and used novelties, while the Made In Virginia store sells fudge, popcorn, and other locally-produced candy and snacks alongside other Virginia-themed souvenirs such as T-shirts and lapel pins. Aside from gifts, antiques, and treats, you can also shop at stores like the Latitudes Fair Trade Store, which sells various handcrafted home decor and clothing. If you are looking for a quieter place, bookstores like Riverby Books offer new and used books and a quiet reading space.
- Spotsylvania Towne Centre is a lively local shopping mall located off Virginia State Route 3 (Plank Road), with major stores including Macy's, Sears, Books-A-Million, Costco, JCPenney, HomeGoods, and Michael's. The center consists of both an indoor building, which offers many clothing stores and a food court, and an outdoor plaza space where restaurants and cafes are located along. The mall even includes a library and a post office.
- Central Park is located on the other side of VA 3/Plank Road, adjacent to the Towne Centre. Central Park is a more traditional-feeling shopping center, but offers an enormous variety of major chain stores and is larger than Downtown Fredericksburg. It even features entertainment establishments such as the Regal Fredericksburg movie theater and the Fun Land Fredericksburg arcade and amusement park.
- Gateway is a small shopping center, but has chain businesses such as The Home Depot and Goodwill as well as the locally-owned Gateway Comics, which has a massive selection of comic books, toys, and other collectibles.
Eat
Eat Castiglia's
Big-plate Italian dishes
Eat Goolrick's
Quick stop for a diner-style lunch with an old-time pharmacy in the back
Eat Benny's
Pizza joint where one slice needs two plates.
Eat Orofino
Italian restaurant that imports products from different regions of Italy
Eat Cork and Table
Modern American cuisine with French influences
Eat Osan Japanese Restaurant
Japanese restaurant
Budget
Eat 2400 Diner
Family-run Greek diner with a big, vintage neon sign up top. Typical diner food with Greek specialties for good measure (spanakopita, baklava, etc.) Lots of bar stools and bunched up booths lend an undeniable charm.
Eat Allman's Bar-B-Que
Funky old barbecue house right off of US Route 1. Unpretentious, authentic interior down to the hand painted menu on the wall and cutaways to the kitchen. Aside from the obvious menu selection, their onion rings and hamburgers are a nice, greasy treat.
Eat Battlefield Restaurant
Adjacent to the Union cemetery, this local fixture has been around since 1951 serving their home-style meals all day long. Cozy diner food, cheap prices, and vintage atmosphere.
Eat Carl's Ice Cream
Opened in 1947 and listed in the National Record of Historic Places since 2005, Carl's still operates in the same stand, with the same menu, hours and cash only policy as it did when it was first founded. It also has only three flavors of its simple homemade, handmade soft serve ice cream -- vanilla, chocolate and strawberry but with those flavors you can also get sundaes, shakes, malts, frozen slushes and slush floats. "Opening Day" at Carl's is a local holiday. People line up around the building to get a scoop from the family-owned treat stand. As is tradition, the stand is closed from the Sunday before Thanksgiving until the Friday of Presidents Day Weekend as the founder closes for hunting season.
Eat Hyperion Espresso
Perhaps the most popular coffee shop in the city. Local hang out and meeting place, you'll find everyone from college students to politicians catching up on the latest gossip. The coffee is addictively good and priced comparable to national chains, light fare like pastries and muffins are also available. Free wi-fi is available.
Mid-range
Eat Hard Times Cafe
A Washington regional chain, specializes in chili. Featuring four different types, served in bowls or on top of other menu items, such as burgers, dogs, spaghetti, nachos, fritos, etc. Also features an excellent plate of wings. This location is split in half, restaurant on one side, bar and pool hall on the other. Local rock bands regularly featured.
Eat Parthenon Restaurant
Even though it's right off of US Route 1, this family-run Greek restaurant is tucked away on a side street so you can't see it well when passing by. The small interior has a friendly living room quality to it along with a wall-to-wall mural. Famous for their gyros and pizza as well as novelty dishes like the flaming cheese. One of the only places in town where you can order Retsina with your meal.
Eat Sammy T's
Relaxed and casual, specializing in sandwiches and wraps. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options. Large bar with over 75 bottled beers available. Local art and local bands are featured regularly.
Eat Soup and Taco
A tiny little place, they serve genuine Mexican cuisine: fish tacos, fried plantains, black bean soup, and all the chips and salsa you can eat. Margaritas are a great way to wash it all down.
Eat Umi Japanese Fine Dining
Located next to the bus station, this unassuming building houses a distinctively hip interior. Japanese cuisine including sushi, seaweed salad, bento boxes, sea urchin, scallops, all served with artistic flair. Their broad sake menu is hard to beat. Extremely personable staff, sit at the bar and chat for a spell.
Splurge
Eat La Petite Auberge
Classic French cuisine served by smartly dressed staff. Many dining setting options, including outdoors and in the eclectic bar room. If you're on a budget, check out their "Early Menu" special, a four-course meal for $23 (served M-Th 5:30-7PM).
Eat Olde Towne Steak and Seafood
Doesn't look like much from outside, but inside you will find wood paneling, a roaring fireplace, and finely dressed wait staff. Known for their generous portions, wide variety of cuts, and surf'n'turf options, this is the place to go if you simply must have an 18 oz. ribeye.
Central Park
Central Park has many notable (if not generic) chain eateries. The Stafford Marketplace has a few places to eat, also generic chains.
Eat Pancho Villa
Local Mexican chain, current flag-ship location. Excellent Carne Asada.
Drink
Downtown
Downtown Fredericksburg may not be huge, but due to the presence of a college and a fun-loving local crowd from both the city and the surrounding counties, it does have a good number of decent places to catch a drink. Catering to those who want a relatively low-key atmosphere to catch up with friends and to those who simply want to let loose and get drunk, there should be something for everyone. A good route for a downtown bar crawl: start at Capitol Ale House for some good beers and burgers; hit Spirit's for a can of PBR; stop by J. Brian's for a pint of Guinness; then check the scene at Fatty J's, Brock's or The Colonial Tavern, and stop in if they're hopping and let loose.
Drink Brock's
Rather fancy dining by day, full scale bar scene at night. Another local hang out full of mini-reunions, especially in the summer when the spacious outdoor deck is open and the DJ is spinning.
Drink Capital Alehouse
Offers 62 beers on draught and over 300 bottle beers, as well as wine, mixed drinks, and regional/European food. Casual upscale atmosphere, great for big groups, darts and board games are freely available in back. Lots of weekly specials on food and drink. On Friday nights, they tap a firkin (wooden barrel of beer), it's a great way to enjoy traditional brews.
Drink Colonial Tavern
Irish-themed pub, regularly features karaoke and live music, sometimes features touring acts.
Drink J Brian's Tap Room
As the name implies, this place is serious about what's on tap. With not a bottled beer in sight, they instead sport 23 selections of lagers, stouts, ales, ciders, and pilsners. Quirky decor and a great jukebox make this a good late night hangout.
Drink KC's Music Alley
Catering mostly to the metal/punk crowd, KC's is a huge music venue located in a seedier part of town. Plenty of pool tables, poker tournaments, and other bar novelties are featured.
Drink Spirits
Loud bar over a pizza restaurant where many locals hang out. Lounge area on the second floor has board games, couches, and a big jukebox. Third floor will occasionally feature small music acts.
Drink Sunken Well Tavern
Intimate little restaurant with a classy, yet casual, atmosphere. Standard bar menu, 12 beers on tap and full wine list. Local bluegrass performances featured weekly.
Central Park
While downtown is far more charming, inviting and local, if you are more into the strip-mall bar scene, Central Park (Route 3 West, just outside of the city) has several places to go hang out, not all of which are totally generic. Yes, Central Park has its fair share of dime-a-dozen joints like TGI Friday's, Applebee's and Ruby Tuesday's; but do yourself a favor and skip them in favor of these places:
Drink Buffalo Wild Wings
Another place that is quickly becoming ubiquitous as locations open up all over the country, but like Cheeseburger in Paradise, Fredericksburg had one of the first locations. Very large, massive and excellent flavor list to go on rather mediocre wings, and plenty of cheap booze and televisions playing every sport on at any given moment. Gets particularly packed during football season, mainly for Redskins and Virginia Tech games.
Drink Q Ball Cafe
Large pool hall located across Route 3 from Central Park, next to the main entrance of the Spotsylvania Towne Centre (aka "the mall"). Features your basic pool-hall fare, lots of fried food and cheap drinks. Texas Hold'em tournaments on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday (no buy-in, since paid table games are illegal in Virginia, but they do feature a $50 cash prize), Karaoke on Friday, live music on Saturday.
Sleep
- Hilton Garden Inn, 1060 Hospitality Ln, mid-range hotel located in or near Central Park.
Go next
George Washington's boyhood home, Ferry Farm, is located across the river in Stafford county. Many other sites of historical interest are a short drive away, including Spotsylvania Courthouse.
Lake Anna is about 20 miles or so outside of town, which is a popular boating and fishing destination. The Lake Anna State Park offers some 15 miles of hiking trails, a beach on the lake, picnic areas, and camping.
A trip down to Kings Dominion, which is a large theme park a mere 35 miles to the south along I-95, is worth a day to see and experience. In decent traffic, it takes around a half an hour to get there from Fredericksburg. The park features many roller coasters and other rides, including some world class rides such as Volcano, the Blast Coaster and the Dominator.
About 20 miles (32 km) to the north along I-95 is the awesome National Marine Corps Museum near the Quantico Marine Corps Base. This museum features all kinds of interactive displays detailing the history and evolution of the United States Marine Corps.
For those that love to shop, Potomac Mills, one of the largest outlet malls in the country is only about 1/2 hour or so to the north (assuming decent traffic). There are more than 220 outlet stores in this place, so all kinds of options for the shopping fanatic. There are also several restaurants as well as an 18-screen movie theater.
About and hour and half west of town is the Shenandoah National Park, which includes over 500 miles (800 km) of hiking trails, and camping. If you are not the hiking nor camping type, at the very least, a drive down Skyline Drive can be worthwhile to check out some of the incredible views. During the peak of the fall colors (later part of October to the first part of November), it can get pretty crowded.
During the winter, there are two places within 2 hours of Fredericksburg to go skiing, Wintergreen Resort and Massanutten. Massanutten also has the added benefit of an indoor waterpark, featuring one of the east coast's only Flowriders. During the summer months, there is also an outdoor section with a wavepool and additional slides available. These resorts also feature golfing, fitness centers, and spas. Either one would be a worthwhile get-a-way. If you are willing to go even farther, there are other places that offers skiing that are within a few hours of driving from Fredericksburg.
Nearby
Spotsylvania
City / town · 7 listings · 9 mi away
Stafford
City / town · 7 listings · 9 mi away
Aquia Harbour
City / town · 3 listings · 12 mi away
Thornburg
City / town · 3 listings · 12 mi away
Quantico
City / town · 3 listings · 18 mi away
Triangle
City / town · 2 listings · 19 mi away
Elkwood
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Woodbridge
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