Spotsylvania County

Spotsylvania County is a county in Virginia. Spotsylvania County is 50 miles south of Washington DC and is the 5th fastest growing Virginia county and the fastest Northern Virginia county as of 2023. The county has shifted from a rural rest stop on the way to D.C to a commuter suburb that is steadily growing and developing under the influence of the capitol. Fredericksburg is the closest city in the area, just north, is Stafford County, another county along the Rappahannock.

Cities

 * Thornburg — small community located off I-95, where Kalahari Resort is located
 * Spotsylvania — the county seat, with a growing community of DC commuters.

Understand
Spostylvania was primarily an agricultural area until the early 21st century when suburban sprawl from Washington reached as far south as Thornburg, turning a mostly-rural area into a mix of cultures.

George Washington spent much of his childhood in the lower part of the county on his family's home, Ferry Farm, along the Rappahannock Rivers north bank in nearby Stafford.

Get in
Spotsylvania is easily accessible. Interstate 95 runs directly through Spotsylvania County with exits onto Route 1, Route 3 and other major roads. The Virginia Railway Express (Commuter train line that connects to Amtrak in Northern Virginia) runs two lines north/south through the county.

Flying into Reagan or Dulles: you can reach Spotsylvania County via rail, car, taxi, etc., within less than 2 hours with traffic.

Get around
Owning a vehicle is necessary for getting around. There is a limited bus line (Fred Bus) that has stops going approximately from Exits 126 through 140 on Interstate 95, as well as east/west lines, but relying solely on this would not be recommended.

The Virginia Railway Express can be taken during most hours of the day on many stops all the way up to D.C. with connections available to other train lines such as Amtrak.

Buses such as OmniRide are also available, as are taxi services.

Do
There are a variety of activities that can attract the budget traveler as well as the wealthy. There are plenty of historical sites. Historic Fredericksburg is north and has plenty to offer. Central Park, a business-district has plenty of restaurant and shopping opportunities. Stafford County is close by and has plenty of historical sites as well such as George Washingtons Boyhood Home at Feery Farm.

Drink
There are a variety of themed bars as well as general bars. Those seeking Irish or British pub drinking experiences will not be disappointed. The downtown Fredericksburg area or Central Park, both directly to the northeast of Spotsylvania, can provide great experiences.

Stay safe
The Spotsylvania County/Fredericksburg area is quite safe, but you can take regular precautions, like looking both ways before crossing US-1, or not drinking and driving.

Go next
OK, there's not much to do here. Head an hour north towards D.C. or nearby to bordering Fredericksburg.