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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Colonial Beach
Half a day to one night: walk the beach, see the Monroe and Washington sites, eat seafood. Not a multi-day base.
Colonial Beach is a small Potomac River town in Westmoreland County, Virginia, best known as the birthplace of James Monroe and a short drive from the George Washington Birthplace National Monument. The beach itself is narrow and the town quiet. Most visitors come for a half-day stop or an overnight to explore the presidential history and eat fresh crab.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, many places closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $120–200 excl. bed · High $200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Lunch seafood platter | $15–25 |
| Dinner crab cakes | $20–35 |
| Draft beer | $5–8 |
| Coffee | $3–5 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DCA · Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- About 1 h 45 min drive; closest major airport
- RIC · Richmond International Airport
- About 1 h 30 min drive
Typical fares
- DCA to Colonial Beach (drive)
- About 1 h 45 min, 110 km (68 mi)About 1 h 45 min, 68 mi (110 km)
- Richmond to Colonial Beach (drive)
- About 1 h 30 min, 100 km (62 mi)About 1 h 30 min, 62 mi (100 km)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car essential. The town is walkable on the main strip, but the Washington and Monroe sites are a short drive away.
See and do
Known for
- James Monroe Family Home Site
- George Washington Birthplace National Monument
- Potomac River beach
- Seafood (especially crabs)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| George Washington Birthplace National Monument | Drive south on VA-205, about 10 min | About 15 min |
| Stratford Hall (Robert E. Lee birthplace) | Drive south on VA-3, about 20 min | About 25 min |
| Westmoreland State Park | Drive south on VA-205, about 15 min | About 20 min |
Sleep
- Town centre / beachfront
- Small inns and B&Bs; walk to the beach and a few restaurants.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | How much is this?how much is this |
| Where is the bathroom? | Where is the bathroom?where is the bathroom |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- The beach is on the Potomac, not the ocean; water quality can vary after rain — check local advisories.
- Many restaurants and shops close early or are seasonal; call ahead in spring and fall.
- The James Monroe Family Home Site has limited interpretation; check the website for open hours.
Very safe small town. Usual precautions: lock your car, don't leave valuables on the beach.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Colonial Beach yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- James Monroe Family Home Site
- George Washington Birthplace National Monument
- Potomac River beach
- Seafood (especially crabs)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- George Washington Birthplace National Monument (NPS): www.nps.gov/gewa/
- Wikivoyage: Colonial Beach, revision 5256345 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5256345
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Colonial Beach
Take me to this address, please.
Take me to this address, please.
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
English is the local language; no phrasebook needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/colonial-beach). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.