Leesburg

Understand

Leesburg is the county seat of Loudoun County.

Getting there

By car Leesburg is less than an hour drive from downtown Washington, D.C. From the north (Maryland, Pennsylvania):

US Highway 15 south across the Potomac. From the east (Washington, DC):

Virginia Route 267 provides tolled access to Leesburg. Two tolls are required - one near I-495, which is $2.50 (EZ-Pass, coins or cash only), and another just after the airport, which is $5.20 for 2-axle vehicles. The toll booths after the airport accept credit cards and EZ-Pass. Alternatively, Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) is a 55-mph highway with several stoplights. From the south (Warrenton):

US Highway 15 north. From the west:

Virginia Route 7

By bus Loudoun County Transit operates commuter buses between the Leesburg Park & Ride at 19730 Sycolin Rd and DC or Arlington. The journey costs $10 if paid via SmarTrip card or $11 if paid with cash. These buses operate service from Leesburg to DC on weekday mornings and from DC to Leesburg on weekday evenings. Reverse commute buses operates between the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station and 1 Harrison St SE in Leesburg weekday mornings at 8:02AM. From there, you can walk around historic Leesburg or take a trolley to the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets. The bus leaves downtown Leesburg at 5:05PM and returns to Wiehle-Reston East station at 5:30PM. Loudoun County Transit also operates the 7 on 7 bus service from Ashburn to Leesburg, where further connections are available to the DC metro stations. You can take the WMATA (subway) Silver Line train to Wiehle-Reston East station. Exit the station using the south entrance to go to the bus stop for Loudoun County Transit. Catch the Wiehle Express bus to George Washington University campus in Loudoun, then transfer to the 7 on 7 bus. The 7 on 7 bus runs every 30 minutes whereas the Wiehle Express bus runs every 45 minutes. The bus fare for the 7 on 7 bus is $1 and the bus fare for the Wiehle Express is $2. If you are planning to go to Leesburg in the morning, take the reverse commute

Getting around

By foot The center/historic district of Leesburg is relatively small, walkable area near the courthouse (at the crossing of King Street and Market Street). There are a number of shops and restaurants, as well as the town buildings, within about a quarter of a mile.

By trolley Virginia Regional Transit operates the Leesburg Trolley (bus route 53), which provides service between downtown Leesburg, the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, and the Leesburg Park & Ride Commuter Bus stop. This bus runs from 7AM until 7PM, Monday through Friday. On Saturday, it runs from 10AM until 9PM and on Sunday it runs from noon until 6PM. The fare is 50 cents. Phone numbers: +1 877-777-2708, +1 540-338-1610.

See

Historic Leesburg. 1 Historic Morven Park, 17263 Southern Planter Ln, ☏ +1 703-777-2414. Apr-Nov F-M 11AM–4PM, and by advanced appointment; the gardens and grounds are open year-round 8AM-5:30PM. This 1,000-acre estate, home of World War I-era Virginia Governor Westmoreland Davis, includes history spanning over 200 years. Tours change frequently, highlighting the Confederate camp that was here during the Civil War, Davis’ contributions during World War I, the 19th century Winmill Carriage Collection of horse-drawn carriages, and Marguerite Davis’ boxwood gardens. The historic mansion and Museum of Hounds & Hunting are open Sa Su noon-5PM. Meet at the Coach House Visitors Center for the tour. Tours on the hour from 11AM–4PM, and by advanced appointment. Toyrs cost $10/adult, $5/child 6-12, children under 5 free. (updated Dec 2018)

2 Oatlands Plantation, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Ln, ☏ +1 703-777-3174. Open Apr-Dec; M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. Oatlands, a National Trust site, encompasses 360 acres in scenic easements and features a Greek Revival mansion, circa 1804, rare 19th-century brick dependencies including America's oldest restored propagation greenhouse, circa 1810, and a magnificent four acre English terraced garden. Oatlands offers guided tours of the mansion, grounds, and gardens. Oatlands also offers two gift shops featuring unique gift and gardening items. Guided house tours on the hour; last tour at 4PM. $10 adults, $9 seniors(60+)/students(6-16). $7 garden & grounds only. 3 Balls Bluff Battlefield Regional Park, Balls Bluff Road, ☏ +1 703-737-7800. Open daily, dawn to dusk. This park preserves the site of the Battle of Ball's Bluff. This 1861 clash was the largest to take place in the county during the Civil War. It occurred along the banks of the Potomac River, where the Union fell backward into the river in a defeat that merited the first congressional investigation on war. The national cemetery here is one of the smallest in the country, where 54 Uni

Do

DC's Wine Country. Loudoun County's wine country is now home to twelve wineries, featuring rolling hillsides dotted with vines and unique tasting rooms located in historic barns, Mediterranean-like villas, and caves. The best way to experience Loudoun's wine country is along the Wine Trail. Pick up a copy of the brochure at the Loudoun County Visitors Center and spend a day or more traveling along scenic byways as you visit each winery. Look for the grape cluster signs along the roadways to assist you on your wine tour. Tarara Winery, ☏ +1 703-771-7100. Wine tasting and other events on this 475-acre farm devoted to producing fine wines.

Festivals and events Leesburg's First Friday. The first Friday of each month(except January), downtown shops stay open late, providing a chance to shop and explore downtown. Each month, different live performances and special events are planned. Flower and Garden Festival. Leesburg's annual Flower and Garden Festival is held in the Historic Downtown on the third weekend of April each year. Walk through award-winning landscape displays and shop for fresh flowers, plants, garden furniture, gifts and more. Enjoy live music and a variety of food vendors. Children's activities include hands-on art projects, puppet shows and storytelling. Court and Markets Days of Leesburg. An annual, heritage-based special event in the historic downtown, centered on the Loudoun County Courthouse lawn, Court and Market Days celebrates the period in the Town’s early history during which the Circuit Court was in session only once a year. During these Court Days, the Town of Leesburg took on a festive atmosphere as people from around the countryside. The event features reenactments of actual court cases from the period 1750 to 1825, street scenes in which historical interpreters discuss the events of the time period, artisan demonstrations, traders selling their merchandise, a farmers market and period entertainment would converge upon Leesbur

Buy

Downtown shops are an excellent source of antiques.

1 Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets (Route 15). This outdoor village-like setting includes stores such as Barneys New York Outlet, Burberry, Coach, J.Crew, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Pottery Barn Outl