4 Places to Visit for a Fourth of July Weekend Getaway

There's still time to get out of town to enjoy a weekend of parades, fireworks, and more Independence Day fun.

By Priya Konings • Posted June 11, 2025 at 7:01 a.m.

Courtesy Macy's Fourth of July Parade

This year, the Fourth of July happens to land on a Friday – the perfect opportunity for a long weekend getaway. Here are four great places within driving distance from Northern Virginia that offer food, fun, and fireworks for Independence Day.

Galena, Maryland

Book a room at The Kitty Night Inn in Galena, Maryland, where you can watch a local parade down Main Street and enjoy the fireworks from Grant Park in the evening. Galena is a lovely town on the Sassafras River on the eastern shore of Maryland. It offers opportunities for boating, water skiing, and dining with waterfront views.

Hot Springs, Virginia

If you act quickly, you can still reserve a room at The Omni Homestead in Hot Springs. The resort is offering a host of activities for the Fourth of July weekend. While a fireworks display is one of the highlights, there are many more happenings throughout the long weekend, including cupcake decorating, social hour at the pool, movie night, crafts for kids, live music, sports activities, and even bourbon tasting.

New York City, NY

Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks show is a New York tradition that everyone should see live at least once. The show will be held over the Brooklyn Bridge and East River this year and promises to be a dazzling affair with pyrotechnics and live music. Take in the spectacle from Harriet’s Rooftop at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, which still has rooms available for the Fourth of July weekend.

Philadelphia, PA

Celebrate Independence Day in Philadelphia, where you can enjoy the city’s renowned parade. It’s the culmination of a 16-day festival called Wawa Welcome America. The parade brings entertainment, food trucks, concerts, and street performers to the city, providing fun to people of all ages. Afterwards, check out the fireworks at the Philadelphia Museum of Art or the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, two of the best spots to view the show. The next morning, try a Jerusalem bagel at Kfar Café and visit the Liberty Bell for a bit of history. And no visit to Philly is complete without a meal at Reading Terminal Market. Check out the Kimpton Hotel Palomar or Monaco as possible spots to stay. Both are right in the heart of the city.

Check out more stories about the Fourth of July 2025.

Feature image courtesy Macy’s

Priya Konings

Contributing Writer

Priya Konings is a food and travel writer and photographer residing in the Washington, DC area. Her passions include writing and photography, traveling the world, and eating delicious vegetarian fare both locally and globally. Her work has been published in Resy, Northern Virginia Magazine, Washington City Paper, The Dining Traveler, District Fray, and Brightest Young Things, in addition to other publications.