2 Plane-Watching Spots in NoVA Where You’ll Love Takeoffs and Landings

These prime viewings spots offer front-row spots to all the action.

By Jill S. Devine • Posted August 15, 2024 at 8:27 a.m.

Gravelly Point, watch planes take off and land in Northern Virginia (Photo by Lee Foster)

Scenic hikes, quiet trails, historic sites: You don’t have to leave NoVA to find these picture-perfect spots, hiding in plain sight.

For true aviation enthusiasts, no place is too close to watch planes take off and land. Fortunately for those who crave the rumble of jets so low they shake the ground, both of Northern Virginia’s major airports, Reagan National and Dulles International, offer safe, front-row opportunities to view busy runways.

Gravelly Point

Considered one of the best airplane-spotting locations in the nation, Gravelly Point sits directly under the glide path of Reagan National’s constantly busy main runways. Bring a picnic and join festive crowds on this grassy stretch of undeveloped land, located within the National Park Service’s George Washington Memorial Parkway next to the Potomac River. Accessible on foot or by bike via the Mount Vernon Trail, the park offers portable restroom facilities and free parking. George Washington Memorial Parkway northbound lanes, Arlington

Donald D. Engen Observation Tower, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

The observation tower at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Virginia annex provides a stunning 360-degree bird’s-eye view of Dulles Airport and the surrounding area. Take the elevator up to the enclosed oval deck, where floor-to-ceiling windows create the illusion of being in the clouds with planes as they approach and depart. The airport is served by more than 40 airlines, making it an excellent location for spotters who track flights and collect photos. Admission is free, but parking is $15. 14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy., Chantilly

Feature image of Gravelly Point by Lee Foster

This story originally ran in our August issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.

Jill S. Devine

Contributing Writer

Jill Devine is a freelance writer who has lived in Northern Virginia most of her life. She previously was a staff writer for a local newspaper and then managing editor for a large association magazine. Her articles have also appeared in Virginia Living, Blue Ridge Country, and Ashburn magazines. She majored in English at the University of Mary Washington. Since 2021, Jill’s writing has earned 12 Virginia Press Association awards.