Mount Vernon, Optional River Cruise
4 hours to 7 hours · Unlimited Biking
from $95 per person Check availability →
Mount Vernon, 6.5-Hour Day
Alexandria: Mount Vernon Bike and Boat Tour
from $95 per person
Check Price & Availability →Opens the live booking page with current dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.
- Duration
- 6 hours 30 minutes
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Run by
- Unlimited Biking
Overview
The day starts in Old Town Alexandria, at the Unlimited Biking office on N Fairfax Street, where you collect a bike, helmet, lock and map. From there you ride the Mount Vernon Trail south along the Potomac, a wooded, well-marked route that reviewers repeatedly call scenic and easy to follow, with river views, shaded stretches and osprey nests in the trees. One cyclist who rides regularly noted the trail is virtually flat; another described it as roughly ten to eleven miles with some ups and downs, so a basic level of fitness helps.
The estate itself is the main event. Your ticket covers entry to Mount Vernon, the Museum and Education Center, the gardens, the working historic farm, the tomb where George and Martha Washington are buried, and an audio guide with stops across the grounds. There is a 4-D theater covering the Revolution, and a food court on site if you did not pack lunch. One couple felt they had not left enough time at the estate after losing time finding the trailhead, so it pays to set off promptly.
The return is where you choose. Ride the bike back to Alexandria, or lock it at the estate for the operator to collect and take the narrated boat down the Potomac. The boat leaves Mount Vernon at 1:45 PM, stops at the Alexandria City Marina around 2:40 PM and reaches the Transit Pier at The Wharf in Washington DC at about 3:10 PM. The whole experience runs about 6.5 hours and suits families, with several reviewers describing trips with children or, in one case, grandparents aged 70 completing it comfortably.
What's Included
Included
- Bike
- Helmet
- Bike bag and lock
- George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate entry ticket
- Audio guide to Mt Vernon Estate
- Entry to Museum and Education Center
- Access to the historic area, gardens, tomb, farm, and trails
- Boat ticket to Washington DC's Wharf at Pier 4 (if option chosen)
- Fast Track check-in with the Unlimited Biking app
Not Included
- Tips
- Guide
- Entry to Mansion (link to reserve for $2 per person on voucher)
Itinerary
- Meet in Old Town AlexandriaCheck in at 1199 N Fairfax St, Alexandria, VA, to pick up your bike, helmet, lock and map. The listing suggests using the operator's app for fast track check-in.
- Ride the Mount Vernon TrailCycle the wooded, marked trail along the Potomac River at your own pace.
- Explore Mount VernonEntry to the estate, museum, gardens, historic farm, tomb and trails is included, plus an audio guide. The Mansion itself is a separate reservation, and there is a food court on the grounds.
- Return by bike or boatRide back to Alexandria, or lock the bike at the estate for pickup and board the boat. The boat departs Mount Vernon at 1:45 PM.
- Arrive at the end pointThe boat stops at Alexandria City Marina at roughly 2:40 PM and finishes at the Transit Pier at The Wharf, 950 Wharf St SW, Washington DC, at about 3:10 PM.
What To Expect From The Tour
A few practical points will shape the day, from boat timing to what the ticket does and does not cover.
- Fitness and terrain. Reviews are mixed on effort. Several describe the trail as flat or level with modest wooded hills, while one rider called it a ten to eleven mile ride with ups and downs. Older cyclists and families with children have completed it, but one reviewer cautioned about attempting it in very hot weather without reasonable fitness.
- Pace and independence. This is self-guided. There is no guide, and you set your own pace on the trail and at the estate. Reviewers enjoyed the freedom, and one noted staff explained the route, rest stops and boat boarding before departure and were reachable by phone.
- Food and drink. Bring your own food or use the food court at Mount Vernon, which serves salads, deli sandwiches, hamburgers and snacks.
- Boat timing. The boat leaves Mount Vernon at 1:45 PM, so plan the estate visit backwards from that time. One reviewer felt there was not enough time at the estate after a slow start.
- Getting there. The tour starts in Alexandria, not DC. One reviewer took the Blue Line metro from DC and found it an easy connection to the pickup point. The day ends at The Wharf in Washington DC if you take the boat.
- What to bring. The listing asks for a passport or ID card, comfortable shoes and a credit card.
Common issues. There is no guide and no hotel pickup; you make your own way to the meeting point in Alexandria. The Mansion visit at Mount Vernon is not included and needs a separate reservation, at a small per-person fee booked through the link on your voucher. The boat ticket is non-refundable even if you cancel the rest of the tour. One reviewer reported poorly maintained bikes with shifting and pedal problems, and another found no repair kit with the bikes, so it is worth checking the equipment at handover.
Common Questions
What Is Included In The Price?
The bike, helmet, lock and bike bag, entry to Mount Vernon Estate, the audio guide, the Museum and Education Center, and access to the gardens, tomb, farm and trails. If you choose the boat option, the boat ticket to The Wharf is included. A guide is not included, and entry to the Mansion requires a separate small reservation.
Where Does The Tour Start And End?
It starts at the Unlimited Biking office at 1199 N Fairfax St in Old Town Alexandria. If you take the boat, the tour ends at the Transit Pier at The Wharf in Washington DC, arriving around 3:10 PM. If you cycle back, you finish in Alexandria.
How Difficult Is The Bike Ride?
Most reviewers describe the Mount Vernon Trail as level or virtually flat with some modest wooded hills. Families with children and cyclists in their seventies have completed it. One reviewer cautioned against attempting it in very hot weather without a reasonable level of fitness.
Is It Suitable For Children?
Yes. Children aged 1 to 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and infants under 1 cannot be booked. Reviewers have done the ride with children aged 8, 12 and 13.
What Is The Cancellation Policy?
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, with one exception. The boat ticket is non-refundable, so if you cancel you will still be charged for the boat portion.
Is Food Provided?
No. You can bring your own food or buy it at the food court on the Mount Vernon grounds, which offers salads, sandwiches, hamburgers and snacks.
Reserve Your Washington DC Ride
Live dates, times and prices are on the booking page.
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