Six Romantic Getaways Within Driving Distance of D.C. That Are Perfect Even in February and March
- Sarah Buckley
- 3 hours ago
- 6 min read
There’s a different sort of romance to winter weekends. You’re not seeking perfect pool weather — you’re seeking atmosphere: a lobby that’s a warm hug, a low-lit bar and strong drinks, a spa that makes you forget the forecast, just enough outdoor activity to warrant the hot shower. In the Mid-Atlantic, February and March might be crisp and sunny, or just raw, so the savviest getaways are the kind that seem luxurious even if you never have to leave the property.
By: Sarah Buckley, TravelAnne Staff Writer
Whether it's a 2-week escape or a 2-day weekend getaway, TravelAnne is here to make it happen.
Below, six driveable long-weekend getaways from the Washington region — all selected for their cold-weather appeal and with cozy, high-end rhythms woven in.
Inn at Perry Cabin
For Chesapeake quiet, crackling fires and a seafaring vibe that’s even more delightful off-season!
Late winter on the Eastern Shore has a peaceful magic about it: quieter crowds, silver light on the water and that happy sensation of having a destination to yourselves. I stayed at the Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, and it’s the kind of place where romance does not need a full itinerary as much as a room with a view, an amazing cocktail and time.
Lean into slow coastal rituals in February and March: late breakfasts, long walks along the waterfront (bundled up), an afternoon that pivots deftly from fresh air to warmth. If chartering a private sailboat is out of season, or the wind has within it strong feelings about touching down at sea, you can still bubble with romantic enthusiasm around the Bay with a drive through town, bookstore perusing and an early evening that begins with drinks by the fireplace before lingering over dinner.
Cold-weather weekend rhythm:
Friday: arrive, check in, cocktails and a “we’re officially off” dinner.
Saturday: a brisk walk in the morning, followed by spa time and a long lunch.
Sunday: coffee, a final loop around the waterfront and an easy trip back.
Keswick
For wine-country romance, a destination dinner and the greatest kind of “stay in” weekend!
Keswick is loveliest when the air is cool and hush has fallen on the countryside. In the winter, that experience becomes even more intimate: fireplaces crackling, layered textures and a feeling that the day is built around one unifying pleasure — a good meal.
This is the ideal February/March move if you happen to want to get dolled up (in not too much) and don’t need a big-city plan. Arrange your weekend around dinner at Marigold by Jean-Georges — the sort of restaurant that elevates a long weekend to a celebration. Then while away the daylight hours the comfy way: tasting rooms (many of which are comfortable and welcoming even in winter), scenic drives and long spells of doing absolutely nothing in a beautiful room.
Cold-weather weekend rhythm:
Friday: check in, cocktail reception, dinner as the show.
Saturday: late breakfast and a shorter loop to wineries, then fireside downtime.
Sunday: coffee and a long goodbye.
Salamander Middleburg
For the fastest luxury reboot, a serious spa and equestrian-country charm minus the long drive!
When the weather is capricious, distance counts. Salamander is great because it gives that “we really went away” feeling while not leading you on a trek — so, good for an impromptu winter weekend.
This is the resort for couples who want to have the opportunity to stay 100% indoors and still feel like they’ve had a special experience: spa circuits, lounge time, a beautifully paced dinner, and that kind of room where you won’t even want to leave. If the sun catches you off guard, Middleburg’s village strolls and countryside drives are a plus; if it doesn’t, then you’re already exactly where you want to be.
Cold-weather weekend rhythm:
Friday: be in early slotting for a cocktail and leisurely dinner.
Saturday: spa day (book well in advance), followed by a cozy afternoon and dressed-up evening.
Sunday: brunch, quick drive to see some views, and home.
The Inn at Little Washington
For romance that’s had a few check-ins: one memorable dinner, one perfect night, no weather worries!
This is the ultimate winter ‘occasion’ getaway in that it’s not sunshine dependent. You’re here for the theater of hospitality, which is an extraordinary meal...Very good service and a place you walk into and lose yourself in a storybook.
This is an especially brainy move in February and March, when cold weather can make big outdoor plans less appealing. You show up, you get settled in, you eat the dinner you’ve been craving and looking forward to for a week or longer, sleep in, let morning stretch out from hours into days. But if you want to turn it into a two-night weekend, pair the Inn with Salamander or Keswick for night two — best-of-two-worlds package: one culinary peak and one resort-style exhale.
Cold-weather weekend rhythm:
Saturday: arrive, cocktails, dinner, perambulation at a snail’s pace.
Sunday: late breakfast and a leisurely drive home.
Baltimore: Three Romantic City Stays to Warm You Up in the Winter
For couples ready for new scenery, amazing eating and indoor-friendly plans
Baltimore is the sleeper winter win for D.C. couples: a skyline of its own, restaurants and museums to brag about, plus very-good-for-dating hotels geared around three different kinds of sexy-vibes that perfectly fit when it’s cold out.
The Sagamore Pendry Baltimore
Best for: harbor energy, cocktail culture, and a social weekend with hygge warmth.
In February and March, the Pendry’s appeal is in the juxtaposition: going outside for a refreshing walk along the water, then returning inside for just-right light and shiny surfaces and a bar scene that feels very much alive. It’s designed for couples who want dinner reservations, a nightcap and a Sunday morning that starts with coffee and ends with “should we stay one more night?”
Winter-friendly ideas: stroll Fell’s Point, galleries and hunker down in the hotel’s dining/bar scene.
Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore
Best for: spa-ahead romance and a real “urban resort” sensibility.
If your language of love is a steam room and a view, this is your pick for winter. In February and March, it’s the season for spa appointments, indoor lounging and meals where you can gaze at the harbor without bracing against the wind. Plan your weekend around repair: hold for spa time, room service, and a night out that doesn’t need to be overthink.
Winter-friendly ideas: a museum visit or shopping, followed by a late-afternoon spa reset before dinner.
The Ivy Hotel
Best for: cozy, residential romance — imagine you’re spending the night in an incredible private home.
The Ivy is the hushed, high-design response to winter. It’s not trying to be buzzy; it’s trying to be transportive. Cue fireside corners; a cozy, intimate vibe and a weekend where the hotel is the destination. Ideal for couples who wish to be wrapped in romance: read, sip, linger, repeat.
Winter-friendly ideas: Strolling Mount Vernon followed by refuge indoors for the evening.
How to Pick the Perfect Winter Weekend for Two
If February and March are your travel window, PICK FEELING-BASED:
Coastal calm + cozy charm: Inn at Perry Cabin
Food-forward countryside luxury: Keswick
Closest luxury reset with spa emphasis: Salamander
Once-a-year romance dinner: The Inn at Little Washington.
City weekend with harbor views and nightlife: Sagamore Pendry
Urban spa escape: Four Seasons Baltimore.
Intimate mansion hideaway: The Ivy
The closing thought
Romance is easier when it’s cold-weather weekends. You’re not just trying to jam everything into a few days — you’re picking a place that’s warm, beautiful and crafted for lingering.
You really can't go wrong with any of these choices. Each are amazing in their own right. Plus you don't have to limit yourself to just one. Afterall, the beauty of a weekend escape is that there are 52 weekends over the course of a year!
It really comes down to personal taste. Maybe you want Chesapeake Bay quiet and briny air, offered by Perry Cabin. Perhaps the Keswick style wine-country retreat with a destination dinner fits the bill. For a classic inn where the meal is the main event, The Inn at Little Washington is your best bet. Maybe you’d rather trade the countryside for a Baltimore city stay—museum days, cocktail nights, and a hotel you’re happy to come back to early.
However you like to escape, these getaways make February and March feel like more than a holding pattern until spring. They turn the cold months into a season to lean into—cozy, indulgent, and genuinely worth savoring.