Just Outside DC

White's Ferry On Potomac River between Leesburg, Virginia and Poolesville, Maryland

Experience Historic White's Ferry through our photos and insights. We have been there at White's Ferry many times over the last 35 years and provide comments regarding location, parking, picnic areas, child play areas, nearby eateries and other nearby attractions. White's Ferry is the last surviving ferry crossing on the Potomac River. White's Ferry is used by commuters and sight seers alike and loads cars, trucks, bicycles and walk-on pedestrians.

Traffic passages between Virginia and Maryland
over the Potomac River, west of the DC beltway.

Busy, describes White's Ferry. The cars line up on what looks like a boat ramp, fill up the ferry then the ferry follows a wire cable to the other side. Arrive during a traffic lull and need the ferry to come to your side of the river ... well beep your horn to get the operator's attention!! At night blink your lights, the operator will be watching the river's other side for your arrival. Whites Ferry runs continuously, year round, from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are purchased as the ferry makes it way across the Potomac River. Flooding and ice usually closes the ferry.

White's Ferry is located west of the Washington DC beltway. This ferry crossing is on the Potomac River in Virginia at the end of Route 655 and at the end (or one could say the beginning of) White's Ferry Road in Maryland. Further north along the Potomac is the bridge at Point of Rocks which is located on Route 15.

West of the DC Beltway, for day trips, we have often taken the route of crossing the Potomac River at White's Ferry, visit places then wanting a different route home we headed towards West Virginia to cross at the Point of Rocks bridge.

Spots I have noticed on the map are:
Balloon

for the city of Leesburg approximate 40 miles north west of Washington, DC.
Balloon

for Potomac River crossing at White's Ferry.
Balloon

for the town of Poolesville which is approximately 33 northwest of Washington, DC.
Balloon

for Potomac River crossing at Point of Rocks, approximately 52 miles north west of Washington, DC.

This farm is on the Maryland side and is an example of the beautiful countryside around White's Ferry. It looks nice and peaceful alongside of White's Ferry Road. The roads are lovely to drive ... outside of rush hour traffic

Outside of the Washington, DC beltway White's Ferry is the first upstream crossing of the Potomac River. These roads are heavy used by dedicated (read fast drivers) commuters.

The two roads (Route 655 and White's Ferry Road) are true twisty turny tree and meadow lined country roads with no passing zones. During rush hour traffic these roads are packed with commuters, others times it seems you are on a lazy country road but normally you meet up with numerous cars awaiting the ferry on both sides of the Potomac River.

Follow the directions of the ferry personal when loading and leaving the ferry. They will point to which of the three lanes you are to be at and will guide you to snug up to the car in front of you. The ferry's personal will collect the crossing fees while the ferry is traveling.

Approaching White's Ferry, from Virginia

The Virginia side has a steep incline and a sharp U-turn down to the water's edge.

There is very little area along Route 655 on the Virginia side to park and sight see.

The Virginia side does offer a walking ramp down to the loading site. In this photo a family has leaned their bikes against the ramp's wall and they are walking down near the river.

Please note, the Potomac is not a lazy moving river. The river's current is fast, strong and an impressive fall line of jagged rocks is downstream of the ferry crossing.

When we arrived on the Virginia side there were about ten cars waiting in line ahead of us.

Our plans that day was to enjoy a drive through Virginia, cross at the Ferry have lunch at a restaurant we like in Poolesville, come back via the ferry and head home. When we arrived at the line of cars I grabbed our camera, hopped out of the car while telling my husband I was off to take photos of the ferry's approach and for him to pick me up when he got nearer to the ferry.

On my way up the line of cars I'm snapping photos towards the Maryland side, people are talking to me asking what I'm doing, what a pretty day, and sadly I learned my favorite restaurant has changed hands but another driver suggests a different Poolesville restaurant (which is where we went and had a delightful meal). Also chatted with several drivers who had lived in Poolesville (as had we for ten years) and another from the Point of Rocks area!

Of course the ferry had arrived and was unloading, our traffic was moving and my husband had his window down telling me to get back into the car as we were in the group that would be loading next onto the ferry.

Crossing the Potomac River

Potomac River view from the Whites Ferry

Above photo is the peaceful view from the ferry as we move across the Potomac River.

Two things that annoy me when crossing is others who need to blare their radio or put the smell of stinky tobacco products into the air. If you want to enjoy music or smoke away, then please keep your vehicle windows closed nice and tight. Let the rest of us roll down our windows so we can enjoy the clean scent of nature, the enjoyable hum of people in quiet conversation, and let us hear the soft sounds of the Potomac River lapping up against the ferry.

Years ago, trail riders of the C&O canal along with their horses joined cars on the ferry, but I do not know if horses are still allowed to be led on, so check first by calling White's Ferry (see their website for info and phone number) before hand.

whites ferry Wikipedia photo

White's Ferry, the Maryland side

Here is a Wikipedia photo of White's ferry leaving Maryland, headed towards the Virginia shore.

The Maryland side offers a boat ramp, canoe rentals, groceries at a small store and best of all the 184 mile long Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The canal (built 1828) and destroyed by floods though no longer in use as a canal is a great multi-use trail.

Mid-morning during a weekday, traffic waiting on the ferry's return from Virginia.

C&O Canal at White's Ferry

Old granary building

Ok, so White's Ferry is neat, what else is there to do in that area??

On the Virginia side, the Town of Leesburg, founded in 1758, is one of Virginia�s most picturesque and best-preserved communities by the National Trust for Historic Preservation Leesburg. Over the years we have spent several afternoons browsing the quaint shops (many tucked into the corners and nicks of restored older buildings).

Outside of Leesburg township, Morven Park offers equestrian events and is the location for the Equine Medical Center. A referral hospital for equine patients that offers 24/7 critical care and emergency services.

South of Leesburg, along Route 15 you will find acres upon acres of malls offering wide selection of grocery stores, sundry shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. ... all that goes along with large communities of homes.

For those looking to stretch their legs, or enjoy a bike ride, the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) multi-use trail crosses Route 7 (south east of Leesburg). Click here to view our photos and comments on the W&OD trail.

Traveling north out of Leesburg, along Route 15, you pass lovely countryside and as you near the small town of Luckette you will find seasonal farmer veggie stands. Eventually on Route 15 you will arrive at the next crossing over the Potomac River at Point of Rocks bridge.

On the Maryland side, White's Ferry Road (Route 107) winds through farmland and into the rural community of Poolesville. Established pre Civil War, Poolesville is a cross-roads town (Route 109 and Route 107) that offers a nice restaurant along with numerous other community amenities that include auto service station, grocery store, fast food, veterinary clinic and such.

If you stay (headed east) on Route 107 (White's Ferry) through and out of the town of Poolesville you will eventually reach Route 28. Head towards the right and Route 28 will take you into larger community shopping malls of Darnestown as you make your way towards the numerous high speed interstate lanes of I-270.

For our day trip visit we took Route 109 (Beallsville Road) north to the cross roads of Route 109 and Route 28 in the very small town of Beallsville, Maryland. If you make a left onto Route 28 you are headed towards the quaint town of Dickerson, but we wanted to make a stop first at the seasonal farm stand at Lewis Orchard.

Less than ten minutes from the cross roads of Route 28 and Route 107 in Beallsville, Lewis Orchard's seasonal farm stand is on the left hand side of Route 28 where Peachtree Road begins on Route 28.

At this same intersection of Peachtree Road and Route 28, Dr. Chet Anderson's Peachtree Clinic treated our dogs for the years we lived in Poolesville and Germantown, Maryland.

With a few bags of fresh treats purchased at Lewis Orchard to munch on, we did an about face back onto Route 28 now headed back towards Beallsville then onto Dickerson, Maryland.

A little aside ... at Beallsville, if you continue (headed north) on Route 109 you will be headed to I-270 (south of Frederick). Two places of interest that you could consider to visit is (1) Sugarloaf Mountain Parkland and (2) the Comus Inn in Comus, Maryland. We have had several nice meals at the Comus Inn. There is a mansion house at Sugarloaf Mountain called Stronghold that can be rented for events. But what I found interesting is hiking a trail up the 1,282 Sugarloaf Mountain and sit there with feet dangling (is this still allowed?) at the overlook. You get the view that the Civil War troops had over the surrounding countryside.

We also, for a few years, boarded our horses on a farm right off the Sugarloaf Mountain Parkland and with permission rode the trails across private lands to where we could go onto the trails that abound Sugarloaf Mountain. Though I know others that did, we didn't do the up the mountain trails as the footing is steep and very rocky with loose stone. But we did ride the long trails around the lower lands. Hunting is often permitted on adjoining private properties. Be sure to wear bright clothing so not to invite an arrow or bullet headed your way during hunting season.

If you have the time, just outside of Dickerson there is a road called Mouth of Monocacy Road. If headed north on Route 28, take a left and at roads end is an aqueduct of the C&O canal. Many years ago, after visiting friends who live on the Mouth of Monocacy Road we followed the road towards the Potomac River just to see what the C&O canal looked like in that area. We found lots of people there at the aqueduct having picnics on the grassy area and just plain hanging around chilling out. Don't know now what that area is like, hopefully the Park Service is keeping the aqueduct from crumbling away as it was neat to look at.

On Route 28, north of Dickerson, Maryland, the Monocacy River bridge does have some parking nearby. In this photo, there is a narrow road on the right. It is a dirt road, steep and goes down to a small parking area. I have seen people towing two-horse trailers parked down there, but I would suggest you take a look before making the 'plunge'.

If you know them, from this area riding/hiking trails will lead you onto the Sugarloaf Mountain parklands. I have been on trail rides where we have ridden through the Monocacy River north of Route 28. It was in drought summer time with water only a few feet deep but the current of the Monocacy River was still strong against the horses' legs.

A bit further north on Route 28, you've got a choice. Make the right hand turn and stay on Route 28 (Tuscarora Road) and head onto the town of Point of Rocks, Maryland.

Or pick up Route 85 (Buckeystown Pike), travel through the small town of Buckeystown (has nice B&B, restaurant which I believe is by reservation only, antique stores, lovely old homes) and head up to I-270 (towards Frederick, Maryland) then I-70 to Route 340 from where you can pick up Route 15 and on to the Point of Rocks bridge.

Ok, if looking at a map you are going to say why so out of the way instead of just staying on Route 28 to the Point of Rocks bridge.

My truly most favorite flower nursery, Thanksgiving Farm, is located on Route 85 (7-8 miles south of Frederick) in Adamstown, Maryland. I'm always able to find the neatest indoor and outdoor plants and nice pots. Plus garden odds and ends. Stuff that I normally don't find elsewhere. To my husband a trip with me in tow to Thanksgiving Farm means the trunk of his beloved car is going to house several potted plants on our way home.

This trip, late in the fall, I saw many fancy flower pots that I would had liked to take home, but I was laying low money spending-wise that day. Instead, I choose a pint of fresh berries and these cute little mice on the corn cobs. Purchased two of the mice for myself, two for my sister.

And since we were way north above the Route 28 turn towards Point of Rocks we returned back onto Route 85, headed up to I-270 (towards Frederick, Maryland) then I-70 to Route 340 from where you can pick up Route 15 and on to the Point of Rocks bridge.

A note, I won't speed on this bridge, you've got steep roadway off both sides of the bridge and, if I remember correctly, on the Virginia you've got a quick turn also. Plus there are intersection with turning vehicles on both sides of this bridge.

From the Wikipedia website another view of the 8-span Point of Rocks Bridge.

Click here to view White Ferry's official website.

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