One of the great music venues in the U.S. is only a short drive from the city. This summer, pack up the car and make the trek to Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, VA, about 35 miles west of D.C. What you’ll find is a 25,000-seat oasis for live music (President Obama also held a campaign rally there last June), which, since The Village People played the first show there in 1995, books some of the best acts you’ll find.

Just a taste: Depeche Mode will be there Jul. 28; New Orleans rapper Lil’ Wayne hits the stage Aug. 7, followed the next day by the Dave Matthews Band; and Jimmy Buffett will play two shows Sept. 3rd and 5th. A full list of shows and times can be found on Nissan Pavilion’s Web site.

Here’s a tip: Make sure and give yourself ample time to get there—say, two hours before show time. Traffic on 66 leading into the venue can be a nightmare. Tickets for shows can be bought through Live Nation, which also owns the Pavilion.

For fans coming from distances far away, there are three Starwood hotels nearby: Four Points by Sheraton in Manassas, VA (3 miles away) and the aloft Dulles North in Ashburn, VA and Element BWI, both about 15 miles from the venue.