Dreaming of spending your summer days dockside? These waterfront Airbnbs in the DC area may be just the place to unwind. Whether you’re interested in kayaking or crabbing, fishing or paddleboarding—or if you prefer to soak up the views relaxing in an Adirondack chair or deck-top hot tub, there’s a rental on the water for everyone. Lakes, rivers, and creeks, from Rock Hall to Harpers Ferry to Annapolis—here are eight great waterfront Airbnbs less than two hours from DC.
A Peaceful Lakefront Cottage With Mountain Views
This recently renovated three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom lakefront cottage near Harpers Ferry sleeps six guests and is about an hour and a half from DC. Though the listing warns against wading and swimming in the lake, the private dock allows for easy access to launch kayaks, paddleboards, and tubes, and the hot tub offers lake and Blue Ridge mountain views. The owners of the property take the “peaceful” part of the description seriously—music outside is prohibited, and on-site sound monitors will alert management to sustained loud noises. If you’re looking for a quiet getaway with a great vista, the reviews suggest this is a spot worth considering.
For more information on this home, click here.
A Waterfront Annapolis Home With a Private Pier Near the USNA
This recently renovated two-bedroom, one-bathroom “coastal farmhouse” on Meredith Creek in Annapolis has a private pier and a boat lift (BYO boat), plus kayaking, fishing, crabbing (there are two crab pots ready to go), and more. Inside the home, the dining and living rooms–plus one bedroom–offer water views, and you can watch the water from the screened-in porch. Outside, there’s a fire pit with six Adirondack chairs and a grill.
For more information on this home, click here.
A Night on a Sailboat in Rock Hall
Looking to take your waterfront vacation to the next level? Consider spending it on a sailboat. Ideal for two guests (but capable of accommodating three), this 29-foot sailboat offers is made for a romantic getaway. There are coffee and ice makers on board, plus sandwich shops, pizza, and restaurants nearby.
For more information on this home, click here.
A Waterfront Home in St. Michaels
This two-bedroom, two-bathroom (plus two-sofa) waterfront home on Oak Creek off the Miles River in St. Michaels offers fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, biking, plus relaxing on the deck, around the fire pit, or on the porch swing. Dining and shopping in St. Michaels and Easton are close by.
For more information on this home, click here.
A Creekside Cottage in Annapolis
Situated on Weeks Creek in Annapolis, this studio cottage accommodates up to four guests with two beds and one bathroom. Guests can enjoy sweeping water views from the screened porch, or in one of the Adirondack chairs around the fire pit. There’s a private dock with a picnic area (perfect, they say, for a crab feast), plus paddleboards and kayaking. If you’re an experienced boater, you can arrange with the owners to borrow their 17-foot Boston Whaler (for an added cost). Just steps away in West Annapolis are Bean Rush Cafe, Rutabaga, Evelyn’s (a favorite among locals for breakfast and lunch), and more. Plus, you can drive (by car or boat) just minutes to downtown Annapolis.
For more information on this home, click here.
A Rustic “Healing” House on Saint Thomas Creek
This tree-house-like home has two bedrooms plus a loft, and is perched above the river among large oak trees on more than an acre of land near Solomons Island. Down a path is Saint Thomas Creek, off the Patuxent River, plus access to four kayaks and two paddleboards for adults, one paddleboard and one kayak for kids, a canoe, life jackets, fishing poles, crab cages, and a fire pit. There are also nearby parks for hiking. Owners Sandrine and Ken (who reside in the basement of the home) designed the space as a retreat–she is a Reiki Master, he is a “soul guide”/photographer, and both offer on-site sessions for guests interested in “self development,” “soul healing,” and/or photos.
For more information on this home, click here.
A Dockside Cottage in St. Mary’s County
This recently updated two-bedroom, one-bathroom waterfront cottage is adjacent to Point Lookout State Park and the Smith Island Ferry in Scotland, Maryland, about 15 minutes from St. Mary’s College. The home features a private dock and kayaks, plus crab pots for catching your own crabs—and just a quick kayak away is a private beach for lounging. Point Lookout State Park features a lighthouse, plus swimming at a public beach. And if you head to Smith Island on the ferry, you can finish the day off with a slice of the island’s famous cake.
For more information on this home, click here.
Hot Tub Romance and River Fun at Starlight
“Starlight on the River” is a vibrantly decorated one-bedroom, one-bathroom cabin in Front Royal, Virginia, just an hour from DC. Outside, the property offers private river access, a dock, a fire pit, grill, and a hot tub on a deck with views of the Shenandoah River. Guests can hike, bike, and tube on the river. Inside, the “pop-meets-mid-mod design” is unlike any other Airbnb we found.
For more information on this home, click here.
Amy leads Washingtonian Weddings and writes Style Setters for Washingtonian. Prior to joining Washingtonian in March 2016, she was the editor of Capitol File magazine in DC and before that, editor of What’s Up? Weddings in Annapolis.
