Loudoun district, Virginia, United States
Places to visit near Sterling
Sterling is a town in Loudoun district, Virginia, United States, home to about 27,822 people. Within 50 km by road there are 276 places to visit — 56 wildlife, forests & gardens, 48 parks, 45 forts & heritage and 26 churches. The must-see places are KLWX NEXRAD Radar (8 km), Algonkian Regional Park (9 km) and Algonkian Regional Park (9 km).

Sterling at a glance
- Location
- Loudoun district, Virginia, United States
- Population
- about 27,822
- Coordinates
- 39.0062° N, 77.4286° W
- Places within 50 km
- 276 (276 must-see)
- Best time to visit
- November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for parks and churches
Top places to visit near Sterling
Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Sterling: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.
- KLWX NEXRAD RadarOther · LoudounMust-see
- Algonkian Regional ParkParks · MontgomeryMust-see
- Algonkian Regional ParkWildlife · LoudounMust-see
- Frying Pan Farm ParkParks · MontgomeryMust-see
- McLean Bible ChurchChurches · LoudounMust-see
- Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional ParkParks · FairfaxMust-see
- Lake AnneLakes & Dams · MontgomeryMust-see
- The River of BloodForts · MontgomeryMust-see
- Sully Historic SiteParks · FairfaxMust-see
- Lock 22: Pennyfield LockOther · MontgomeryMust-see
- Meadowlark Botanical GardensWildlife · FairfaxMust-see
- FoamhengeOther · FairfaxMust-see
More places near Sterling
- Great Falls · waterfall · Montgomery · ~19 km · Must-see
- Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts · sanctuary · Fairfax · ~20 km · Must-see
- Ellanor C. Lawrence Park · park · Montgomery · ~20 km · Must-see
- Billy Goat Trail Section A · sanctuary · Montgomery · ~20 km · Must-see
- Seneca Creek State Park · sanctuary · Montgomery · ~21 km · Must-see
- Old Stone Church Archeological Site · church · Montgomery · ~21 km · Must-see
- Elklick Woodlands Natural Area Preserve · sanctuary · Montgomery · ~22 km · Must-see
- Muddy Branch Greenway Trail · trek · Montgomery · ~22 km · Must-see
- Foxstone Park · sanctuary · Fairfax · ~22 km · Must-see
- Foxstone Park · park · Montgomery · ~22 km · Must-see
- Hogback Mountain · viewpoint · Montgomery · ~23 km · Must-see
- Carderock, Chesapeake & Ohio National Historic Park · park · Montgomery · ~25 km · Must-see
Things to see near Sterling, by type
Wildlife, forests & gardens near Sterling
56 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Sterling. The closest is Algonkian Regional Park (9 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.
- Algonkian Regional Park · sanctuary · Loudoun · ~9 km · Must-see
- Meadowlark Botanical Gardens · sanctuary · Fairfax · ~18 km · Must-see
- Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts · sanctuary · Fairfax · ~20 km · Must-see
- Billy Goat Trail Section A · sanctuary · Montgomery · ~20 km · Must-see
- Seneca Creek State Park · sanctuary · Montgomery · ~21 km · Must-see
- Elklick Woodlands Natural Area Preserve · sanctuary · Montgomery · ~22 km · Must-see
Parks near Sterling
48 parks within 100 km of Sterling. The closest is Algonkian Regional Park (9 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.
- Algonkian Regional Park · park · Montgomery · ~9 km · Must-see
- Frying Pan Farm Park · park · Montgomery · ~10 km · Must-see
- Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park · park · Fairfax · ~11 km · Must-see
- Sully Historic Site · park · Fairfax · ~14 km · Must-see
- Ellanor C. Lawrence Park · park · Montgomery · ~20 km · Must-see
- Foxstone Park · park · Montgomery · ~22 km · Must-see
Forts & heritage near Sterling
45 forts & heritage within 100 km of Sterling. The closest is The River of Blood (13 km). Best time: october to february.
- The River of Blood · fort · Montgomery · ~13 km · Must-see
- Fort Marcy · fort · District of Columbia · ~34 km · Must-see
- Fort Ethan Allen · fort · District of Columbia · ~35 km · Must-see
- Fort Bayard Park · fort · District of Columbia · ~37 km · Must-see
- Cannon Branch Fort · fort · Charles · ~39 km · Must-see
- Fort Reno Park · fort · District of Columbia · ~39 km · Must-see
Churches near Sterling
26 churches within 100 km of Sterling. The closest is McLean Bible Church (10 km). Best time: year-round.
- McLean Bible Church · church · Loudoun · ~10 km · Must-see
- Old Stone Church Archeological Site · church · Montgomery · ~21 km · Must-see
- St. Rose of Lima Church · church · Montgomery · ~28 km · Must-see
- Chapel Road Park · church · Montgomery · ~32 km · Must-see
- Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church · church · Montgomery · ~32 km · Must-see
- Bethesda Meeting House · church · Montgomery · ~36 km · Must-see
Museums near Sterling
25 museums within 100 km of Sterling. The closest is Latvian Museum (29 km). Best time: year-round.
- Latvian Museum · museum · District of Columbia · ~29 km · Must-see
- American University Museum at the Katzen · museum · District of Columbia · ~38 km · Must-see
- Kreeger Museum · museum · District of Columbia · ~39 km · Must-see
- Dumbarton Oaks · museum · District of Columbia · ~41 km · Must-see
- Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens · museum · District of Columbia · ~42 km · Must-see
- Tudor Place · museum · District of Columbia · ~42 km · Must-see
Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Sterling
13 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Sterling. The closest is Lake Anne (11 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.
- Lake Anne · lake · Montgomery · ~11 km · Must-see
- Little Seneca Lake · lake · Montgomery · ~30 km · Must-see
- Lake Braddock · lake · Montgomery · ~33 km · Must-see
- Dalecarlia Reservoir · lake · Montgomery · ~35 km · Must-see
- Lake Needwood · lake · District of Columbia · ~36 km · Must-see
- Burke Lake · lake · Fairfax · ~37 km · Must-see
A one-day trip from Sterling
5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 53 km on the road.
- Start in Sterling
- 10 km McLean Bible Church · church, Loudoun
- 10 km Algonkian Regional Park · park, Montgomery
- 1 km Algonkian Regional Park · nature spot, Loudoun
- 12 km Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park · park, Fairfax
- 10 km Frying Pan Farm Park · park, Montgomery
- 10 km Back to Sterling
Plan a longer trip from Sterling — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.
From travellers near Sterling
No traveller has reported from around Sterling yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.
How to reach Sterling
All places near Sterling by distance
15–50 km — half-day trips
- Scott's Run Nature Preserve · sanctuary · Fairfax · ~26 km · Must-see
- Cedar Creek Local Park · sanctuary · Montgomery · ~26 km · Must-see
- Scott's Run Falls · waterfall · District of Columbia · ~26 km · Must-see
- Seneca Creek Greenway · trek · Montgomery · ~28 km · Must-see
- Stone House · attraction · Prince William · ~28 km · Must-see
- Falls Road Park · park · Montgomery · ~28 km · Must-see
- St. Rose of Lima Church · church · Montgomery · ~28 km · Must-see
- Eakin Community Park · sanctuary · Montgomery · ~29 km · Must-see
- Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (super) · trek · Fairfax · ~29 km · Must-see
- Latvian Museum · museum · District of Columbia · ~29 km · Must-see
- Little Seneca Lake · lake · Montgomery · ~30 km · Must-see
- Monocacy Aqueduct · sanctuary · Frederick · ~30 km · Must-see
- Kryptos · attraction · Fairfax · ~31 km · Must-see
- Clara Barton National Historic Site · sanctuary · Montgomery · ~32 km · Must-see
- Glen Echo Park · park · District of Columbia · ~32 km · Must-see
- Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve · sanctuary · Montgomery · ~32 km · Must-see
- Glen Echo Park Aquarium · sanctuary · Montgomery · ~32 km · Must-see
- Chapel Road Park · church · Montgomery · ~32 km · Must-see
- Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church · church · Montgomery · ~32 km · Must-see
- Minor's Hill · viewpoint · Arlington · ~33 km · Must-see
- Lake Braddock · lake · Montgomery · ~33 km · Must-see
- Bull Run Occoquan Trail · trek · Fairfax · ~34 km · Must-see
- Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve · sanctuary · Prince William · ~34 km · Must-see
- Fort Marcy · fort · District of Columbia · ~34 km · Must-see
- Beth-El Congregation of Montgomery County · attraction · Montgomery · ~35 km · Must-see
- Fort Ethan Allen · fort · District of Columbia · ~35 km · Must-see
- Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve · sanctuary · Montgomery · ~35 km · Must-see
- Ekoji Buddhist Temple · Buddhist site · Charles · ~35 km · Must-see
- Dalecarlia Reservoir · lake · Montgomery · ~35 km · Must-see
- Upton Hill · viewpoint · Arlington · ~36 km · Must-see
- Bethesda Meeting House · church · Montgomery · ~36 km · Must-see
- Lake Needwood · lake · District of Columbia · ~36 km · Must-see
- Burke Lake · lake · Fairfax · ~37 km · Must-see
- Lake Bernard Frank · lake · District of Columbia · ~37 km · Must-see
- Palisades Park · park · District of Columbia · ~37 km · Must-see
- Sugarloaf Mountain · sanctuary · Frederick · ~37 km · Must-see
- Fort Bayard Park · fort · District of Columbia · ~37 km · Must-see
- Lake Accotink · lake · District of Columbia · ~37 km · Must-see
- Fletcher's Cove · park · District of Columbia · ~37 km · Must-see
- Bluemont Junction Trail · sanctuary · District of Columbia · ~38 km · Must-see
Count by type (within 100 km)
| Type | Within 50 km | Within 100 km | Nearest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildlife, forests & gardens | 56 | 56 | Algonkian Regional Park (9 km) |
| Parks | 48 | 48 | Algonkian Regional Park (9 km) |
| Forts & heritage | 45 | 45 | The River of Blood (13 km) |
| Other attractions | 41 | 41 | KLWX NEXRAD Radar (8 km) |
| Churches | 26 | 26 | McLean Bible Church (10 km) |
| Museums | 25 | 25 | Latvian Museum (29 km) |
| Lakes, dams & reservoirs | 13 | 13 | Lake Anne (11 km) |
| Waterfalls | 6 | 6 | Great Falls (19 km) |
| Hill stations & viewpoints | 6 | 6 | Hogback Mountain (23 km) |
| Treks | 4 | 4 | Muddy Branch Greenway Trail (22 km) |
| Buddhist sites | 2 | 2 | Ekoji Buddhist Temple (35 km) |
| Mosques & dargahs | 2 | 2 | Islamic Mosque and Cultural Center (42 km) |
| Temples | 1 | 1 | Durga Temple of Virginia (43 km) |
| Beaches & coast | 1 | 1 | Tidal Basin (45 km) |
Sterling: questions travellers ask
What are the best places to visit near Sterling?
KLWX NEXRAD Radar (attraction, about 8 km), Algonkian Regional Park (park, about 9 km), Algonkian Regional Park (nature spot, about 9 km), Frying Pan Farm Park (park, about 10 km), McLean Bible Church (church, about 10 km), Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park (park, about 11 km).
How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Sterling?
276 places on Spotwander: 56 wildlife, forests & gardens, 48 parks, 45 forts & heritage, 41 other attractions, 26 churches.
Which is the nearest sanctuary to Sterling?
Algonkian Regional Park, about 9 km by road; Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (18 km) is next.
Which is the nearest park to Sterling?
Algonkian Regional Park, about 9 km by road; Frying Pan Farm Park (10 km) is next.
Which is the nearest fort to Sterling?
The River of Blood, about 13 km by road; Fort Marcy (34 km) is next.
What is a good one-day trip from Sterling?
Start in Sterling, visit McLean Bible Church, then Algonkian Regional Park, then Algonkian Regional Park, then Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park, then Frying Pan Farm Park, and drive back — about 53 km by road in all.
What is the best time to visit places near Sterling?
November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for parks and churches.
Towns near Sterling
- Places near Oak Grove · 4 km
- Places near Countryside · 5 km
- Places near Herndon · 7 km
- Places near Sugarland Run · 7 km
- Places near University Center · 7 km
- Places near Ashburn · 8 km
- Places near Dranesville · 9 km
- Places near Loudoun Valley Estates · 9 km
- Places near Floris · 10 km
- Places near Broadlands · 10 km
Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Sterling’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Sterling on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.