Travel in the 18th century was an adventure filled with challenges. Roads were rough, weather unpredictable, and inns often crowded and uncomfortable. While a journey that takes an hour by car today might have taken days by horseback, these struggles shaped the lives of colonial Virginians and tell the story of a bygone era.
Prince William County invites you to step back in time and explore preserved portions of the King’s Highway, an essential travel route of the American colonies. This historic path connected Boston to Charleston, serving as a lifeline for trade, communication, and movement during colonial times. Travelers like George Washington braved these routes, often relying on the hospitality of friends or local citizens for lodging—choosing a friendly bed over the shared accommodations of a bustling tavern.
