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2 cleaner spots within a 3-hour drive

Washington, D.C. is breathing 4.8 cigarettes a week

15
PM2.5 µg/m³
62
AQI
4
Cleanest in reach · µg/m³
See the 2 cleaner spots

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

Lewes looks like the better move.33% cleaner air with a verified 2 h 55 min road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Within Washington, D.C.

  • Alexandria12.3 µg/m³
  • Capitol Hill13 µg/m³
  • Anacostia13 µg/m³
  • Arlington13 µg/m³
  • Downtown D.C.15 µg/m³
  • Georgetown15 µg/m³
  • Dupont Circle15 µg/m³
  • Adams Morgan15 µg/m³
  • Bethesda15 µg/m³
  • Silver Spring15 µg/m³
Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Washington, D.C. Local readings Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
St. Michaels
Cel-shaded illustration of St. Michaels
#1St. MichaelsPM2.5 11Checking road routesaves 1.3 cigs/wk

Maryland· PM2.5 11 µg/m³

Chesapeake Bay harbor town on Maryland's Eastern Shore, wrapped in open-water air, with waterfront inns.

27% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 11 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 11/22 × 7 = 3.5 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Washington, D.C. right now

27% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Cambridge
Cel-shaded illustration of Cambridge
#2CambridgePM2.5 11Checking road routesaves 1.3 cigs/wk

Maryland· PM2.5 11 µg/m³

Eastern Shore town on the wide Choptank River, with waterfront air and a growing base of inns.

27% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 11 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 11/22 × 7 = 3.5 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Washington, D.C. right now

27% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Shepherdstown
Cel-shaded illustration of Shepherdstown
#3ShepherdstownPM2.5 12Checking road routesaves 1.0 cigs/wk

West Virginia· PM2.5 12 µg/m³

West Virginia's oldest town on the upper Potomac, a walkable river-valley base with inns and B&Bs.

20% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 12 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 12/22 × 7 = 3.8 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Washington, D.C. right now

20% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Harpers Ferry
Cel-shaded illustration of Harpers Ferry
#4Harpers FerryPM2.5 12~1 h 30 min drivesaves 1.0 cigs/wk

West Virginia· PM2.5 12 µg/m³

Historic hillside town where the Potomac and Shenandoah cut a gap through the Blue Ridge, with river-gap breezes and B&Bs.

20% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 12 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 12/22 × 7 = 3.8 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Washington, D.C. right now

20% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Gettysburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Gettysburg
#5GettysburgPM2.5 14.1Checking road route

Pennsylvania· PM2.5 14.1 µg/m³

Historic battlefield town in the Pennsylvania hills, with a broad range of inns and hotels.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 14.1 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 14.1/22 × 7 = 4.5 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
6% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Annapolis
Cel-shaded illustration of Annapolis
#6AnnapolisPM2.5 15Checking road route

Maryland· PM2.5 15 µg/m³

Historic sailing capital on the Chesapeake Bay, with harbor breezes and a dense base of inns and hotels.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 15 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
0% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Baltimore
Cel-shaded illustration of Baltimore
#7BaltimorePM2.5 15~1 h drive

Maryland· PM2.5 15 µg/m³

A major Maryland city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 15 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
0% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Front Royal
Cel-shaded illustration of Front Royal
#8Front RoyalPM2.5 18.5~1 h 30 min drive

Virginia· PM2.5 18.5 µg/m³

Northern gateway to Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park, a valley town with cool upland air and highway-close lodging.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 18.5 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 18.5/22 × 7 = 5.9 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Washington, D.C.

23% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Walker Mill
Cel-shaded illustration of Walker Mill
#9Walker MillParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 4.8 cigs/wk

Maryland

Maryland community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Oxon Hill-Glassmanor
Cel-shaded illustration of Oxon Hill-Glassmanor
#10Oxon Hill-GlassmanorParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 4.8 cigs/wk

Maryland

Maryland community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Lincolnia
Cel-shaded illustration of Lincolnia
#11LincolniaParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 4.8 cigs/wk

Virginia

Virginia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
West Falls Church
Cel-shaded illustration of West Falls Church
#12West Falls ChurchParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 4.8 cigs/wk

Virginia

Virginia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Williamsburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Williamsburg
#13WilliamsburgPM2.5 8.3Checking road routesaves 2.1 cigs/wk

Virginia· PM2.5 8.3 µg/m³

Colonial capital between the James and York rivers, with tidewater air and an extensive hotel base.

45% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 8.3 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8.3/22 × 7 = 2.6 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

6.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Washington, D.C. right now

45% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Berlin
Cel-shaded illustration of Berlin
#14BerlinPM2.5 9.5Checking road routesaves 1.7 cigs/wk

Maryland· PM2.5 9.5 µg/m³

Eastern Shore Victorian town minutes from Assateague's beaches, a quieter inland base than Ocean City.

37% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 9.5 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.5/22 × 7 = 3.0 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Washington, D.C. right now

37% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Bethany Beach
Cel-shaded illustration of Bethany Beach
#15Bethany BeachPM2.5 9.5Checking road routesaves 1.7 cigs/wk

Delaware· PM2.5 9.5 µg/m³

Quieter Delaware beach town north of the Maryland line, with a small boardwalk and steady ocean air.

37% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 9.5 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.5/22 × 7 = 3.0 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Washington, D.C. right now

37% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Fenwick Island
Cel-shaded illustration of Fenwick Island
#16Fenwick IslandPM2.5 9.5Checking road routesaves 1.7 cigs/wk

Delaware· PM2.5 9.5 µg/m³

Small Delaware beach town at the Maryland state line, wrapped in onshore Atlantic air, with rentals.

37% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 9.5 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.5/22 × 7 = 3.0 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Washington, D.C. right now

37% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Lewes
Cel-shaded illustration of Lewes
#17LewesPM2.5 10~2 h 55 min drivesaves 1.6 cigs/wk

Delaware· PM2.5 10 µg/m³

Historic town where Delaware Bay meets the ocean at Cape Henlopen, with steady sea air and a walkable base of inns.

33% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 10 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 10/22 × 7 = 3.2 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Washington, D.C. right now

33% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Block Island
Cel-shaded illustration of Block Island
#18Block IslandPM2.5 4Checking road routesaves 3.5 cigs/wk

Rhode Island· PM2.5 4 µg/m³

Island 12 miles off the Rhode Island coast, exposed to open Atlantic wind on all sides, with Victorian inns.

73% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4/22 × 7 = 1.3 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

11 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Washington, D.C. right now

73% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Narragansett
Cel-shaded illustration of Narragansett
#19NarragansettPM2.5 4Checking road routesaves 3.5 cigs/wk

Rhode Island· PM2.5 4 µg/m³

Rhode Island beach town facing open Atlantic surf, with a seawall promenade, sea wind and summer rentals.

73% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4/22 × 7 = 1.3 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

11 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Washington, D.C. right now

73% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Wickford
Cel-shaded illustration of Wickford
#20WickfordPM2.5 4Checking road routesaves 3.5 cigs/wk

Rhode Island· PM2.5 4 µg/m³

Colonial harbor village on Narragansett Bay, with waterfront galleries and steady bay-air exposure.

73% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4 µg/m³ here vs 15 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4/22 × 7 = 1.3 here; 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

11 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Washington, D.C. right now

73% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT · 53 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

All 54 Canadian cities →
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What this means · Washington, D.C.

Oof.

4.8cigarettes

per week, if this air holds

Act two · The scale

Where today lands

From a crisp horizon to smoke you can taste — here’s your reading on it.

15 µg/m³
CrispSome smokeHeavy smoke

Act three · The ladder

What each rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · The fine print

The receipts

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 15 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 15/22 × 7 = 4.8 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →