Virginia Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary
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Beth
Author
Is there anything more exhilarating than hitting the open road? Here in Virginia, there’s so much to see, and one of the best ways to explore the state is by car. If you’ve ever driven through Virginia, you can attest to the fact that it’s a much bigger state than you might have realized, and the options are pretty overwhelming. Fortunately, we’ve done most of the work for you. Below you’ll find several Virginia road trip ideas. You’ll discover seasonal road trips, 1-day road trips, multi-day road trips, and much more. So gas up the car and curate your favorite playlist — adventure awaits on one of the best road trips in Virginia featured here!
Table of Contents
1-Day Road Trip In Virginia
- Route: False Cape State Park > First Landing State Park > Belle Isle State Park > Westmoreland State Park
- Distance: 168 miles
- Trip Time: 3.5 hours driving time
Virginia's coast is a magical place filled with history, stunning scenery, and fascinating attractions. This 1-day road trip in Virginia will take you to four of Virginia's coastal state parks for a healthy dose of fresh air, marshes, cliffs, dunes, and more. Be sure to plan to spend at least a little time at each state park. And if you do, this trip will likely take all day!
3-Day Weekend Road Trip In Virginia
- Route: Staunton > Crozet > Farmville > South Boston > Galax > Lexington
- Distance: 491 miles
- Trip Time: 9 hours driving time
For a fun-filled long weekend road trip in Virginia, why not visit some of Virginia's most charming small towns? This 9-hour trip is definitely on the longer side, but you'll enjoy seeing six adorable small towns along the way. Each of these places is rich in history, charms, and dining options. You might just find that you're tempted to relocate to one of these adorable small towns in Virginia!
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Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail Road Trip
- Route: Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center > Country Cabin II Appalachian Traditions Village > The Carter Family Fold > The Birthplace of Country Music Museum > Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace > The Old Fiddler’s Convention and Rex Theater > Blue Ridge Music Center > The Floyd Country Store > Blue Ridge Institute and Farm Museum
- Distance: 316 miles
- Trip Time: 6.5 hours driving time
The Crooked Road is the nickname for Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, which is a scenic road trip celebrating the history of country and bluegrass music in the Old Dominion. The Crooked Road is a fascinating way to learn about this particular region in Virginia, which includes 19 counties and over 50 towns in communities.
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Williamsburg Road Trip
- Route: Hilton Vacation Club The Historic Powhatan > Muscarelle Museum of Art > Jamestown-Scotland Ferry
- Distance: 11 miles
- Trip Time: 30 minutes driving time
A day trip to Williamsburg is the perfect idea for history buffs, nature enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys a small town setting. For this particular trip, you can stay overnight at the Hilton Vacation Club before exploring the sites of Colonial Williamsburg. We'd also recommend hopping on the ferry to tour the area via the James River.
Best Virginia Road Trip For Spring
- Route: Crabtree Falls > Saint Marys Waterfall > Statons Creek Falls > Panther Falls > Blue Suck Falls > Falling Spring Falls > Roaring Run Falls > Apple Orchard Falls > Hollins Mill Park
- Distance: 261 miles
- Trip Time: 7.25 hours driving time
April showers bring May flowers -- and lots of gorgeous waterfalls here in Virginia! The perfect Virginia road trip for spring is one that will lead you to our state's most stunning waterfalls. This waterfall road trip is conveniently a loop, so you'll end up right back where you started. Bring your hiking boots and swimming gear, too, because some of these trails lead to waterfall swimming holes.
Best Summer Road Trip In Virginia
- Route: Jones Point Lighthouse > New Point Comfort Lighthouse > Cape Henry Lighthouse > Cape Charles Lighthouse > Assateague Lighthouse
- Distance: 360 miles
- Trip Time: 7.5 hours driving time
Does anything say summer more than a picturesque lighthouse? We think not! That's what inspired our summer-friendly lighthouse road trip along the Virginia coast. It's a great way to get to know the history of the area while you explore these beautiful landmarks. You'll even get the chance to travel the most iconic bridge-tunnel in Virginia.
Best Virginia Road Trip For Fall
- Route: Crabtree Falls > Lexington > Mountain Lake > Mabry Mill > High Bridge Trail State Park > The Blue Ridge Parkway
- Distance: 460 miles
- Trip Time: 9.5 hours driving time
During autumn, the Old Dominion is blessed with an abundance of brilliant colors, and we've charted out some of the best places to see fall foliage in Virginia. This beautiful fall road trip will take you to charming towns and even along the Blue Ridge Parkway -- one of the state's most picturesque autumn drives. One thing's for sure: you won't want to forget your camera on one of the best weekend road trips in Virginia!
Best Winter Road Trip In Virginia
- Route: Virginia Beach > Norfolk Botanical Garden > Newport News Park > Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens > Downtown Farmville > South Hill > Old Town Portsmouth
- Distance: 375 miles
- Trip Time: 7 hours driving time
Winter in Virginia is a magical time, which you'll experience firsthand when you embark on this holiday lights road trip through Virginia. Along the way, you'll tour beautiful towns that are decked to the nines as well as drive-thru Christmas lights. It's perfect for all ages! This trip takes about 7 hours of driving time, so you'll likely want to break it up over a weekend.
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Family Friendly Virginia Road Trip
- Route: Natural Bridge > The Pink Cadillac Diner > Crabtree Falls > Carter Mountain Orchard & Country Store > Fun Land of Fredericksburg > The Caboose Market & Cafe
- Distance: 205 miles
- Trip Time: 4.25 hours driving time
Planning to take a road trip with kids in Virginia? We've got you covered! We've outlined a family-friendly road trip that will take you to all kinds of kid-approved locations: a themed restaurant, a gorgeous waterfall, a theme park, and more! It's the perfect Virginia road trip idea for spring break or summer, because quick road trips in Virginia can be just as much fun as full-on week-long vacations.
Road Trip to Virginia Landmarks & Natural Wonders
- Route: Luray Caverns > Crabtree Falls > Natural Bridge > Burke's Garden > Natural Tunnel > Breaks Interstate Park
- Distance: 785 miles
- Trip Time: 15.5 hours driving time
Are you ready for a truly epic Virginia road trip? We've got quite an itinerary mapped out; it takes nearly 16 hours to complete! It's worth every minute of driving time, however, because along the way, you'll enjoy some of Virginia's most stunning natural wonders. From underground caverns to a natural bridge and even the Grand Canyon of the South, this is one of the best road trips to take in Virginia for nature lovers.
Road Trip to Best Small Towns in Virginia
- Route: Crozet > Staunton > Farmville > South Boston > Galax > Lexington > Staunton
- Distance: 491 miles
- Trip Time: 9 hours driving time
We absolutely adore our small towns here in Virginia! This road trip to the best small towns in Virginia will take you to some of the best. Whether you're perusing main street for a coffee, exploring a local gallery, or trying a new restaurant, you'll discover why any given Virginia small town is oh-so-charming.
What do you think are the best road trips in Virginia? Share your favorite places to explore with a comment.
For road trip planning and packing tips, check out OnlyInYourState’s Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. Whether you’re leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can’t forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling.
The Ultimate Road Trip Packing List: 60+ Essentials For Your Next Adventure
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More to Explore
Road Trips To Take In Virginia
What are the most popular landmarks to visit in Virginia?
Virginia is positively brimming with famous landmarks. Even if you've never visited the state, you've likely heard of a few of them. And each popular landmark in Virginia is totally worth the hype! Here are some of our top recommendations for attractions to visit in Virginia:
- Monticello
- Luray Caverns
- Shenandoah National Park
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
- George Washington's Mount Vernon
- Maymont
- Colonial Williamsburg
- Arlington National Cemetery
- Virginia Aquarium and Science Center
What are the most popular state parks to visit in Virginia?
The most popular state parks to visit in Virginia include:
- First Landing State Park, Virginia Beach
- Hungry Mother State Park, Marion
- Sky Meadows State Park, Delaplane
- Grayson Highlands State Park, Mouth of Wilson
- Occoneechee State Park, Clarksville
- Natural Tunnel State Park, Duffield
- High Bridge Trail State Park, Green Bay
- Douthat State Park, Millboro
- Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles
- Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield
What are the major highways in Virginia?
The major highways in Virginia are listed below:
- Interstate 95
- Interstate 64
- Interstate 81
- Interstate 295