11 Best Weekend Getaways In Virginia For Every Type Of Traveler

Virginia’s history, variety, and beauty know no bounds. From charming towns a drive away from the nation’s capital and idyllic horse farms to an impressive wine industry, Virginia is full of weekend getaways just waiting to be explored. Spend the weekend exploring the homes of founding fathers or tune in for folk and bluegrass music. Head to Shenandoah National Park, travel south to the Blue Ridge Mountains, or just settle in with a nice glass of wine. No matter where the state takes you, we guarantee these Virginia destinations worthy of a weekend drive.

Middleburg

Northern Virginia is known for its horse farms and vineyards, and there is perhaps no place more charming to experience them both than in Middleburg. Explore the town's main street and pop into shops like Crème de la Crème, where you can find hand-selected French and Italian home goods for the home, and Highcliffe Clothier, which sells custom and tailored clothing that works equally as well in Virginia or the English countryside. Grab artisan pizza and chocolate chip and Virginia peanut cookies at Knead Wine before exploring the National Sporting Library & Museum's collection of equine paintings and sculptures. Sample the area’s viticulture at wineries like Boxwood and Greenhill or stop for a taste of the local cider at Mt. Defiance. Middleburg’s hotels are reasons enough to visit and gems like the Salamander, Goodstone, and the Red Fox Inn, a favorite of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, will make you want to extend your stay.

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Richmond

Richmond is many things at once: a modern state capital, a college town, and a history-rich city. The best part of Richmond is that it embraces its multifaceted persona and provides a kaleidoscope of choose-your-own adventures for visitors. Start at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts before continuing your museum adventure at The Poe Museum, which offers a fascinating look into the life and death of Edgar Allan Poe. After a tour of the city’s rich collection of museums, head outside to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, a fifty-acre garden with a butterfly-filled conservatory, children’s garden, and Victorian restoration garden. Richmond’s hip art-filled hotel, the Quirk, is a welcome place to lay your head after a day of exploring.

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Sperryville

While many people arrive in Sperryville on their way in or out of Shenandoah National Park and the Skyline Drive, the tiny, blink-and-you-miss-it town, packs a punch for those who choose to stay. Sperryville is a jumping-off point for several fantastic hikes, from the Hazel River Trailhead which offers a challenging 12.7 out-and-back trail, and the 7.5-mile Little Devil Stairs Loop rewards climbers with several waterfalls and sweeping vistas. Right off Sperryville’s main street, Sperryville Pike, the Rappahannock Walking Trail offers a stroll rather than a sweat.

After your hike, relax at Pen Druid Fermentation, which makes native beers and natural ciders, or Copper Fox Distillery, which concocts bourbons, brandies, and ryes. Stop in Sperryville’s compact Corner Store for local produce, fresh bread, pies, and quiches, and an expertly curated selection of wines from Virginia and beyond. Further up the road, you’ll find galleries, potters, and a great place to refuel with a cup of coffee, Before & After. Don’t leave without trying the pizza at Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen, a cocktail at Bar Francis, or an intimate, candlelit dinner at the renowned twenty-seat restaurant, The Blacksmiths. The historic inn—and ale house— Hopkin’s Ordinary makes for a fantastic place to stay the night.

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Bristol

Half Virginia, half Tennessee, Bristol is known as the town quite literally cut in two by the state line. Country music has been putting this corner of the South on the map since the early 20th century when Ralph Peer, a talent scout and music producer, traveled to Bristol from New York City to record the songs coming out of the area’s hills and hollers. The most famous of those 1920s recordings were those of A.P. Carter and his family—the Carter Family—of which the legend, and reality, still loom large around Bristol today.

Start at the Smithsonian-affiliated Birthplace of Country Museum to immerse yourself in music history. Stroll Bristol’s State Street, divided by the Virginia-Tennessee state line, and explore a vibrant tableau of storefronts, lunch counters, and restaurants. Stop at gems like Willow Creek Antiques and Cheap Thrills Records, and grab a bite at mid-century styled Burger Bar, the bright and modern Bloom, or Blackbird Baker for dessert. Return to music in the evening at local venues like The Paramount, The Cameo Theater, or Sidetracks. Make the thirty-five-minute drive to the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia. Part museum, part concert venue, part dancehall, it doesn’t get more country, local, or authentic. Members of the Carter family introduce the evening, rock their grandbabies to sleep on the stage, and lead the charge on getting the audience to join in the dancing. Base yourself at the in-town Bristol Hotel or at the luxurious country inn, Nicewonder Farm and Vineyards.

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Charlottesville

Charlottesville is known as the home of the University of Virginia, which has one of the most beautiful campuses in the country, but the town also stands on its own thanks to its charming downtown and surrounding countryside. Start your weekend on campus exploring the interior of the rotunda and walking the grounds. Make sure to look in the dorm that once housed a young Edgar Allen Poe and visit the university’s cemetery which dates back to 1828. From the campus make your way to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s sprawling estate, to learn about the renaissance man and his complicated legacy.

When you’ve had your fill of history, shift to filling your glass and sample the local terroir at vineyards like Pippin Hill and King Family, which are noteworthy both for their grapes and the views. For a casual lunch, stop in at student-favorite Bodo's Bagels or head to Dairy Market, the sprawling new food hall in town with local options galore. Opt for dinner at 1799, the restaurant at The Clifton, once the home of Jefferson’s daughter and now one of the area’s best places to stay. If you’re looking to stay closer to the university, it doesn’t get better than Oakhurst Inn, a boutique hotel located directly on the UVA campus.

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Meadows of Dan

In the heart of the Blue Ridge, Meadows of Dan stuns with natural beauty at all times of the year. Most know of this countryside just half an hour north of the North Carolina state line thanks to Primland, a mountaintop report that stretches across 12,00 acres of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Arriving at Primland feels like arriving at a private grand estate that has been around for generations, even though it was only built in 2009. Explore the wilderness on the many hiking trails and ATV paths or during an afternoon of clay shooting. The highlight of a journey to either the resort or the area is Primland’s observatory. The state-of-the-art facility allows for inspiring views of the night sky and lessons from a resident astronomer. While soaking in the Blue Ridge views and grounds make it hard to leave Primland, outside the resort’s gates you’ll the town of Meadows of Dan with its can't-miss sweet shop, Nancy’s Candy Co., and local market and lunch counter, Poor Farmer’s Country Store.

Orange

Escape to Orange, Virginia, for award-winning wineries, abundant history, and a rich food scene. Make your home base the Inn at Willow Grove, a tried-and-true historic inn with gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge. The hotel was one of the leaders in establishing the county’s Edna Lewis Menu Trail, which honors one of the greats of Southern cooking, Edna Lewis. Lewis, who was one of the first African-American women to write a cookbook that didn’t conceal her race or gender, is celebrated throughout the area. Sample your way through her cuisine at restaurants including the BBQ Exchange, Spoon & Spindle, and Champion Ice House.

When you’ve eaten your weight in barbeque, spend a few hours at James Madison’s Montpelier. As the home of one of the founding fathers of both the United States and Virginia, Madison’s home offers a view into his life, legacy, and role in shaping the country. Montpelier’s powerful exhibit, Mere Distinction of Colour, shines a light on the story of the enslaved workers at Montpelier. Stop by the new Orange County African American Historical Society Interpretive Parklet before making time to sample the award-winning wines at Barboursville Vineyards and Horton Vineyards. Shop the best of the area’s vintage clothing and quilts at Folkling in the charming town of Gordonsville, and garden at home goods at the beautiful and expansive The Market at Grelen.

Related: Explore Orange

Alexandria

Just across the Potomac from the nation’s capital, Alexandria feels distinctly unique from Washington, D.C. As one of the oldest cities in America, the town is brimming with 18th-century history and charm. Soak it in historic house museums like the Lee-Fendall House and Carlyle House. No visit to the town is complete without a thorough stroll on King Street, the pedestrian thoroughfare that leads down to the water. Stop in at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, a former torpedo factory turned into a lively space for working artists’ studios and shops, and Old Town Books, a petite but well-stocked bookstore housed in a former bank (complete with an existing bank vault).

If you’re lucky enough to have good weather during your visit, head out on the river for a sunset tour aboard the tall ship Providence. Grab lunch at local favorite, Virtue Feed and Grain, and dinner at the newly opened Josephine which brings the romance of a French bistro to a former firehouse in Alexandria’s Old Town. End the night upstairs, at Bar Jo, with a nightcap. Make time to venture out to George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Just twenty minutes away, a visit to the former home of America’s first president is something to add to your bucket list. For the weekend, base yourself at the centrally located historic Morrison House Hotel, or the newly opened, design-focused Hotel AKA Alexandria.

Explore Alexandria

Bath County

West of the Shenandoah Valley and deep in the Allegheny Mountains, Bath County has been a four-season destination for generations thanks to its natural mineral springs, rural vistas, historic retreats, and fly fishing. Back in the 18th century—1761 to be exact—an octagonal bathhouse was erected for locals and visitors to bathe in the mineral springs, making it America’s very first spa structure.

Since then, different iterations of the bathhouses have been built, and today you can enjoy the waters from the comfort of the historic Omni Homestead Resort. The hotel has been in operation for over 250 years and has welcomed an impressive 23 American presidents. Through the years (and a recent $140 million renovation) it has remained one of the country’s most beloved resorts. It’s far from the only place to stay, however. The Fort Lewis Lodge mixes luxury and rustic on its 3,300-acre property. Base yourself here for a weekend of quiet swimming, stargazing, and country walks. Whether you’re a seasoned fisher or eager to take your first lesson, it would be a shame to come here without indulging in the county’s pastime. For some guidance, local experts like Matt Miles or Wesley Hodges will show you the ropes. Don’t leave without stopping by Troddenvale Cidery, a historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places that is renowned for its cider made with homegrown apples.

Front Royal & Shenandoah National Park

Front Royal is known to many as one of the main routes into Shenandoah National Park, but it's a destination in its own right too. The town is full of mid-century nostalgia. Its main street and roadside motels and attractions harken back to the tourism boom of the late 1930s when Skyline Drive was first extended into town. One of the newest spots, The Catamount Lounge, is embracing that throwback feeling. The cocktail lounge is an intimate space with retro décor and classic, American cocktails and light bites. It’s a good place to spend an evening after spending the day hiking Shenandoah, cruising Skyline Drive, or visiting nearby Luray Caverns. Skyland and Big Meadows Lodge, the comfortably rustic lodges within Shenandoah National Parks can’t be beat for overnight stays in the area.

Rocky Mount

Less than an hour south of Roanoke, Rocky Mount never disappoints for a weekend trip. The small town offers it all: a walkable downtown, great restaurants and breweries, and a lively music scene. That’s a lot, especially considering the year-round population hovers only around 5,000. Rocky Mount might be best known as the gateway to the state’s heritage music trail, otherwise known as The Crooked Road. The Crooked Road guides you through the area’s rich heritage of bluegrass music with panels of information along the route that provide instructions on how to listen to audio recordings about each stop’s musical heritage.

Rocky Mount is also known for its local music scene. Grab a ticket to a show at the Harvester Performance Arts Center or opt for something more casual at bars that double as music venues, like The Alley Cat. Rocky Mount’s home county, Franklin, is known as the Moonshine Capital of the World, so no visit is complete without sampling the local libations. Twin Creeks Distillery is a great place to wet your whistle. While Rocky Mount has some big hotel options, opt for a stay at one of the area’s historic inns like The Clairborne Bed and Breakfast or the Early Inn at the Grove.

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