Virginia Travel Guide

Virginia spans American history from colonial Williamsburg to Civil-War battlefields, with the Blue Ridge Mountains and Chesapeake Bay shores besides.

Known for: American history, the Blue Ridge, and Chesapeake shores

Don’t miss: colonial Williamsburg, Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive, Virginia Beach, and Civil-War battlefields

When to go: spring and fall for the mountains

Virginia sits on the mid-Atlantic seaboard where the Atlantic coast, the Chesapeake Bay and the rolling Piedmont meet the Blue Ridge and Appalachian highlands, giving the state a mix of tidal flats, farmland, hardwood forest and misty mountain ridges. The landscape shifts quickly from sandy barrier islands and wide estuaries in the east to vineyard-covered foothills and forested peaks to the west.

Its signature cities and historic places are a big part of the state’s character: the capital of Richmond with its Revolutionary and Civil War sites; the riverside charm of Alexandria and its proximity to Washington, D.C.; the academic and architectural draw of Charlottesville and Monticello; the living-history appeal of Colonial Williamsburg; and the coastal recreation of Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore. For solemn national remembrance, Arlington and Arlington National Cemetery are internationally known.

Outdoor life is everywhere - drive the scenic Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive for fall foliage, hike stretches of the Appalachian Trail, paddle the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, or watch wild ponies on the barrier islands of Chincoteague and Assateague. Higher elevations offer small ski areas and year-round trails, while the coast supplies long sandy beaches and surf.

Virginia’s food and drink scene highlights its geography: fresh Chesapeake seafood (blue crabs, oysters and soft-shells), the cured tradition of Smithfield ham, and a growing Virginia wine industry around Charlottesville and the Shenandoah Valley paired with a lively craft-beer scene in cities like Richmond and Norfolk.

Visit Virginia for a layered experience that blends early American history, coastal scenery and mountain escapes - stroll the cobbled streets of Colonial Williamsburg, tour Monticello and the university town of Charlottesville, drive the panoramic overlooks of Shenandoah National Park, then finish with sun and seafood at Virginia Beach.

Virginia’s weather varies from humid, maritime conditions along the Tidewater and Chesapeake Bay to cooler, more continental conditions in the Blue Ridge and Appalachian highlands; plan coastal visits for milder winters and mountain trips for cooler summers and fall color. Expect distinct seasons that each suit different activities.

Most visitors explore Virginia by rental car, although Amtrak, regional trains and intercity buses connect major cities and corridors.

Major Highways

Major interstates shape travel around the state: I‑95 runs north - south from the Washington, D.C. area through Richmond toward North Carolina; I‑64 crosses east - west linking Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Richmond and Charlottesville; I‑81 follows the Shenandoah Valley in western Virginia; I‑66 connects northern Virginia with the capital region; and I‑495 forms the Capital Beltway around Washington, D.C.