Virginia Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary

Is there anything more exhilarating than hitting the open road? There's so much to see and do in Virginia, and one of the best ways to explore is by car. If you've ever driven through Virginia, you can attest that it's a much bigger state than it seems at first, and the options for where to explore are pretty overwhelming.

Fortunately, we've done most of the work for you. Below, you'll find several of the best road trips in Virginia. Whether you have a single day or prefer a multi-day adventure, you'll discover the right road trip. So gas up the car, curate your favorite playlist, and hit the open road. Adventure awaits on one of the best road trips in Virginia.

Note: Before heading out on any road trip in Virginia, ensure all attractions are open and confirm days and times. Some attractions may be seasonal.

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 magical, with history, stunning scenery, and fascinating attractions. This one-day road trip leads to four of Virginia's coastal state parks, where you can enjoy a healthy dose of fresh air, marshes, cliffs, dunes, and more. Although you can easily spend an entire day exploring each, plan at least a little time at each state park during one of the best scenic trips in Virginia.

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 nine-hour trip is longer, but you'll enjoy seeing six adorable small towns. Each is rich in history, charms, and dining options. Crozet, for example, offers one of the best drives in Virginia (well, in my opinion), and my former home of Lexington is perfect for an evening walk around town, a double feature at Hull's Drive-In, or a meal at one of the darling downtown restaurants. After this road trip, you might be tempted to relocate to one of these adorable small towns in Virginia.

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

Crooked Road, the nickname for Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, celebrates the history of country and bluegrass music in the Old Dominion. Driving along Crooked Road is a fascinating way to learn about this region, which includes 19 counties and more than 50 community towns.

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 perfect 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 in Virginia. One of the best road trips through Virginia in the spring 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 because some 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 area's history while you explore these beautiful landmarks. You'll even get 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 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 Virginia's best weekend road trips.

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 magical, and you'll experience it firsthand when you embark on this holiday lights road trip through Virginia. Along the way, you'll tour beautiful towns decked to the nines and get into the holiday spirit at several drive-thru Christmas lights displays. Perfect for all ages, this winter road trip in Virginia takes about seven hours of driving time, not including the time at each stop, so you'll likely want to break it up over a weekend.

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. If you're a fan of fries like me, you'll fall head over heels at Pink Cadillac, one of my favorite diners in Virginia. (A heaping helping of fries and a thick milkshake promise one of the best meals on this road trip.) 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 weeklong 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 because you'll enjoy some of Virginia's most stunning natural wonders along the way. 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 adore our small towns here in Virginia! This road trip to several small towns in Virginia will take you to some of the best. Staunton is one of my favorite day trips, ideal for strolling downtown and perusing the shops before grabbing a bite at one of the town's eclectic restaurants. 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? Let us know by filling out a nomination form.

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 weeklong road trip, you can't forget the snacks: Here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling.