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the USA🇺🇸 | regionsVirginiaSkyline Drive, Jefferson’s Monticello, colonial Williamsburg, Appalachian ponies | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Virginia
👍 Recommendedregion ranked #29
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 20, 2026

The country ham biscuit at a Charlottesville-area gas station cost me US$4.50 and arrived so salty it recalibrated my whole day. Virginia sits on the Atlantic side of the United States, running from beaches to Appalachian ridgelines. The Blue Ridge delivers genuine views, Civil War fields and colonial towns give it depth, and Northern Virginia traffic delivers a sermon on patience. You need a car, but you get Shenandoah overlooks and peanut soup in Williamsburg.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 the USA Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #29 region in the USAWhy Virginia should be on your travel list

Virginia packs mountains, coast and early American history into one state, so you can hike a ridge in the morning and stand in a colonial courthouse by afternoon. The Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive string trailheads and overlooks along a single road, and the Appalachian Trail crosses the state for roughly 550 miles, which makes it easy to dip in for a day or a week. Slow travel works here because towns like Staunton and Lexington sit a short drive apart.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. Monticello, Charlottesville: Thomas Jefferson’s hilltop home, with a tour that covers the gardens and the enslaved community who ran it.
  2. Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive: a 105-mile ridge road with dozens of overlooks and trailheads, including Old Rag’s rock scramble.
  3. Colonial Williamsburg: restored streets with working tradespeople, best explored on foot past the blacksmith and printer.
  4. Luray Caverns: towering formations and the Great Stalacpipe Organ, which plays the stone itself.
  5. Mount Vernon: Washington’s Potomac estate, with river views and a gristmill nearby.
  6. Natural Bridge: a 215-foot limestone arch reached by an easy creekside path.
  7. Staunton: a walkable hill town with Victorian streets and the Blackfriars Playhouse, a Shakespeare theater.
  8. Grayson Highlands State Park: balds above
… read more 👉
  1. Monticello, Charlottesville: Thomas Jefferson’s hilltop home, with a tour that covers the gardens and the enslaved community who ran it.
  2. Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive: a 105-mile ridge road with dozens of overlooks and trailheads, including Old Rag’s rock scramble.
  3. Colonial Williamsburg: restored streets with working tradespeople, best explored on foot past the blacksmith and printer.
  4. Luray Caverns: towering formations and the Great Stalacpipe Organ, which plays the stone itself.
  5. Mount Vernon: Washington’s Potomac estate, with river views and a gristmill nearby.
  6. Natural Bridge: a 215-foot limestone arch reached by an easy creekside path.
  7. Staunton: a walkable hill town with Victorian streets and the Blackfriars Playhouse, a Shakespeare theater.
  8. Grayson Highlands State Park: balds above 5,000 feet where wild ponies graze beside the Appalachian Trail.
  9. Humpback Rocks: a short, steep climb on the Parkway to a farm museum and wide valley views.
  10. Virginia Beach Oceanfront and Back Bay: a boardwalk strip, with quieter marshland and dunes just south.
Virginia first-timers should start with Monticello, since it ties together the state’s history and its Blue Ridge setting in one morning.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Virginia

Exclusive Private Colonial Williamsburg Walking Tour by a Local

Exclusive Private Colonial Williamsburg Walking Tour by a Local

5.0(49) 2h
From €86
per personViator
Historic Fredericksburg Tours in a open view 1920's Model-A Wagon

Historic Fredericksburg Tours in a open view 1920's Model-A Wagon

5.0(41) 20m
From €27
per personViator
JS Expedition Wildlife, Dolphin, and Pony Tour

JS Expedition Wildlife, Dolphin, and Pony Tour

5.0(37) 2h
From €59
per personViator
Arlington Cemetery Private Tour

Arlington Cemetery Private Tour

5.0(31) 4h
From €794
per personViator
Alexandria Historic Cemetery Complex: 13 Cemeteries Walking Tour

Alexandria Historic Cemetery Complex: 13 Cemeteries Walking Tour

5.0(30) 1h 30m
From €27
per personViator
Step in Time Inside Historic Buildings of Colonial Williamsburg

Step in Time Inside Historic Buildings of Colonial Williamsburg

5.0(27) 3h
From €68
per personViator
Chocolate and Wine Pairing in Chantilly

Chocolate and Wine Pairing in Chantilly

5.0(24) 1h
From €59
per personViator
3- Hour Private Customizable Washington, DC Tour

3- Hour Private Customizable Washington, DC Tour

5.0(22) 3h
From €408
per personViator
Delicious Pizza & Ice Cream Tour of Richmond

Delicious Pizza & Ice Cream Tour of Richmond

5.0(21) 3h 30m
From €85
per personViator
Alexandria Haunted Holiday Ghost Tour

Alexandria Haunted Holiday Ghost Tour

5.0(20) 1h
From €18.15
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

⌛️ 5 daysWhat you can realistically do in a week

Day 1: Charlottesville
Monticello is the stop not to skip, and the town’s walking mall and breweries make an easy base for an evening. Pick up a rental car here, since public transport thins out fast across Virginia.
Day 2 to 3: Shenandoah: Drive Skyline Drive slowly, because the 35 mph limit is the pace. Hike Old Rag or a gentler waterfall trail, then sleep in a park lodge or campground.
Day 4: Staunton: A short drive takes you to Staunton for theater and hillside streets. Detour to Natural Bridge on the way south if you want a quick, striking stop.
Day 5: Blue Ridge Parkway: Finish on the Parkway at Humpback Rocks. Day 2 is the one that justifies the trip: dawn on Skyline Drive, fog in the hollows, and nobody around.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Virginia

Fall is the strongest window for Virginia, with Blue Ridge foliage peaking in mid-October.
  • Fall: Days of 15 to 22°C (59 to 72°F), crisp nights, and the busiest, priciest weekends along Skyline Drive.
  • Spring: 12 to 24°C (54 to 75°F), blooming dogwoods, and cheaper rooms midweek.
  • Summer: 27 to 33°C (80 to 91°F) with humid afternoon storms and long daylight; higher elevations stay cooler.
  • Winter: Often 0 to 8°C (32 to 46°F), snow in the mountains, short days, and the lowest prices.
Book October weekends weeks ahead and visit midweek.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: good for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: good for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
united-states-region-virginia
© Google | David Da Conceição Matos

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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base

Charlottesville is the best base in central Virginia, with hostels, walkable brewery streets and easy access to the Blue Ridge for hiking. Richmond suits those wanting nightlife, murals, river rafting and a younger crowd in the Fan and Scott’s Addition districts. Staunton is smaller and calmer, a Victorian town with theater and quick access to the Shenandoah Valley. Harrisonburg works for budget stays near the national park. For Appalachian Trail hikers, Waynesboro and Damascus have hiker-friendly lodgings and a very social trail atmosphere.
Best hostels in the USA


Best quality hotels in the USA

🚌 Getting aroundHow to get from A to B

Skipping the rental car is the costliest move in Virginia, because the Blue Ridge, Shenandoah Valley and small towns sit far apart and public transit mostly stops at the edge of the cities. Most backpackers rent a car or lean on a few intercity links, then accept that the countryside runs on gas stations and patience.
  • Rental car: US$40 to 80 a day plus fuel, and the only way to pull over at Skyline Drive overlooks where fog fills the hollows below you.
  • Amtrak: Trains link Charlottesville, Richmond, Williamsburg and Washington, DC for roughly US$15 to 50 a segment, with wide seats and farmland rolling by.
  • Intercity bus: Greyhound and FlixBus cover Charlottesville, Richmond and Roanoke for US$10 to 35, cheap, though stations can sit awkwardly far out of town.
  • Ridesharing: Uber and Lyft work in Charlottesville
… read more 👉
Skipping the rental car is the costliest move in Virginia, because the Blue Ridge, Shenandoah Valley and small towns sit far apart and public transit mostly stops at the edge of the cities. Most backpackers rent a car or lean on a few intercity links, then accept that the countryside runs on gas stations and patience.
  • Rental car: US$40 to 80 a day plus fuel, and the only way to pull over at Skyline Drive overlooks where fog fills the hollows below you.
  • Amtrak: Trains link Charlottesville, Richmond, Williamsburg and Washington, DC for roughly US$15 to 50 a segment, with wide seats and farmland rolling by.
  • Intercity bus: Greyhound and FlixBus cover Charlottesville, Richmond and Roanoke for US$10 to 35, cheap, though stations can sit awkwardly far out of town.
  • Ridesharing: Uber and Lyft work in Charlottesville and Richmond for US$8 to 25 a ride, but drivers grow scarce a few miles into the hills.
  • Bicycle: Charlottesville and Richmond have bike lanes, and a river path gets you to a sunset with no engine noise.
Pick up a car in Charlottesville and return it there to avoid pricey one-way fees.

🍲 FoodEating & Drinking in Virginia

Start with country ham on a warm biscuit, salty and buttery, then try Brunswick stew, smoky and thick, and Chesapeake oysters or crab cakes near the coast. Wash it down with Virginia cider, craft beer or a peach-flavoredwine from Blue Ridge vineyards. Backpackers eat well at farmers markets, barbecue shacks, diners and brewery food trucks. Tip 18 to 20 percent at sit-down places, and expect sweet tea to arrive cold by default.

FAQTraveler FAQ

Plan 5 to 7 days for Virginia if you want a mix of city and mountains. Spend 2 days in Charlottesville and nearby Monticello, 2 days along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, and 1 to 2 days in Richmond or Colonial Williamsburg.
Getting around Virginia without a car is possible but limited. Amtrak connects Charlottesville, Richmond and Williamsburg for about US$15 to 50 a segment, buses cost US$10 to 35 between larger cities, and rideshares cover towns but not the national park.
Virginia is known for the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Trail, which runs about 880 km (550 miles) through the state. It also has colonial history at Jamestown and Williamsburg, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, and a growing wine and craft beer scene.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other American regions near Virginia

Explore more nearby:

  • North Carolina—Smokies elk, Blue Ridge Parkway, Outer Banks lighthouse, Linville Gorge| 189 km away
  • West Virginia—New River Gorge, Gauley rapids, Dolly Sods plateau, railroad ghost town| 204 km away
  • Maryland—Chesapeake crabs, Baltimore harbor, Assateague horses, canal towpath| 251 km away

💡 Not sure where to go next?
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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Virginia visitors often cram Washington, D.C. suburbs and the mountains into a weekend and spend it in traffic. I would pick one region, rent a car outside the capital area, and give the Blue Ridge at least two unhurried days.

✈️ When did I visit the USA?
In January 2023 I visited New York. Many years before, before digital cameras existed, I discovered most of the national parks in the West.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in the USA, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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