National Parks in Virginia
Virginia is home to 17 National Parks, only one of them being a major park, which is Shenandoah. Follow the links below to read reviews, tips for planning trips, and the insider scoop for each park. I have visited the parks that are listed in red, but I only linked the parks I’ve reviewed.
- Appomattox Court House NHP
- Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
- Assateague Island NS
- Booker T. Washington NM
- Cedar Creek & Belle Grove NHP
- Colonial NHP
- Fort Monroe NM
- Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial NMP
- George Washington Birthplace NM
- George Washington Memorial Parkway
- Maggie L. Walker NHS
- Manassas National Battlefield Park
- Petersburg National Battlefield
- Prince William Forest Park
- Richmond National Battlefield Park
- Shenandoah National Park
- Wolf Trap NP for the Performing Arts
Appalachian Trail in Virginia
There are 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, which is more than any other state. Additionally, 101 of those miles go through Shenandoah National Park. The AT also parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway and goes through Mount Rogers NRA and George Washington & Jefferson National Forest. The Virginia portion of the trail ends in Damascus, VA, otherwise known as Trail Town USA. Damascus holds the famous “Appalachian Trail Days Festival” every year in May.
Virginia State & County Parks
There are a ton of state and county parks in Virginia. Unfortunately, I have only been to 2 of them; however, I recommend both!
Sky Meadows State Park – hiking (including 3 miles of the Appalachian Trail), Children’s Discovery Area, fishing, horseback riding, hike-in only campsites
Chickahominy Riverfront Park (county run) – camping, boating, fishing, public pool, walking trails, canoe and kayak rentals, concessions/store
Weekend trip ideas in Virginia
Virginia Beach & Norfolk
If you are spending a week or even a long weekend in Virginia Beach, consider going into the town of Norfolk. In Norfolk you can visit the Nauticus Museum and Battleship Wisconsin. You can also tour some of the buildings at the Naval Station, which happens to be the largest Naval Station in the world. There is also the Chrysler Museum of Art and Mount Trashmore, a fun play area for children. Also, Fort Monroe NM is just a short drive away.
Williamsburg
Williamsburg is an hour North of Virginia Beach. It can easily be its own trip, or it can be added on to a Virginia Beach vacation. Colonial Williamsburg is full of war buildings and museums, living history programs, and live performances. Also in town are the Busch Gardens and Sea World amusement parks. Colonial National Historical Park, which includes both Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown Battlefield, is an amazing place to the spend the day.
Alexandria
Old Town Alexandria is absolutely adorable with it’s brick buildings and sidewalks. Besides that, there isn’t anything inherently special about Alexandria, except it’s proximity to Washington D.C. and Georgetown, which is why I included it. It’s a nice alternative for lodging if you want to spend the weekend in DC.
Richmond
Richmond is one of America’s oldest major cities, so naturally there is a ton of history there. You can visit places like the Richmond National Battlefield, and there are buildings from both the Civil War and Revolutionary War available to tour. For theme park enthusiasts, be sure to spend a day (or two!) at Kings Dominion. There are also a ton of free museums and art galleries.
Other cities of interest
Virginia is massive, and just like Pennsylvania, I am lucky to live so close. You could spend weeks just driving around visiting war buildings and battlefields. Then you add in the amusement parks, beaches, and Chesapeake Bay towns, it’s impossible to choose where to go.
There are a few other cities and towns I didn’t mention above, but are worth visiting if you are in the area: Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Front Royal, Harrisonburg, and Chincoteague.
Last Updated: July 14, 2023
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