10 Best State and National Parks in Virginia

Shenandoah National Park lies just 75 miles south-east of Washington, D.C. Perhaps the best-known of all the national parks in Virginia, it sprawls over a massive 200,000 acres. You can camp, try to spot a black bear, climb Old Rag Mountain, and take a ranger-guided programme to learn about the plants, animals, and waterfalls here.

If you love sweeping views across valleys, head to Skyline Drive for magnificent and colourful vistas. If you enjoy walking and history, why not hike to Rapidan Camp and take a tour of the former summer retreat of President Herbert and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover? You can also use the park’s free app for a self-guided tour of this area.

First Landing State Park is the site where English colonists first landed in 1607. It is located on Cape Henry in North Virginia Beach and it’s a peaceful mix of maritime forests, marshes, and trails.

Locals and tourists alike come here to escape city life and return to nature, renting a yurt or cabin and enjoying the 20 miles of hiking trails around the park and along the beach frontage. If you’re an avid birdwatcher, you can also take a kayak nature tour to spot ospreys, herons, and kingfishers from the calm of the water. If you’re lucky, you may see bald eagles too!

Historic Jamestowne is part of Colonial National Historical Park – a magnificent combination of stunning scenery, beautiful wildlife, and 17th-century history alongside James River. Here, you can take a guided tour and retrace the steps of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith who helped establish the first permanent English settlement in North America here.

Tourists come here for the historical sites and unspoiled greenery, but locals flock here too for the tranquility and the abundant cycle trails. The park is also known for its winged wildlife, and you can often see blue jays, mockingbirds, vultures, and eagles here.

Great Falls National Park lies on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. It’s amazing to think that just 15 miles from the nation’s capital, you can find 800 acres of astounding nature and incredible outdoor activities. This park is known for its impressive waterfalls where the Potomac River rushes through the narrow Mather Gorge. You can take exceptional photos here, with 3 main viewing points all within 10 minutes’ walk of the Visitor Centre.

This is a popular spot with locals, who come here for the hiking trails. Some of these are also ideal for biking and horse riding. Kayaking is popular too, and it’s a good idea to book lessons in advance as the slots fill up quickly.

Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway winding 469 miles through the Appalachian Mountains. It’s known for its biodiversity and it’s a great choice for those who like to take their time on a relaxing scenic drive, whilst admiring the captivating flora and fauna. Stop off at Whitewater Falls and take in the stunning views of cascading water or camp by New River, the oldest river in North America.

The Parkway isn’t just spectacular scenery and rare wildlife though. Music lovers should head to the Blue Ridge Music Centre (Milepost 213). Here you can visit a small museum exploring American music, before heading outside to the stage where there is live music daily for visitors.

Natural Bridge State Park is located 150 miles west of Richmond. This magnificent bridge-shaped limestone gorge stands 215 feet tall and is an imposing backdrop to the karst terrain here. You can stroll along the pathways by the river, walk through shady forests or take beautiful photos of the majestic waterfall at Lace Falls here.

There are 7 miles of hiking trails here, including Cedar Creek Trail which takes you to the Monacan Indian village. Locals like to come for evening hikes when some of the pathways and trails are illuminated, and there are also lantern tours. The evening air is cooler for hiking and the rugged landscape looks even more beautiful when lit up at dusk.

Grayson Highlands State Park is often referred to as the gateway to Virginia’s highest peak, Mount Rogers. There are some majestic views here, especially of the alpine-like peaks which are over 5,000 feet high. Here, you’ll find over 4,500 acres of hiking trails, campsites, magnificent waterfalls, and stunning viewpoints.

The park is also home to wild ponies and the Rhododendron Trail is the best place to spot these beautiful animals. If you love horse riding, this park is a fantastic choice as it has designated horse trails offering amazing scenery, as well as a horse camping area with stables and parking for caravans.

Westmoreland State Park is ideal for birdwatchers. It lies alongside the Potomac River and provides great views of bald eagles, great blue herons, ospreys, gulls, kingfishers, and green herons who feed in the river here. Climbing up to Horsehead Cliffs also gives a breathtaking, panoramic view of the river.

There are 6 miles of trails here and a popular one, the Beach Trail, takes you to the shoreline of the Potomac River. Here, you’ll see people scouring for fossils and many sharks’ teeth have been found here. The beach is small, but with soft, golden sands and a beautiful river view, it’s a sought-after spot and often very busy in summer.

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is a must-see place for those interested in American Civil War history. Here, in April 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered the last major Confederate army, bringing an end to the war. Today, the park contains beautifully restored houses, as well as walking and nature trails.

A popular choice for tourists is the Court House Driving Tour. You can download the app for free or print out the map and driving instructions, then follow the circuit through the park to explore the events and places that led to the events of April 1865. It’s a fascinating, scenic, and historic route.

Douthat State Park sits in the Allegheny Mountains and offers rich and vivid mountain scenery. You can choose from 43 miles of hiking trails, many of which are also suitable for mountain bikes. These trails lead you through open, rugged terrain, winding paths littered with wildflowers, and cool, shady forests.

The highlight of this park is its 50-acre lake full of rainbow, brown, and brook trout. Locals come to fish and enjoy scenic strolls around this enormous lake, before heading to the glorious beach here. You can swim, rent a boat, or simply relax on the soft sands and soak up the delightful views from dawn to dusk.