Virginia's Most Stunning Fall Towns & Destinations

Virginia cities and towns show off when falls color shows up. Seasonal flavors grace restaurant menus while festivals held in and around downtown areas celebrate all there is to love about autumn.

We've put together a list of the top towns and destinations for experiencing an unforgettable fall in Virginia. Use this guide to get your fill of autumn-inspired foods, drinks, and activities.

CHARLOTTESVILLE | ROANOKE | BLACKSBURG
SOUTH BOSTON | WILLIAMSBURG | NEWPORT NEWS | CULPEPER
NORTON | WACHAPREAGUE | MIDDLESEX COUNTY | LOUDOUN COUNTY
 

CHARLOTTESVILLE

The Charlottesville area is the home of the University of Virginia, Monticello, Ash-Lawn Highland, a plethora of wineries, and a growing craft beer scene. Close to the southern entrance of Shenandoah National Park in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville offers extraordinary leaf peeping opportunities around every corner.

Eat: Citizen Burger Bar | The Whiskey Jar |  | Bizou | Public Fish & Oyster | C & O | The Local | Bodo’s Bagels

Stay: Boar's Head Resort | The Doyle Hotel | Graduate Charlottesville | The Draftsman

Play:  Monticello Wine Trail | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello | Monticello Country Ballooning | Carter Mountain Orchard

Keep planning your Cville getaway with our complete guide to visiting Charlottesville. 
 

ROANOKE

Tucked between the Blue Ridge Parkway and Allegheny Mountains, Roanoke offers plenty of outdoor recreation and amazing views. With over 400 miles of mountain biking trails in and around Roanoke, you'll find new trails to conquer every time you visit. You can also visit nearby Salem for more fall fun.

Eat: Scratch Biscuit Co. | Stock Cafe & Bar | The River and Rail | Sidecar

Stay: King George Inn B&B | Hotel Roanoke | Fire Station One Boutique Hotel

Play: Virginia's Blue Ridge Cheers Trail | Dixie Caverns  | Roanoke Valley Greenways

For more places to eat, stay, and play, check out our complete guide to visiting Roanoke. 
 

BLACKSBURG

Blacksburg is a sweet little mountain town — one of the best, according to Blue Ridge Country — tucked into Virginia's Blue Ridge Highlands. The town is part of the New River Valley and has a myriad of outdoor recreation experiences, from cycling and hiking to rock climbing and paddle boarding on the New River.

Eat: The Cellar Restaurant | Cabo Fish Taco | The Blacksburg  Tavern

Stay: The Inn at Virginia Tech Skelton Center | Main Street Inn | Blacksburg Bed & Breakfast

Play: Huckleberry Trail | The Lyric | Brush Mountain Wilderness | Beliveau Farm Winery

SOUTH BOSTON

South Boston boasts beautiful views and outdoor recreation with three rivers — the Dan, the Staunton, and the Banister — which make up the Southern Virginia Wild Blueway. Paddle along foliage-lined shores and take in the fall colors. 

Eat: Southern Plenty | Molasses Grill

Stay: Charles Bass House | Oak Grove Plantation B&B | Berry Hill Resort

Play: The Prizery | Southern Virginia Botanical Gardens | Shangrila Horseback Riding

WILLIAMSBURG & YORKTOWN

Williamsburg and Yorktown are two points of Virginia's Historic Triangle, along with Jamestown. A visit to either (or both!) towns in autumn makes for an ideal afternoon of beautiful foliage and bountiful history. Plus, visiting away from the summer months could mean cooler temperatures to enjoy outdoor adventures. 

Eat: Yorktown Pub | Two Drummers Smokehouse | Blue Talon Bistro | Fat Canary

Stay:  York River Inn B&B | Williamsburg Lodge | Kingsmill Resort

Play: Colonial Parkway | Colonial Williamsburg | Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Keep planning your getaway with our complete guide to visiting Williamsburg. 

NEWPORT NEWS

Newport News is minutes from America's historic beginnings. Get to know this gem bounded by the James River and Hampton Roads harbor.

Eat: Al Fresco Ristorante | Fin | Schlesinger's Steaks

Stay: Marriott at City Center | Hilton Garden Inn

Play: Huntington Park-Beach | The Mariners' Museum & Park | Historic Endview | Virginia Living Museum

CULPEPER

Culpeper is a beautiful destination at the crossroads of Routes 15, 29, and 522. Visit for yourself to see why Virginia Living magazine called Culpeper "One of Virginia's Friendliest Towns." In the fall, Graves Mountain Lodge just outside Culpeper hosts their annual Harvest Apple Festival, a can't-miss event for those who truly love everything autumn.

Eat: It's About Thyme | Pinto Thai | Grill 309 | Frost Cafe

Stay: Thyme Inn | Suites at 249 | Waldon Hall

Play: Old House Vineyards | Stillhouse Distillery at Belmont Farm

Keep exploring Culpeper with our compete guide. 

NORTON

Norton is another great destination for outdoor recreation in the Heart of Appalachia region. Just climb to to the top of Flag Rock for a 1,000-foot view down into the town! The vantage point is absolutely perfect for foliage photography, as panoramic views allow you to take in both Virginia and Kentucky mountain scenery.

Eat: Snack Shack  |  Fishtales Family Restaurant   |  Woodbooger Grill

Stay: Days Inn

Play: Sugar Maple Bicycle Trail  |  Powell Valley Overlook  | High Knob Recreation Area and Lookout Tower

WACHAPREAGUE

Wachapreague is right around the mid-way point of Virginia's Eastern Shore, on the Atlantic Ocean side, but protected by barrier islands. The pace of life is slow and the wildlife is majestic. Fall is a migratory season and the birds love the Shore as a stopover point.

Eat: Wachapreague Island House Restaurant

Stay: Wachapreague Inn

Play: DayTrippers | Wachapreague Sport Fishing

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

Middlesex County is a great place to enjoy the bounty of the Chesapeake Bay. Bring your appetite for seafood and beautiful water views when you venture into Virginia's River Realm.

Eat: Merroir |  The Table at Wilton | Deltaville Tap & Raw Bar

Stay: River Cottage Rentals | Dockside Inn | The Chesapeake Inn

Play: Norton's Sailboat Charters | Piankatank River Golf Club | Urbanna Oyster Festival

LOUDOUN COUNTY

Coined DC's Wine Country, Loudoun County must have the greatest number of wineries of any Virginia county. At last count, there were more than 40!

Eat: Clyde's Willow Creek Farm (Broadlands) | Tuscarora Mill (Leesburg) | Celebration by Rupa Vira (Ashburn) 

Stay: Goodstone Inn | Lansdowne Resort | Salamander Middleburg

Play: Catoctin Creek Distilling Company | Wineries

Fill out your Loudoun County itinerary with our complete guide to visiting Middleburg. 

MORE TO LOVE

Virginia Towns & Counties to Explore

• Giles County – Home of Mountain Lake Lodge, the filming site of "Dirty Dancing" and a hotspot for fall colors 
• Staunton – Set off on the Virginia Scenic Railway for unforgettable views
• Nelson County – Access the Appalachian Trail plus plenty of craft beer, wine, and orchards
• Damascus – An outdoor paradise known as Trail Town USA
• Front Royal – If you enjoy fall's beauty from the water, head to the Canoe Capital of Virginia and paddle the Shenandoah River
• Dickenson County – Home to the "Grand Canyon of the South," the Russell Fork River, which divides Pine Mountain to create the largest canyon east of the Mississippi
• Floyd – Home of the most photographed site on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mabry Mill 
• Woodstock – Nicknamed Tree City USA, you can count on fall's colors to really shine

Fall City Destinations

• Alexandria – Stroll through Old Town and enjoy views from the banks of the Potomac 
• Fredericksburg – Add some history and boutique shopping to your fall getaway
• Richmond – Virginia's capital city isn't short on autumn charms
• Lynchburg – Vibrant foliage blankets the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains, plus take on scenic hiking and biking trails
• Harrisonburg – Enjoy tasty eats while taking in the colors of fall
• Virginia Beach – A vibrant city and an underrated fall getaway