9 Beautiful College Campuses around Virginia

Virginia’s endless beauty can be seen everywhere you look, from the mountains to the beaches, but often overlooked in the search for gorgeous scenery are college campuses in the Commonwealth.

With over 40 colleges and universities blanketing every region, prospective college students have plenty of options to choose from. But you don’t have to be a prospective student to appreciate the natural and architectural beauty found on university grounds.

Take a walk through these stunning college estates to experience some of the most beautiful college campuses in Virginia, plus check out our recommendations for more things to do nearby. 

Virginia Tech

Located In: Blacksburg

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly called Virginia Tech, is the third largest university in Virginia, with an average of about 31,000 undergraduate students. Over 2,600 hundred acres make up the main campus, with a wide oval yard called the Drillfield in the center of the grounds. The Hahn Horticulture Garden covers six acres with woods, cultivated gardens, and a 200 foot stream filled with fish. The woods consist mostly of maples and dwarf conifers, and the gardens are bursting with fragrant, bright flowers and unusual plant species.

Many of the buildings on the main campus at Virginia Tech incorporate Hokie Stone, a type of dolomite limestone found in Virginia that is mainly grey, with streaks of brown and pink running throughout. Since the 1990s, the Board of Visitors decided that all buildings built on campus should utilize Hokie Stone, and it was passed as policy in 2010. One of the most recognized buildings on the campus to use the stone is the fortress-like Burruss Hall, which operates as a hub for the college’s administrative staff.

More Things to Do in Blacksburg 

• Duck into shops along Main Street in Downtown Blacksburg, located right next to VT's main campus. 
• Conquer a nearby hike like Cascade Falls or McAfee Knob for more scenic beauty. 
• Get out on the water at Claytor Lake State Park, and camp out for the night in the lodge. 
• Cruise down the Huckleberry Trail, a 15-mile multipurpose trail that connects Blacksburg with Christiansburg

Visiting a Hokie? Use our complete guide to Blacksburg for where to stay, eat, and play. 

Emory & Henry

Located In: Emory

The private liberal arts college of Emory & Henry resides on 335 acres in the Appalachian highlands of Southwest Virginia. The central campus uses 168 acres of the land, and the remaining undeveloped land encircles the campus, providing an air of hidden beauty to the college grounds. The school maintains the intimate feel you would expect from a small private college, with a student body of about 1,100 undergraduates.

Founded in 1836, Emory & Henry has the distinction of being the oldest higher learning institution in Southwest Virginia, and the Central Campus is listed on both the Virginia Register of Historic Landmarks and the National Register of Historic Places. Confederate troops used the still-standing Wiley Hall, built in 1838, as a hospital during the Civil War.

More recent architecture echoes the grandeur of the original buildings, and include the James H. Brooks Field House and the McGlothlin Center for the Arts. In addition to marvelous architecture and history, the campus has natural beauty, with a duck pond thriving with wildlife year-round due to a spring that feeds into the pond.

More Things to Do in Washington County 

Emory is 15 minutes down the road from Abingdon, a small town with lots of cultural charm and quality restaurants. 

• Take in the haunted history — and compelling architecture — of Abingdon on a ghost tour. 
• See a show at the Barter Theatre, the State Theatre of Virginia. 
• Rent bikes and amble down the Virginia Creeper Trail, a mostly downhill mountainside trail through Southwest Virginia.

Washington and Lee University

Located In: Lexington

Washington and Lee University, a private liberal arts university in Lexington, sits on 325 acres between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. The college is in the famously beautiful Shenandoah Valley, so it is no surprise that this university made our list. The red brick Colonnade and the late Victorian-style Lee Chapel, named for Confederate General Robert E. Lee, are both registered as U.S. National Historic Landmarks, adding to the historic allure of the grounds.

W & L dates back to 1749, when it was originally founded as Augusta Academy, but later changed its name and relocated to the Lexington site in 1780. It is the second-oldest college in Virginia and the ninth-oldest higher learning institution in the U.S., but still keeps a small student body of roughly 2,000 undergraduate students.

More Things to Do in Lexington

• Explore the stores, galleries, and artisan shops dotting Lexington's Main Street. 
• Enjoy bluegrass under the stars at the Lime Kiln Theater. 
• Hop on the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail to try out some nearby local breweries.

For more recommendations, check out our small town guide to Lexington. 

William & Mary

Located In: Williamsburg 

As a public research university royally founded in 1693 by King William III and Queen Mary II, William & Mary carries the prestige of being the second oldest higher learning institution in America, after Harvard. Another impressive distinction for the school? Three United States Presidents, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler, received their education at William & Mary.

The school’s historic significance also shows in the architecture, such as the Wren Building, a structure built by famous British architect Christopher Wren. Although the original burned down a mere seven years after the school was established, it was rebuilt to match Wren’s specifications. In total, the campus stretches across 1,200 acres of grounds, and has three distinct sections, known as the Ancient, Old, and New Campuses. The majority of the grounds consist of woodlands and the impressive Lake Matoaka, and trails run throughout the property, allowing students and visitors to enjoy a peaceful stroll through the grounds.

The Crim Dell is another popular spot for scenery, with a charming wooden bridge arched across the pond. On warm, sunny afternoons, students can be found studying or playing games at the Sunken Garden on the Old Campus, a long section of perfectly manicured lawn lower than the surrounding grounds.

More Things to Do in Williamsburg

• 18th century history comes to life in Colonial Williamsburg, just steps from William & Mary. 
• Shop, eat, and explore the streets of Merchants Square (don't forget a jar of house dressing to take home from the iconic Cheese Shop). 
• Cruise down the Colonial Parkway and see the other sites that make up Virginia's Historic Triangle. 
• Get your thrills in at Busch Gardens Williamsburg or splash around at Water Country USA.

Our complete guide to visiting Williamsburg has even more recommendations for where to stay, top restaurants, and what to do while you're in town. 

University of Virginia

Located In: Charlottesville 

Designed by Thomas Jefferson and formally established in 1819, the University of Virginia covers 1,682 acres of grounds in Charlottesville and acts as a public-private university, with a portion of the funding coming from the Commonwealth of Virginia and the rest derived from tuition and alumni support.

The elegant architecture and rich history of the campus are world-renowned, with examples of its unique Jeffersonian architecture spread across the grounds. The academical village, along with Monticello, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The green stretch known as The Lawn (you can actually hear the capitalization in the pronunciation) leads up to the Palladian-style Rotunda, which draws inspiration from Rome’s Pantheon. The dome-like building was finished in 1826.

Old-fashioned dormitory rooms still in use flank The Lawn, one of which was the former residence of famous writer Edgar Allan Poe. With a student body of about 17,000 students, the university is in no way small, but the campus is spread over extensive grounds, allowing the school to retain a quaint yet sophisticated charm.

More Things to Do in Charlottesville

• Browse the shops of the pedestrian-friendly Historic Downtown Mall before sitting down for a meal or seeing a show at the Paramount Theater.
• Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's mountaintop home, is right up the street from the University. 
• You won't get the full UVA experience unless you stop by a bustling Bodo’s Bagels (just make sure you know your order before you get to the register).

Even the most seasoned Hoos should use our guide to visiting Charlottesville for trip inspiration. 

Hampden-Sydney College

Located In: Hampden-Sydney

One of only three four-year, all-men’s liberal arts colleges in the nation, Hampden-Sydney College's secluded campus is located just a few miles from the more developed town of Farmville. It is also the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the 10^th oldest college in America, and the last college founded before the start of the American Revolution. The school enrolls about 1,100 students on average, and the campus has expanded since its establishment in 1775 from 100 acres to 1,300 acres of lush lands surrounded by scenic woodlands.

With a noteworthy presence in the Civil War and part of the campus listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the school has a long, interesting history which is evident in the buildings. Two of the brick structures, Cushing Hall (built in 1822) and Venable Hall (1825), provide examples of Hampden-Sydney’s historic significance in architecture, but the real beauty at the college lies in the manicured, old-world landscape and picturesque grounds. A walk through Hampden-Sydney College acts as a portal through time, to an age where genteel southern tradition and untouched countryside were the rule rather than the exception.

More Things to Do in Farmville

• Stop by the Robert Russa Moton Museum to learn about the student-led strike and legal movement that would be included in the future Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court Case. The museum is included on the US Civil Rights Trail. 
• Rent bikes and explore the High Bridge Trail — if you stick on it for around five miles, you'll get to the trail's titular bridge that crosses the Appomattox River 125 feet in the air. 
• Browse Green Front Furniture Company for a shopping experience like no other. The campus is located across 16 buildings and warehouses, spanning all kinds of furniture styles. 

Keep planning your trip with our road trip guide to Farmville and Appomattox (around 15 and 30 minutes from Hampden-Sydney, respectively). 

James Madison University

Located In: Harrisonburg 

James Madison University, a public research university with about 20,000 undergraduate students, has a complex history, with many notable changes occurring since its foundation as the State Normal & Industrial School for Women in 1908. Over the years, the name changed to Madison College in 1938, the college became co-ed in 1946, and in 1977, the school finally altered the name to its current title. The buildings grew from the original two, Jackson and Maury Halls, to more than 148 major buildings spanning the 721 acre campus.

But what hasn’t changed over the years is the stunning campus scenery, located in the pristine town of Harrisonburg in the Shenandoah Valley. The grounds include Newman Lake and the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, over 120 acres of urban botanical preserve within Harrisonburg that features lush botanical gardens and 92 acres of quiet forests. Wilson Hall, named after former President Woodrow Wilson, is the centerpiece of the university’s main quad, and students spend their free time on sunny days hanging out on the university’s expansive lawn.

More Things to Do in Harrisonburg

• Head to the Shops at Agora for browsing (we won't tell if you treat yourself). 
• If you've got little ones in your group, they'll love the Explore More Discovery Museum, a children's museum like no other. 
• Drive to nearby White Oak Lavender Farm to walk amongst fields of lavender and shop a variety of wellness products. Don't miss the on-site Purple WOLF Vineyard.

Keep exploring the Friendly City with our complete Harrisonburg guide. 

University of Richmond

Located In: Richmond

The 350 acres of grounds at University of Richmond were the work of American landscape designer Warren H. Manning, and the results are both impressive and beautiful. The private university sits alongside the waters of Westhampton Lake, reflecting the red brick, Gothic-style buildings of the university. Famous architect Ralph Adams Cram conceived a few of these magnificent buildings, including Jeter Hall, one of the student housing locations. The school was established in 1830, but actually moved to its current location from central Richmond in 1914. Though the city of Richmond has grown steadily, the university managed to preserve the quiet grounds over the next century. When you wander the University of Richmond grounds nowadays, it is easy to forget you are in the bustling capital city of Virginia.

More Things to Do in Richmond

• Walk through Carytown, a shopping district with boutique stores and plenty of restaurants. 
• Explore the galleries of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (free and open 365 days a year) — and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture is right next door. 
• Set up a picnic and see the wildlife at Maymont, home to a Gilded Age estate with stunning and expansive gardens. 

Use our complete guide to visiting Richmond to fill out your River City itinerary. 

Sweet Briar College

Located In: Sweet Briar

The informal sister school to Hampden-Sydney, Sweet Briar College was established in 1901 as a women-only higher learning institution. The campus consists of 3,250 acres of grounds near the Blue Ridge Mountains, with wide green lawns and carefully maintained gardens spread across the campus. Sweet Briar’s world-renowned equestrian program adds to the beauty of the campus, with rolling meadows, pristine practice grounds, and stables stocked with the resident horses available for students interested in learning to ride. With 21 of the 30 buildings on the campus listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, Sweet Briar’s architectural elements complement the natural beauty of the grounds.

More Things to Do near Sweet Briar

Around 20 minutes down the road from Sweet Briar you'll find Lynchburg, a small city with a lot more going on than might meet the eye. 

• Walk the Riverwalk Trail to Percival’s Island on the James.
• Visit the Lynchburg Museum & Visitor Center and the Legacy Museum of African American History to learn more about Lynchburg's history.
• Explore Thomas Jefferson's lesser-known retreat, Poplar Forest.

 
Whether they are small, private colleges or larger public universities, these schools know how to make the most out of Virginia’s breathtaking scenery. Take a tour of the grounds at a few of these educational landmarks and discover the beauty of the Commonwealth’s collegiate destinations.