In the summer, when the weather is hot, and the sun is high in the sky, it's a terrific time for a road trip. There are many beautiful scenic roads and byways all across Virginia. From short drives, such as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, to lengthy trips, such as the Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia has a summer road journey for you. This article provides a list of some of Virginia’s favorite scenic roads and byways, grouped by the length of the road. Enjoy a summer of wonderful drives!
Shorter Scenic Routes
Virginia has many beautiful scenic roads that are under 50 miles long. A favorite on Virginia’s coast is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, opens a new window. At 17.6 miles long, the CBBT connects Virginia Beach to the Delmarva Peninsula, ending at Cape Charles. The CBBT is a combination of bridge and tunnel, with most of its length running below the water, with the above-ground segments on synthetic islands. It makes for an enjoyable drive, partly because it does not have any traffic lights, opens a new window thoroughout the entire tunnel.
In Southwest Virginia (SWVA), you can visit Big Walker Mountain Scenic Byway, opens a new window. Located in Wytheville, the 16-mile road goes through part of Jefferson National Forest, opens a new window. At the highest point of the byway, you can stop to visit Big Walker Lookout, opens a new window for some spectacular views, ice cream, and souvenirs.
There are other short scenic byways in the Old Dominion. For a slightly longer drive through Southwest Virginia, try the Back of the Dragon, opens a new window. A 32-mile road from Tazewell to Marion, it offers spectacular scenery and challenging curves. It’s a particularly recommended for sports cars and motorcycles, allowing drivers to feel the power and handling of their machines.
Another good choice in the western part of Virginia is the Highlands Scenic Byway, opens a new window. It is a 19-mile loop between Alleghany County and the city of Lexington that provides beautiful mountain views and access to Falling Springs Falls, opens a new window.
Another recommended scenic road on Virginia’s coast is the Colonial Parkway, opens a new window. Taking this 23-mile route allows you to see the historic sites of Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and the Yorktown Battlefield all on one trip. Parts of the parkway are currently under repair and may require detours, opens a new window, but this work should be finished by fall of 2026.
Medium-Length Journeys
There’s also a wealth of scenic roads over 40 miles long in Virginia. One of the most memorable is the Mount Rogers Scenic Byway, opens a new window. At the extreme southwest corner of Virginia, this 45-mile road goes through Mount Rogers National Recreation Area., opens a new window Near the state's borders with Tennessee and North Carolina, you’ll drive through a well-preserved national forest with numerous trails and the highest peaks in Virginia. Another beloved medium-length road is the John Marshall Highway, opens a new window. A roughly 65-mile, opens a new window highway, it connects to Manassas Battlefield National Park, opens a new window and Great Meadow, opens a new window equestrian venue.
More enjoyable medium-length scenic roads can be found across our state. The Nelson Scenic Loop, opens a new window is a 50-mile drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains in Nelson County that can also be biked, if you want a serious workout. Along the way, you can visit Crabtree Falls, opens a new window, the tallest waterfall in Virginia. Scenic views of many of the most spectacular, opens a new window mountains in the Blue Ridge can be found on this route.
For a look back into Virginia’s history, visit the James River Plantations,, opens a new window along Route 5, opens a new window in Charles City County. Five historic plantations, dating as far back as 1726,, opens a new window can be visited on this byway, as well as a 250-year-old courthouse. Enjoy this 55-mile-long road and see the centuries of Virginia’s past, adjacent to Virginia's "Historic Triangle" of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. This section is also home to the "Sherwood Forest", opens a new window portion of the Virginia Capital Trail,, opens a new window popular with cyclists, walkers, and skaters.
Long Travels on Epic Roads
Some long and beautiful scenic drives can be found in Virginia for drivers who want to experience an epic car trek. An excellent long scenic road to start with is Skyline Drive, opens a new window in Shenandoah National Park. An 105-mile stretch of road, Skyline Drive goes through one of the largest remaining uninterrupted wilderness areas in eastern North America. You can only enter Shenandoah National Park at four points, opens a new window, and the road takes about three hours to complete, so expect it to be the main activity of the day you choose this drive. Along the way, you can visit a peregrine falcon, opens a new window nesting site, hike, opens a new window the Appalachian Trail, and stargaze, opens a new window in some of the cleanest skies in Virginia.
The Crooked Road, opens a new window is an even more expansive scenic road, to the point that it cannot be completed in a day. Spanning 330 miles across Southwest Virginia, the Crooked Road is promoted as Virginia’s heritage music trail. Many noteworthy music venues and museums can be found on it, including the Blue Ridge Music Center, opens a new window, the Country Cabin, opens a new window, the Ralph Stanley Museum, opens a new window, and the Rex Theater, opens a new window. The Crooked Road has expanded over the past 2 decades to now span over 19 counties, opens a new window and 60 music venues.
The longest of all of Virginia’s scenic roads is the Blue Ridge Parkway, opens a new window. Spanning 469 miles, the Parkway should not be rushed, but taken leisurely and savored. There are dozens of beautiful sites to see along the road. You can visit Peaks of Otter, opens a new window and stay at the Peaks of Otter Lodge, opens a new window for a pet-friendly rest amidst the beautiful mountain scenery. The route also includes Luray Caverns, opens a new window, the largest cave system in eastern North America. These are not the only caverns on the Blue Ridge Parkway; you can also visit the Shenandoah Caverns, opens a new window, Skyline Caverns, opens a new window, and Grand Caverns, opens a new window along the Parkway. Memories of early American history can be found along the route, including Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, opens a new window and Poplar Forest, opens a new window.
Animal and wilderness attractions are a major draw along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Virginia Safari Park, opens a new window, Virginia’s only remaining drive-thru zoo, can be found on the Parkway, as can the Natural Bridge Zoo, opens a new window. You can even visit Dinosaur Land, opens a new window to get a glimpse at creatures that once roamed the Earth long ago. But some of the best experiences in the Blue Ridge are simply the hiking trails themselves. You can find hiking trails, opens a new window of many different lengths in this region, from less than a mile to over 10 miles in length. Be sure to check the road conditions, opens a new window and weather, opens a new window before planning your trip.
With all these beautiful scenic routes available, you’re sure to find a great road trip in Virginia to suit you. Scenic drives are available all over our state in any length you might want to take. You can see the many different aspects of Virginia’s landscape, nature, and culture along the way. Take a drive this summer and enjoy the best things our state has to offer!
These books can help guide your way:
