The Ultimate 7 Day Virginia Road Trip Guide

Thinking about a Virginia road trip? You’ve come to the right place!

Road trips don’t always have to cross state lines! Virginia is such a big state that has many things to do you can easily fill a week-long road trip.

There are so many fantastic places to visit in Virginia, especially with kids. A Virginia road trip is perfect for every family, from the mountains to the shore and all of the historical sites in between.

We’ve been all over Virginia, and have enjoyed everything the state has to offer. But if you can only visit Virginia once, this is the best way to see and enjoy this beautiful state.

The guide below shares shares multiple options for road tripping through Virginia with kids including the best sites to see and where to stay overnight. So let’s dive in!

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7 Day Virginia Road Trip Itinerary Overview

The below Virginia road trip could be longer than 7 days, but we maximized your time at each location, giving you a taste of everything Virginia has to offer.

However, there are so many amazing places to see in Virginia that you might want to spend a few days or more at each location.

• Day One: Start at Arlington Cemetery then explore Alexandria in the afternoon and evening
• Day Two: Drive to Shenandoah National Park and do one or two of the awesome hikes (like Dark Hollow Falls)
• Day Three: Visit Luray in the morning and drive to Natural Bridge in the afternoon
• Day Four: Visit Monticello in the morning and enjoy an evening in Charlottesville
• Days Five: & Six: Drive to Williamsburg and spend the rest of the day at Busch Gardens. Spend the next day exploring Colonial Williamsburg.
• Day Seven: Finish up with a short drive to Virginia Beach to relax by the ocean!

7 Day Road Trip Through Virginia Itinerary

Day One: Arlington & Alexandria

In Arlington, the big draw is Arlington Cemetery. While you can visit Arlington Cemetery on your own, we recommend taking the hop-on/hop-off tour.

The tour guides offer interesting facts and history about the property and the individuals interred there.

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As one of the oldest towns in America, Alexandria is brimming with historical charm.

Take the King Street trolley (FREE!) down to the waterfront and enjoy the several shops and restaurants (we loved the Blackwall Hitch along the Potomac River).

Gadsby’s Tavern and other historic sites in Old Town are available for tours.

Day Two: Shenandoah National Park

It’s about 2 hours to drive from Alexandria to the Thornton Gap entrance of Shenandoah National Park. This section has plenty of ways to spend a day in Shenandoah National Park, including some of the most popular hiking trails, like Dark Hollow Falls and Old Rag.

If you have some time at the end of the day, cruise along Skyline Drive (listen to this audio tour along the way) to take in the sunset at one of the many overlooks before heading to your hotel.

Keep in mind there is a fee to enter the park. However, if you have a National Park Pass or an Every Kid in the Park Pass, you can enter with no charge.

Day Three: Luray Caverns & Natural Bridge State Park

There are several caves in Virginia to visit, but Luray Caverns is the largest and most-popular. Get an early reservation to explore this massive cavern.

You should also have time to explore the other activities on site and grab a bite to eat before heading to your next stop.

If you want to spend more time in Luray, or just want a break from driving, you can skip the next spot and head right to your hotel in Charlottesville. But we wouldn’t recommend it!

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Natural Bridge State Park is a popular trail features a gorgeous rock bridge over Cedar Creek. The 1.6-mile out-and-back paved trail is family-friendly and ends with an overlook of the Lace Falls.

Although the trail is short, there are 137 steps to climb down (and then back up) to see the natural bridge. If you’re worn out from hiking the day before, you might want to skip this spot!

There is a fee to visit Natural Bridge State Park. At time of publication it is $9 for everyone 13 and older and $6 for kids ages 3-12.

After your visit to Natural Bridge, drive the 1.25 hours to Charlottesville to check in for your next hotel. At least this stop will be for two nights!

Day Four: Charlottesville

Your first stop in Charlottesville will be Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. It’ll take a few hours to explore the entire property. Thankfully, there is a delicious café on site to eat lunch.

After Monticello, take the time to explore Downtown Charlottesville. There several restaurants and shopping and also the Virginia Discovery Museum for kids if you have time! You can even do a ghost tour around Charlottesville if that’s your thing.

Days Five & Six: Williamsburg

We’re giving two days to this stop because there is so many things to do in Williamsburg!

We think you head straight to Busch Gardens for the day. This beautiful amusement park is known both for its atmosphere and rides. We personally loved riding Verbolten and then grabbing lunch or dinner Das Festhaus.

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On day six, head to Colonial Williamsburg. This might be one of my favorite places in Virginia. The historic buildings and the interpreters dressed for the time period make you feel like you’ve transported back in time.

Day Seven: Virginia Beach

It’s not a far drive from Williamsburg to Virginia Beach. And you’ve earned this day to relax on the sand and enjoy the view of the ocean.

Of course, you might also enjoy a stroll along the boardwalk or checking out all of the fun along Atlantic and Pacific Avenues. That’s up to you!

Do You Have More Time in Virginia? Add These Stops

Norfolk

Not far from Williamsburg or Virginia Beach, Norfolk offers plenty of things to do.

For more fun, drive into Norfolk and visit the Hampton Roads Naval Museum or the Chrysler Museum of Art, both of which have FREE admission!

Richmond

Richmond, the capital of Virginia, offers many fun things to do for families. The city is small enough to get around easily but big enough to fill your day with activity.

With several museums like the American Civil War Museum, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Children’s Museum of Richmond, you can beat the heat or rain and still get to learn about the city.

And for the nature lover, take a stroll along the trails on Belle Isle in the James River. You can get some great views of the city skyline on the northeastern side of the isle.

Virginia Road Trip: Map of Places to Visit in Virginia

How to Get Around Virginia

The best way to get around Virginia, especially for this 7 day road trip, is by car! All of the roads on this road trip itinerary are paved, but some can be very windy. Like any road trip, you want to be prepared before you get on the road.

You’ll also want to plan for tolls by using this website. EZ Pass is accepted at every toll booth in Virginia. If you don’t have EZ Pass, some tolls are bill-by-license plates, while others are exact change only.

The Best Time to Go on a Virginia Road Trip

Most of the stops on this 7 day road trip through Virginia are outside, so you’ll want to visit during nicer weather. Although Virginia winters aren’t always too harsh, Skyline Drive occasionally closes due to inclement weather.

Ideally, you’ll plan your trip sometime between late spring through early fall. That’ll give you the best weather to enjoy the trip. Keep in mind, summer will be very hot, in even the mountains, so plan accordingly with extra water and cooler clothing.

What to Pack for a Virginia Road Trip

Packing for a road trip through Virginia might be tricky, considering its multiple different geographic regions.

Some of the best places to visit in Virginia are the mountains and the beaches. As you plan your Virginia road trip, keep in mind what activities you’ll be participating in. Shenandoah National park has some great hikes. And you’ll definitely want your swimsuit for Virginia Beach.

If you plan to do everything on the itinerary, make sure to pack the following:

And like any good road trip, don’t forget the snacks!

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