Eight Scenic Drives for Virginia History

Really any drive through Virginia is a historical one, but these eight routes are especially loaded with attractions and scenic opportunities. No matter the direction you're headed, you can find a great amount of Virginia history along the way.

Here are our recommendations for scenic drives in Virginia to add some history to your road trip. 

Journey Through Hallowed Ground

A trek down US Route 15 will put you on the Journey Through Hallowed Ground, one of the most historically significant drives in America.  The National Heritage Area actually includes land from Monticello all the way to Gettysburg, PA.

Notable Sites along the Journey Through Hallowed Ground

• Explore and reflect at Monticello near Charlottesville
• Admire Shenandoah National Park
• Learn something new at the Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum in Gordonsville

Road to Revolution Heritage Trail

The Road to Revolution Heritage Trail can take you on a historical trip through Central, Northern, and Coastal Virginia. Trail highlights include the presidential home heavy-hitters and key sites in Revolutionary history.

Notable Sites along the Road to Revolution Heritage Trail 

• Presidential homes includes Monticello, Mount Vernon, and Montpelier
• Re-live Patrick Henry's iconic speech at Historic St. John's Church in Richmond 
• Follow Jack Jouett's ride across Louisa County to warn of approaching British troops 

Get the map to start exploring.

U.S. Civil Rights Trail

Head south from Richmond to explore the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. The trail covers 300 miles and 41 sites across several states. There are six Virginia localities included on the trail. 

Notable Sites along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail

• Take a walking tour to catch over 20 stops on the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail
• Explore student Civil Rights stories at the Robert Russa Moton Museum in Farmville
• Learn the stories of barrier breakers like Irene Morgan and T.C. Walker at the Gloucester Museum of History

Find more Virginia sites on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. 

Jamestown Discovery Trail

East from Richmond is the Jamestown Discovery Trail, which follows US Route 5. Sites along the way include presidential homes, plantations, and Native American sites. The trail ends at Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne.

Notable Sites along the Jamestown Discovery Trail

• Discover Civil War history at the sites included in Richmond National Battlefield Park
• Explore one of the oldest three-story brick homes in Virginia, Berkeley Plantation in Charles City
• Get hands-on at the Historic Jamestowne site

Coal Heritage Trail

Along the 300 miles included on the Coal Heritage Trail, you can explore a range of attractions that demonstrate the influence of coal on the region. See mining equipment, railroad buildings, and more historic items at places like the Harry W. Meador Coal Museum in Big Stone Gap and the Pocahontas Exhibition Mine and Museum in Pocahontas.

Notable Sites along the Coal Heritage Trail

• See mining equipment and railroad buildings at the Harry W. Meador Coal Museum in Big Stone Gap
• Explore the Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine (open seasonally)
• Stop by the Southwest Virginia Museum, part of the Virginia State Park system

Use this trail map to start planning.

Crooked Road Heritage Music Trail

Find your next top artist on the Crooked Road Heritage Music Trail, which spans more than 300 miles and connects 60 venues of varying sizes. Learn about the musical history of the region all while tapping your toes to some quality Appalachian old time and bluegrass music.

Notable Sites along the Crooked Road

• Attend a performance at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons
• Visit the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol
• Enjoy a show at the historic Rex Theater in Galax
• Experience old-time music at the Floyd Country Store in Floyd

Find more ways to play along the Crooked Road. 

Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail

The Wilderness Road traces the primary route taken by western settlers as they moved down the Shenandoah Valley and into the Southwest Virginia area. A total of 23 localities on this trail down US Route 11 and into the Blue Ridge Highlands gives you plenty of options for a weekend trip.

Notable Sites along the Wilderness Road

• Take a picture on the Virginia-Tennessee line on State Street in Bristol 
• Experience the wonders of Natural Tunnel State Park
• Explore Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Virginia Civil War Trails

Civil War Trails span all across Virginia, branching off this way and that. Look out for interpretive signs that could lead you down back roads to battlefields, museums, and more historic sites.

Notable Sites along Virginia Civil War Trails 

• See markers commemorating the March 1862 Battle of Hampton Roads, which is known for having the first action between two ironclad ships
• Explore Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
• Head out on a battlefield hike to stretch your legs and take in some history