Plan a Civil Rights Road Trip through Virginia for America's 250th

Hop in the car and get your playlist ready — there’s no better time for a family road trip than this summer in Virginia. And with America’s 250^th birthday making headlines, there are historic attractions all around the state to make your trip even more fun (and maybe learn something new, too).

Virginia’s sites on the Civil Rights Trail span charming small towns and vibrant cities, offering families the chance to pair historic discovery with hands‑on learning, walkable downtowns, and nearby attractions. Walk in the footsteps of students, community leaders, and everyday Americans who helped expand freedom and equality, connecting the country’s founding ideals with the ongoing pursuit of civil rights in America.

The good news: We’re taking care of the hard part. Use our itinerary to trace American history through Virginia’s spots on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. Get all the details, including where to eat, play, and stay along the way, below.

Pro tip: Our itinerary is designed for an action-packed long weekend, but we’ve included more things to do in each spot if you want to extend your trip — or take it one location at a time!

Day 1: Fredericksburg to Bowling Green to Richmond

Total Drive Time: ~1.5 hours

Morning: Fredericksburg

Spend the morning exploring the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail with a walk through the historic downtown district. Visit Shiloh Baptist Church, a center of Black community since 1815, and reflect at several sites of sit-in protests during the Civil Rights Movement.

On your way out of town, you can pass other spots on the trail, like the campus of the University of Mary Washington, where the architect of the Freedom Rides, James L. Farmer Jr., served as a distinguished professor of history. 

Where to Eat in Fredericksburg

• Near Historic Downtown Fredericksburg: Mercantile, Soup & Taco, Brock’s Riverside Grill
• Near UMW: Basilico New York Deli, Crazy Dumpling, Freddy’s

More Family-Friendly Things to Do in Fredericksburg

• Find go karts, bumper cars, laser tag, batting cages, putt putt, and more at Funland
• Travel back in time to the 80s at Reclaim Arcade
• Catch a Fred Nats home game during baseball season

Find more Fredericksburg fun in our complete guide.

Afternoon: Bowling Green

On your way to Richmond, make a stop in Bowling Green to learn how the landmark Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia changed marriage rights nationwide at the Caroline County Historic Courthouse Campus.

The campus includes the sites where Richard and Mildred Loving, a white man and a Black woman, were arrested, tried, and briefly jailed for the crime of getting married.

Evening: Richmond

Once in Richmond, check into your hotel and be ready for the next day of exploration.

Overnight: Richmond — stay at Quirk Hotel or the Graduate.

Day 2: Richmond to Farmville

Total Drive Time: ~2 hours

Morning: Richmond

Start at the Virginia State Capitol Building and see the statue of the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial. Notice Barbara Johns, a student protest leader from Farmville — you’ll learn more about her in the afternoon.   

Make your way to Jackson Ward, a historic neighborhood once known as the Harlem of the South for its influence in Black culture and business. It’s also where you’ll find the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia.

Where to Eat in Richmond

• Near the Capitol: Sefton Coffee Company, Native Plate, Charlotte’s Southern Deli
• Near Jackson Ward: Mama J’s, Buna Kurs Ethiopian Cafe

More Family-Friendly Things to Do in Richmond

• Explore more of the past at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and see art at the nearby Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
• Spend time outdoors at Maymont (don’t miss the Robins Nature Center and farm with goats and cows)
• Shop from local businesses in the Carytown neighborhood

For more Richmond fun, check out our complete guide.

Afternoon: Drive to Farmville

Your time spent in Farmville will immerse you in the fight for equality in education during the Civil Rights Movement. The former Moton High School is now home to the Robert Russa Moton Museum, where in 1951 students organized a non-violent demonstration which led all the way to the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education.

Overnight: Farmville — Stay at Hotel Weyanoke in Downtown Farmville.

Day 3: Farmville to Danville

Total Drive Time: ~1.5 hours

Morning: Farmville

Explore more stories of Virginians who made strides towards equality at the Heartland Regional Visitor Center. From there, you’ll have some time to explore the quaint downtown area.  

Where to Eat in Farmville

• Charley’s Waterfront Café
• The Fox and Lamb
• The Fishin’ Pig

More Family-Friendly Things to Do near Farmville

• Bring bikes and explore High Bridge Trail State Park, a former rail bed turned multi-use trail
• Take a stroll along the Dogwood Trail
• Tackle the ropes course at the Adventure Park at Sandy River Outdoor Adventures

Afternoon: Danville

Arrive in Danville, the site of several Civil Rights demonstrations which garnered national attention. Trace how the Danville Christian Progressive Association and activist groups marched, argued, and fought for equal rights at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History. The museum building itself used to be a segregated library, the site of a sit-in by Black high school students in 1960. 

Where to Eat in Danville

• Cotton at Riverside Mill
• Golden Leaf Bistro
• Moon River Thai

More Family-Friendly Things to Do in Danville

• Walk the Riverwalk Trail for views of the Dan and connections between parks
• Visit the Danville Science Center for more educational fun

Keep your Civil Rights road trip going by visiting all of Virginia’s sites on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail and see how you can find history for everything you love in Virginia.