Overview
Central Virginia, also known as the Piedmont, is the largest region of the state of Virginia and contains the state capital, Richmond. It is marked on the east by the Fall Line, and on the west by the Appalachian Mountains. The southern part of this region, bordering on North Carolina, is generally referred to in the state as "Southside Virginia".
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 29°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Aug and Jun.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CHO Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, Charlottesville — 27 mi away. Directions
- SHD Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport, Weyers Cave — 50 mi away. Directions
- RIC Richmond International Airport, Richmond — 51 mi away (major hub). Directions
Richmond International Airport (RIC) is the largest airport in Central Virginia with flights from most of the United States. International flights to Canada and Mexico are sometimes seasonally available. This is usually the cheapest airport to fly to and from in Central Virginia.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: Charlottesville — The University of Virginia, Monticello, James Monroe's Highland.
- Day 2: Lynchburg — Historic Sandusky, Lynchburg Museum, Maier Museum of Art.
- Day 3: Farmville — Robert Russa Moton Museum, Longwood University, Hampden-Sydney College.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Food for you
If visiting the shopping district of Historic Fredericksburg, all of the restaurants on Caroline St. are popular with locals.
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Places in Central Virginia
Charlottesville
City / town · 104 listings
Lynchburg
City / town · 63 listings
Farmville
City / town · 18 listings
Culpeper
City / town · 14 listings
Ashland
City / town · 14 listings
Bedford
City / town · 12 listings
Danville
City / town · 11 listings
Doswell
City / town · 11 listings
Hanover
City / town · 8 listings
Blackstone
City / town · 8 listings
Crewe
City / town · 7 listings
Petersburg
City / town · 6 listings
Richmond
City / town · 6 listings
Elkwood
City / town · 6 listings
Lake Country
Rural area · 5 listings
Amherst
City / town · 2 listings
Locust Dale
City / town · 2 listings
Understand
Richmond began as a small trading town on the James River, at the Fall Line, where ships could no longer progress inland. Cities such as Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Martinsville grew as trade centers on roads traveled by pioneers heading west through gaps in the Appalachian Mountains.
The capital of Virginia was moved from Williamsburg to Richmond during the Revolutionary War, as it was inland and was safe from the firepower of the British Navy (it was captured by the British Army at a later date). Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death," speech took place at St. John's Church.
Richmond was named the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War. In the spring of 1865, the city was captured and burned by Union Forces. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, east of Lynchburg, shortly after.
Other destinations
- Lake Country (Virginia)
Get in
By plane
Richmond International Airport (RIC) is the largest airport in Central Virginia with flights from most of the United States. International flights to Canada and Mexico are sometimes seasonally available. This is usually the cheapest airport to fly to and from in Central Virginia.
By train
Amtrak offers several lines that run through central Virginia. The crescent originating in New Orleans Louisiana and running to New York City has stops in Danville and Lynchburg. The Staples Mill Road station in Richmond is serviced by the Silver Star and the Palmetto, providing service up and down the east coast.
By car
Central Virginia is served by two interstate highways. I 64 runs from West Virginia to the west and Norfolk to the east while I-95 runs north/south from Florida all the way up the East Coast of the United States.
Get around
- Interstate 95 runs through the region north and south.
- Interstate 64 runs through the region east and west.
- Route 29 runs from Charlottesville via Lynchburg to Danville.
See
- Appomattox Court House National Historic Park, Appomattox, Virginia. The site of the surrender of the Confederate forces, marking the end of the Civil War, is restored to tell the story of that day.
- Fairy Stone State Park, west of Martinsville, Virginia. Located near the southern border, Fairy Stone State Park is named for the unique cross-shaped brown crystals found here. Local legends claim they guard against sickness and danger.
- Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia. The house depicted on the back of the nickel is more than yet another Presidential residence. Monticello reflects a wide variety of third President Thomas Jefferson's interests and hobbies, including his inventions, the neo-classical architecture repeated at UVA, and mementos from the William and Clark expedition.
- National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, Virginia. Bedford was chosen for the memorial for having lost more young men during the invasion of Normandy than any other town in America, per capita.
Do
- Fairy Stone State Park, near Martinsville, is home to the mysterious "fairy stones", or staurolite. The stone, prevalent in the region, may have the St. Andrew's or Roman shape.
- Kings Dominion, Doswell, Virginia. One of Virginia's two nationally known theme parks.
- Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Virginia. The other nationally known theme park.
- Scott's Addition, Richmond, Virginia. Well known neighborhood for local craft alcohol scene of breweries, cideries, meaderies, and distilleries, all of which are walkable between each other.
Eat
If visiting the shopping district of Historic Fredericksburg, all of the restaurants on Caroline St. are popular with locals.
Drink
Central Virginia is home to a booming wine industry, centered around the Charlottesville area.
- Barboursville Vineyards, Barboursville, Virginia. A vineyard set on a historic estate in Jefferson country.
- Buskey Cider, Richmond, Virginia. A local craft cidery serving pints in an industrial setting in the historic Scott's Addition neighborhood.
Stay safe
Richmond has some issues with crime, though you can have a perfectly safe trip if you brush up on where the sketchy neighborhoods are.
Cities and towns
- Ashland
- Blackstone
- Charlottesville
- Crewe
- Culpeper
- Danville
- Doswell
- Elkwood
- Farmville
- Hanover
- Lynchburg
- Martinsville
- Petersburg
- Richmond
- Amherst
- Locust Dale
- Southampton County
Nearby
Thornburg
City / town · 3 listings · 42 mi away
Waynesboro
City / town · 10 listings · 43 mi away
Stuarts Draft
City / town · 7 listings · 49 mi away
Shenandoah National Park
Park · 32 listings · 50 mi away
Fredericksburg
City / town · 48 listings · 51 mi away
Staunton
City / town · 34 listings · 54 mi away
Harrisonburg
City / town · 17 listings · 58 mi away
Bridgewater
City / town · 2 listings · 59 mi away
My experience
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