Overview
Damascus is a town in Southwest Virginia.
1 things to do · 9 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Damascus
Virginia Creeper Trail
The Virginia Creeper Trail was originally a railroad track, but has been converted to a hiking and biking trail. Damascus is in-between the two end-points - Abingdon and White Mountain. The White Mountain to Damascus 17 …
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 79°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Wettest: Sep and Jun. (climate data from nearby Boone)
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.
- TRI Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport, Blountville — 36 mi away. Directions
- BKW Raleigh County Memorial Airport, Beaver — 88 mi away. Directions
- CLT Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte — 109 mi away (major hub). Directions
Damascus is on US 58, roughly a 20-minute drive from Interstate 81 and Abingdon.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
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
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Damascus is a popular pit stop for hikers on the Appalachian Trail. The downtown is quite picturesque, with homes and churches that date from its heyday as a stop on the Norfolk & Western Railway's spur line that ran from Abingdon VA to West Jefferson NC until the mid-1970s. The former rail bed through the town has been converted into a walking and biking path called the Virginia Creeper Trail.
Get in
Damascus is on US 58, roughly a 20-minute drive from Interstate 81 and Abingdon.
On the eastern side of town, drivers have the option of staying on US 58 into Grayson County VA or turning south into Johnson County TN. US 58 becomes extremely curvy outside of Damascus heading east, with signs advising truck drivers to take an alternate route.
The road into Tennessee (TN 91) has some relatively gentle curves along the Big Laurel Creek and then straightens out as it goes through Laurel Bloomery TN into Mountain City.
The closest commercial airport is Tri-Cities Regional Airport near Blountville TN, between Johnson City TN and Bristol VA.
Do
Do Virginia Creeper Trail
The Virginia Creeper Trail was originally a railroad track, but has been converted to a hiking and biking trail. Damascus is in-between the two end-points - Abingdon and White Mountain. The White Mountain to Damascus 17 mile segment is almost uniformly descending from White Mountain. In Damascus, you can rent bikes and get a ride (with the bikes towed) to White Mountain, and from there it's an easy downhill bike ride which can last 2 - 3 hours or more, depending on how leisurely you proceed. The Abingdon to Damascus 17 mile segment descends from Abingdon to Alvarado, and from there there is a small gain in elevation to Damascus. The Abingdon to Alvarado segment is purported to be the most scenic segment in the entire trail. Note that Hurricane Helene swept through in Sept 2024, causing severe damage to the trail, and connecting bridges. The Abingdon to Damascus section is now open, while the Damascus to Whitetop section is expected to have the repairs to it completed in Nov 2026
Sleep
The nearest major chain hotels are located about a 20-minute drive west on US 58, at the Abingdon/Damascus exit on Interstate 81.
Bed & Breakfasts
Stay The Victorian Inn
A Victorian style home built in 1903. This bed and breakfast offers 2 rooms for rent.
Campgrounds
Hostels
Inns
Stay The Inn on Creeper Way
3 bedroom, 2 bath on the Creeper Trail. It rents to groups and is not a nightly rental. 2 day minimum
Go next
Nearby
Mountain City
City / town · 2 listings · 11 mi away
Bristol
City / town · 10 listings · 23 mi away
Jefferson
City / town · 2 listings · 23 mi away
West Jefferson
City / town · 6 listings · 23 mi away
Boone
City / town · 39 listings · 30 mi away
Elizabethton
City / town · 4 listings · 33 mi away
Blowing Rock
City / town · 19 listings · 35 mi away
Johnson City
City / town · 27 listings · 39 mi away
My experience
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