Virginia

Understand

"Virginia Is For Lovers" is the enigmatic motto of the Virginia tourism council. What makes Virginia particularly suited for amour remains something of a mystery, but the state does have many great features: beaches, forests, some of the oldest towns in North America, and proximity to the Mid-Atlantic and the deeper South. Here the love includes LGBT travel, with laws that affirm the right to marry and recognize diverse family structures. See Virginia LGBT info.

Virginia was one of the thirteen original colonies, and one of the first states to ratify the Declaration of Independence. It is known as the "Mother of States" as its original territory included West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Tennessee. It is also known as the "Mother of Presidents," as eight U.S. presidents were born in the state: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.

Jamestown, Virginia (near Williamsburg) is the site of the first lasting British settlement in the New World, dating to 1607. Native American tribes from Virginia, such as the Powhatan, had some of the richest native cultures in the Colonies.

In colonial times, Virginia was settled mainly along the rivers that empty into Chesapeake Bay. Its geography and politics were soon dominated by the plantations of the First Families of Virginia, one of the closest things to a gentry or aristocracy in the United States. The settlers relied on labor, initially from indentured servants but after 1619 by slaves, to grow cash crops, such as tobacco, and relied on trade from England for basic needs. While settlers primarily from England settled along the Potomac, Rappahannock, and James Rivers, many German and Scots-Irish settlers migrated into Virginia from Pennsylvania along the Shenandoah Valley and in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861 and has a strong American Civil War heritage, as well as a strong sense of Southern pride and feeling of independence that exists in parts of the state even today. More Civil War battles were fought in Virginia than any other state, particularly around the Confederate capital of Richmond, the pivotal city of Fredericksburg, and in the Shenandoah Valley.

Following the Reconstruction after the Civil War, Virginia's economy shifted toward growing food crops in the north of the state, while the southern interior of the state continued to grow tobacco on smaller farms. The major shipyards at Norfolk continued to grow in importance as a major coal port and a naval base. During this time, the College of William and Mary was a center of the exaggerated "Lost Cause" historical narrative that defended the Confederacy.

Following the growth of the US Federal Government during the New Deal and during and after World War II, Northern Virginia grew at an astronomical pace as government workers and contractors settled across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. The New Deal era resulted in the restoration of Virginia's historic sites and the designation and beautification of Virginia's parks. Today, Virginia's economy is dominated by military bases dotted all over the state, government contracting agencies, and residents who commute into Washington, DC. Virginia Beach serves as a popular summer vacation spot and the Appalachian Mountains offer outdoor recreation. Virginia is also a popular destination for history buffs as Virginia was a major player in much of America's history.

Although traditionally a conservative Southern state, an influx of liberal suburbanites into the suburbs of Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia in the 21st century transformed the culture of the region and turned the state into a safe Democratic state for roughly ten years until the 2021 elections saw it return to swing state status. This change has led to a significant cultural gap between the North and the rest of the state, which is increasingly a source of tension among rural Virginians in the southwest.

Tourist information

• Virginia Tourism website

Regions

Cities

• Richmond – state capital
• Arlington – known for its military cemetery
• Alexandria
• Charlottesville – university town home to Thomas Jefferson's plantation
• Fredericksburg
• Norfolk
• Roanoke
• Virginia Beach
• Williamsburg

Other destinations

• Blue Ridge Parkway
• Shenandoah National Park

Get in

By plane

Virginia has nine airports with commercial service. Northern Virginia (the Washington DC suburbs) is serviced by Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). DCA, often referred to simply as "National" or "Reagan National," is the better airport for access to Washington DC due to its proximity and access to more Washington Metrorail lines; however, it is mostly restricted to short- and medium-haul domestic flights. Almost all international service and long-haul flights serve Dulles, a Star Alliance gateway and United hub, and also the more convenient airport to DC's western suburbs.

For Central and Southern Virginia destinations, Richmond International Airport (RIC) offers nonstops to major East Coast cities as well as most of the major domestic hub airports east of the Rockies, plus seasonal service on ultra low-cost carriers to Florida. Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport (CHO) offers regional service to the major East Coast hub airports.

For Eastern Virginia, especially the Virginia Beach/Norfolk/Hampton Roads/Portsmouth area, Norfolk International Airport (ORF) offers flights to and from the major domestic hubs east of the Rockies, plus nonstops to major East Coast cities and ultra low-cost service to Florida. Regional service is also available from Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF).

Southwestern Virginia is served by Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA), with service to the main East Coast hub airports.

Smaller airports include Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD) and Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH), with limited regional service to hubs.

By train

Amtrak offers intercity passenger rail service to many Virginia cities along two main north-south lines, one from Washington DC to Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Richmond, and Petersburg, and the other from Washington to Culpeper, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Danville. The Cardinal service to Chicago switches west at Charlottesville. Branch lines connect Williamsburg, Newport News, Norfolk, and Roanoke,

In Northern Virginia, Virginia Railway Express operates two commuter lines, one from Manassas and the other from Fredericksburg, which converge at Alexandria and terminate at Washington DC.

WMATA's Metrorail service provides rapid transit access to suburban Northern Virginia from Washington DC and Maryland.

By car

Virginia is connected by secondary roads and Interstate highways to the surrounding states.

• Interstate 81 is the main route from Tennessee and continues through Virginia into Maryland and Pennsylvania, running parallel to the mountain ranges along Virginia's western boundary.
• Interstate 66 connects I-81 in northwestern Virginia with Washington, DC, and is one of the primary commuter routes through Northern Virginia.
• Interstate 95 runs north-south through Virginia connecting Washington, DC to Fredericksburg and Richmond, on to North Carolina.
• Interstate 495 encircles Washington, DC with part of its route going through Northern Virginia. Where I-95 intersects with I-495 at the southernmost end of I-495, Interstate 395 continues northward into DC while I-95 traces the same route as the eastern half of I-495. Thus, if you are to take I-95 from Richmond to Baltimore, MD, you would merge onto I-495 going East and North until I-95 splits off from I-495 on its north side to reach Baltimore.
• Interstate 64 runs east-west through Virginia, connecting the Hampton Roads area in Eastern Virginia with Richmond and Charlottesville. West of Charlottesville, it joins I-81 at Staunton. The two highways split at Lexington, with I-64 going through the western mountains until entering West Virginia.
• Interstate 77 briefly passes through Virginia, running north-south through the far western end of the state (joining I-81 for a few miles around Wytheville), connecting the Carolinas with West Virginia and eventually Cleveland.
• US 29 enters Virginia from Washington DC and forms a scenic alternate route to I-95 to I-85, running to Charlottesville and Lynchburg and eventually terminating in Alabama. A four-lane divided highway through the Shenandoah Valley out the state, it offers a short route to the Southeast avoiding heavy freeway traffic.
• US 11 runs parallel to Interstate 81 and the mountains, and is a beautiful alternative to freeway travel going through many picturesque towns between Winchester in the north and Bristol in southwestern Virginia.
• US 15, another north-south route, runs through Leesburg but otherwise bypasses all major cities, for those who enjoy rustic scenery.
• US 301 enters the state from North Carolina with I-95 and is a popular short route north of Richmond to Chesapeake Bay and Northeast destinations, bypassing the Baltimore-Washington traffic.
• US 13, originating near Philadelphia, runs north-south down the length of the Delmarva Peninsula, crossing to Norfolk via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel. For those headed to Eastern Virginia or the Outer Banks of North Carolina from the Northeast, this route avoids Baltimore and Washington traffic as well as being much shorter and more scenic than I-95.

Get around

Travel around Virginia is primarily by car but public transportation is also relatively abundant in the Northern Virginia suburbs near Washington, DC.

Amtrak trains run from Norfolk/Newport News to Richmond and out to the western panhandle. Trains also run north and south between Richmond and the Northern Virginia/DC area. A third major line runs from the western panhandle, north through Charlottesville, and up to Northern Virginia.

Virginia Railway Express (VRE), a commuter rail line, serves Washington, DC from points as far away as Fredericksburg and Manassas.

The Washington Metro has several rail stations in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Loudoun County.

Information on transit can be found here.

Hitchhiking is slow-going in Virginia. Rides are hard to come by and the Virginia State Police are notorious for hassling travelers (hitchers and motorists alike). Your best bet is either to stick to the state roads in the mountains, or to stick to rest stops on the major highways.

The speed limit is generally 55 mph on highways in urban areas, 65 mph in suburban areas, and 70 mph in most rural areas, though there are exceptions. Additionally, speed limits will often briefly change to 60 mph in between a 65 mph zone and a 55 mph zone. On surface streets, speed limits range from 25 mph in residential neighborhoods and school zones to 45 mph on major roads outside residential neighborhoods.

Under no circumstances should you exceed the speed limit by 20 mph or drive greater than 85 mph! This is considered reckless driving and is punished very harshly in Virginia, as a Class 1 misdemeanor. This means that it could go on your criminal record and you could face a suspended license, heavy fines, or even jail time. This includes driving 86 mph when the speed limit is 70 mph. Other Class 1 misdemeanors include domestic assault and animal cruelty, so it is clear how harshly Virginia views these offenses. Several other traffic offenses punished by fines in other states are also considered reckless driving in Virginia, including failure to properly use a turn signal and failure to yield when required to do so. You are less likely to receive a reckless driving citation for those, and are more likely to succeed if you fight it in court, but you will incur heavy legal expenses to do so. In short, obey all traffic laws and follow, or at least stay close to, the posted speed limit.

Stay safe

Certain cities in Virginia have crime problems, in particular, the cities of Richmond and Norfolk. However, most places in Virginia, like the rest of US, are safe. Check with locals to determine what areas you should avoid. Standard safety rules apply: Stay in groups as much as possible, trust your instincts and do not flash around cash or large value items. If you need urgent medical, fire, or police assistance, all areas participate in the 911 program.

Go next

• Maryland - Located along Virginia's northeast border, Maryland offers "America in Miniature" with everything from history to nature to modern cities.
• Washington, D.C. - The nation's capital is a must-see for most visitors, with a wealth of sites including the Capitol, the White House, the Smithsonian Museum, and a vast array of other monuments and attractions.
• North Carolina - The state's southern neighbor is home to the Appalachian culture and incredible scenery of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as the stunning beaches of the Outer Banks and Cape Hatteras.
• Tennessee - Virginia's southwestern neighbor is home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the music city of Nashville and Elvis' home in Memphis.
• Kentucky - Virginia's western neighbor is the Bluegrass State, home to the Kentucky Derby, Mammoth Cave National Park and the Corvette Museum.
• West Virginia - Virginia's northwestern neighbor is the only state in the USA to lie completely within a mountain range (in this case, the Appalachians).