Planning a Fall Road Trip Southwest Virginia Style

Planning a Fall Road Trip Southwest Virginia Style

Autumn is a special and magical time of year. The air begins to cool, the days become shorter, and the leaves begin to change. In Southwest Virginia, we are fortunate to have some of the most spectacular views of the season. For this list, we have compiled some of the best locations and itineraries to enjoy this Fall.

Scenic Drives

A popular Southwest Virginia Fall-themed plan is to go on a scenic drive, or two! The region is packed full of small country roads as well as popular tourist roads such as Back of the Dragon and the Blue Ridge Parkway. No matter which road you choose, you’ll find plenty of fun things to do. In case you need some ideas, here are a few trips we recommend:

Back of the Dragon

Back of the Dragon is a very popular roadway among motor enthusiasts and sightseers. This roadway stretches from Marion, Virginia to Tazewell, Virginia on Virginia State Highway 16. You’ll encounter 32 miles, 438 curves, at an elevation of 3,500 ft. There are also great lookout spots to see beautiful landscapes and fall foliage.

  • Marion – Downtown shopping, dining, and attractions like Hungry Mother State Park
  • Tazewell – ATV Trails, Burkes Garden, Museums
  • Wytheville – Downtown shopping, dining, and museums

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a very sought after a road trip in Southwest Virginia and North Carolina. The Parkway is packed full of history, scenic views, and fun outdoor things to do. The entire length of the Parkway stretches 469 miles. Needless to say, there is a lot to experience along the way.

Route 80

Mount Rogers Scenic Byway

 

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Did you know that Southwest Virginia is home to the largest mountain peak in Virginia? Mount Rogers serves as the highest peak in Virginia with an elevation of 5,728 ft! You can access the Mt. Rogers Recreational Area and see some of the most stunning views for miles and miles. Along this route, you will be traveling Route 58 from Damascus to Troutdale. Along the way, you will also see White Top Mountain and have the option stops to visit White Top Station & Green Cove Station on the Virginia Creeper Trail.

Big Walker Mountain Scenic Byway

Connecting Wytheville, Virginia to Bland, Virginia, this byway will take your breath away. At the top of the mountain is a lookout area with amazing scenic views of the mountains and surrounding landscape.

  • Wytheville – Breweries, museums, shopping, and dining
  • Bland – Appalachian trail, cycling trails

Be sure to stay tuned to this post over the coming weeks as we add more Fall roadways you will want to visit!