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

 

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The Road Awaits. Photo @mullins_mike ・・・ Twisties no problem made a day drive on only two lane roads an covered more corners than most people see all year 250.2 miles round trip.#backofthedragon #swva #southwestva #road #dji #djimavicpro #dji_photos

A post shared by BackOfTheDragon (@backofthedragon) on Aug 24, 2019 at 8:27am PDT

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

 

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Autumn on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a sight to behold, but sometimes it takes some creativity to get the perfect photograph. Number 3 on our Top 10 Posts of 2019 Countdown captures that idea. – – Raise your hand if you’ve ever laid down on the ground to get the perfect Parkway photo. Sometimes a squirrels-eye view is just the ticket for seeing things in a new way. – Photo of fall leaves in front of a Parkway tunnel by Volunteer Photographer Kristina Plaas. #FindYourPark #blueridgeparkway

A post shared by Blue Ridge Parkway (@blueridgenps) on Dec 30, 2019 at 4:18pm PST

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.

• Floyd – Shopping, dining, Floyd Country Store, County Sales
• Stuart – Fairy Stone State Park & hiking/biking trails
• Galax – Living history museums, downtown shopping, and outdoor recreation
• Or check out the Parkway’s interactive map to find out even more!

Route 80

 

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| I have this voice inside of me, whispering some days, screaming bloody some nights, reminding me the only place to go from here is everywhere. | #loveva #nikon #itsamazingoutthere #makemomentshappen #optoutside #greettheoutdoors #roamtocreate #wanderoften #natgeotravel #optoutside #sltravels #choosemountains #neverstopexploring #getoutstayout #blueridgemoments #iseeyourtalent #artofvisuals #neverstopexploring #keepitwild #Letsgosomewhere #lifeofadventure #agameoftones #virginia #bevisuallyinspired #rei1440project #stayandwander #wildernessculture #swva @visitvirginia @southwest.virginia @blueridgemoments @blueridgeoutdoors

A post shared by Billy Bowling (@iambab_xiii) on Jan 18, 2020 at 5:01am PST

• Meadowview Virginia – Harvest Table Restaurant
• The Great Channels Reserve Area
• Lebanon – Small town with access to Russell County and Route 19 to Abingdon

Mount Rogers Scenic Byway

 

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Fall is coming.. thanks for the shot! @travelexperiencelive

A post shared by Grayson Highlands State Park (@mount.rogers) on Oct 12, 2016 at 7:59am PDT

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.

• Damascus – Trail town with shops, bike rentals, the Virginia Creeper Trail, and the Appalachian Trail
• Grayson Highlands State Park
• White Top Mountain

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!