Planning a big—and exciting—move to Virginia? Also known as the Old Dominion State (the state was an English territory named for Queen Elizabeth I), Virginia is filled with diverse geographical areas. You’ll find thick forests, winding rivers, caverns, plateaus, ravines, swamps and marshes, and plains across the state. It’s also home to the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, the Appalachian Plateau, and Mount Rogers, Virginia’s highest peak. Lots of delightful creatures call Virginia home, too: Famous residents include flying squirrels, black bears, bald eagles, Virginia opossums, peregrine falcons, and other wildlife. There are lots of great outdoors to explore, and even more delightful sights and sounds to uncover.
Check out the best state and national parks in Virginia:
Grayson Highlands State Park
Google Rating: 4.9
First order of business? Head over to Grayson Highlands State Park, just 29 miles from Marion, Virginia. The scenic state park offers gorgeous views and trails, all leading up to Virginia’s famed Mount Rogers. Enjoy wildlife watching at overlook spots (wild ponies live in the state park!) as you hike to the highest natural point in Virginia. Visitors can also enjoy camping, bridle paths, bouldering, swimming, and boating.
New River Trail State Park
Google Rating: 4.8
Take a drive—about 63 miles from Salem, Virginia—and spend the day at New River Trail State Park. The state park is a 57-mile rail trail that follows abandoned railroad tracks. Open from dawn to dusk, visitors can explore five walking loops with seven trails, swim, boat, fish, horseback ride on the trails (except for a 2-mile section from Galax to Cliffview), and picnic.
Natural Tunnel State Park
Google Rating: 4.8
View an impressive natural tunnel in the Appalachian Mountains a quick 30-mile drive from Kingsport. The state park boasts such a naturally large cave that it’s actually used as a railroad tunnel—yep, really—which was carved from a limestone ridge over thousands of years. Besides hiking, mountain biking, and self-guided trails, Natural Tunnel State Park packs in lots of day activities: swimming, fishing, boating, picnicking, hunting, and observation decks.
Douthat State Park
Google Rating: 4.8
Living in the Roanoke area? Take a trip about an hour away to Douthat State Park. Located in the Allegheny Mountains, the area is an enclave for lush scenery and impressive natural lands. Sitting on over 4,500 acres, the state park is a bastion of greenery and foliage, plus a wow-worthy 50-acre lake. Spend a day—or night—camping, fishing, swimming, boating, riding horses (you can camp with them too!), or just hitting the trails.
Sky Meadows State Park
Google Rating: 4.8
Just 60 miles outside of Washington, D.C., you’ll discover an entire world of possibility. Dive right into a picture-perfect experience at Sky Meadows State Park and get fully immersed in extraordinary views, vistas, and the impressive Appalachian Trail. Explore 22 miles of hiking trails, or go swimming, fishing, horseback riding, or boating.
Wilderness Road State Park
Google Rating: 4.8
Southwestern Virginia is ripe with nature-fueled experiences. Wilderness Road State Park is a perfect example with 310 acres to explore and enjoy. Visitors can dig into day activities like hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, swimming, boating, and horseback riding. The state park also offers a peak into the history and nature in the area, plus primitive camping opportunities, but campers must bring their own drinking water. To note: Toilets are available on-site, but showers are not.
Pocahontas State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Next up, plan a visit to Pocahontas State Park. Just 95 miles outside of Norfolk (and 20 miles from Richmond, the state capitol), this state park offers extensive opportunities to soak up each and every drop of nature. Trail explorers rejoice: There are over 90 miles of trails for walking, biking, and more. Swim, fish, boat, hunt, ride a horse on a trail (note: there aren’t any horse rentals), or camp overnight in a lodge, cabin, at a site, or even a yurt!
First Landing State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Another must-do? First Landing State Park, as it was the first planned state park in Virginia. It’s perfect for beach lovers and nature enthusiasts as the park has 20 miles of trails and over a mile and a half of Chesapeake Bay beach. Enjoy the sand and surf under the sun or weave your way through a delightful trail for photo-worthy moments. In addition to swimming, visitors can boat and fish.
Breaks Interstate Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Take in a view of the gorgeous trees at Breaks Interstate Park, which also features the dazzling northern end of Pine Mountain. Unlock a bevy of outdoor adventures with hiking (nine trails), elk tours, zip lining over a canyon, biking, rock climbing, canoeing, paddle boating, kayaking, fishing, birding, and even a trip to the water park. Stay overnight at the campgrounds or settle in at cabins, cottages, yurts, or the lodge. Hungry? Fuel up during your stay at the Rhododendron Restaurant.
Shenandoah River State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Located in Bentonville, about an hour outside of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah River State Park offers a myriad of experiences. There are lots to take in from off-the-chart views, thanks to Massanutten Mountain, glorious river frontage to wooded areas, and grassy hills. Savor 24 miles of trails (14 of those are open to horses), or pass your time swimming, fishing, boating, or picnicking. Spend the night (or two) at overnight facilities like cabins, lodges, yurts, and campgrounds.
Shenandoah National Park
Google Rating: 4.8
No state visit is complete without an exciting trip to Shenandoah National Park. Snaking along the Blue Ridge Mountains and into a section of the Appalachian Trail, step into a portal of nature’s bounty. Every corner of the national park is dotted with beauty, like astounding waterfalls, mountains, wetlands, marshes, and plentiful meadows. And don’t skip wildlife viewing: Spend the day birding, or viewing squirrels, deer, and black bears. Meditate among the wildflowers, spot a songbird, walk or bike along a trail, or grab a day-use ticket to explore Old Rag Mountain. There’s so much to take in.
The Old Dominion State
Considering a move to Virginia? Check out our other articles on the best places to live and notable retiree-friendly cities to call your next home. And when you’re ready to find your new home, you can find new listings every day at NewHomeSource.
*All parks have been ranked based on the criteria of popularity, distance from the closest major cities, violent crime, property crime, google ratings, and the number of google reviews.
Stephanie Valente is a Content Director and Editor in Brooklyn, NY. She’s previously held writing and social media positions at Barkbox, Men’s Journal, and currently works at a full-service advertising agency. She’s a self-confessed home and design enthusiast. Stephanie is an award-winning poet and fiction writer. When she’s offline, you can find her taking a yoga class, running, hanging out with her rescue dog Pepper. Find her on stephanievalente.com.
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