Visiting the state of Virginia is a must for any history lover. This one week Virginia Itinerary will take you to seven days of historical sites across the state. From hiking to battlefields, wine tasting, and fun food stops, Virginia is a fun getaway for all.
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History of Virginia
The first inhabitants of Virginia came to be about 12,000 years ago. The more permanent settlement of the Algonquian people existed until about the 1500s. It was around that time that Chief Powhatan controlled the area. In 1584, European explorers began to arrive to explore the area.
The first colony, the lost colony of Roanoke failed, but in 1607 there was the first successful permanent settlement at Jamestown. Throughout the years, more settlements popped up, and there continued to be a conflict with the Native Americans. Virginia saw various battles and conflicts throughout the American Revolution. It officially became a state in 1788.
During the Civil War, Virginia was also a source of conflict and saw tons of battles across the state. Throughout Reconstruction, Virginia saw the expansion of rights but had to build the area back up after the destruction from the war.
Best Time to Visit Virginia
Late Spring and early Summer is the best time to visit Virginia for good weather. Also, visiting in the fall will enable you to see the fall colors in Shenandoah National Park. The Peak summer season can be hot, crowded, and busy while wintertime is quite cold, so it is best to avoid those times.
How to Get to Virginia
Virginia has several major airports you can fly into from all over the United States and internationally. The most popular option is Washington Dulles International Airport as it is close to Washington, DC. Other popular airports include Richmond International Airport, Norfolk International Airport, and Washington Reagan Airport.
For this one week Virginia itinerary, you will want to fly into Washington Dulles airport, but it can be adjusted if there are better deals elsewhere.
Teacher Tip: Get the America the Beautiful Pass for the National Parks as you will make up the cost of this pass with the sites on this one week Virginia itinerary.
One Week in Virginia Itinerary
Day 1: Washington, DC to Leesburg, Virginia
Drive Time: 30 minutes
Costs: $14 and up for wine tasting
HoteHotel Option: Hampton Inn & Suites Leesburg
To start off your one week Virginia itinerary, fly into Washington Dulles airport. If possible catch a red-eye flight to get you to the airport in the morning. Then, head to Leesburg, an up-and-coming wine tasting area. The area has a long history that dates back to the foundations of America and the Civil War.
Start the day with breakfast at Goosecup, a local coffee shop with some fun breakfast entrees and pastries. In the evening, it turns into a bar with some delicious craft cocktails.
Next, head to one of the local vineyards for wine tasting. Bluemont Vineyard, The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek, or Three Creeks Winery are all terrific options. All of them produce wine in the area and are a fun place to pass a couple of hours.
After breakfast, check out Balls Bluff Battlefield Regional Park. This free park is the site of a battle of the Civil War that ended in a Confederate victory. Then, head to George C. Marshall’s Dodona Manor, the former home of George Marshall. He is known for the Marshall Plan which gave aid to Europe at the end of World War II. You can opt to walk the grounds or take a guided tour of the house on the weekends.
For dinner, eat at The Wine Kitchen. Not only do they serve delicious food, they have over 40 wine options and various flights. They also partner with local farms to source fresh ingredients.
Day 2: Leesburg to Harrisonburg, Virginia
Drive Time: 2-3 hours depending on stops
Costs: $30 or Free with the America the Beautiful Pass
Hotel Option: Tru by Hilton Harrisonburg
Today, you will explore some Civil War sites through Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland as part of this one week Virginia itinerary.
Start the morning with a one-hour drive to Antietam National Battlefield. It costs $10 to visit this battlefield. Antietam is the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War and Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the North. Visitors can visit the cemetery, museum, visitor’s center, and battlefield sites.
The Park Rangers also offer talks and guided walks. You can also take a self-guided walk along 9 different trails. Visitors should also follow the self-driving route to follow the progression of the troops throughout the long battle.
Next, head to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. This is a 40-minute drive from Antietam and costs $20 to get into the park. This park originally became a National Monument in 1944, and later became a National Historical Park in 1963. The park preserves the town of Harpers Ferry and teaches about John Brown’s raid of the federal arsenal.
Plan to spend several hours walking down the main street, viewing the exhibits, and hiking along the waterfront and trails. You can also opt to take a guided tour. The town also has several restaurants to grab a bite to eat at when you get hungry.
If up for another battlefield, head another hour to Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park. This park opened in 2002 and is free to get into. It protects the area where the Battle of Cedar Creek from the Civil War took place and the Belle Grove Plantation. Visitors are able to take a self-guided driving tour of the area. This audio tour explains the history of each stop. You can also walk the 1.7-mile morning attack trail route.
Finally, drive just under an hour to head to Harrisonburg, where you will base yourself for the next two nights as part of this one week Virginia itinerary.
Day 3: Shenandoah National Park
Drive Time: 1 hour and up
Costs: $30 or free with the America the Beautiful Pass
Today, you will spend the day in the gorgeous Shenandoah National Park, a must-visit park during a one week Virginia itinerary. This park is surrounded by rolling hills and tons of trees that provide stunning landscapes around the park. The 105-mile Skyline Drive is that main road that cuts through the park and provides access to all the main sites and trails.
Start the day with the Bearfence Mountain trail. This 1.4-mile hike is relatively easy for the first portion of the trail. The second portion of the trail leads you to a rock scramble where you will need to climb and pull yourself over a series of rocks. There are a series of drop-offs, so keep that in mind if you are scared of heights. The end of the trail offers spectacular 360-degree views of the surrounding area.
Next, hike to Dark Hollow Falls, a 1.4-mile hike through a forested area to a waterfall. After that, hike the 1.7-mile Stony Man Trail. This overlook provides views of the Shenandoah Valley.
In total, there are over 500 miles of trails throughout the park, so you have plenty to choose from if you do not like the above options.
After spending the day hiking, grab some drinks at Skyland before heading back to Harrisonburg. Grab dinner at Jimmy Madison’s for some of the best BBQ around.
Day 4: Harrisonburg to Richmond, Virginia
Drive Time: 2 hours
Costs: $43 and up
Hotel Option: Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center or Holiday Inn Express Downtown
Start your morning with an hour’s drive to Monticello, the plantation home of Thomas Jefferson. Located in Charlottesville, your $31 ticket gives you access to Jefferson’s mansion, the grounds, gardens, his grave, and several exhibits. You choose what time to enter the property, but there is no limit to how long you can spend exploring the grounds.
After exploring Monticello, you can make a stop in the adorable town of Charlottesville for lunch. They have a ton of cute restaurants and a main street with some shops. We opted to grab food at a small pizza joint as we were short on time.
Another 45 minutes down the road is James Madison’s home Montpelier. There are several options you can take when visiting Montpelier. You can opt to buy a $12 ticket that just gives you access to the grounds, gardens, and trails. If you want a guided tour which includes access to three rooms of the house, that costs $35. It is recommended to buy tickets ahead of time as they are limited, especially on the tours.
When finished exploring Montpelier, drive another hour and a half to Richmond, where you will base yourself for the next two nights.
Note: You can also opt to add in Appomattox Court House National Historical Park first thing this morning if you would like to add another stop to this one week Virginia itinerary. This is the site of Robert E. Lee’s surrender which ended the Civil War in 1865.
Day 5: Richmond, Virginia
Drive Time: City Driving
Costs: None
Richmond, the capital of Virginia, was once known as being the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Despite its dark past, Richmond holds a ton of historical sites to visit and plenty of other things to do. Today, you will explore what this city has to offer and it is a great addition to a one week Virginia itinerary.
Start the morning at Richmond National Battlefield, a park that commemorates 13 sites across Richmond from the Civil War. The Tredegar Iron Works is the best place to start as it houses a museum and visitors center. Make sure to also take a walk along the bridge that serves as a memorial to the first three days of the Civil War.
Next, head to the White House of the Confederacy. Visitors can take a 45-minute tour of the building. Nearby is also the Virginia State Capitol Building designed by Thomas Jefferson in 1785. Visitors can take a free one hour tour during the week.
After, stop at St. John’s Church where Patrick Henry gave his infamous “Give me liberty or give me death speech.” Then, spend some time at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. This free museum has a variety of art exhibits from Tiffany Lamps to Faberge Eggs.
End the day with a delicious dinner at the Tobacco Company, a delicious steakhouse set in an old-style building. It was once a tobacco warehouse and became a restaurant in 1977. They have a ton of delicious steak options.
Day 6: Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia
Drive Time: 2 hours
Costs: Free and up
Today, you can opt to spend a second day in Richmond, or take a day trip to Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Colonial National Historic Park. Either option is a good way to spend a day during this one week Virginia itinerary.
Begin the day in Jamestowne, the site of the first permanent English settlement in the United States, established in 1607. Visitors can visit various sites, memorials, and museums in the town. There are different programs and talks at assorted times throughout the day, so make sure to check the schedule ahead of time.
Next, visit the infamous Yorktown Battlefield. It was here that the Patriots and George Washington officially defeated General Cornwallis and the British army. The Yorktown area includes a visitors center and museum, guided tours, several historic buildings, and a 16-mile self-guided driving route.
Spend the afternoon in Colonial Williamsburg, the world’s largest living history museum. Admission includes historic sites, gardens, and museums of Williamsburg. It costs $45 for an all-access day pass. There are often seasonal and special events, so check the website for more information.
Day 7: Richmond to Washington DC
Drive Time: 2.5 hours
Costs: $20 or Free with the America the Beautiful Pass
Hotel Option: Various Airport Chain Hotels
For your final day in your one week Virginia itinerary, you will stop at a couple more Civil War Battlefields and National Park sites. This is another very historical day.
Start the morning with an hour’s drive to Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. This park contains four important battlefields from the Civil War. You can easily spend a few hours to an entire day exploring this park. Each of the battlefields has a scenic driving tour you can take with multiple stops along the way. Every stop explains the significance and history of the battle.
Drive another 40 minutes to Prince William Forest Park. This park is a naturally protected area with hiking trails, campsites, bike trails, and wildlife viewing. It gives a look into what the east coast looked like centuries ago. It is open from sunrise to sunset and costs $20 to get in (or free with the America the Beautiful pass).
Opt to drive along the scenic drive throughout the park to take in the various areas. If up for a hike, complete the 1.4-mile Laurel Loop Trail that takes you through a gorgeous forested area.
Finish the day with a stop at Manassas National Battlefield Park. This battlefield is about a 30-minute drive from Prince William Forest Park. It is free to get into and open from dawn to dusk. Manassas commemorates two Civil War battles and is the site of where the infamous General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson earned his nickname due to his blockade of the Union troops.
There is an 18-mile self-guided driving route with 12 significant locations from the battles. The most popular stops include Battery Heights, Deep Cut, and the Stone Bridge.
Finally, opt to drive about 15 minutes to stay by Dulles Airport. You can catch a late-night flight out this evening, or a flight in the morning.
More than One Week in Virginia?
If you have more than one week for a Virginia road trip, opt to stop at these places as well to your one week Virginia itinerary.
Mount Vernon
If you have extra time the day your flight leaves, make a stop at Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. You can easily spend half a day exploring the property. The land Mount Vernon sits on dates back to 1674 when George Washington’s great-grandfather acquired the land.
It costs $26 to enter the grounds of Mount Vernon. You can opt to add on other tours to your tickets, such as a mansion tour, sightseeing cruises, or a Hamilton tour. You can easily spend half a day to a full day exploring Mount Vernon. Make sure to stop at George Washington’s grave and visit the museums.
The Pentagon
Cost: Free
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm
The Pentagon is well worth visiting as part of a Washington, DC trip or as part of a one week Virginia itinerary. The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. Visitors can request a tour to visit during non-COVID times. Tours last 60 minutes and you must follow all rules to be able to attend a tour. You can also visit the memorial right outside of the building that commemorated the flight that crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11.
Arlington National Cemetery
Cost: Free
Hours: 8am-5pm
A one week in Virginia itinerary is not complete without stopping at Arlington National Cemetery. This military cemetery houses many war heroes. It also houses Arlington House, the former estate of Robert E. Lee. From Arlington House, you can visit Lee’s grave and take in the views of Washington, DC, and Virginia.
Notable people buried at Arlington include President John F. Kennedy and his Family and President William Howard Taft. It is also home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which commemorates soldiers lost in battle and never identified.
Shaka Guide
Shaka Guide is a GPS self-guided audio tour that you can download to your phone. Currently, they have one for several of the National Parks. They provide great background information about the area. The best part is you do not need the internet to use them.
Total Costs for a One Week Virginia Itinerary
**Note these are rounded costs
- Airfare: $250/person
- Hotels: $666 total ($333/person)
- Rental Car: $400 total ($200/person)
- Activities: $40-$100/person pending activity choices
- Total: $823-$883/person
If you have more time to spend in the Virginia area, you can also opt to spend a few days in Alexandria, Roanoke, or Virginia Beach. You can also easily spend a week exploring Washington, DC, the capital of the United States. From Virginia, it is also easy to take the train to spend some time in Philadelphia, or New York City.
