The Most Scenic Thanksgiving Getaways In Virginia
Last Thanksgiving, I packed my bags on a whim and drove two hours to a place I’d only seen in photos.
That trip reminded me how much Virginia has to offer when you need a break from the usual holiday rush.
Whether you’re craving mountain views, quiet waterfronts, or charming small towns, this state delivers scenery that makes you forget about traffic and crowded malls.
Here are twelve spots that turned my Thanksgiving into something truly memorable.
1. Colonial Williamsburg: A Thanksgiving Wrapped In History And Candlelight
Walking through Colonial Williamsburg feels like stepping into a time machine powered by pumpkin pie and good vibes. The brick pathways glow under lantern light, and actors in period costumes greet you with stories that make history feel less like a textbook and more like a conversation with your quirky uncle. You can watch blacksmiths hammer iron, bakers pull bread from wood fired ovens, and musicians play tunes that predate your great great grandparents.
Thanksgiving here isn’t just a meal. It’s an experience wrapped in gratitude and tradition. The smells of roasted turkey and spiced cider drift through the air, mingling with woodsmoke and crisp autumn leaves.
Families gather around tables set with pewter plates, sharing stories and laughter. Kids run along the greens, their cheeks flushed from the cool November air. Every corner whispers a piece of America’s past, making you feel connected to something bigger than yourself.
2. Skyline Drive: A Holiday Escape Along Virginia’s Most Iconic Ridge
Skyline Drive is where the world slows down and lets you breathe. This 105 mile ribbon of asphalt snakes along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering views that make you pull over every few miles just to stare. By Thanksgiving, most of the leaves have fallen, revealing a landscape of bare branches and distant ridges that stretch like sleeping giants under a pale sky.
Pack a thermos of hot cocoa and drive with the windows cracked. The crisp air smells like pine and earth, a reminder that nature doesn’t need decorations to feel festive. Overlooks dot the route, each one framing a different piece of Virginia’s wild heart.
You might spot deer grazing in meadows or hawks circling overhead. The silence up here is profound, broken only by the wind and your own thoughts. It’s a reset button for the soul.
3. Middleburg: Horse Country Elegance For A Cozy Holiday Retreat
Middleburg is the kind of town where horses outnumber cars and elegance comes naturally. Nestled in Virginia’s hunt country, this gem offers white fenced farms, rolling pastures, and a main street lined with boutiques and cafes that feel plucked from a storybook. Thanksgiving here means sipping coffee on a porch while watching riders in velvet helmets trot past, their horses’ breath visible in the cool morning air.
The local inns serve up comfort and charm in equal measure. You can spend your afternoon browsing antique shops, sampling artisan chocolates, or simply soaking in the quiet sophistication that defines this place. Every building has a story, every corner a snapshot worth framing.
At night, the town glows softly under streetlamps. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a slower, kinder version of the world.
4. Lexington: A Quiet Mountain Town With Storybook Autumn Colors
Lexington sits tucked between mountains like a secret someone forgot to shout about. This college town moves at a pace that lets you notice things: the way light filters through old oaks, the creak of wooden floors in century old buildings, the laughter spilling from a corner cafe. By Thanksgiving, the maples and oaks have shed most of their leaves, but the town still glows with a warmth that has nothing to do with weather.
Wander through the historic downtown and you’ll find bookshops, galleries, and restaurants serving comfort food that tastes like a hug. The surrounding mountains offer hiking trails that reward you with views worth every step. You might even spot a waterfall or two if you’re willing to explore.
Lexington doesn’t demand your attention. It earns it quietly, one charming detail at a time.
5. Shenandoah Valley: Small Inns, Big Views, And Slow Holiday Mornings
Shenandoah Valley stretches out like a dream you forgot you had. The mountains frame it on both sides, and the valley floor unfolds in a patchwork of farms, fields, and forests. Small inns dot the landscape, offering rooms with quilts, fireplaces, and windows that frame views big enough to make you forget about your phone for a while.
Thanksgiving mornings here start slow. You wake to the smell of fresh biscuits and the sound of nothing at all. Step outside and the cold air bites your nose in the best way. The valley is quiet, save for the occasional crow or distant tractor.
Spend your day exploring country roads, stopping at farm stands, or hiking trails that wind through woods and meadows. The beauty here isn’t flashy. It’s honest, enduring, and exactly what you need.
6. Virginia Beach: An Unexpectedly Peaceful Coastal Thanksgiving
Virginia Beach sheds its summer crowds by Thanksgiving and transforms into a place of windswept calm. The boardwalk stretches out empty, the ocean rolls in with steady rhythm, and the air smells like salt and possibility. You can walk for miles without dodging beach umbrellas or hearing blaring music, just the sound of waves and your own footsteps on the sand.
Local restaurants stay open, serving seafood so fresh it practically swam to your plate. Grab a window seat and watch the gray sky meet the gray sea in a line that feels infinite. The cold ocean breeze clears your head better than any meditation app ever could.
Bring a jacket and a sense of adventure. This version of Virginia Beach is quieter, moodier, and somehow more beautiful than its summer self.
7. Abingdon: A Historic Town Where Fall Still Feels Fresh
Abingdon feels like the town everyone wishes they grew up in. Brick buildings line the main street, their storefronts glowing with warm light and welcoming signs. The Barter Theatre anchors the cultural scene, offering performances that draw people from across the state. By Thanksgiving, the town still holds onto fall’s last colors, with leaves clinging to trees and decorations celebrating the season.
You can spend hours exploring galleries, antique shops, and cafes that serve pie good enough to make you forget your diet. The Virginia Creeper Trail starts nearby, offering a scenic path perfect for biking or walking off that second helping of mashed potatoes.
Locals greet you with genuine smiles. The pace is unhurried. Abingdon reminds you that small towns aren’t just places. They’re feelings.
8. Smith Mountain Lake: Lakeside Cabins Made For Slow, Warm Gatherings
Smith Mountain Lake sprawls across 20,000 acres, its shoreline winding through forests and hills like a liquid maze. Thanksgiving at the lake means renting a cabin with a view, lighting a fire, and letting the world fade to background noise. The water reflects the gray November sky, and the trees stand bare, their branches etched against the horizon like fine pen strokes.
Mornings start with coffee on the dock, watching mist rise off the water. Days unfold slowly, filled with board games, long conversations, and maybe a brave soul attempting a kayak ride in the chilly air. The lack of agenda becomes the agenda.
At night, the stars come out in numbers city dwellers forget exist. This is where you remember what togetherness feels like without distractions.
9. Luray: Caverns, Mountains, And A Thanksgiving Beneath The Earth
Luray Caverns might be underground, but the experience lifts you up. These cathedral sized chambers stretch beneath the Shenandoah Valley, filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and formations that look like frozen waterfalls sculpted by patient centuries. Visiting during Thanksgiving weekend means fewer crowds and a chance to wander at your own pace through this subterranean wonderland.
Above ground, the town of Luray offers mountain views, local diners, and a charm that feels earned rather than manufactured. You can hike nearby trails, explore the valley, or simply enjoy the crisp air and open sky after emerging from the cool depths of the caverns.
The contrast between the ancient stillness below and the vibrant life above makes this spot unforgettable. It’s geology meets gratitude in the best possible way.
10. Staunton: Arts, Architecture, And Autumn Afternoons
Staunton wears its history like a well tailored coat. Victorian buildings crowd the downtown streets, their painted facades bright against the muted November sky. The American Shakespeare Center stages performances that make centuries old words feel urgent and alive. You don’t have to be a theater buff to appreciate the energy here. The whole town hums with creativity and pride.
Thanksgiving weekend brings special events, from gallery openings to live music in cozy venues. Restaurants serve up dishes that blend Southern comfort with modern flair. Walk off your meal by exploring the steep streets and hidden staircases that connect different levels of the town.
Every corner reveals something worth noticing. Staunton doesn’t just preserve the past. It celebrates it while building something new.
11. Chincoteague Island: Wild Ponies And Windswept Thanksgiving Shores
Chincoteague Island sits on Virginia’s Eastern Shore like a postcard that never gets old. Wild ponies roam the marshes and beaches, their manes tangled by salt wind and freedom. By Thanksgiving, the summer tourists have vanished, leaving the island to locals, a few brave visitors, and the ponies who’ve called this place home for centuries.
The air smells like brine and adventure. You can bike along quiet roads, watch ospreys hunt, or simply stand on the beach and let the wind remind you how small and how alive you are. Local seafood shacks stay open, serving oysters and crab that taste like the ocean itself.
Chincoteague teaches you that beauty doesn’t need to be polished. Sometimes it just needs to be wild.