The Old Dominion has some of America's most beautiful scenic drives.

  • George Washington Memorial Parkway (northern Virginia): Stay away during rush hour, when it becomes a major artery into and out of Washington, D.C. But any other time, the "G.W. Parkway" is a great drive along the Potomac River from I-495 at the Maryland line to Mount Vernon. The views of Washington's monuments are unparalleled.
  • The Presidents Route (Va. 20; Charlottesville to Montpelier): Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe would travel the 25 miles north to visit their friends James and Dolley Madison by a winding wagon trail. Today that road is known as Va. 20, and it's still a scenic wonder through the modern vineyards and expensive horse farms of the Blue Ridge foothills.
  • Skyline Drive (Shenandoah National Park): Few roads anywhere can top the Skyline Drive, which twists and turns 105 miles along the Blue Ridge crest in Shenandoah National Park. The views over the rolling Piedmont to the east and Shenandoah Valley to the west are spectacular, especially during spring, when the wildflowers are in bloom, and in fall, when the leaves change from green to brilliant hues of rust, orange, and yellow.
  • Lexington to Hot Springs: Va. 39 runs from Lexington to Hot Springs via the Goshen Pass, a picturesque gorge cut by the Maury River. You can make a loop by continuing north from Hot Springs via U.S. 220 to the beautiful village of Monterey in "Virginia's Switzerland." From Monterey, U.S. 250 crosses the mountains to Staunton and I-81.
  • Blue Ridge Parkway: A continuation of the Skyline Drive, this road continues along the Blue Ridge crest south to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. Of the 218 miles in Virginia, the most scenic are north of Roanoke.
  • Colonial Parkway: It's not long, but the Colonial Parkway between Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown has its scenic merits, especially the views of the James River near Jamestown and of the York River near Yorktown.
  • Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel: A man-made wonder, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel runs for 17 miles over -- and under -- the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay between Norfolk and the Eastern Shore. You can barely see land when you're in the middle.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.