Scenic Drives in Virginia

Routes

Avg Distance

428 mi

Avg Drive

8h 11m

Destinations

Virginia's scenic drives offer a diverse range of experiences, with 60 routes averaging 428 miles and nearly 5 hours of driving. This state's landscape presents opportunities for drives with elevation changes up to 2,332 feet and terrain that varies from gentle rolling hills to more pronounced inclines. The drives here boast scores as high as 8, showcasing the state's varied topography.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$3.75/gal

Diesel: $4.80/gal

Typical trip cost

$59–$72

One-way, ~428 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~150 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-07-13

Climate through the year: Virginia

Virginia peaks at around 90°F in Jul and cools to 48°F / 29°F in Jan. Wettest month is Aug at ~4.9 in of rain.

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	48	29	3.2	3.7
Feb	52	30	2.6	2.2
Mar	60	37	4	1.1
Apr	70	46	3.2	—
May	78	56	4	—
Jun	86	65	4.6	—
Jul	90	69	4.4	—
Aug	88	68	4.9	—
Sep	81	61	4.6	—
Oct	71	49	3.4	—
Nov	60	39	3.1	—
Dec	52	32	3.5	1.8

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for VA — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Planning Tips

Scenic routes often have fewer gas stations and services. Top off your tank before heading into mountainous or rural stretches.
Budget extra time for scenic drives — pulling over for views, photos, and short hikes is half the point.
Check weather conditions for mountain passes and high-elevation stretches, especially in shoulder seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

We rate routes on a 1-10 drive score based on elevation changes, road variety, and terrain diversity. The 60 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.

Current regular gas averages $3.75/gallon in Virginia (week of 2026-07-13). Diesel: $4.80/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $59 and $72. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.

Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Top Scenic Routes

Explore More

Virginia Trips

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	48	29	3.2	3.7
Feb	52	30	2.6	2.2
Mar	60	37	4	1.1
Apr	70	46	3.2	—
May	78	56	4	—
Jun	86	65	4.6	—
Jul	90	69	4.4	—
Aug	88	68	4.9	—
Sep	81	61	4.6	—
Oct	71	49	3.4	—
Nov	60	39	3.1	—
Dec	52	32	3.5	1.8

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	48	29	3.2	3.7
Feb	52	30	2.6	2.2
Mar	60	37	4	1.1
Apr	70	46	3.2	—
May	78	56	4	—
Jun	86	65	4.6	—
Jul	90	69	4.4	—
Aug	88	68	4.9	—
Sep	81	61	4.6	—
Oct	71	49	3.4	—
Nov	60	39	3.1	—
Dec	52	32	3.5	1.8

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	48	29	3.2	3.7
Feb	52	30	2.6	2.2
Mar	60	37	4	1.1
Apr	70	46	3.2	—
May	78	56	4	—
Jun	86	65	4.6	—
Jul	90	69	4.4	—
Aug	88	68	4.9	—
Sep	81	61	4.6	—
Oct	71	49	3.4	—
Nov	60	39	3.1	—
Dec	52	32	3.5	1.8