10 Virginia mountain towns with rustic charm

Discover 10 charming Virginia mountain towns that combine scenic beauty, outdoor adventures, and small-town hospitality.

Virginia’s mountain regions offer visitors a peaceful retreat from city life with their scenic beauty and small-town hospitality. These 10 charming towns nestled in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains showcase the best of Appalachian culture, outdoor recreation, and historic preservation. From Damascus’s famous trail system to Wise’s coal mining heritage, each location provides a unique window into Virginia’s mountain lifestyle.

1. Meadows of Dan

Truly a mountain town, Meadows of Dan sits high in the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Although it is not an actual town but rather an unincorporated community, it is nonetheless a thriving little community. 

While driving into town, visitors can stop at the iconic Mabry Mill at Milepost 179 on the parkway. Perfect for photos, the mill also features trails. 

Within Meadows of Dan proper, visitors will find several shops, a candy factory, and a country café.

Mabry’s Mill is an iconic stop near Meadows of Dan. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

2. Fancy Gap

Located not all that far down the Blue Ridge Parkway from Meadows of Dan is the mountain community of Fancy Gap. Overlooking the side of the mountain, Fancy Gap is also easily accessible from Interstate 77.

Visitors will find an eclectic mix of shops, like the Fancy Gap Dress Shop and the Fancy Gap Pottery & Fabric Outlet, as well as dining, like at The Gap Deli at the Parkway, which is renowned for its peanut butter pie. 

Spend the night in a rustic cabin at Fancy Gap Cabins and Campground. 

3. New Castle 

Located outside the Roanoke Valley metro, New Castle embodies what it means to be a small mountain town. Craig County, of which the town serves as the county seat, bills itself as the “Redbud Capital of Southwest Virginia.” 

The historic town offers several noteworthy attractions, including the Swinging Bridge Restaurant within the Paint Bank General Store and The Emporium general store, as well as cultural and historic sites, including the Barn Quilt Trail, Old Brick Hotel, and the 1850s Courthouse.

A little further out from the town is the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest, which features all sorts of mountain paths for adventurers to explore. 

The Paint Bank General Store is located near New Castle. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

4. Big Stone Gap

Founded in 1856, Big Stone Gap shot to fame because of Adriana Trigiani’s novel “Big Stone Gap.” Given just how charming a town it is, it’s clear to see why it served as inspiration for Trigiani. Notably, the town embodies old school Americana against a mountainous backdrop. 

Visitors can pick up a free map at the Big Stone Gap Visitor Center for a self-guided walking or driving tour of various settings from the novel and movie.

Those who aren’t drawn to the town because of the book and movie may instead enjoy hiking the nearby mountainous Forest Road Trail or a shopping trip to the Appalachian Trading Company, which features works by local artists. 

The Big Stone Gap Visitor Center is housed in a renovated vintage gas station and provides information to visitors regarding travel opportunities in the area.
Virginia Tourism Corporation, www.Virginia.org

5. Damascus 

Those who love nothing more than exploring a new trail will enjoy a trip to Damascus, given that it’s known by the moniker of “Trail Town USA.” Some notable trails include the 34-mile historic Virginia Creeper Trail and the Appalachian Trail.

Those who aren’t excited by trails but nonetheless want to explore the area’s natural beauty should visit the nearby Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, which peaks at 5,729 feet.  

After a day of fun on the trails, visitors can check into the Damascus Old Mill Inn, which is also a full-service restaurant. This unique inn features views of the waterfall, the historic mill used on Laurel Creek, and Beaverdam Creek. 

6. Clifton Forge

Clifton Forge, a distinctly Alleghany Highlands town, knows how to fuse its mountain heritage, given that it’s situated along the Alleghany Mountains and offers exciting arts and culture. 

Visitors to the town may want to start by learning more about the region through a visit to the Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society and the Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center. From there, they can venture out to Douthat State Park, which is located 7 miles outside of town. Mountain scenery reigns supreme at the park. 

You can either spend the night at the nearby Buckhorne Country Store and Campground or head back into town for an evening show at the Historic Masonic Theatre.

7. Warm Springs

Bath County, with Warm Springs as its county seat, can also be found in the Alleghany Mountains. 

Over the centuries, the community has garnered a reputation as a spa destination because of its pools, which are now a National Historic Landmark and operated by The Omni Homestead Resort. The pools, which feature surrounding mountain views and rolling hills, maintain a 98-degree temperature year-round, making them a destination no matter the season. 

Sample Warm Springs’ local produce by dining at the Garden Room & Café, where lunch is prepared fresh from locally sourced products. While there, visit the gallery to see works by local artists, some of whom have depicted Warm Springs in their works. 

8. Buchanan 

Buchanan is a small town with a central Main Street that runs along the James River. It has nearby views of the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains and roots dating back to the 1700s. 

An outdoor recreation haven, visitors can explore the river by booking a trip with James River Outfitters, riding the Glen Wilton Horse Trail or Blue Ridge Parkway, or hiking the nearby Appalachian Trail. 

However, a visit to Buchanan wouldn’t be complete without a walk across the 366-foot-long Swinging Bridge. Spanning the James River, the bridge provides a one-of-a-kind view of both the river and the surrounding mountains. Before leaving town, grab lunch at the retro Buchanan Fountain & Grille.

Buchanan is situated along the James River with surrounding mountain views. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

9. Wise

Wise is a mountain oasis perched at 2,684 feet above sea level on the Appalachian Plateau. 

Tracing its history back to a coal town in the 1800s, the town is now primarily known as the home to the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, making it a rural and mountainous college town. 

It also serves as the county seat and features a range of shops and restaurants to explore. Stop in at Mountain Rose Vineyards to sample wine from the heart of coal country.

Cultural offerings include Pro-Art and the popular Wise County Famous Fall Fling arts and crafts festival, which is held the second full weekend of October.

10. Afton 

A short distance from Charlottesville, Afton is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is perhaps best known for the scenic Rockfish Gap, a striking wind gap that cuts into Afton Mountain. 

While Afton itself is small, it’s located within Nelson County, which features a variety of activities for visitors to engage in. Craft beverage lovers will surely want to hit up the Nelson 151, a trail of area breweries, cideries, distilleries, and wineries, with Afton Mountain Vineyards being one of the stops.

Those who plan to stay overnight can check into the circa-1848 Afton Mountain Inn, which is brimming with rustic charm from its still-intact heart pine flooring. 

Afton is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. (Virginia Tourism Corporation)

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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