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Is Virginia for lovers? As RV Lovers, we’re always looking for the next road trip and exploring the places we find. We love adventure, nature, and jaw-dropping views. Small towns with history and charm. Hidden gems and places that inspire and delight us. Good food and drinks – from cheap, tasty bites to the occasional fine dining splurge. We’re also incurable romantics.
So when we discovered Virginia’s slogan is “Virginia is for Lovers”, AND that they have more than 150 LOVEworks around the state. We knew it was our kind of place.
Our first visit to Virginia in 2015 was brief. We stopped to take a photo with our RV and the racing themed LOVEworks at Richmond Raceway. And we promised ourselves next time, we’d stay longer, and find even more of the love in Virginia. Finally, we’re back! So we began mapping out LOVEworks signs to find along our route, on a mission to visit as many as we could.
50 Years of LOVE
So, is Virginia for lovers? As it turns out, Virginia recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Virginia is for Lovers slogan. In 1969, Virginia adopted the slogan to attract all kinds of lovers. Nature lovers, fishing lovers, hiking lovers, biking lovers, history lovers, mountain lovers, food lovers, and wine lovers.
During our recent trip, we discovered beautiful back roads, charming mountain towns, scenic places, and delicious food and drinks. The longer we stayed and the more we experienced, the more we found there was to love. But, is Virginia for RV Lovers too?
Our LOVE-packed RV Road Trip Itinerary in VA
so, Is Virginia for lovers? In this post, we share what we loved most about our road trip in Virginia, focusing on:
- Great RV camping spots we loved
- Photo-worthy LOVEworks we loved
- Awe-Inspiring drives, trails and nature we loved
- Charming and historic small town gems we loved
- Good food, wine and other drinks we loved
This is a map of all the LOVEworks.
Is Virginia for lovers of RV camping?
With all its natural beauty, the state of Virginia is very outdoor focused, so there are lots of campgrounds in many areas. In planning our Northern Virginia (NOVA) itinerary, we did start to find it a little more challenging finding campsites in the more populated areas (big cities). Campgrounds were lacking near many of the small towns we wanted to see.
Hub and spoke style travel
Knowing there would be some narrower roads and parking limitations, we decided to do more ‘hub and spoke’ style travel. That means parking our RV (a larger, Class A motorhome) at a campground as a base. Then go off exploring in the Jeep, so we could relax and enjoy the drive. We don’t mind putting on the miles, especially when it comes to driving rural, scenic roads and small towns. If you have a small RV – like a Class B, Class C or even a small towable – you could drive it to most of the places we visited.
We managed to find a few gems where we were able to park our RV. Here is where we stayed.
Lake Fairfax County Park in Reston, VA
Lake Fairfax Park has 70 spacious sites, inside a massive county park. Campsites have water and electric, and there’s a bath house and dump station on site. There are miles of biking and hiking trails, sports fields, and even a huge water park. The campground was surprisingly quiet and peaceful, especially being so close to major cities.
It’s close to DC, near a metro, and affordable for the area at $40-50 a night. It’s an easy drive to Northern Virginia’s Wine Trail in Loudoun County, including Leesburg, Purcellville and Warrenton.
Shenandoah River State Park in Bentonville, VA
The beautiful Shenandoah River State Park is surrounded by 1600 acres of state park, the campground is spacious, and very well maintained. Campsites book up quickly, especially on weekends. We were lucky to score a 5 night reservation during the week. The sites at this park are water and electric only, but they have bath houses and a dump station on-site.
And if you don’t have an RV, you can stay in one of their cabins, yurts, or the lodge. Or you can just pitch a tent. RV camping is about average for the area at $40 a night. This a great base for exploring the North Central Virginia and Shenandoah Valley area.
Overnight Stay at Barrel Oak Winery in Northern Virginia
Is Virginia for wine lovers? Yes. There are many wonderful wineries to explore in Virginia.
We love to experience different ways to camp, outside of campgrounds and RV parks. As members of Harvest Hosts, we can stay overnight (for free) at wineries, farms and other unique locations in our RV. So we were thrilled to find Barrel Oak Winery (BOW) in Delaplane was part of the program. We called ahead, got the OK to stay, and added it to our itinerary! This ultra-dog-friendly winery and brewery is appropriately nicknamed BOW.
It’s just 45 miles west of the Washington DC area off I-66. The location was easy to get to with our RV and they parked us at the top of the sloped hill, surrounded by vines. We weren’t able to get the RV completely level, but close enough for our short stay.
Staying at BOW meant we could enjoy our wine without having to worry about driving home. And who doesn’t want to wake up beside rows and rows of vines? We spent plenty of time and money enjoying BOW’s food, drink and entertainment. More on that further down in the “food and drink” section.
Is Virginia for lovers of art?
Is Virginia for art lovers? Yes!
Did you know there are over 150 LOVEworks signs and art installations all around Virginia? Almost all of them have a theme unique to the place they are located.
As RVLOVE, the mission of our Virginia road trip was to find the LOVE everywhere, we could. This map was a huge help in putting together a list of all the LOVEworks along our route (plus a few extras), which we added to our itinerary.
It was fun to return to the NASCAR themed Lovework at Richmond International Raceway for another photo with our new RV setup. This is one of the few LOVEworks you can easily drive right up to with your car to take a photo! Can you spot what we did in this photo? RV. LOVE. Get it? 🙂
Here are some of the other LOVEworks we visited:
- horse racing themed LOVEwork at Meadow Event Park in Richmond
- amusement themed Kings Dominion Campground LOVEwork, in Richmond
- bicycle parts themed LOVEwork of Leesburg opposite the W&OD Trail
- peace themed mural painted trailer LOVEwork at Hearthstone School (near Sperryville)
- vineyard themed LOVEwork sculpture at DuCard Vineyards in Etlan (near Sperryville)
- downtown LOVEwork at Culpeper Depot in Culpeper (it lights up at night)
- romance inspired LOVEwork at Old House Vineyards in Culpeper
- recycled farm materials themed LOVEwork at Airlie in Warrenton
- river themed LOVEwork in Waynesboro
- wooden Logs of Love LOVEwork at Luray Caverns
Is Virginia for lovers of the outdoors?
Is Virginia for outdoors lovers? We think so. Great drives, beautiful scenery, and abundant open space.
Skyline Drive
One of the top drives in the country starts from Front Royal, VA. The 105 mile Skyline Drive runs straight through Shenandoah National Park and is loaded with scenic overlooks and hiking trails. If continuing south, it turns into the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. The most scenic part of the tree-lined Skyline Drive is between Front Royal and Mary’s Rock Tunnel (where there’s another entrance to Skyline Drive at US 211).
There are several big pullouts (even for RVs) to stop, take in the scenery, take photos, and go hiking. Our spring visit was lovely. It was lush and green, and we can only imagine how spectacular it would be to travel Skyline Drive in the fall!
Note: The signs for Mary’s Rock Tunnel show a low height of 12’ 8” but the tunnel is very short and much taller in the center. As long as there’s no traffic, you could safely drive your RV down the center of the curved roof tunnel. That’s how the big tour buses get through it!
We drove the entire Skyline Drive in one day (about 3 hours one way without stopping) to visit Waynesboro and Staunton. We returned to our RV that evening via the much faster (but less scenic) I-81. If you prefer avoiding the interstate, try US 11 and US 340 for a more scenic drive.
Is Virginia for bike lovers? Definitely. We found tons of great biking during our trip to Virginia.
W&OD Trail
The W&OD Trail is built on the roadbed of the former Washington & Old Dominion Railroad. It is a fantastic 45-mile paved trail for walking, running, and bicycling that starts in Purcellville in Loudoun County and to Shirlington in Arlington County. We were glad we took our bikes along so that we could get in some exercise before lunch. We could have spent the whole day biking, in the urban heartland and this trail’s countryside. Next time!
Remember to take a pic with the LOVEwork of Leesburg opposite the W&OD Trail
Shenandoah River State Park
Shenandoah River State Park is a haven for nature and outdoor activities. It’s by the south fork of the Shenandoah River where you can head out in a kayak or canoe. There are miles and miles of hiking and biking trails. Pop into their excellent Visitor’s Center to get even more ideas, maps and notes about wildlife sightings. The highlight of our stay was one evening when we saw thousands of fireflies light up the hill behind our RV, creating a magical, natural firework display.
Luray Caverns
The largest and most popular cavern in eastern America, Luray Caverns, has been designated a Registered Natural Landmark. We have toured many caverns in our travels, and Luray had some unique and impressive features. Hear the world’s only Stalacpipe organ play a tune. And gaze into the impossibly still and magnificent Dream Lake, where reflections of the cavern’s formations create an optical illusion.
Caverns tour tickets include access to the Car and Carriage Caravan, and Luray Valley Museum. You’ll find the Logs of Love LOVEwork out on the grass field by the caverns.
Is Virginia for lovers of history and charm?
Virginia has some of the prettiest, most historic, revitalized small towns we’ve seen, and quite a few of them are close together, so you can easily explore a few in a day.
Sperryville
The tiny town of Sperryville has a cute, short main street with lovely little buildings, shops, and homes. It’s a sweet place to stretch your legs and take a short stroll. Start at the Happy Camper Equipment Store by the creek and read the signs to learn about the town’s history. Note: many of Sperryville’s small businesses are open only Friday through Sunday
Culpeper
Culpeper’s vibrant and lovely town revitalized its historic downtown district, putting it on the map as a popular destination town. We started at the Culpeper Depot Visitor Center to get tips from a local expert. West Davis and Main Streets were perfect for browsing specialty, art, and antique stores and boutiques. There’s plenty for history lovers too, with historic homes, civil war stories, and Colonial-era churches. And outdoor activities like hiking and biking. We could have easily spent an entire day (or two) exploring Culpeper. Next time we’ll book a stay at a B&B or inn, like Suites at 249.
Warrenton
Warrenton is another lovely, historical town that would be an easy drive whether you come from Front Royal or Reston. We spent most of our time exploring the peaceful, relaxing grounds of the 300-acre event center known as Airlie. Take a bike ride, try archery, play tennis, walk the nature trails, visit the farm, or sit by the lake with a picnic and watch the ducks and geese. You can even stay in one of their guest rooms. The LOVEwork at Airlie is made of recycled farm-related materials and sits on a grassy hill overlooking the pond and water fountain. Tip: Take your photo in the morning for optimal lighting.
Waynesboro
At the southern end of Skyline Drive, we found Waynesboro. We drove down the small historic main street and strolled along the river, where we found the river-themed LOVEwork. Check their summer event calendar, as that’s where they host their music festivals in Constitution Park.
Staunton
Staunton’s beautifully preserved, historic town (pronounced STAN-ton by the locals) was voted one of the “Best Small Towns” in America, and now we know why. Steeped in culture, history, and natural beauty, it’s conveniently located between Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. An attractive, walkable town, Staunton is perfect for exploring on foot.
Stop in at the local Co-Art Gallery to see the work of local artists. Step into the lovely corner building that houses the Black Swan Books and Music store. Stroll down to the old train depot, and take the steps above the rail station for an overlooking view of the town and its architecture. You can see and feel Staunton’s pride in preserving its history and natural beauty. Being a college town, it also has an edgy, youthful vibe that makes you want to stay longer.
Is Virginia for lovers of food and wine?
Did you know Virginia is one of the top 5 USA states for wine? It is also very popular among foodies. We did our share of wine tasting and enjoyed local culinary delights!
But where to start? Loudoun County, in Northern Virginia, is home to Purcellville and historic Leesburg. Located an hour from the nation’s capital, the area is known as DC’s Wine Country, with the famous Wine Trail offering 40 wineries and tasting rooms.
Leesburg area.
Doukenie Winery in Hillsboro (a short drive from Leesburg) is an award-winning winery with a lovely tasting room. It overlooks 425 acres of beautiful grounds and wines. This is a place to take a picnic and take your time! After tasting various red and white wines, we bought a bottle of their delicious Cabernet Franc. They also offer a charcuterie selection, with various cheeses, fruit, crackers, and more. Head down to relax by the pond with your wine, snacks, or picnic while watching the ducks, geese, and turtles. This was an easy drive from our RV campsite at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, VA.
While in Leesburg, we discovered Melt, a diner-style burger place. Renowned for their gourmet burgers, fries, and shakes, Melt’s obsession with creative burger ideas sits alongside their love for animals. Their walls are plastered with photos of furry friends up for adoption. And we LOVE that they donate their tip jar to a local animal rescue.
Linden.
We were introduced to the excellent wines and beautiful property of Linden Vineyards by friends who live locally. After our wonderful wine tasting, we sat out on the deck with a bottle of rose and a delicious plate of salmon, cheese, and bread. As we looked out at the vines, a massive rainstorm hit. This was followed by an incredible double rainbow spanning the vineyards. The end of the rainbow touched down right in front of us. Pot of gold, anyone? Linden was an easy drive from our campground at Shenandoah River State Park.
Culpeper.
Downtown Thyme Market is a great place to stop for a casual bite or pick up some gourmet goodies to take home. We bought a huge and delicious sea salt caramel brownie and a tasty cheese spread that the locals call “Culpeper Crack.” They didn’t last long! We also stopped at Old House Vineyards, a 74-acre 1800s farmhouse property with a wine-tasting room and a distillery for spirit tastings (Fri-Sat-Sun). Being a weekday, we missed out on a tasting. But we did get some photos with the wooden LOVEwork on the property.
Warrenton.
We finished another big drive day with a fantastic dinner at Claire’s at the Depot. It’s a fabulous, former turn-of-the-century train station turned fine dining restaurant serving quality and quantity. We sat in the courtyard to enjoy the weather, a glass of wine, and an outstanding roast chicken dinner. Yum!
Staunton.
Hungry after our scenic Skyline drive, we grabbed a beer and toasted sandwich at a great little corner cafe called The By and By. They have comfy seating inside and a lovely little courtyard out back. We then took a stroll around town and found a wine-tasting room at Ox-Eye Vineyards on our way back from the railway depot.
We finished up our big day of exploring with a spectacular Mediterranean meal and cocktail at the highly-rated Aioli.
Everything from the bread to the appetizers, entrees, and drinks was beautifully presented and a great way to refuel before our drive back to our RV at Shenandoah River State Park.
Wine, beer, pizza, and puppy love
Fauquier Wine Trail has over 26 wineries, though we only visited one.
Barrel Oak Winery (aka BOW) in Delaplane offers wine and craft beer tastings, food, gifts, and entertainment and guarantees a good time! BOW is not only dog-friendly, but it’s also dog-focused. A sign at the entrance says, “Dogs Welcome, People Tolerated!” So yes, you can bring your fur babies (inside and out). The place exudes puppy love.
On weekends, the place jumps with wine and beer tastings, a wood-fired pizza kitchen, and food vendors (BBQ, oyster, cake pops). BOW even has dog gelato for your pups! They have live music on weekends, and the place gets packed, so arrive early to get a spot! It’s an enjoyable place to spend an afternoon. Relax inside or grab a table outside overlooking the vines.
We loved our time at BOW and consumed more wine, beer, and wood-fired pizzas than we are willing to admit! Luckily we were able to spend the night in our RV (as part of our Harvest Hosts membership). BOW also has a gift store called “WAG” that sells dog and wine-themed gear. You might even pick up a signed copy of our books Living the RV Life, and RV hacks.
The staff was amazing, and we were made to feel very welcome. We definitely felt the LOVE at BOW.
So, Is Virginia for lovers?
Definitely a resounding yes! We are SO glad we took the time to really immerse in and explore these Virginia gems. There is so much to see, do and love! And while we covered a lot of ground, it still wasn’t enough. I guess that means only one thing…we’ll be back, Virginia!
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10 thoughts on “Is Virginia for Lovers? Finding Love – RV style”
Lived in Northern Virginia for 25 years when I was a pilot for United and most of my children are still there. It is beautiful and there are many things to do. It’s also gotten hugely over-developed and overcrowded, unfortunately. Never try to view the fall colors in Shenandoah National Park on a weekend, for instance. It’s like I-95 during rush hour. Long time residents become experts in driving “short cuts” via country roads and even subdivisions. I miss NoVa, but I don’t miss the traffic.
Oh yes can only imagine the traffic! But fall would be beautiful… on a week day! We tend to visit national parks and other popular areas mid week as weekends just get way too crazy! So much to see and do in Virginia, we definitely look forward to returning!
So glad you enjoyed Virginia. We live in the historic Northern Neck & have the beautiful Belle Isle State Park just 10 miles away! Suggest you put some of the historic places on your next trip here – Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown to name a few. Safe travels
Thanks Roger! Yes we actually got a little taste of those areas in May, unfortunately it was raining which impacted out time there! We definitely want to return to beautiful Virginia!
Loved this “Love” video. I grew up vacationing in VA every summer and I still saw things that I have never seen before. I loved all the Loveworks and that definitely has to go on our list for one of our next trips. Thanks for keeping us up to date on all the great places to explore.
Glad you enjoyed it Sandy! It’s a fun and romantic way to explore 🙂
Great summary for new areas to explore and enjoy in Virginia! Yes you don’t have to roam far to find treasures to explore inmy adopted homestaye!
There is so much beauty, so much to see and do in Virginia! We would love to visit in the fall next time!
WOW. Very informative. I had no idea how much Virginia has to offer. We will put Virginia on the list again but spend more time. GOOD job on the info. Jerry and Sharon
Glad you enjoyed it! We barely scratched the surface of Virginia! But that means there is plenty more for us to explore when we return 🙂 There are loads of great trip ideas/itineraries in that link in the blog post – for ALL regions, worth check out for other trip ideas. Cheers!