I grew up in Nelson County, wandering the woods around what’s now The Retreat at Crabtree Falls. After several years away, I came home in 2016 to run the property my parents built. Since then, I’ve built up a working list of the best mountain getaways in Virginia.
Virginia mountain getaways range from full-service resorts to quiet vineyard inns and secluded cabins along a creek, and the right one depends on the kind of trip you’re actually hoping to have. I’ve been thinking about this variety for years. Below, I’ve organized my recommendations by experience type so you can find the version that fits what you’re actually planning.
A Virginia Outdoor Adventure Getaway in the Mountains
If your ideal weekend involves early mornings on the trail, packed lunches, and the tired-in-a-good-way feeling at the end of a hard hike, Skyland Resort inside Shenandoah National Park is hard to beat. It sits at 3,680 feet, the highest point on Skyline Drive, which means many of the best trails start within a short drive of your door.
Lodging ranges from simple rooms to detached cabins, and pet-friendly options are available. Whatever you book, the views are the main attraction. George Freeman Pollock Jr., founder of the property, called them “beauty beyond description,” and that hasn’t really changed. Guided horseback rides are also available on-site during the summer months if you want a rest day from hiking. One thing to plan around: Skyland is seasonal, open March through November.
If your idea of an outdoor getaway leans more toward tent camping, glamping, or waking up outdoors rather than in a hotel room, check out our full guide on the best camping in Virginia.
A Virginia Mountain Getaway with Wine and Mountain Views
Virginia is one of the country’s most interesting wine regions. If your ideal mountain trip involves a glass of local Cabernet Franc on a porch overlooking the vineyards, you have a lot of good options.
The Inn at Stinson Vineyards in Crozet is a four-room inn on a working vineyard, with Blue Ridge mountain views from every room. The day’s adventures begin with fresh pastries from nearby Praha Bakery. In summer, take a swim in the seasonal saltwater pool that looks out over the property; in cooler months, get cozy around a wood-burning fireplace in the Den. Individual rooms are adults-only (21+), but the entire inn can be booked for those preferring accommodations for the whole family. The latter option unlocks private chef dinners and even cooking classes.
The Goodstone Inn in Middleburg offers a very different kind of wine-country stay on a 265-acre historic estate in Loudoun County’s Hunt Country. Accommodations spread across six distinct buildings (a Carriage House, a stone cottage, a Manor House with a piano parlor, and several others), each with its own character. The on-site farm-to-table restaurant, Grayson’s at Goodstone, is worth the trip on its own. Outside, enjoy the heated saltwater pool and miles of walking trails that wind through gardens, meadows, and woodland – all just an hour from Washington D.C.
If you’re willing to drive further south, the stretch of Route 151 in Nelson County (sometimes called the “Nelson 151 Trail”) is lined with even more wineries, cideries, and breweries within a fifteen-mile corridor.
Idyllic Quiet and Wellness Retreats in the Virginia Mountains
If what you actually need is to sleep deeply, walk slowly, and come home feeling like a different person, a wellness resort might be more your speed.
The Omni Homestead Resort in Bath County has been a wellness destination for over 250 years! The natural mineral hot springs there predate the country itself, and Thomas Jefferson soaked in them. The Omni homestead a large historic resort rather than a small inn, and the spa, the hot springs, and the vast quiet grounds make it one of the most restorative places in Virginia. If your goal is genuine rest and physical restoration, this is where I’d start.
The Inn at Willow Grove in Orange County is a more intimate option. It’s a Forbes Travel Guide four-star luxury inn set in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge, looking out over the farmland and historic estates of Central Virginia. Twenty-five rooms and suites are spread across a lovingly restored 1778 manor house and its surrounding cottages on a 40-acre property. Enjoy deep soaking tubs, cloud-like beds, and an eclectic mix of museum-quality art around every corner. The on-site restaurant and gastropub are worth the visit in their own right, and the day spa is top-tier.
Wellness retreats work for solo travelers, friends, or couples, but if it’s specifically time together with your person that you’re after, check out the next category.
Romantic Virginia Mountain Getaways
Virginia has no shortage of romantic mountain lodging, from small vineyard inns to historic resorts with fireplaces in every room.
Check out our guide on romantic getaways in Virginia for a host of options that include The Red Fox Inn & Tavern in Middleburg and The Inn at Little Washington in Rappahannock County.
What works beautifully for a couple, though, is generally not ideal with kids in tow. Keep reading to see what I recommend for family fun in the mountains of Virginia.
A Family-Friendly Mountain Escape
Not every mountain getaway in Virginia is family-friendly. The best family options have on-site amenities, rainy-day options, and something for a range of ages.
Massanutten Resort is the quintessential family fun spot, and many Virginia families have been going for generations. The 130,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor WaterPark is the reason why, with tube slides, a lazy river, wave pools, and a FlowRider surfing simulator that runs year-round. In winter, 83 skiable acres and 23 runs open up alongside snow tubing lanes and an outdoor ice-skating rink. In the warmer months, families can enjoy mountain biking, zip lines, escape rooms, mini-golf, and a golf course.
Five on-site dining venues offer everything from grab-and-go to sit-down dinners, and accommodations range from hotel-style studios to multi-bedroom vacation homes with full kitchens. Its proximity to Shenandoah National Park is a bonus: you can hike Skyline Drive on a Sunday morning and be back at the waterpark by lunch.
Everything above is designed with one kind of trip in mind — a couple’s inn, a family resort, a spa retreat, a group vacation rental. But sometimes the trip you’re planning doesn’t fit neatly into one category. Maybe it’s a family reunion with a few couples who’d rather sleep in their own quiet spot. Maybe it’s a wellness weekend that turns into a wine tour. That’s the kind of stay we’ve built at The Retreat at Crabtree Falls.
The Combo Option: The Retreat at Crabtree Falls
Located in Tyro, Virginia, The Retreat at Crabtree Falls is two and a half hours from D.C. and Richmond, half a mile from Virginia’s tallest waterfall, and surrounded by hiking trails and the wineries along the Nelson 151 corridor.
Our lodging includes three distinct options: adults-only luxury glamping tents cantilevered over a quiet creek, dog-friendly Blue Ridge Mountain cabins for families and friends, and a five-bedroom lodge that sleeps up to fourteen. Book one, book a few, or book the whole property together to host a family reunion, corporate retreat, or even an intimate wedding.
Contact us to explore all of the lodging options and packages at our Blue Ridge getaway.
Closing Thoughts on the Best Virginia Mountain Getaways
No matter the kind of mountain getaway you’re craving, Virginia has a good version of it. The Blue Ridge and the Shenandoah are among the most accessible mountain landscapes on the East Coast, and the range of lodging built into them means that there’s an option for every goal and every budget.
And if you’d like a tour of The Retreat at Crabtree Falls, we’d love to show you around!
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