4 Best National Parks To Visit This Year In Virginia, USA

Virginia has an amazing 22 beautiful national parks featuring dense forests, mountain ranges, and remote islands. The national parks are also steeped in history and culture and offer incredible views. Meanwhile, the state can also claim the honor of the most visited site in the National Park Service system. Despite the pandemic, Blue Ridge Parkway received an amazing 15.9 million visits in 2021. Let’s take a brief look at that national park and three other best national parks in Virginia, USA.

1. Assateague Island National Seashore, Virginia

For those who love the beach but are looking for peace and quiet in nature, Assateague Island National Seashore is the place to go. While the park is famous for its wild ponies (pictured above), the barrier island is also home to much other wildlife, including sika deer, red fox, ghost crabs and several species of shorebirds.

Meanwhile, this area is part of the homeland of the Occohannock and Pocomoke people and the park service has a visitor’s center. The NPS also has a recreational beach within the refuge, perfect for sunning, crabbing, fishing and kayaking. However, the island is also perfect for hiking and biking.

2. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia

This national park is perfect for road trippers and is actually a series of parks. The parkway stretches from the Appalachian highlands of Virginia into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

Blue Ridge Parkway runs for 469 miles, passing through beautiful, unspoiled countryside that varies, depending on the season. In summer, everything is lush and green, while in fall the trees are full of color. Meanwhile, winter sees the mountain peaks capped with snow.

3. Shenandoah National Park

For those who love hiking, Shenandoah National Park is just the place. Virginia’s first designated national park is part of the Blue Ridge Mountain range. However, the Blue Ridge Parkway ends at the park’s entrance and becomes Skyline Drive. The park features 200,000 acres, hosting plenty of wildlife, including black bears, bobcats, foxes, birds and brown bats.

The most popular location here is Old Rag Mountain which can get crowded. Those looking for peace and quiet here should try visiting on a weekday, especially in the high season. Meanwhile, the Old Rag hike is 9.5 miles long and is pretty challenging. However, the reward is an incredible view from the top. Big Meadows is another beauty spot. This mountaintop meadow is perfect for spotting wildlife or stargazing at night.

4. George Washington Memorial Parkway

For those who don’t want to go too far from the big city, George Washington Memorial Parkway is a scenic route starting just outside Washington, DC. This makes it the perfect getaway to escape from the city crowds. This scenic route links up to several significant historical sites and nature preserves while heading through Virginia, DC and Maryland. It even leads up to Washington’s former estate at Mt. Vernon.

Among the natural sites, the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, a freshwater tidal wetland area is an excellent choice. Alternatively, a visit to the Great Falls Park on the Virginia-Maryland border reveals a collection of rocky waterfalls. Another top choice is Turkey Run Park, which forms part of the Potomac Gorge ecosystem.

Enjoy beautiful landscapes, wildlife and fresh air in one of Virginia’s national parks this year.