Historic Virginia Road Trip

After leaving Hampton Roads Area sprawl behind, a short hop on modern I-64 takes you to where English colonization of the Americas began more than 400 years ago. The settlement of Jamestown was founded on a marshy island in the James River (which the arriving colonists named for King James I). Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown form Virginia’s historic triangle.

I-64 isn’t the most scenic of routes, but you’ll save time bypassing the busy Richmond metro area en route to Fredericksburg. Through much of central Virginia I-95 negotiates a series of rolling hills, with occasional stretches of tree-lined medians. Closer to Fredericksburg traffic congestion can become significant, especially on weekends and around holidays.

Civil War buffs will want to explore Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania National Military Park and Manassas National Battlefield Park; several major battles were fought in these areas that was of key strategic importance to both the Union and Confederate sides. SR 234 winds past rolling green hills to Manassas, a D.C. metro area bedroom community that, like many Virginia towns, contains reminders of the Civil War and its impact.

On the way back to Norfolk, detour onto US 17, the Tidewater Trail. This rural route roughly parallels the scenic Rappahannock River. Just north of the US 301 junction is the historic community of Port Royal, a river port established in 1744; closer to the Hampton Roads Area is Gloucester, another Colonial-era Tidewater town full of historical landmarks.