Want a charming mountain town packed with arts, architecture, and history? Head to Staunton, Virginia! Nestled in the Shenandoah Valley, Staunton dazzles with its historic downtown, vibrant arts scene, and easy access to stunning mountain landscapes. Whether you're catching a Shakespeare play or sipping coffee on a Victorian-era street, Staunton offers culture and nature in perfect balance.
Staunton, VA Highlights:
- American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse: Watch a play in the world’s only re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theater.
- Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum: Tour the birthplace and museum dedicated to the 28th U.S. President.
- Downtown Staunton: Stroll brick-lined streets full of boutiques, antique stores, and farm-to-table dining.
- Gypsy Hill Park: Picnic, play, and unwind in a 200-acre park with a duck pond, trails, and golf course.
- Frontier Culture Museum: Walk through living-history farms depicting early American and immigrant life.
Best Time to Visit Staunton, VA
The best time to visit Staunton is during the spring and fall (April–June and September–October), when pleasant temperatures and colorful landscapes enhance outdoor activities and festivals. Fall foliage in the Shenandoah Valley is especially breathtaking.
How to Get to Staunton, VA
- If you are traveling by car: Staunton is conveniently located off I-81 and I-64, about 2.5 hours from Washington, D.C., and 1 hour from Charlottesville.
- By Train: Amtrak’s Cardinal line stops at the historic Staunton Depot, connecting to cities like Washington, D.C., and Chicago.
- By Air: Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD) is about 30 minutes away, offering regional flights. Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO) is a larger option 1 hour away.
Where to Stay in Staunton, VA
- Hotel 24 South – Historic hotel with elegant rooms, an indoor pool, and prime downtown location.
- The Blackburn Inn and Conference Center – Stylish boutique hotel housed in a former 19th-century hospital complex.
- Frederick House – Cozy and charming downtown B&B offering multiple historic buildings to stay in.
Best Things to Do in Staunton, VA
1. Betsy Bell and Mary Grey Wilderness Park
Rating: ★★★★★
If you want to admire some of the best-ever views out over the Shenandoah Valley towards the Blue Ridge Mountains, you will find the Observation Platform (at an elevation of 1,959 feet) at the Betsy Bell and Mary Grey Wilderness Park hard to beat, and getting there is half the fun. You can access the Observation Platform by road provided that you have a high-clearance SUV (and are confident about negotiating a series of sharp bends, narrow tracks and scary heights). Other ways of getting to the viewpoint include a challenging mountain-bike ride or a fairly steep hike. You can bring along a picnic to enjoy while soaking up the sensational views.
Betsy Bell Wilderness Park, 525 Betsy Bell Rd, Staunton, VA 24401, Phone: 540-332-3945
2. Frontier Culture Museum
The Frontier Culture Museum is an interesting and educational attraction suitable for the whole family. The museums tells the story of daily life of the early immigrants and settlers by way of 11 permanent exhibitions, housed in original structures which have been brought to the site from England, Germany, Ireland, West Africa and America. Costumed docents are available to answer all your questions and you can tour the museum at your own pace on a self-guided tour - shuttles run back and forth for your convenience. The museum also offers fun and educational five-day Summer Camp programs for children aged 5 to 8, or 9 to 12, who will learn many of the skills which were essential to survival for the pioneer settlers.
1290 Richmond Ave, Staunton, VA 24401, Phone: 540-332-7850
Activities and Attractions for Couples:
3. Kline’s Dairy Bar
No visit to Staunton would be complete without a nostalgic visit to Kline’s Dairy Bar to taste their ice-cream of the day. The original Kline’s was established in 1943 in Downtown Harrisburg and was so popular that the owners established another three outlets including the Staunton venue which also serves food and has a private function space. You can taste the difference when you try their delicious ice creams which are still hand-made daily using only the best and freshest ingredients. You can visit their website to see which of their special flavors are available each day. Staunton visitors and locals can also order delicious take-out food for private functions and made-to-order ice-cream cakes will soon be available.
Kline’s Dairy Bar, 906 Greenville Ave, Staunton, VA 24401, Phone: 540-885-4664
4. Oak Grove Theater
For over 60 years Taunton locals and visitors have been treated to a summer season of plays produced by the Oak Grove Theater group. Every year the performing arts group produces a five-play season which runs from late March to Late September and is held at the delightful Oak Grove out-door theater which provides a unique ambiance. The subject matter of the five plays is varied and usually includes a fair amount of humor and even the odd farce or two. Theater-goers are invited to arrive early and bring along a picnic to enjoy in the grove before the start of the play. Each of the five plays runs for seven nights and the schedule changes each Thursday.
Oak Grove Theater, 845 Quick’s Mill Rd, Staunton, VA 24401, Phone: 540-248-5005
5. Ox Eye Vineyards
Named for the distinctive wild daisies that carpet the farm each year, Ox Eye Vineyards are located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. The property offers near-perfect vine growing conditions with deep limestone soils, cool-climate breezes and just the right fall temperatures to produce full flavored grapes. After selling their grapes to area wineries for decades, owners John and Susan Kiers started producing their own single-estate wines in 2010 and currently produce a range of delicious food-friendly wines which includes Chardonnays, Rieslings, Pinot Noirs and Lembergers. You can taste their wines at their beautifully restored Tasting Room in Taunton’s historic Wharf district which is open daily.
Ox Eye Vineyards Tasting Room, 44 Middlebrook Ave, Staunton, VA 24401, Phone: 540-849-7926
6. Queen City Brewing
Queen City Brewing opened its doors in 2003 and is the first brewery to do so in Staunton since the prohibition. Over the next 15 years they have expanded their on-site brewing capacity and now offer over 30 beers on tap. Their range includes a selection of lagers, several ales (including Belgian, Irish and British ales as well as IPA’s), porter, fruity blends and much more. If you are not a wine lover you can try some of their home-made sodas, alcoholic ginger beer or their fruity Ruby Sangria. On Friday nights there is always a food truck, (or you are welcome to bring in your own meals) and there is live music every Wednesday and Friday night.
Queen City Brewing, 834 Springhill Rd, Staunton, VA 24401, Phone: 540-213-8014
7. Staunton Music Festival
Although there is no shortage of musical entertainment in Staunton, the Staunton Music Festival is the highlight of the summer season for all music lovers. The festival runs for 10 days in the middle of August each year and in that short space of time you can attend up to 30 concerts. The great news is that the festival brings the joy of classical music to everyone by hosting one or two free concerts each day and well as a longer evening performance for which you need tickets. Serious music lovers who intend to visit several concerts can purchase an annual or summer pass which offers discounted tickets. The concerts take place at a variety of venues throughout historic downtown Staunton.
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