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{{Text hero
|title=Virginia's Blue Ridge Highlands
|subtitle=Virginia regional guide
|kind=regional
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{{Place header
|name=Virginia's Blue Ridge Highlands
|image=
|alt=
|kicker=REGIONAL GUIDE
|summary=Mountain towns, traditional Appalachian music, scenic drives and outdoor adventures across Southwest Virginia.
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{{Place quick facts
|label1=Region
|value1=Southwest Virginia
|label2=Type
|value2=Official Virginia tourism region
|label3=Communities
|value3=Small cities, towns and rural mountain communities
|label4=Known for
|value4=The Crooked Road, mountain landscapes and outdoor recreation
}}
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Virginia’s Blue Ridge Highlands is an official tourism region in Southwest Virginia, where mountain roads connect music-minded towns, historic places and outdoor destinations. The regional experience ranges from Bristol and Abingdon to Galax, Floyd and communities around the New River Valley. Start with a live-music stop, build in a scenic drive or trail day, and leave time for the distinct character of the region’s small towns.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.virginia.org/places-to-visit/regions/blue-ridge-highlands/ |title=Blue Ridge Highlands |website=Virginia Is For Lovers |publisher=Virginia Tourism Corporation |access-date=2026-10-22}}</ref>
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|destination=VA-VIRGINIA-BLUE-RIDGE-HIGHLANDS
|name=Virginia's Blue Ridge Highlands
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|destination=VA-VIRGINIA-BLUE-RIDGE-HIGHLANDS
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== Why go ==
The Blue Ridge Highlands is a good fit for travelers who want a mountain trip with a strong cultural thread. Traditional Appalachian music is part of the region’s living identity, and the Crooked Road links communities and venues where visitors can encounter old-time, bluegrass, gospel and related traditions. Depending on the route, a trip can combine performances and local history with hiking, cycling, waterways or a drive through mountain scenery.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thecrookedroadva.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Digital-Passport-RFP-.pdf |title=The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail — Request for Proposals |website=The Crooked Road |publisher=The Crooked Road |date=2024-11-11 |access-date=2026-10-22}}</ref>

The region’s official tourism listing includes communities such as Abingdon, Blacksburg, Bristol, Christiansburg, Damascus, Floyd, Galax, Marion, Pulaski, Radford and Wytheville, as well as surrounding counties. It is a broad travel region rather than one compact destination, so choosing a base—or planning a multi-stop route—helps make driving times manageable.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.virginia.org/places-to-visit/regions/blue-ridge-highlands/ |title=Blue Ridge Highlands |website=Virginia Is For Lovers |publisher=Virginia Tourism Corporation |access-date=2026-10-22}}</ref>

== Highlights ==
<div class="vw-place-card-grid">
{{Place card
|title=The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail
|link=The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail
|text=Follow a regional driving trail connecting communities and venues that celebrate Southwest Virginia’s traditional music heritage.
}}
{{Place card
|title=Blue Ridge Parkway
|link=Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
|text=Plan a scenic drive with overlooks and stops along the Parkway; check the National Park Service’s current road status before setting out.
}}
{{Place card
|title=Grayson Highlands State Park
|link=Grayson Highlands State Park
|text=Explore high-country trails and mountain scenery. Ponies may be encountered on the trails; keep a safe distance and do not feed or pet them.
}}
{{Place card
|title=Abingdon
|link=Abingdon, Virginia
|text=Use this historic town as a gateway to Southwest Virginia attractions, including Barter Theatre and the Virginia Creeper Trail area.
}}
{{Place card
|title=Bristol
|link=Bristol, Virginia
|text=Visit a city closely associated with country music history and the 1927 Bristol Sessions.
}}
{{Place card
|title=Floyd
|link=Floyd, Virginia
|text=Explore a small mountain town known as a stop on The Crooked Road and for its local music and arts scene.
}}
</div>

The region’s tourism highlights also include the Floyd Country Store, Barter Theatre in Abingdon, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. What to prioritize depends on the trip: choose a performance or cultural stop for an evening, then pair it with a daytime drive, walk or park visit.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.virginia.org/places-to-visit/regions/blue-ridge-highlands/ |title=Blue Ridge Highlands |website=Virginia Is For Lovers |publisher=Virginia Tourism Corporation |access-date=2026-10-22}}</ref>

== History and character ==
The Highlands’ history is shaped by its mountain communities and by the people who have sustained local music, crafts and other cultural traditions. The Crooked Road presents that heritage as a living practice, connecting venues and communities across Southwest Virginia rather than treating music as a story confined to the past.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thecrookedroadva.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Digital-Passport-RFP-.pdf |title=The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail — Request for Proposals |website=The Crooked Road |publisher=The Crooked Road |date=2024-11-11 |access-date=2026-10-22}}</ref>

The area also holds important African American history. Booker T. Washington was born enslaved in 1856 on a tobacco plantation in Franklin County; the National Park Service preserves and interprets the birthplace landscape at Booker T. Washington National Monument. Its story connects the region’s local history to slavery, emancipation, education and Washington’s later public life.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://home.nps.gov/bowa/a-birthplace-that-experienced-slavery-the-civil-war-and-emancipation.htm |title=A Birthplace That Experienced Slavery, The Civil War and Emancipation |website=National Park Service |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior |date=2025-09-09 |access-date=2026-10-22}}</ref>

== Planning a trip ==
Because the region spans many communities, plan around a few nearby stops rather than trying to cover the entire area in a short visit. A town-based stay can pair easily with local dining and music; a road-trip itinerary can link several towns with outdoor stops. Check event calendars directly with venues, since performance schedules and seasonal events can change.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic route, not a fast connector. In Virginia, signed access points are available from Interstates 64, 81 and 77. Parkway addresses use mileposts, and the National Park Service advises visitors to check road closures and use official maps when planning a drive. Road, weather and construction conditions can change, so confirm current status before departure.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/directions.htm |title=Directions — Blue Ridge Parkway |website=National Park Service |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior |access-date=2026-10-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/maps.htm |title=Maps — Blue Ridge Parkway |website=National Park Service |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior |access-date=2026-10-22}}</ref>

At Grayson Highlands State Park, hikers may see ponies on the highland trails. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation asks visitors not to approach, feed or pet them; check the park’s current information for trail conditions, access and visitor guidance before going.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/grayson-highlands |title=Grayson Highlands State Park |website=Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation |publisher=Commonwealth of Virginia |access-date=2026-10-22}}</ref>

== Explore nearby ==
<div class="vw-place-explore-grid">
{{Nearby card
|title=Southwest Virginia
|link=Southwest Virginia
|text=Explore the broader mountain region and its communities, cultural routes and outdoor destinations.
}}
{{Nearby card
|title=Blue Ridge Mountains
|link=Blue Ridge Mountains
|text=Learn about the mountain landscape that frames the region’s scenic drives and high-country recreation.
}}
{{Nearby card
|title=Virginia's Regions
|link=Virginia's Regions
|text=Compare the Blue Ridge Highlands with Virginia’s other official travel regions.
}}
{{Nearby card
|title=Appalachian Trail in Virginia
|link=Appalachian Trail in Virginia
|text=Plan a hike on the long-distance trail as it crosses Virginia’s mountain country.
}}
</div>

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'''Travel books and maps:''' [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Virginia%27s%20Blue%20Ridge%20Highlands%20Virginia%20travel%20guide%20map&tag=virginiawiki-20 Browse related Virginia travel books and maps on Amazon]
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== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://www.virginia.org/places-to-visit/regions/blue-ridge-highlands/ Blue Ridge Highlands] — Virginia Is For Lovers
* [https://thecrookedroadva.com/ The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail]
* [https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm Blue Ridge Parkway road status and closures] — National Park Service
* [https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/grayson-highlands Grayson Highlands State Park] — Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
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