29 Best Hotels in Central and Western Virginia, Virginia

The first hotel on this site was built in 1828, but visitors have been attracted to the Natural Bridge since Colonial times. Within walking distance of the spectacular rock arch of the same name (there's also a shuttle bus), the Colonial-style brick hotel is in a beautiful location as well as numerous recreational facilities. The hotel is similar in style to The Homestead resort but is a fraction of the price. Long porches with rocking chairs allow leisurely appreciation of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and rooms are done in a Colonial Virginia style.

This former shoe factory and tobacco warehouse turned boutique hotel still pays homage to its beginnings. In the 1800s, the Craddock-Terry Shoe Company was the fifth largest in the world, so to honor its roots, the hotel serves a complimentary continental breakfast delivered in a shoeshine box. Located in the Bluffwalk Center, the Craddock Terry is within walking distance of several restaurants and the Jefferson Brewery, in addition to the two on-site restaurants. All rooms have scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains or the James River.

This elegant Tudor Revival building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1882 by the Norfolk and Western Railroad. The richly paneled lobby has Florentine marble floors and ceiling frescos. Its formal restaurant ($$$–$$$$) serves regional Southern cuisine. A $6.5-million renovation of guest rooms and suites includes new furnishings, flat-screens, and Sweet Dreams beds. The Market Square Bridge, a glassed-in walkway, goes from the hotel to downtown attractions.

What began as a small-town eatery in 1978 has grown into a legendary establishment. The rich interior of the three-story white-frame inn is the work of Joyce Conway-Evans, who has designed theatrical sets and rooms in English royal houses. Plush canopy beds, marble bathrooms, and fresh flowers make the rooms sumptuous. If you need more space, the Inn also has two luxurious cottages: the 3,200 square foot Claiborne House and the smaller but equally charming Gamekeeper's Cottage, both steps from the main inn. Chef Patrick O'Connell's much-loved New American food is served in a slate-floor dining room with William Morris wallpaper, and his restaurant consistently wins respect from international critics. Gourmands can reserve a seat at the Chef's Table to watch the kitchen in action.

If you've got the money for it, this 1912 Tuscan villa on 600 lush acres 5 miles east of Charlottesville is a luxurious, cosmopolitan retreat. The 48 guest rooms and suites contain modern amenities like high-speed Internet and flat screen TVs, which exist in harmony among English and American antiques and claw-foot tubs. Some rooms have whirlpool baths and balconies. The 18-hole golf course designed by Pete Dye, spreads across the rear of the estate. There's no check-in desk here; you are welcomed inside as if you're entering someone's home.

Chef-owner Alain Borel and his wife Celeste of Avignon, France, bring the warm elegance of the south of France to this 1750s country inn, originally a sheep farm owned by Lord Fairfax. Rooms are eclectically decorated with French art and fabrics, and Victorian wicker and antiques; some even have fireplaces. Breakfast includes fresh homemade croissants and apple crepes with maple syrup. This is considered one of the most romantic inns in Virginia; the restaurant is highly popular on its own as well.

Built in 1928, this restored hotel in historic downtown combines old-world charm with modern amenities. The charming lobby has a fireplace, but the rooms are definitely contemporary Colonial in style. With more than 100 rooms, the hotel also has an indoor pool, fitness center, business center, lounge, restaurant, and conference facilities. The historic past is reflected in the lobby's period decor.

Two Georgian houses, one of them a former brothel, have been combined and restored to create this old-fashioned inn in the historic district, two blocks from the Downtown Mall. Furnishings throughout are English and Belgian antiques, and several rooms come with a canopy bed, sitting room, fireplace, and whirlpool.

Set on 55 acres in west Charlottesville, this local landmark resembles an English country inn, with flower gardens, ponds, and a gristmill from 1834. Rooms have king-size four-poster beds and Italian linens, and many are decked out with balconies or fireplaces. There are lots of activities hosted here, from cooking classes and wine tastings, to hot-air ballooning. The Old Mill Room restaurant, the Inn's fine dining outlet, is open for a lunch buffet and dinner, while Bistro 1834 and the Birdwood Grill offer more casual fare.

This 1789 home features four luxurious suites and three intimate cottages overlooking the rolling hills of Harrisonburg. The inn combines 21st-century amenities with the old-world elegance of featherbeds and fireplaces. The three cottages feature whirlpool tubs set in front of the fireplace and 4-inch-thick featherbeds. All rooms and suites are furnished with period antiques and reproductions: Colonial in the 1790s main house and Victorian in the 1840s addition.

Constructed as a private house in 1832, turned into a college dormitory in 1860, and then used as a field hospital during the Civil War, the Martha Washington finally became an inn in 1935. Across from the Barter Theatre, the inn has rooms furnished with Victorian antiques; some have fireplaces and all have flat-screens and even the odd touch of phones in the bathroom. A natatorium, pool, and full-service spa add to the old-world luxury. There is a daily resort fee, which includes breakfast, morning coffee, afternoon tea, Wi-Fi, access to the fitness center, and shuttle service to the Virginia Highlands Airport.

This small inn is the ultimate in luxury, with top-shelf amenities like Mascioni linens and robes, and Molton Brown toiletries. There are 18 uniquely appointed rooms and suites situated on 100 acres, offering spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Many of the rooms are named to reflect the property's ties to the Jefferson family. About 350 acres passed to Thomas Jefferson's daughter and her husband, Thomas Mann Randolph, who established their home, Edgehill, on the property. The foundations of the main building are thought to be the original foundations of one of Mann's warehouses. The Inn is also known for its excellent restaurant.

Prepare to be pampered upon arrival with complimentary port and chocolates in the cozy library at this welcoming inn that will make you feel like a local. Located on the quiet end of town, this 1850s farmhouse furnished with antiques and period pieces is within walking distance of restaurants and shopping. Curl up in front of the fireplace on a chilly fall day or enjoy the scenery during warm weather from the spacious front porch. A full home-cooked breakfast in the serene sunroom is included.

Located within walking distance of all of the charming town's attractions, this historic hotel once hosted the many celebrities, such as Ed Sullivan, who served as Grand Marshall at the Shenandoah Valley Apple Blossom Parade. Originally built in 1924, the stunning lobby with its original Tennessee marble floors features a pictorial history of the grand hotel, along with a hip new lounge and upscale restaurant called the Dancing Goat. As it's now part of the Wyndham group, guests can expect rooms furnished with period reproductions, luxury bedding, and modern amenities, from flat screens to high-speed Internet.

Federalist and Italianate architecture are joined by a hall in this bed-and-breakfast (and working vineyard), combining houses from 1832 and 1882. This 13-acre property is 15 miles south of Monticello and close to several top wineries, and their own vineyard is known for its pinot noir. All of the rooms have been recently renovated, with the addition of luxury linens and Arbonne toiletries. Dinner is served in the dining room by reservation Wednesday through Saturday, and a substantial breakfast is included in the room rate. The inn even keeps its own hens for true farm-to-table organic eggs.

Occupying five restored buildings at the same site as the Waterwheel Restaurant, the rooms of this state historical landmark inn are in a Colonial Virginia style. Four units are in the original miller's house; others occupy the former blacksmith's shop, hardware store, gristmill, and cottage. Some of the rooms have fireplaces and patios, and each has its own unique decor, from Colonial cottage chic to modern rustic cabin charm. A continental breakfast is included in the rate. The Inn is at the border of The Homestead resort property so you can easily walk up and explore that area. It's also within walking distance of shops and a convenience store.

Midway between Winchester and Belle Grove Plantation, the Inn at Vaucluse Springs sits on 100 acres of rolling orchards. The 200-year-old Manor House serves as the gathering spot for an elegant three-course breakfast and end-of-day socializing. Six private guesthouses sit on the property, including the Old Mill House, which was once an artist's studio, and the Gallery Guest House with panoramic meadow views. Innkeepers Neil and Barry Myers are known for their genial Southern hospitality. Snacks, tea, and a hearty organic breakfast are included in the rate.

A row of trees guards the privacy of this circa-1888 B&B decorated in a Victorian style and set on a large yard at the edge of the "Old Town" district. The sunroom and back patio are built for relaxation. Ask for Room 4; it has a lace-draped canopy bed and a turret sitting area with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains looming over Main Street. Room 2 has a fireplace. The restaurant's menu changes daily, its components supplied by many small, local organic farmers.

For a taste of Southern history, spend a night at this country inn dating to 1850. Once a plantation house, it's on 56 acres 6 miles north of Lexington. Individually decorated rooms have period antiques and modern amenities; most have gas log fireplaces as well. On the property miles of scenic walking trails and a fishing pond. Several marquee names have slept here, from Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Gere to Bill Clinton and Lady Bird Johnson.

An architectural rarity in the South, this Italianate Victorian mansion was built in 1859 by a grandnephew of James Madison, and generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee were early guests. Now Mayhurst is a cozy and comfortable B&B surrounded by 37 acres of woods with hiking trails. Its rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, marble fireplaces, and antique furnishings; some have whirlpool baths. Included with the room rate is a sumptuous three-course breakfast, evening wine and cheese, and soft drinks and snacks.

The 1987 movie "Dirty Dancing" was filmed here, and the resort (Kellerman's in the movie) is still a popular summer getaway. Centered on the highest natural lake east of the Mississippi, accommodations range from spartan cottages to plush suites in a majestic sandstone hotel from 1930 (the resort itself predates the Civil War). You can also rent two-, three-, and four-bedroom cottages if you need more space for an extended stay. Atop the 4,000-foot Salt Pond Mountain, outdoor activities abound: you can hike, mountain bike, ride horses, swim, and boat within the 2,500-acre Mountain Lake Wilderness, which surrounds the hotel. The adjacent Jefferson National Forest offers even more recreation, including a segment of the Appalachian Trail. A 2012 renovation included a refurbishment of guestrooms and cottages and the addition of an aerial and zip-line adventure course.

Just two blocks from Winchester's pedestrian mall (which is a major selling point), this charming historic house is furnished with period pieces, and two of the rooms have working fireplaces. A full breakfast, well-stocked pantry for snacks and sodas, and free parking are included in the rate.

This attractive member of the luxury chain looms over the west end of the Downtown Mall. Triangular rooms at the point of the wedge-shaped building get light from two sides. Cherry-color furnishings and sage fabrics decorate the guest quarters, and potted plants soften the bright seven-story atrium lobby.

For centuries, American glitterati have retreated to this genteel Southern resort to soak in the healing springs and pursue their recreational passions. While the grand lobby still reflects the elegance and formality of the early 19th century, The Homestead has a casual atmosphere that caters to outdoor enthusiasts. Daytime activities include far more than shuffleboard: there are three championship-grade 18-hole golf courses, 4 miles of streams stocked with rainbow trout, 100 miles of riding trails, skeet and trap shooting, and nine ski slopes (The Homestead was the site of the South's first downhill skiing in 1959). The venue has evolved from a country spa to a 15,000-acre resort-and-conference facility. Rooms in the sprawling redbrick building, built in 1891, have Georgian-style furnishings; some have fireplaces. European-style meal plans are a better value than paying just the room rate.

This unpretentious, peaceful lodge is so popular in the fall that reservations are accepted beginning October 1 for the following year (but it's open year-round). Every room looks out on Abbott Lake from a private terrace or balcony, and their interiors have a folksy quality. Nestled between two of the three peaks of its namesake, the lodge was built in 1964. In nonwinter months a complimentary bus takes you to Sharp Top Mountain if you prefer not to hike, and you can see the same mountaintop from the lodge's Lake View Restaurant. Rooms do not have telephones and both cell service and Wi-Fi are spotty. There are pet-friendly rooms available in one wing.

In the heart of downtown, this historic property is within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and attractions. Built in 1887 as the stable and carriage service of prominent Lexington businessman John Sheridan, the historic structure was carefully renovated and opened as an inn in 1997. Rooms are spacious, with high ceilings, and include the charm of 19th-century furnishings along with modern amenities like Wi-Fi. A Continental breakfast is included in the room rate.

This is a great place to get away any time of year, 25 miles southwest of Charlottesville (via I–64, U.S. 250, and Route 151). With 6,700 acres of forest, six restaurants, and three golf courses, Wintergreen is more like a community in itself than just a resort. Skiing and snowboarding are the central attractions, with 20 downhill slopes and five chairlifts. One of the golf courses, Devils Knob at over 3,800 feet, is the highest in Virginia. Accommodations at the resort include everything from studio apartments to seven-bedroom houses. Most rooms have fireplaces and full kitchens; the wood exteriors of the housing units blend into the surrounding forest.

At the highest point on Skyline Drive (3,680 feet, milepost 41.7), with views across the Shenandoah Valley, this facility has lodging that ranges from rustic cabins and motel-style rooms to suites. This resort is one of three different properties within the park: Big Meadows Lodge (milepost 51.0), originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, is in a spectacular setting surrounding by grassy meadows full of deer and wildlife. Lewis Cabins (milepost 57.5) is the real deal—very rustic cabins for an authentic outdoor adventure. Since these three properties in the park are in sought-after locations, you'll need to book up to a year in advance. There's no air-conditioning, but days above 80°F are rare at this altitude.