81 Best Hotels in Virginia, USA

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.

Historic details and curated art add flair to this luxury downtown hotel, with views over the Elizabeth River. It’s within easy walking distance of more than 50 restaurants—though its three dining options will entice you to not step out the door.

This Hilton is the only four-star hotel in Virginia Beach; towering 21 stories over the oceanfront, it has shops, three restaurants, a rooftop bar, and infinity pool. The seafood restaurant, Catch 31, receives consistently good reviews, and there is great outdoor seating overlooking the boardwalk. At night the bar is a happening scene for thirtysomethings. Rooms use muted tan textiles to give the space a warm feeling. Flat-screen TVs are in both bedrooms and the bathrooms. Most rooms have balconies with panoramic views, but if yours lacks a beachfront view, you can always hang out at the rooftop pool with rails of glass looking down to the boardwalk. Recently upgraded, the three floors of the Empyrean Club level have really taken it up a notch: the bathrooms even have built-in TVs in the mirrors. Book early, as the Hilton sells out quickly, even in the off-season.

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.

A 70-foot-high ceiling with a stained-glass skylight and 10 of the original Louis Comfort Tiffany stained-glass windows make this the most elegant hotel in Richmond. The Palm Court Lobby is home to Edward Valentine's full-size statue of the president, and to a sweeping Gone With the Wind-style staircase. One of the most notable rooms is the 1,550 square foot Jefferson Suite, which comes with its own private balcony. The renovation in 2016 expanded the guest rooms, adding marble baths with soaking tubs, double vanities, dressing rooms, and new period furnishings

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.

This manicured 2,900-acre resort on the James River owned by Xanterra is easily the nicest resort in Williamsburg and the largest golf resort in Virginia: it hosts the LPGA's Kingsmill Championship each May. You can play year-round on three championship courses. The guest rooms have fireplaces and Colonial-style furniture. There are three restaurants on the property: Bray Bistro, James Landing Grill, and Elements 1010. All guest rooms have been renovated, and a Lazy River pool with sandy beach is perfect for kids.

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.

It's hard to argue with a hotel that presents luxury in a great location. A marble-and-granite lobby with colorful couches, a fireplace, and views of the giant outdoor fountain sets the tone. Rooms have plush beds dressed in yellows and blues and comfort touches like high-speed Internet or flat-screen plasma TVs. There is a beautiful two-story piano room, great for hosting parties and wedding receptions. Marriott is walking distance to the City Center at Oyster Point, filled with open air shops and restaurants. A great central location means you'll have access to explore Williamsburg in one direction, Norfolk and Virginia Beach in the other.

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.

Surrounded by manicured grounds overlooking Carter Creek, the Tides Inn, here since 1947, is sandwiched between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers. The resort offers all of the modern amenities travelers have come to expect, and features a wide variety of on-site recreational activities. Many of the rooms and suites, which are luxuriously decorated in a British Colonial style, have spectacular water views. The Golden Eagle Golf course is challenging; the par-3 course less so. Wildlife here is of note: ponds are well stocked with fish, and bird-watchers should take their binoculars. There's also a sailing school for all ages and experience levels; you can also jet ski on the Rappahannock River, or take in the Irvington scenery and wildlife on the Carter's Creek cruise.

The unusual design of the Island Manor House was a result of splitting the home in two, providing adequate privacy for the original owners, who were brothers, and their wives, who were sisters. Most rooms have water views of the channel, and the hotel has an intimate brick courtyard, with a multitier fountain that makes a nice summer gathering place. Decor is delightfully eclectic, highlighting the regional landscape and history.

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.

A fanciful complex of gingerbread-style cottages, this inn is an enchanting and relaxing place to experience the Bay. The innkeepers are welcoming, and are known for their delicious breakfasts. In addition to the Bay View Inn, there is one B&B on Tangier Island.

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 three-story, large olive green house was built in the 1870s, used as a hotel in the 1920s, and converted to an inn-with-restaurant 50 years later. Its luxurious rooms all have comfortable sitting areas, and outside are lovely Japanese and English gardens. In addition to its included full breakfast, the inn serves afternoon tea Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday in the public tearoom, at a reduced rate for inn guests. Delicacies such as Apfelkuchen (German apple cake), butterscotch pecan tart, and ginger scones, all homemade, are served on Wedgwood china. The innkeeper herself is charming, personable, and knowledgeable.

Creative funk meets island culture at Onancock's boutique hotel, four blocks from the harbor on Onancock Creek. Rooms and public space are delightfully, imaginatively appointed. (Many of the floors were hand-painted by a co-owner.) Two guest rooms are located in a B&B-style house a short walk from the main hotel. In addition to the adjacent Next Door Art Gallery, there is a full-service bar and an intimate dining room. The restaurant's menu features local and regional produce and seafood.

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.

A stay here seems particularly moving at night, when the town's historic area is quiet and you have Williamsburg pretty much to yourself. Five of the 25 homes and three lodging taverns are 18th-century structures; the others have been rebuilt on their original foundations. Antiques and period reproductions furnish the rooms, and the costumed staff reinforces the historical air. Modern amenities include hair dryers, irons, ironing boards, coffeemakers, and a complimentary fruit basket and bottle of wine. The Colonial Houses share the facilities of the adjacent Williamsburg Inn and the Lodge.

The only hotel in the city's historic district, the Courtyard is conveniently located near the Amtrak station, with many local attractions within walking distance. Modern amenities include a 24-hour gym and business center, an indoor pool, and complimentary Wi-Fi, as well as a GoBoard that gives guests current information on weather and airport conditions. The hotel has a full-service restaurant called the Bistro and a lounge, and some packages include breakfast.

You can't get much closer to the Manassas Battlefield than this—it's down the block from the main entrance. Business travelers appreciate the hotel's location near the Dulles Tech Corridor, with plenty of dining and shopping nearby. This beautifully landscaped, three-story hotel has comfy guest rooms that feature luxurious linens, down comforters, thick mattresses, and fluffy pillows.

All rooms in this classic motel face the water and are only a few steps from a sandy public beach on the York River. The furnishings include quilted bedspreads and reproduction wood furniture. The motel also has a swimming pool and a restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch daily and dinner Wednesday–Sunday. It is an easy walk to the riverfront and its shops and restaurants. The free Yorktown Trolley stops right outside the hotel.

A location across from the Metro station makes this all-suites hotel a convenient base for city exploration. You can walk to Alexandria's shops and restaurants, or take the city's free trolley down King Street to the waterfront. The suites all have a separate bedroom and living room, and Premium Suites have extra perks like free Wi-Fi, a snack station, and Bluetooth docking station. The hotel also offers a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast and an evening reception with drinks.