RegionOutline guide

Central Virginia

Metropolitan Statistical Area in the United States

Photo: Morgan Riley, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Central Virginia, also known as the Piedmont, is the largest region of the state of Virginia and contains the state capital, Richmond. It is marked on the east by the Fall Line, and on the west by the Appalachian Mountains. The southern part of this region, bordering on North Carolina, is generally referred to in the state as "Southside Virginia".

Getting there and around

Getting there

By train
Amtrak offers several lines that run through central Virginia. The crescent originating in New Orleans Louisiana and running to New York City has stops in Danville and Lynchburg.
By car
Central Virginia is served by two interstate highways.

Read in the guide

Airports and nearby hotels

Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.

Charlottesville Albemarle Airport

Charlottesville · Regional · CHO

Search stays near CHO

Search flights

Cities

Lake Country (Virginia)

The Lake Country of southern Central Virginia surrounds the John H. Kerr Reservoir, colloquially known as "Buggs Island Lake" in Virginia and "Kerr Lake" in North Carolina. It is a large reservoir on the Roanoke River with swimming, fishing, boating, camping, and vacation rentals.

Read before you go to Central Virginia

Articles and travel topics about Central Virginia and United States.

Travel tips

Cheapest Countries to Fly to from the US and UK (2026)

Find the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.

Oct 18, 20268 min read

Travel tips

Best Time to Visit Hawaii: Month-by-Month Guide (2026)

Find the best time to visit Hawaii in 2026. Compare whale seasons, big-wave surf, dry shoulder months, hotel rates, and island microclimates.

Oct 17, 20268 min read

Inspiration

Best Places to Visit in April: Tulips, Songkran & Spring Cities

Discover the best places to visit in April. Compare Dutch tulip fields, Thailand's Songkran water festival, Roman spring gardens, and cherry blossoms.

Oct 17, 20266 min read

Travel tips

Travelling with Medication: Refrigerated Medicines Guide (2026)

A practical guide to travelling with medication and refrigerated drugs like insulin and GLP-1s. Learn airline rules, customs papers, and cooling tips.

Oct 17, 20267 min read

Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

Cities and towns

UnderstandRichmond began as a small trading town on the James River, at the Fall Line, where ships could no longer progress inland.

TalkThe accent is very light in areas bordering Northern Virginia but gets much stronger in the southern rural areas.

Get inRichmond International Airport (RIC) is the largest airport in Central Virginia with flights from most of the United States. International flights to Canada and Mexico are sometimes seasonally available.

Get around

See

EatIf visiting the shopping district of Historic Fredericksburg, all of the restaurants on Caroline St. are popular with locals.

DrinkCentral Virginia is home to a booming wine industry, centered around the Charlottesville area.

Stay safeRichmond has some issues with crime, though you can have a perfectly safe trip if you brush up on where the sketchy neighborhoods are.

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Central Virginia" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Greater Richmond Region", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Morgan Riley, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Improve this guide on Wikivoyage