The Virginia Mountains were renowned for their beauty long before the first European settlers set foot on this continent. And they’ve been a popular vacation spot for nearly four centuries now!
Their landscape is dotted with snuggly mountain towns and rugged lakes. It’s criss-crossed by famous hiking trails and mountain streams, then stitched together with scenic roadways and rolling vineyards.
The mountains of Virginia are home to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah National Park, and the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest, not to mention some award-winning Virginia state parks.
So perhaps it’s no surprise that there’s a vast array of fantastic mountain resorts in Virginia to choose from. And because we live near the border between Virginia and North Carolina, we’ve been fortunate to visit some of the best.
Read on for our guide to the 10 best Virginia mountain resorts to visit, including Blue Ridge Mountain resorts, Blue Ridge Parkway resorts, Shenandoah Valley resorts, and more.
READ MORE: 15 Great Romantic Getaways in Virginia for Couples
Best Virginia Mountain Resorts Guide
(Arranged alphabetically)
- Boar’s Head Resort (Charlottesville VA)
- Halesford Harbour Resort (Smith Mountain Lake)
- Massanutten Resort (Massanutten VA)
- Natural Bridge Hotel (Natural Bridge VA)
- The Omni Homestead Resort (Hot Springs VA)
- Peaks of Otter Lodge (Bedford VA)
- Primland Resort (Meadows of Dan VA)
- Salamander Resort & Spa (Middleburg VA)
- Skyland Resort (Shenandoah National Park VA)
- Wintergreen Resort (Wintergreen VA)
READ MORE: The 10 Best Things to Do in Charlottesville VA
1. Boar’s Head Resort
200 Ednam Dr, Charlottesville VA • (844) 611-8066
One of the most critically acclaimed resorts in the Virginia Mountains, the Boar’s Head Resort is a AAA 4-diamond accommodation that offers old-world charm, contemporary comfort, luxury, and relaxation.
Owned by the University of Virginia Foundation, the resort’s amenities include a network of hiking trails, fitness center, spa with an adult swimming pool, multiple lakes, a golf course, and several nice restaurants.
Their 168 guest rooms range from pet-friendly and ADA-compliant options to multi-room suites. All rooms at the hotel have fine furnishings, 300-thread count sheets, historic flourishes, cable TV, and coffee makers.
Extra brushes of luxury include in-room tablets, plush robes, premium toiletries, and cozy fireplaces.
Boar’s Head Resort is just a few miles from Downtown Charlottesville, and close to attractions like Virginia wineries, Monticello, Carter Mountain Orchard, and Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Things to Do in Charlottesville VA
2. Halesford Harbour Inn
1336 Camper’s Paradise, Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta VA • (540) 297-1500
Widely regarded as one of the best mountain lake resorts in Virginia, Halesford Harbour Inn feels intimate and personal in comparison to some of the massive hotels we’ve visited.
Perfect for mountain getaways in Virginia, they have only 24 rooms, including King rooms with kitchenettes, a private lakefront cabin, and 2BR/2BA suites.
Their standard rooms have 2 Queen-sized beds, a microwave, a coffeemaker, and a mini-fridge. They’re located on the Inn’s lower level and walk out onto a stone patio with a fire pit.
Additional amenities at the property include boat slips for rent at the marina, two private beaches, pet-friendly rooms, and a local restaurant called Jake’s Place. Halesford Harbour also has a huge RV park.
Fishing is very popular on Smith Mountain Lake, and they offer live music fairly regularly. The Bedford Wine Trail is nearby, as is Booker T. Washington Park and Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Lakes in the Virginia Mountains to Visit
3. Massanutten Resort
1822 Resort Dr, Massanutten VA • (540) 289-9441
One of the largest mountain getaways in VA, Massanutten Resort is an all-season Virginia mountain resort that encompasses 6,000 acres and features both condo and hotel accommodations.
This property is packed with pretty much everything. There are aerobics classes, bicycle trails, game rooms, snow skiing, golf courses, ice skating, mini golf, playgrounds, and more. But Massanutten’s biggest draw is their waterpark.
Restaurant options range from campfire grills and a pizzeria to snack bars and casual dining at the Base Camp. There’s also lots of shopping available, and the resort has a spa boutique as well.
Their mountain lodging (Eagle Trace, The Summit, Shenandoah Villas, etc.) is closer to the ski slopes, while their Shenandoah Valley accommodations (Woodstone Meadows and Regal Vistas) are near the waterpark.
For those seeking all-in-one mountain resorts in VA, Massanutten is VERY hard to beat!
READ MORE: The 5 Best Places for Snow Tubing in Virginia
4. Natural Bridge Hotel
15 Appledore Ln, Natural Bridge VA • (540) 291-2121
One of the more historic mountain retreats in Virginia, the Natural Bridge Historic Hotel & Conference Center is conveniently located between Roanoke and Lexington.
It’s right next to Natural Bridge State Park, and offers close proximity to both the Appalachian Trail in VA and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Their restaurant options are great, including the Colonial Dining Room (upscale Southern fare) and the Red Fox Tavern, which has a hunting lodge feel with a nice outdoor patio, sensational views, and first-rate cocktails.
In the immediate vicinity of the hotel, visitors can explore the Natural Bridge itself as well as the Caverns at the Natural Bridge, the History Museum at Natural Bridge, and the Virginia Opry in Natural Bridge.
Room options here include Main Inn Rooms, Premium Second Floor Balcony Rooms, Veranda Rooms, or the Tyler Suite, a fully renovated private home.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Lexington VA & Natural Bridge VA
5. The Omni Homestead Resort
7696 Sam Snead Hwy, Hot Springs VA • (800) 838-1766
One of the oldest luxury mountain resorts in Virginia, the Omni Homestead Resort has been welcoming guests (including 23 US Presidents) for over 250 years now!
Of course the main attractions in Hot Springs VA are the natural hot springs. And the Omni Homestead Resort (owned by the same parent company as NC’s Grove Park Inn) is home to the bathhouses at Warm Springs Pools.
The historic resort has a 2-acre waterpark, highly regarded golf courses, and the posh Spa at Omni Homestead. They also boast 8 different restaurants and bars.
Nearby attractions include Douthat State Park (with 43 miles of trails and a 50-acre lake), Lake Moomaw (swimming beaches and boat slips), and the Cascades Gorge Hike, which features amazing waterfalls.
All Omni Homestead Resort rooms and suites feature down pillows, feather beds, luxury linens, and Keurig coffee makers. Select rooms also have working fireplaces, and select suites have private porches, dining tables, and extra bathrooms.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Virginia Waterfalls for Hiking
6. Peaks of Otter Lodge
85554 Blue Ridge Pkwy, Bedford VA • (866) 387-9905
One of the rare mountain lodges in Virginia located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the historic Peaks of Otter Lodge has an amazing location between 3 stunning mountain peaks: Sharp Top, Flat Top, and Harkening Hill.
Abbott Lake was constructed in the 1960s, and the 63-room lodge was opened shortly thereafter by the National Park Service, offering stellar views of Sharp Top Mountain and the lake.
Stays at the Peak of Otter Lodge are perfect for family gatherings, romantic getaways, and adventure travel.
Note that the basic rooms have limited WiFi access, but they do offer flat screen TVs, coffee makers, and patios (or balconies) with breathtaking overlooks.
Nearby attractions include numerous popular hiking trails, scenic drives on the Blue Ridge Parkway, vineyard tours on Bedford Wine Trail, and Historic Downtown Roanoke.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Hotels & Cabin Rentals in NC & VA
7. Primland Resort
2000 Busted Rock Rd, Meadows of Dan VA • (855) 876-6593
This luxury mountain resort in Virginia– a 12,000-acre estate with a full fleet of entertainment and accommodation options– received a #1 Southeast ranking by Condé Nast Traveler.
Some of the unique features of the luxury resort include an observatory for stargazing, ATV trails, mountain biking on the Old Appalachian Trail, and diverse sporting options.
Primland’s golf course was voted the #1 course in Virginia by Golf Digest, while the Auberge Spa provides relaxation.
In terms of restaurants, the 19th Pub has a full bar and hearty fare, Stables Saloon has well-done Southern fare, and Elements offers fine dining and a superb ambiance for romantic meals.
Accommodation options at the mountain resort include rooms and suites in the Lodge, 4 Pinnacle Cottages with bird’s-eye views, Fairway Cottages by the golf course, and several Tree Houses perched above the Dan River.
READ MORE: Virginia Fall Foliage: The 15 Best Places to See Fall Colors in VA
8. Salamander Resort & Spa
500 N Pendleton St, Middleburg VA • (540) 326-4000
Considered one of the best places for mountain vacations in Virginia, the Salamander Resort has garnered Forbes Five Star Awards for both the resort itself and the spa.
This luxury resort in Virginia is located about an hour from DC on a 340-acre property complete with an indoor pool, fire pits, pickleball courts, an equestrian center, a putting green, hiking trails, and ziplining.
Middleburg’s Main Street, located less than a mile away, us great for shopping and/or finding interesting places to eat.
Dining options at the resort include Harriman’s Grill (upscale dining with local seasonal ingredients) and the Gold Cup Wine Bar (drinks and fancy nibbles). They also have Market Salamander, a gourmet market and eatery.
The resort has 168 rooms and suites, each with an outdoor patio or balcony, plush beds, and specially designed bedding. Fireplaces are optional, pet-friendly rooms are available, and stunning scenic views are ubiquitous.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Small Towns in Virginia to Visit
9. Skyland Resort in Shenandoah National Park
Skyland Drive 41.7 & 42.5, Shenandoah National Park VA • (877) 847-1919
Shenandoah National Park is renowned for its beauty, so the opportunity to stay there is special in its own right. Located at Skyline Drive’s highest elevation, the Skyland Resort dates back to before the park existed.
This cozy Virginia mountain resort was conceived in the 1880s by George Freeman Pollock, and became a focal point of the park in the 1930s. The Sky-Line Company refurbished old structures, and added several new ones at the time.
It’s located on Skyline Drive, which runs right through the heart of the national park.
Other nearby attractions include the Shenandoah River, Shenandoah Valley, and George Washington National Forest.
Accommodation options at Skyland Resort range from premium, preferred, and traditional rooms to one-bedroom suites to private cabins. Restaurant options include the Pollock Dining Room and Mountain Taproom.
READ MORE: Fall in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia: 10 Places to See Fall Foliage
10. Wintergreen Resort
Route 664, Wintergreen VA • (434) 325-2200
Wintergreen Resort is an all-season resort that offers golf, racquet sports, and other outdoor adventures in the summer, In the Winter, it is one of just four snow-skiing resorts in Virginia.
The Spa at Wintergreen is open year-round, and there are some amazing hiking trails and waterfalls on the property, too.
There are many dining options at the mountain resort, including the Devils Grill, Upper Crust Pizza, and Iron & Ale. Shopping is also available at the Blue Ridge Boutique, Outdoor Elements, and The Spa Boutique, and more.
Accommodation options here are vast and varied. Guest rooms are available in the Mountain Inn and “Timbers.” Condos with 1-5 bedrooms are located in Blackrock and Devils Knob, as are houses with 3-6 bedrooms.
Major area attractions include wineries, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Appalachian Trail, Crabtree Falls, and Humpback Rocks. –Jonathon Engels; featured photo by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett
