One definition of a road trip states:
A road trip is any journey taken on roads, regardless of stops en route. Typically, road trips are long distances traveled by automobile.
Today, modern road tripping is a fast growing hobby, and not just a means of vacationing. Groups dedicated to the art of the road trip, known either as professional road trippers or road enthusiasts, are becoming prevalent online.
Although there are many personalities in the road tripping community, many road enthusiasts advocate sharing the roadways, preservation of historic places and natural spaces, and safe driving. Much like backpacking, many road enthusiasts also subscribe to the ideas ofLeave No Trace.
The Leave No Trace message is framed under seven principles:
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors
So I ask you, are you ready for a road trip? I am compiling an itinerary of the state parks that would be fun to visit on one road trip per month, I have grouped them in 12 different trips, so that equates to one per month.This is part 3 of this road trip!
Part 3 consists of Claytor Lake State Park, New River Trail State Park, and Shot Tower State Historical Park:
Let's begin at Virginia State Parks, this park is open year-round, so off season fun is ready to be had!
Easily accessible from Interstate 81, the park offers swimming, camping, cabins, lodges, a meeting facility, nature and history programs, miles of hiking trails, and a visitor center.
Drive Times to reach this park: Northern Virginia, 5 hours; Richmond, 4 hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, 5 hours; Roanoke, 1 hour. Just a couple miles off I-81 make this a central location for many family reunions and get togethers.
Click here for park fees. See the map below (click for road trip turn-by-turn directions, you can visit all parks in one day or mix them up). We recommend staying overnight at Claytor Lake to visit nearby parks.
Fun in the off season at Claytor Lake State Park
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Early morning run along New River Trail State Park
Walk in the footsteps of history at Shot Tower Historical State Park
From Claytor Lake State Park there are two state parks nearby for day visits
New River Trail State Park has been designated an official National Recreation Trail by the U. S. Department of the Interior. The park parallels 39 miles of the New River, which is one of the world's oldest rivers and among a handful of rivers flowing north.
This is a 57-mile long state park that follows an abandoned railroad right-of-way. There are several entrances into this park. The park meanders through Grayson, Carroll, Wythe and Pulaski counties in southwestern Virginia and parallels the scenic and historic New River for 39 miles. This park is part of the Rails to Trails Program as it was donated to the state by Norfolk Southern Railroad when the railroad discontinued the line and removed the tracks. There are four primitive campgrounds at New River Trail State Park, so we recommend cabin stay in the off-season at Claytor Lake State Park while you visit the trail to hike, bike or sightsee.
This park also serves as a link to numerous other outdoor recreational areas, including a town park in Fries, Mt. Rogers National Recreational Area, and the Dannelly Fitness Complex in Galax, four Department of Game and Inland Fisheries boat launches and Shot Tower Historical State Park. New River Trail is minutes from Claytor Lake State Park. This unique park features 57 miles of continuous trail.
Address:New River Trail State Park, 176 Orphanage Dr., Foster Falls, VA 24360; Phone: (276) 699-6778.
Overlooking the New River, Shot Tower was built more than 150 years ago to make ammunition for the firearms of the early settlers. Lead from the nearby Austinville Mines was melted in a kettle atop the 75-foot tower and poured through a sieve, falling through the tower and an additional 75-foot shaft beneath the tower into a kettle of water. Guests may ascend the tower, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Interpretive signs provide details on the tower.
Grounds are open from dawn until dusk. The parking lot is open year-round. The tower is open occasionally on weekends in the summer. Group tours are also available. Call the office at 276-699-6778 for details. Use the New River Trail address above to find Shot Tower, it is very close-by!
Click the links to learn more about Shot Tower Historical State Park. We hope to see you on the road enroute to a beautiful Virginia State Park soon!