The Best Places to Photograph in Virginia: Iconic Views and Hidden Gems

Virginia features everything from rugged mountain peaks and dense forests to picturesque beaches. Whether you’re planning a road trip through the state or just looking for new places to explore, Virginia has no shortage of incredible locations for photography. From the breathtaking scenery of Shenandoah National Park to the dramatic rapids of Great Falls Park, there are countless spots where you can capture nature at its best.

Beyond the landscapes, Virginia’s rich history and charming towns also make for fantastic photo opportunities. Wander the streets of Old Town Alexandria, where colonial architecture and waterfront views provide endless inspiration, or step back in time in Colonial Williamsburg, where period-costumed interpreters and well-preserved buildings bring history to life.

This guide highlights some of the most photogenic travel destinations across the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the sandy shores of the Atlantic. Be sure to check the map below to see where these spots are in relation to each other. You can easily visit several of them on the same trip.

The Best Places to Photograph in Virginia

1. Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains is a photographer’s dream. With more than 500 miles of trails and breathtaking viewpoints, photographers have endless opportunities to capture nature’s beauty. It’s also conveniently located just a little over an hour’s drive west of Washington, DC. This spectacular park offers unique photo opportunities each season, including incredible colors in autumn.

Skyline Drive and Overlooks

Skyline Drive is the crown jewel of Shenandoah and spans 105 miles, offering 75 scenic overlooks while connecting the north and south ends of the park. These vantage points provide sweeping views of rolling mountains and valleys. Also, many of the park’s most popular trails are easily accessible from Skyline Drive.

The downside to this scenic road is that it can be crowded, especially at peak times. Most of the park’s visitors don’t venture beyond Skyline Drive and its easily accessible viewpoints, so traffic can get backed up at times, and parking lots also fill up.

👉 Related reading: 11 Mountain Photography Tips to Take Your Photos to New Heights

Dark Hollow Falls

This picturesque waterfall is accessible via one of the park’s most accessible trails. It’s a relatively short hike from Skyline Drive down to Dark Hollow Falls, but it’s rather steep in places.

The waterfall gently cascades down several levels, creating endless possible compositions. If you hike all the way to the bottom of the falls, you can get a nice vantage point looking up at it. Dark Hollow Falls, and the park’s other waterfalls, tend to have the best flow during the spring months, and the flow is likely to be lower during the summer and fall.

👉 Related reading: 9 Essential Tips for Beautiful Waterfall Photos

White Oak Canyon

For dramatic waterfalls and potential wildlife sightings (including black bears), White Oak Canyon is one of the park’s best trails. You can hike this trail a few different ways. One option is to do it as an out and back trail, starting from Skyline Drive. White Oak Canyon Trail and Cedar Run Trail can also be accessed from another location just outside the park (this article has details).

From Skyline Drive, you would hike down and then up on the way back. There are several waterfalls along this trail that are worth photographing.

Old Rag Mountain

If you’re up for a challenging hike, Old Rag Mountain‘s summit provides panoramic views. The rugged rocks near the peak make perfect photo subjects, and certainly different than what you’ll find throughout other parts of the park.

You’ll need a day use ticket from the National Park Service if you want to make this nearly 10-mile hike from March through November. Most people hike to Old Rag Mountain from the eastern boundary of the park, not from Skyline Drive.

2. Luray Caverns

A short drive from Shenandoah National Park, Luray Caverns is an underground world of wonder. With stunning stalactites, stalagmites, and mirrored pools, the caverns provide an otherworldly photographic experience.

3. Blue Ridge Parkway

Stretching through Virginia’s scenic mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers incredible opportunities for capturing pastoral landscapes and historic structures (as Skyline Drive leaves Shenandoah National Park’s southern end, it turns into the Blue Ridge Parkway). If you’re up for a slow, scenic drive that opens up a lot of beautiful views, this may be the route for you.

👉 Related reading: Road Trip Photography Made Easy: Tips for Stunning Travel Shots

Mabry Mill

Arguably one of the most photographed spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mabry Mill at milepost 176 is a rustic old gristmill sitting beside a tranquil pond. Fall is the ideal time to visit, with the surrounding trees reflecting their brilliant colors on the water.

4. Great Falls Park

Located just a short drive from Washington, D.C., Great Falls Park in McLean showcases the Potomac River’s powerful currents as they cascade through dramatic rock formations. Early mornings provide soft light and smaller crowds, making it a perfect time to photograph this sensational riverscape.

A very short trail leads from the visitor’s center to three different overlooks, each getting progressively farther away from the falls. One of the unique details is that the falls can look dramatically different depending on the water level, how much of the rocks are exposed, and how the water flows around the rocks.

5. Arlington National Cemetery

A solemn yet breathtaking location, Arlington National Cemetery is worth visiting if you’re in the DC area. Rows of white headstones, the Eternal Flame, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are among the most noteworthy spots, but the long rows of headstones through the cemetery provide plenty of possible compositions.

6. Alexandria

Just across the Potomoc River from Washington, DC, Alexandria’s Old Town features colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. Capture quaint rowhouses, historic landmarks, and scenic waterfront views along the river. Twilight and early evening are ideal to photograph the streets illuminated by vintage lamps.

7. Mount Vernon

George Washington’s historic estate offers a grand mansion, pristine gardens, and scenic views of the Potomac River. When you’re standing behind the house and overlooking the river, it’s easy to see why this spot was chosen.

8. Monticello

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello is another historic gem featuring classical architecture and sprawling gardens. The hilly grounds surrounding the estate offer beautiful views of the countryside.

9. Colonial Williamsburg

Williamsburg’s Colonial district transports you back to the 18th century, with costumed interpreters. Extremely well-preserved historic buildings, horse-drawn carriages, and candle-lit streets make Williamsburg a popular spot.

10. Virginia Beach

About an hour’s drive from Williamsburg, Virginia Beach is a popular vacation destination and also an excellent place for photography, especially for sunrise.

11. First Landing State Park

Next to Virginia Beach, First Landing State Park combines coastal beauty with serene pine forests. Boardwalks weave through wetlands, making it a unique location to capture varied ecosystems.

12. Falling Spring Falls

This dramatic 80-foot waterfall is easily accessible and visible from the road. During peak fall colors, the surrounding trees create a beautiful scene for capturing this waterall, although it’s worth photographing in any season.

13. Cascade Falls

West of Roanoke, one of Virginia’s most picturesque waterfalls, Cascade Falls flows into a pool surrounded by moss-covered rocks. You’ll need to hike about 4 miles out an back to reach this 60-foot waterfall, but you’ll enjoy beautiful scenery througout the hike.

14. Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and Grayson Highlands State Park

In Southwestern Virginia, these adjoining parks feature some of the state’s most dramatic mountain landscapes. The real stars here are the wild ponies that roam freely, providing unique opportunities to photograph the horses surrounded by beautiful landscapes. You’re most likely to find the ponies at higher elevations near the summit of Mount Rogers.

15. Manassas National Battlefield Park

Manassas National Battlefield Park is a historic site that offers visitors a unique chance to explore the grounds where two major battles of the Civil War—First and Second Manassas (or Bull Run)—were fought. The park spans over 5,000 acres of rolling fields, wooded paths, and preserved landmarks. Walking through the park, you’ll encounter restored cannons that provide plenty of photo opportunities.

16. Chincoteague and Assateague Islands

These barrier islands are home to wild ponies, migrating birds, salt marshes, and sandy beaches. Most of Assateague Island is part of Maryland, but the southern section is technically in Virginia. The southern part of Assateague Island and most of Chincoteague Island are part of Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.

17. Lynchburg

Tucked in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lynchburg is a picturesque town. Its vibrant downtown area, which is home to a variety of local shops, restaurants, and galleries. You can also enjoy the scenic Blackwater Creek Trail or take in breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.

18. Norfolk Waterfront

The Norfolk Waterfront is an ideal location for photography. The USS Wisconsin is a striking focal point, and the Glass Light District offers unique architectural details. The golden hour casts a magical light over the harbor, perfect for cityscape and water reflections.

Make Virginia Your Next Photography Destination

Virginia’s landscapes and landmarks are as diverse as they are breathtaking. From waterfalls and mountain vistas to historic sites and coastal shores, every corner of the state offers something unique for photographers.