Things to do & places to visit in Lexington, Virginia, United States

Lexington, Virginia, is a college town rich with history, charm and natural wonders. Surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Shenandoah Valley, its bustling downtown offers unique restaurants, artisan shops and galleries. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy mountain vistas on a walk along the Woods Creek trail or on a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway. History buffs can follow the Civil War and visit the final resting places of iconic figures like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.

Lexington city in Virginia, United States. Timezone: America/New_York, current date and time: Thursday, May 09, 2024, 5:09.

Top things to do (23)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Virginia Military Institute (471 reviews)
- VMI Museum Visit
Educational sites

It was a rainy morning, so we travelled to the VMI Museum to spend the morning. There is no parking next to the museum, so we drove on the circular drive that goes through campus to find a parking space. The museum has very well done displays showing VMI through it's history See more..
5.0 Lexington Carriage Company (320 reviews)
- Cantering up hills
Thursday: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sightseeing Tours

The town of Lexington is very historical and well preserved. The carriage tour was nice. It leaves opposite the Tourist Center which opens at 10:00 on a Sunday so if you need a restroom, try to go before your trip. The horses and driver were nice - we cantered up hills which was exciting. Didn’t get to see much of Lexington but you can revisit some stops and easily drive around See more..
5.0 Hull's Drive-In (102 reviews)
- Drive-In movie night
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 11:30 PM Spent More than 3 hours Movie Theaters

Went to see Top Gun Maverick on a Sunday night showing. A van load ticket price was $16.45 including tax!! Thats hard to beat!!Had to drive one hour from Lynchburg and definitely worth it. A classic drive-In with everything clean and working. Excellent concessions at a fair price and the movie was great on the outdoor screen!! Go check it out if your in the Lexington VA area!! See more..
5.0 Earth, Fire, & Spirit Pottery (29 reviews)
- An absolute MUST when in Lexington VA
Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops • Art Galleries

Beautiful and unique pottery, jewelry, paintings, fine furniture, and metal work from 35 local artists. The perfect one stop shopping for gifts for any occasion. Birthdays, Graduations, Weddings, Christmas, House Warming, you name it we have the right handmade item for it. We are second generation ceramic artists living and working in Lexington. Come check out what's new, hot out of the kiln. See more..
5.0 Theatre at Lime Kiln (19 reviews)
- Amazing venue!
Theaters

Lime Kiln is an amazing and unique venue!! The entertainment (this night was Celtic music) is first class and great acoustics in "the bowl." Lime Kiln is nestled in the woods of Lexington with plenty of seating in the bowl and with lots of room to bring your own chairs. Food and beer/wine are available in a beautiful picnic area to enjoy before entering the entertainment area. We enjoyed a great evening of music in a beautiful and relaxing setting (no bugs!). We will definitely enjoy many more evenings and performances at this terrific venue. See more..
5.0 Museum of Military Memorabilia (18 reviews)
- Sick!!
Military Museums

Haven't been there. I use to visit Lexington,VA quite a bit in the late 90s-early 2000s... The reason why I'm committing is the parents who owned the museum happened to of the gnarliest skateboarder ever to step on the toy with wheels. Mr Lance F'n Mountain ( middle name is not F'n by the way) - I wish I would had known this back then and bummed it's not around anymore. It would had been a honor to had met Lance Mountains parents.... See more..
5.0 Artists In Cahoots (12 reviews)
- Just driving through
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops • Art Galleries

Unique locally made fine arts & crafts. The oldest member run art gallery in Virginia. Opened in 1983. See more..
5.0 Cheese To You (6 reviews)
- Great cheese, olive oil and vinegar selection
Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

This is a little shop in downtown Lexington, VA that has a great selection of cheeses that you won't find just anywhere. They also have quite a few olive oil and vinegars in a variety if flavors. Everything is high quality! They also have breads you can take and bake. It's a great place and the owner is super nice. Check it out! See more..
5.0 The Bookery (6 reviews)
- A Really Cool Old School Bookstore
Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

It has been years since I’ve been in a bookstore as well stocked as this one. New and used books piled high floor to ceiling. Every book is in great condition. Picked up two books I couldn’t find elsewhere in print plus they have the Sunday NYT in print. If I lived here, I’d come here every day but it was fun to stop in a visit through the little town. See more..
5.0 Kids Playce (2 reviews)
- Best Playground Ever
Parks • Playgrounds

This was by far the coolest and most fun playground I've ever seen! I can imagine being a kid and being able to spend countless hours here and not get bored. It's truly designed with kids in mind and you just can't find playgrounds like this anymore. Will definitely be back when we visit town again. See more..
5.0 Hopkins Green (1 review)
- Attractive Park In The Historic District
Spent < 1 hour Parks
This lot was originally laid out in 1778, purchased by James Hopkins in 1788 and the current Hopkins home built in the 1840's sits next to the park. Heirs of the Hopkins family sold it to Historic Lexington in 1984 who then transferred it to the city of Lexington in 1985. It is a treasured green space within the historic district with benches and a Pergola where rallies, fairs and fantastic Christmas lights can be seen. Sitting at a table with a southern exposure at the Palms restaurant gives you a nice festive look at the evening decorations during Christmas. See more..
4.5 University Chapel & Galleries (540 reviews)
- University Chapel, Art Galleries worth visiting!
Thursday: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • History Museums

The University Chapel of Washington and Lee University is a National Historic Landmark in Lexington, Virginia. It was constructed during 1867–68 at the request of Robert E. Lee, who was president of the school, and after whom the university is, in part, named. See more..
4.5 Stonewall Jackson House (411 reviews)
- great historical house
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Historic Sites

Experience family life on the eve of the American Civil War as you explore the finely preserved home and gardens of the man who became Stonewall Jackson. See more..
4.5 Stonewall Jackson Grave (249 reviews)
- One of the greats!
Monuments & Statues

My family & I stopped by to pay our respects to Gen. Jackson on New Years Eve. Though I've traveled through Lexington on a handful of occasions, I'd never visited the cemetery until this trip. The cemetery is a beautifully-kept area, filled with many of Lexington's early residents, including lots of CSA veterans. The highlight is certainly Stonewall Jackson, though. Certainly worth a few minutes of your time if you're passing by Lexington on 81 or 64, as it's an easy detour. See more..
4.5 Washington and Lee University (234 reviews)
- Plenty to do and see on this beautiful and historic 19th century university campus!
Historic Sites

Established in 1749, Washington and Lee University is the ninth-oldest college in the United States. See more..
4.5 George C. Marshall Museum (148 reviews)
- George C. Marshall Jr. deserves a larger place in world history!
Temporarily closed - Closed until further notice Spent 1-2 hours Libraries

The independent Marshall Foundation perpetuates Marshall's legacy through scholarship, leadership and statesmanship programs and facilities (including a museum and research library) that offer a wide range of resources and materials for use by the general public, amateur historians, scholars and students of all ages. See more..
4.5 Oak Grove Cemetery (128 reviews)
- Good Visit
Cemeteries

There was plenty of on-street parking, but we chose to drive onto the grounds and park near Stonewall Jackson's grave. Had we come in the walk-in entrance, we would have noticed immediately the excellent walking guide to the cemetery provided free just inside the gate. There are 45 graves of note in this walking tour guide. We chose to visit and photograph a number of them. It kept trying to rain, but it never did. The cemetery originally was known as the Presbyterian Cemetery. It was renamed Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery when he was buried here. Afterwards, the Lexington City Council renamed it Oak Grove Cemetery following the George Floyd protests in 2020. See more..
4.5 Visitor Center of Lexington (111 reviews)
- Great Historic District Location
Spent < 1 hour Visitor Centers

The visitor's center is only 1 block off Main Street and the gentleman in the center said we could leave our car parked here if we wanted. Since we were staying at the Robert E. Lee Hotel on Main Street that option wasn't needed, but sure good to know. There are exhibits, maps, brochures and just about anything you could possibly need for visiting Lexington and the surrounding area. The 2 most valuable maps are the historic walking tour map and the business/shopping map. A good portion of the city is within 5 blocks east, south, north and west of the center, so just leave your car here and head out. See more..
4.5 Virginia Horse Center (85 reviews)
- Very nice venue...
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Horse Tracks

The Virginia Horse Center is a 600 acre state-of-the-art environment for horse shows and other livestock events. The Virginia Horse Center has twelve show rings, including the 150' x 300' indoor Waldron Arena in the Howard P. Anderson Coliseum. There is a five mile cross country course, and such amenities as a campground, a restaurant and catering service with banquet facilities and a gift shop. See more..
4.5 Cyrus McCormick Museum (60 reviews)
- Delightful spot
Speciality Museums

Brilliant in two different ways: a great break on a long trip, and a fantastic little museum. Set in beautiful grounds where it is really a delight to stretch one's legs, the museum itself is just the right size to visit in less than an hour. And it is free: what more could one ask for! See more..
4.5 Chessie Nature Trail (25 reviews)
- Chressie Bike Trail and Muchacho Alegre
Historic Walking Areas

We entered the Chessie trail from Buena Vista and rode up to Lexington. The View was spectacular and the trail was well cats. We even enjoyed some encounters with cows and butterflies. We found a great place to go down to the water to swim as it follows the Maury River. In Lexington we found a fantastic restaurant to go to that is only a half mile up the road from the trail the name of the restaurant is Muchacho Alegre. The food was fabulous! The service was great! We had a dog with us, but could not bring the dog into the patio area. They were okay with my friend Jenny just tying her to the post and keeping the dog outside the patio area. I highly recommend this restaurant and the bike trail See more..
4.0 Devils Backbone Outpost Brewery (164 reviews)
- Awesome Local Enterprise!!
Thursday: 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Breweries

We are self quarantining in a cabin in the mountains and decided to support one local business. After checking a bunch of websites we chose the Devil’s Backbone Brewery because you can order a food pack for a local family in need which I did. For ourselves, we ordered the chili family pack, with chili, cornbread, shredded cheese and sour cream, chopped red onion, and pound cake with fruit topping and whipped cream! We are so impressed with their take-out service which is touchless, the amount of food they provided and the courteousness of the folks who answered the phone and brought the food out. They even packed disposable gloves into the bag they put utensils and napkins and wipes! Nice touch! See more..
4.0 Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden (49 reviews)
- Good old fashioned dirty fun for kids
Thursday: 5:30 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Gardens

This has to be one of the coolest ideas ever. We spent about 2 hours on the kids play trail and could've been there much longer if the kids weren't hungry and tired. It's a wide open space in the woods with tons of cute things for kids to play with. There's a mudpie kitchen, a creek, a canoe, several tunnels to walk through, a tree house that looks like a giant birdhouse, a bone pit that kids can dig in and so much more. This is absolutely worth a trip out of the way to see. And we didn't even have time to see the rest of the park. The best part is it's free. We will definitely be back when we are in town again. See more..
4.0 Cocoa Mill Chocolate Company (28 reviews)
- I visited and I buy on line all the time!
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM Speciality & Gift Shops

We are located in beautiful downtown Lexington, VA. Our exact Location is next to Blue Sky Bakery and across the street from the Post Office. Come in and see us. See more..
4.0 The Antique Mall (27 reviews)
- Wow!
Spent 1-2 hours Antique Shops

The Antique Mall from the outside doesn’t look as big as it is on the inside. You definitely need more than an hour to get through. I was in for over an hour and a half and didn’t get through the whole thing. The literally have everything - depression glass, vintage Life and Look magazines, Pyrex, hallmark ornaments, Barbie’s, sports memorabilia, vintage jewelry, clothes, toys, records, books, games, pinball machines that you can play, furniture, collectibles, and more. Parking is available in front of the mall. It’s a great place to get lost in and think about old times. See more..
4.0 VMI Museum (5 reviews)
- One of the best military museums ever
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours History Museums

Since 1839, Virginia Military Institute alumni have helped mold the history of America. The VMI Museum traces the amazing civilian and military careers of many alumni. Among the ranks of the alumni are Nobel Prize recipients, Pulitzer Prize winners, explorers, film stars, national, state and local political and civic leaders. The VMI Museum is open seven days a week 9AM-5PM. See more..
4.0 Cabell Gallery of Virginia Art (4 reviews)
- Mighty Fine Art
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Art Galleries

Located in beautiful and and historic downtown Lexington Virginia, Cabell Gallery focuses on fine art from regional contemporary artists, both emerging and established. Our collection includes paintings, clay works, furniture, jewelry, and art glass. It is carefully curated to include the best works from local artists. It is beautiful works of Virginia from Virginians. You'll find fine art in a comfortable atmosphere. See more..
4.0 Blue Lab Brewery (1 review)
- CRAFT BEER
Breweries
Wonderful brews. Small but quaint. Easy walk to many downtown Lexington sites. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Only regret was there is no kitchen. Stop and enjoy! See more..
3.0 Stonewall Square (1 review)
- Typical Small Town Shopping Center
Spent 1-2 hours Shopping Malls
Stonewall Square Shopping Center is on Rt. 60 just east of Rt. 11 on the eastern outskirts of Lexington. Like many small towns around the country these centers often have an interesting or unique mix of stores and this one is no different. There are 2 fast food restaurants, a gas station, bank, and Italian restaurant among others along with a Food Lion and Harbor Freight. The anchor I guess would be the Ollie's a store we hadn't been in in years and ended up spending an hour in there. Should probably be a 2 but considering the market size. See more..
Reeves Museum of Ceramics (0 review)
Art Museums
University museum housing the 4th largest ceramics collection in America, including Chinese porcelain. See more..