Staunton (Virginia)

Staunton is a city in the Shenandoah Valley in the US state of Virginia. Although small, it is very distinct from neighboring cities such as Harrisonburg, Roanoke, and Waynesboro, in part due to the city government's emphasis on tourism and the very distinct downtown district.

• Visit Staunton website

Staunton sits at the intersection of I-81 and I-64 in the Shenandoah Valley. The downtown section can be intimidating to tourist drivers, but is quite easy to walk. There are several public parking lots near the main attractions. Check the city's website for parking information on which lots are open or not, paid or free - as of July 2026, a long-term construction project to alleviate flooding in the Wharf area impacts some lots but means others no longer require a fee.

• 38.14736-79.07251 Staunton station, 1 Middlebrook Ave (In downtown).  (updated Mar 2021)
  • Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States.  (updated Dec 2020) Route stopping in Staunton:
    • Cardinal operating three trips weekly between Chicago and New York City with stops in Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark.

Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD ^IATA) in Weyers Cave and the Charlottesville Airport (CHO ^IATA) are both within an hour's drive.

The town is small enough that if you stay downtown, you can walk anywhere you would like to go. There is also a trolley/bus service provided by the city for $0.25 per ride.

• Downtown. It has a unique character and unique shops and restaurants. (updated Jul 2016)
• American Shakespeare Center Blackfriars Playhouse, 10 South Market Street. An exact replica of Shakespeare's Blackfriars Theatre with performances of several of Shakespeare's plays every season. Tickets start at $38 with fees (2026), but W & Th shows offer half-price day-of tickets if space is available - ask at the box office. 
• Gypsy Hill Park. Featuring an annual Jazz in the Park festival. 
• 38.15006-79.0687651 Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, 20 N Coalter St, ☏ +1 540-885-0897. Has a floor on trench warfare in World War I, and biographical information, family possessions, and historical background on Wilson's presidency. $20 adults.  
• 38.1246-79.04942 Frontier Culture Museum, 1290 Richmond Ave, ☏ +1 540-332-7850, visitor.center@frontiermuseum.org. The museum has 4 historic farms and costumed interpreters that tell stories and answer questions along with showing skills of that time. $12 adults, discounts available for children/students/seniors.  (updated Jul 2026)
• DeJarnette Sanitarium Formerly a sanitarium for the wealthy, then a center for mentally disturbed minors, this now-abandoned building is prominently visible from Richmond Avenue and Frontier Drive.
• Trinity Episcopal Church, 214 W Beverley St. Mon-Thu 10AM-2PM. The current church was built in 1855. In addition to its striking architecture, it is noteworthy for an impressive collection of stained glass windows, including 12 by Tiffany Studios. Free, donations appreciated. (updated Jul 2026)
• Camera Heritage Museum, 1 W Beverley St. Mon-Fri 9AM-4PM, Sat 9AM-2PM. Billing itself as "The largest camera museum open to the public in the USA", the museum collection contains over 7000 cameras, many of them antiques. Cameras are the focus here, but some of the photos on display also convey a sense of Staunton's history. (updated Jul 2026)
• Landes Park (corner of Church St and Middlebrook Ave). This small park (approx. 1 acre) nestled between roads, train tracks, and the creek is easy to miss. It's noteworthy, however, for the photogenic stone arches that form part of the railway bridge over the southern half of the park. (updated Jul 2026)
• Antique Fire Engine Museum, 500 N Augusta St. Daily 8AM-7PM. Housed inside a functioning fire station, this museum's highlight is Jumbo, a 1911 Robinson fire engine. (Note that museum hours may change on short notice, depending on the fire station's call volume.) Free. (updated Jul 2026)

• Watch the glassblowers at Sunspot Studios. Watch the glassblowers at work for free, or pay to make your own ornament with them. There's also an attached gallery with a wide range of blown glass objects for sale. Free. (updated Jul 2026)
• Virginia Scenic Railway, 415 Bridge St. Take a three-hour scenic tour on a restored historic train. Departures from Staunton head west in the morning, east in the afternoon. You can also catch themed train rides: murder mystery, sip&savor, etc. Prices vary. Reserve your tickets in advance - there are no walkup sales. (updated Jul 2026)
• Sears Hill Bridge. This bridge over the train tracks by the Amtrak Station was built to link the Sears Hill neighborhood with downtown. Today it provides a great view of downtown's architecture and geography. Enjoy the view right from the bridge, or head just a short distance up the hill for an overlook complete with information boards explaining which buildings are which. (updated Jul 2026)
• Take a Walking Tour, 35 S New St. Ask at the Staunton Visitor Center (35 S New St). Most days there are free general tours or architecture tours, typically leaving mid-morning. Sometimes there are also special themed tours (fees vary). If you miss the guided tours, the visitor center also has maps of self-guided tours through several of the historic downtown neighborhoods, with detailed information on the notable homes and architecture. (updated Jul 2026)

• Praise in the Park, Gypsy Hill Park (at the Gazebo). Tuesdays in July/August 7-9PM. Christian concert series. 
• Victorian Festival, a celebration of Victorian history in the downtown. Takes place in the last full weekend of April.

Downtown is filled with small, independent shops with cute and quirky offerings.

• Staunton Farmers' Market, 2020 W Beverley St. Sat mornings, April to mid-November.  (updated Jul 2026)
• Staunton Olive Oil Company, 126 W Beverley St. Daily 9AM-6PM. An impressive range of handcrafted fused and infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Taste samples, and get bottles filled on-the-spot with your favorites. They also offer gluten-free snacks and baked goods. (updated Jul 2026)

• 38.147004-79.0734741 Depot Grille, 42 Middlebrook Ave, ☏ +1 540-885-7332, depotgrille@verizon.net. 11AM-10PM. $10.  (updated Aug 2017)
• 38.12445-79.06332 Hot Wok, 90 Lee Jackson highway (Inside the Staunton Mall), ☏ +1 540-887-2020. Counter-serve options in Staunton Mall supplying familiar Chinese entrees, plus daily specials.  (updated Aug 2020)
• Pampered Palate.  
• Shenandoah Pizza.  
• 38.145077-79.0699723 Wright's Dairy Rite, 346 Greenville Ave, ☏ +1 540-886-0435. A classic 1950s-era drive-in diner. Eat inside at one of the retro tables, or go for the classic drive-in experience to order from and get food delivered to your car.  (updated Aug 2017)
• 38.149783-79.0709824 Zynodoa, 115 E Beverly St, ☏ +1 540-885-7775. Fine contemporary dining from locally sourced ingredients. Interesting cocktails and a wide range of food.  (updated Aug 2017)
• Kline's Dairy Bar, 906 Greenville Ave. Sun-Thu 11AM-9PM, Fri Sat 11AM-10PM. They offer burgers, hot dogs, and barbeque, but really... the frozen custard is where it's at! Classic flavors like Chocolate and Vanilla line up on the menu with rotating specialties like Cotton Candy or Strawberry Shortcake. Scoops, sundaes, and shakes are on offer, and the portions are both generous and delicious. (updated Jul 2026)

• 38.161644-79.0788811 Queen City Brewing, 834 Springhill Rd, ☏ +1 540-213-8014. A unique storefront which carries on a fine Southern tradition: making your own alcohol. Patrons can use the facility to create their own beer or wine, which are aged at the facility until ready to be picked up. For those not so DIY-inclined, Queen City Brewery also offers their own specialty beers and lagers, fruit wines, and non-alcoholic soda pops. Friday nights are "Brewgrass Fridays", and local bluegrass bands play while the storefront offers free samples. No cover.  (updated Aug 2017)
• Ciders from Mars, 121 S Lewis St. Wed-Fri 3-10PM, Sat noon-10PM, Sun noon-8PM. Grab a glass, a flight, or a take-home bottle of craft-brewed alcoholic cider. Usually 6+ flavors on tap, specializing in dry and off-dry ciders fermented from local VA apples. In summertime, the cider slushie is a great treat! (Note: Address correct as of July 2026, but they're hoping to relocate their taproom elsewhere in Staunton by the end of the year.) (updated Jul 2026)

• 38.129569-79.039181 Comfort Inn, 1302 Richmond Ave (on Interstate 81), ☏ +1 480-568-6951.  (updated Aug 2017)
• 38.150509-79.071882 Frederick House, 28 North New Street, ☏ +1 540-885-4220, toll-free: +1-800-334-5575. A bed-and-breakfast.  (updated Aug 2017)
• 38.168729-79.0100273 Holiday Inn Staunton Conference Center, 152 Fairway Lane (I-81 exit 225), ☏ +1 540-248-6020. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon.  
• 38.177928-79.0327474 Batten Green Venue & Lodging, 1329 Commerce Road, ☏ +1 434-218-2553, toll-free: +1-877-809-1146. Quaint inn.  
• 38.127634-79.0317635 avid hotel Staunton, 62 Sangers Ln (I-81 exit 222), ☏ +1 540-712-3939.  
• 38.125269-79.0307186 Sleep Inn, 222 Jefferson Highway (off Interstate 81), ☏ +1 540-887-6500.  (updated Aug 2017)
• 38.148782-79.0706537 Hotel 24 South (formerly Stonewall Jackson Hotel), 24 S Market Street, ☏ +1 540-885-4848, toll-free: +1-866-880-0024. A grand old hotel, restored in 2005.  

• "Monticello", home of Thomas Jefferson, is in Charlottesville a 45-minute drive away.
• "Grand Caverns" is a large show cave with spectacular shield formations and reflecting pools. 20-25 minutes to the northeast of downtown.

• The Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah Valley National Park's Skyline Drive are nearby. The park costs $30 per car in 2026. The Blue Ridge Parkway is free. Great scenic overlooks and stopping points for small historical recreations or hikes.

Charleston ← White Sulphur Springs ←	W  E	→ Charlottesville → Washington, D.C.
Charleston ← White Sulphur Springs ←	W  E	→ Waynesboro → Charlottesville
Hagerstown ← New Market ←	N  S	→ Roanoke → Wytheville
Fairmont ← Elkins ←	W  E	→ Waynesboro → Charlottesville