Two of Virginia’s finest institutions, one natural wonder, and a downtown that earns an afternoon.
Lexington sits in the Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains — a small city of about 7,000 that contains VMI and Washington and Lee University, the graves of two generals who defined a chapter of American history, a 215-foot natural limestone arch that George Washington surveyed as a young man, and one of the best-preserved 19th century downtowns in the American South. Most people driving I-81 between DC and points south see the exit and keep going. The ones who stop usually come back.
What to Do in Lexington Virginia
Three hours from DC and feels like three centuries — in the best way.
VMI Museum
Little Sorrel — the taxidermied remains of Stonewall Jackson’s war horse. The story of the cadets who fought and died at New Market in 1864. Free. Genuinely worth an hour. The Friday Dress Parade when in session is one of the more striking things you can witness in Virginia.
Search Hotels → Search on ExpediaLee Chapel at W&L
The chapel Robert E. Lee worshipped in during his five years as university president. His tomb and the tomb of his horse Traveller are below. The museum tells the story of Lee’s post-war years. Open to the public.
Search RentalsNatural Bridge
215 feet. George Washington’s initials are in the rock. 15 miles south via US-11. Thomas Jefferson owned it in 1774 and called it the most sublime of Nature’s works. Patrick Henry, Henry Clay, Daniel Boone all visited. Still worth the drive.
Search RentalsThe Homestead — 45 Min
America’s oldest resort in Hot Springs, 45 minutes west via US-60. Lexington + The Homestead is one of the best two-day Virginia mountain combinations. The mineral baths and the golf course after a morning at VMI.
Homestead GuideVirginia Military Institute
VMI was founded in 1839 — the oldest state-supported military college in the United States. The campus architecture is Gothic Revival, the parade ground is surrounded by barracks, and on certain Fridays the Corps of Cadets performs a formal dress parade that has been running in some form since the Civil War.
The VMI Museum
Little Sorrel — the taxidermied remains of Stonewall Jackson’s war horse — is the centerpiece. The museum also houses VMI artifacts and the story of the cadets who fought at the Battle of New Market in 1864. Free and genuinely worth an hour.
The Stonewall Jackson House
Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson taught at VMI from 1851 until the Civil War. His restored home on Washington Street is the only house he ever owned — now a museum with period furnishings.
Friday Dress Parade
When in session, the VMI Corps of Cadets performs a formal dress parade on the parade ground. Open to the public, free. Check the VMI calendar at vmi.edu for dates before planning around one.
Washington & Lee University
Washington and Lee sits immediately adjacent to VMI — a liberal arts university founded in 1749, endowed by George Washington in 1796, and led by Robert E. Lee as president from 1865 until his death in 1870. The campus is one of the most beautiful in Virginia: columned brick buildings, a central colonnade, the chapel where Lee is buried. Lee Chapel and Museum is open to the public — his tomb and the tomb of his horse Traveller are below.
Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge is a 215-foot natural limestone arch spanning Cedar Creek — 15 miles south of Lexington via US-11. George Washington surveyed it as a young Virginia surveyor and carved his initials into the stone, still visible today. Thomas Jefferson owned it in 1774. Now a Virginia State Park with hiking trails along Cedar Creek beneath the arch. Best viewed from below, looking up. Check naturalbridgeva.com for hours.
Downtown Lexington
Washington Street and Nelson Street form the commercial core — independent shops, restaurants, and the kind of bookstore that makes you stay longer than planned. The Palms Restaurant, open since 1906, is the oldest continuously operated restaurant in Lexington. Pure Eats is the best current-generation farm-to-table option for dinner.
Where to Stay
KG Motel — Opening Fall 2026
The historic Keydet-General property at 325 W Midland Trail is reopening as the KG Motel in fall 2026 — a boutique motel steps from VMI and Washington & Lee. Listed in the Lexington Virginia directory. One to watch if you’re planning a fall or winter visit.
Search Lexington Virginia Hotels and Rentals
Downtown inns, B&Bs near VMI and W&L, and Shenandoah Valley mountain properties. Combine with The Homestead, 45 minutes west, for a full Virginia mountain weekend.
Quick Reference: Lexington Virginia
| Category | The Answer |
|---|---|
| Distance from DC | ~3 hours via I-66 and I-81 |
| Stop one | VMI Museum — free, 1 hour, Little Sorrel |
| Stop two | Lee Chapel at Washington & Lee — free, open to public |
| Stop three | Natural Bridge — 15 min south, 215-foot arch, state park |
| Pair with | The Homestead Resort — 45 minutes west via US-60 |
| VMI Parade | Friday Dress Parade when in session — check vmi.edu |
| Best fall experience | October foliage on the campuses and at Natural Bridge |
| Best restaurant | Pure Eats for dinner; The Palms (since 1906) for lunch tradition |
Lexington is the kind of place that rewards the people who exit the interstate. Three hours from DC. Worth every mile.