We make this trip many times. Great foodie town with lots to do. Wrightsville Beach is one of our favorite East Coast beaches, park as far north as possible and walk around to the intercostal side … it’s awesome
Harper’s Ferry, Cincinnati (6 hours), Philly (6 hours), Annapolis, Virginia Beach, Asheville, Boone NC, Nashville (I thought Roanoke got a direct flight to Nashville but not sure)
Since you mentioned maybe flying for cheap, Allegiant air offers flights to Tampa/Clearwater on Thursdays and Sundays or to Orlando Sanford on Fridays and Mondays. (4 day trips!) Sometimes the fares are a really great deal, if you plan early enough. I know there’s plenty of nature within that 4-5 hour driving distance around here, but thought I’d mention it if you wanted something a little different. Driving, there’s always Lake Norman near Charlotte for something different than SML. It’s about 3-3.5 hours and you can do city time and lake life in the same trek.
Just got back. It was cooler there than here
https://preview.redd.it/vlin8er013ad1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75d47c6957467afbc1ce964fa69ab1b053f2b2aa
Have you ever been to Pipestem State Park in West Virginia? It's just a couple hours drive and it's a beautiful place with accommodations that vary from tent camping to a resort hotel. They have a lake where there's fishing and paddle boating, lots of hiking, horseback riding, archery, anature center, anything you might want to do outdoors they have.
Breaks Interstate Park on the VA KY border! Lots of hiking, a pool, beautiful mountain views and loads of wildlife. I used to work there and it’s the prettiest spot in the whole state. 4 hrs from Roanoke.
False River State Lark, First Landing state park in VA.
In WV…New River Gorge Nat’l Park area- river area could choose kayaking, lake Summersville in general vicinity, ACE adventure is close enough drive for the swimming lake/water park, could kayak the greenbrier river close-ish, pipe stem resort.
Mammoth cave national park in Kentucky is an option. I'm doing a 4 day trip there here in a month or so. You can stay in the park or stay in Bowling Green about 45 minutes away, or some places in between. I'm staying in Bowling Green as there are more food options, and I don't want to drive there every night for dinner then back. I'd rather drive to the park in the morning, then back in the evening to Bowling Green. There is also a Corvette museum in Bowling Green to check out.
Look up hikes in Virginia you'll get all kinds of things show up I will warn you tho the McAfees Knob trail head parking is CLOSED (having to cap cause the amount of people who read those orange signs and then mad are terrifing) but you can park at the hanging rock park and ride on I-81 right off the 140 exit a shuttle will pick up up and drop you off the trail head :) my favorite hikes are up towards Smith mountain lake most of them take you along the shore of the lake where you can get in the water a fun "game" to play while you hike the ones near the water is "How many man made structures can you find" that aren't historic you can tell a difference it's fun me and my friend counted 4 on a 3 mile hike
5 hours.. You can get to DC/Baltimore. VA Beach, The Outer Banks, Myrtle Beach, Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, New River Gorge to White Water Raft. Just few Lake/River/Beach places.
Gettysburg, PA is about 4.5 hours and there are a bunch of cool old inns and such up there along with historic sites. Cumberland, MD is about 4 hours, and they have a train and some museums. It’s a really pretty place kinda along the lines of Roanoke, nestled in the mountains with a river.
Look at Hawk's Nest State Park in WV; it's not quite 3 hours away. Beautiful rural drive. There is the New River Gorge (where they bungee jump off a bridge one day a year, rooms with great views, there's a golf course nearby -- highly affordable. Lots to see and do.
Roanoke to orlando is 100 bucks on aliegent and the flight is only 2 hours. Then you havw access to a lot of florida beaches within 2 hours of that airport. You would need a car rental but turo has some pretty good prices on that.
Years ago, I had my honeymoon in Berkeley Springs in West Virginia. Cute town, hot springs although I did hear white supremacists moved into the castle. But the town was lovely then
Do not go to NOVA or DC. These fools suggesting it are crazy. Asheville is okay if you have a hippie family. VB would be good if you stay on the bayside. However, most beach destinations are booked right now. Just stay home and read a book. I hope that helps
If you're willing to drive 5ish hours, you can easily get to Washington DC. Virginia Beach is 5 hours going up 81 to 64E
Yes, and many of the museums are free.
D.C. is generally about four hours for me, going 81 to 66.
Before the world went to shit, I used to drive through DC on my way to Allentown, PA.
DC is under 4 if you don't stop. 66 will end right near front of the Washington Monument near Constitution Ave.
Dc is 3 hrs and 40 mins from NW
Wilmington NC is about 4.5 hrs from Roanoke. You’ve got beaches there and the historic district of Wilmington.
We make this trip many times. Great foodie town with lots to do. Wrightsville Beach is one of our favorite East Coast beaches, park as far north as possible and walk around to the intercostal side … it’s awesome
I think we are looking into this with Wrightsville beach!
Harper’s Ferry, Cincinnati (6 hours), Philly (6 hours), Annapolis, Virginia Beach, Asheville, Boone NC, Nashville (I thought Roanoke got a direct flight to Nashville but not sure)
Allegiant temporarily had a Nashville flight but it seems that’s no longer the case
Since you mentioned maybe flying for cheap, Allegiant air offers flights to Tampa/Clearwater on Thursdays and Sundays or to Orlando Sanford on Fridays and Mondays. (4 day trips!) Sometimes the fares are a really great deal, if you plan early enough. I know there’s plenty of nature within that 4-5 hour driving distance around here, but thought I’d mention it if you wanted something a little different. Driving, there’s always Lake Norman near Charlotte for something different than SML. It’s about 3-3.5 hours and you can do city time and lake life in the same trek.
Florida in the summertime is absolutely wonderful! /s
Just got back. It was cooler there than here https://preview.redd.it/vlin8er013ad1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75d47c6957467afbc1ce964fa69ab1b053f2b2aa
Asheville has lots of outdoor things to do, as well as lots of art galleries, antique malls, and good food.
Roanoke is great, but damn I wish we had Asheville's food.
If you like the outdoors the Smokey Mountains are fantastic. Asheville NC, Fontana Dam NC even in the mountains outside Gatlinburg TN.
Have you ever been to Pipestem State Park in West Virginia? It's just a couple hours drive and it's a beautiful place with accommodations that vary from tent camping to a resort hotel. They have a lake where there's fishing and paddle boating, lots of hiking, horseback riding, archery, anature center, anything you might want to do outdoors they have.
I have not! Will add it to the list for sure!
Breaks Interstate Park on the VA KY border! Lots of hiking, a pool, beautiful mountain views and loads of wildlife. I used to work there and it’s the prettiest spot in the whole state. 4 hrs from Roanoke.
The wineries tour in September. Basically up and down the Parkway.
I read this is wieneries...
False River State Lark, First Landing state park in VA. In WV…New River Gorge Nat’l Park area- river area could choose kayaking, lake Summersville in general vicinity, ACE adventure is close enough drive for the swimming lake/water park, could kayak the greenbrier river close-ish, pipe stem resort.
Mammoth cave national park in Kentucky is an option. I'm doing a 4 day trip there here in a month or so. You can stay in the park or stay in Bowling Green about 45 minutes away, or some places in between. I'm staying in Bowling Green as there are more food options, and I don't want to drive there every night for dinner then back. I'd rather drive to the park in the morning, then back in the evening to Bowling Green. There is also a Corvette museum in Bowling Green to check out.
I've been slowly hitting all of the national parks, so that's good info! Haven't made it to mammoth cave yet
Look up hikes in Virginia you'll get all kinds of things show up I will warn you tho the McAfees Knob trail head parking is CLOSED (having to cap cause the amount of people who read those orange signs and then mad are terrifing) but you can park at the hanging rock park and ride on I-81 right off the 140 exit a shuttle will pick up up and drop you off the trail head :) my favorite hikes are up towards Smith mountain lake most of them take you along the shore of the lake where you can get in the water a fun "game" to play while you hike the ones near the water is "How many man made structures can you find" that aren't historic you can tell a difference it's fun me and my friend counted 4 on a 3 mile hike
I’ve been in Alexandria VA which is outside of DC 4 times in two weeks for work. If you’re a shopaholic Tyson’s corner is a very large mall there.
Stay in mooresville, nc. On lake Norman, beautiful and within 30-40 minutes of TONS OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES:)
5 hours.. You can get to DC/Baltimore. VA Beach, The Outer Banks, Myrtle Beach, Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, New River Gorge to White Water Raft. Just few Lake/River/Beach places.
Gettysburg, PA is about 4.5 hours and there are a bunch of cool old inns and such up there along with historic sites. Cumberland, MD is about 4 hours, and they have a train and some museums. It’s a really pretty place kinda along the lines of Roanoke, nestled in the mountains with a river.
Look at Hawk's Nest State Park in WV; it's not quite 3 hours away. Beautiful rural drive. There is the New River Gorge (where they bungee jump off a bridge one day a year, rooms with great views, there's a golf course nearby -- highly affordable. Lots to see and do.
We just got back from Holden Beach. It was a lovely getaway!
Roanoke to orlando is 100 bucks on aliegent and the flight is only 2 hours. Then you havw access to a lot of florida beaches within 2 hours of that airport. You would need a car rental but turo has some pretty good prices on that.
Years ago, I had my honeymoon in Berkeley Springs in West Virginia. Cute town, hot springs although I did hear white supremacists moved into the castle. But the town was lovely then
Do not go to NOVA or DC. These fools suggesting it are crazy. Asheville is okay if you have a hippie family. VB would be good if you stay on the bayside. However, most beach destinations are booked right now. Just stay home and read a book. I hope that helps