Fantastic Drives Virginia – Charlottesville to Orange
Drive Time: 23.5 Miles/30 Minutes
Charlottesville, Virginia, is a great place to visit. It’s full of trendy places, historical sites, and is the home of the University of Virginia. It’s a cultural center. Anybody can go there themselves for a day or find just as many things to do with a family of five. Of course, leaving Charlottesville doesn’t have to spell the end of a great day out or family vacation. Make sure to take the long way home.
Driving on Interstate 64 heading out of Charlottesville, Virginia, you see a sign for Shadwell just outside the city. As you take the exit, you’re greeted with a multiple lane highway that just looks like another busy street into the city. Turn away from Charlottesville though, and you will soon be rewarded. As you turn onto Route 250 East, you will arrive at Route 22 which goes north to a little place called Cismont.
Driving to Cismont, you’ll pass Keswick, a place where the famed Keswick Hall, Estate, and Golf Club are located. It’s a resort, and a great place to spend some time. If you don’t stop there for a visit, I wouldn’t be too worried. As far as attractions go, there isn’t much else on this route where you can stop and take the family for a fun filled afternoon with all kinds of activities. If you’re by yourself on a Sunday drive though, your car is probably the one place in the entire world you will want to be. Keswick Vineyards and Castle Hill Cidery are farther along on the route if you do want something to do with everyone. You don’t really have to do any stopping on this ride.
As you drive north toward Orange and the beautiful Virginia countryside, you’re rewarded with some of the most picturesque scenery that America has to offer. At the beginning of the drive, the patches of forest clothe the numerous estates that are nestled in the rolling hills. Those same hills provide a driving experience rivaled only by the Blue Ridge Parkway. The best thing about this route is that you can go a little faster than you could on the Parkway.
As you continue north, Route 22 splits away from the road to Gordonsville and continues on to Louisa. You’ll want to take Gordonsville Road, or Route 231, which opens up a little more to expose the rolling hills in the form of farmland. Less trees mean better viewing of the parallel mountain range extending north from Charlottesville. The common theme throughout this drive remains the estates that could all easily be used as the perfect wedding venue or for a great photography session.
Then you reach Gordonsville, a small town in the middle of farmland and forest. I’m sure you could do without the Hardees in the middle of town, but I’m also sure that you can forgive that as you travel still northward on Route 15 toward Orange and out of the charming little town of about 1500.
The road opens up a bit north of Gordonsville to a double lane highway, but that doesn’t really affect the surrounding scenery. Traffic is still light for the size of the highway and the speed limit goes up to 55 miles per hour. After just a few more miles of Virginia countryside, beautiful churches, and homes, the town of Orange comes into view over the horizon. It’s here that your journey comes to an end.
Throughout the entire drive, Virginia makes sure you don’t soon forget the rich history of the area. Constant reminders of the past slip by in the form of historical markers, road names, and historic buildings. Plenty of pull-offs and side roads provide superb opportunities to stop and take some great photos of the surrounding area. Whether the sun is about to set, rise, or it’s the middle of the day, Mother Nature will make sure that you always have the best possible shot of her beauty, no matter where you stop.
The best time to drive this route yourself would be in the spring when it’s just warming up again and you can roll down your windows. Another great time would be the fall when the leaves are turning to their brightest colors. Really, no matter when you decide to go on this drive, you’ll never forget it. Just make sure of one thing. Whether you’re just passing through for the fun of it or you have to get to work, just take time to enjoy it.
–SWF
