# Southwest Virginia highlands: Grayson ponies to the Breaks

> 4-day road trip of about 457 km (284 mi) with 8 stops, from Roanoke to Grundy. About 5 h 04 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b20-sw-virginia-highlands/

**At a glance:** 4-day road trip of about 457 km (284 mi) with 8 stops, from Roanoke to Grundy. About 5 h 04 min of driving in total. Wild ponies on the balds of Grayson Highlands, the Virginia Creeper Trail, a railroad through a natural tunnel and the deep gorge of Breaks Interstate Park.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 457 km (284 mi) |
| Driving | 5 h 04 min |
| Suggested days | 4 |
| Stops | 8 |
| Route | Roanoke → Grundy |
| States | VA |
| Updated | April 27, 2026 |

## Route description

Leave Roanoke on I-81 south through the Valley of Virginia for about two hours to Marion, then take VA-16 north a few miles to Hungry Mother State Park, a wooded lake with a beach, cabins and campgrounds. Beyond the park, VA-16 continues north as the Back of the Dragon, a very twisty mountain road to Tazewell that is popular with motorcyclists but hard work in a big RV.

From Marion drive south on VA-16 over the mountains to Volney and then west on US-58 to Grayson Highlands State Park, about an hour. Walk from Massie Gap onto the balds, where wild ponies graze among the rock outcrops; Mount Rogers, Virginia’s highest point, is a longer hike on the Appalachian Trail. The park road and US-58 are steep and winding, so large RVs should go slowly.

US-58 then runs west through the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area to Damascus, where the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Creeper Trail meet in the middle of town. The Abingdon half of the trail is open, but the 17-mile downhill run from Whitetop Station, wrecked by Hurricane Helene, is due to reopen only in spring 2027. Abingdon, about 15 miles further, is an old town of brick sidewalks, home of the Barter Theatre and the other end of the Creeper Trail.

Take US-58 Alt and US-23 west to Natural Tunnel State Park near Duffield, where a seasonal chairlift runs down to the huge tunnel used by trains. Then drive north through coal country, via Wise and Clintwood, to Breaks Interstate Park, about 1.5 hours. In October, dam releases bring whitewater paddlers to the Russell Fork below the overlooks. Finish at Grundy on US-460. The roads are slow and winding; the route is about 550 km.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Roanoke** (VA)
2. **Hungry Mother State Park** (Marion, VA): A wooded lake with a sandy swimming beach, boat rentals and a trail up Molly’s Knob, a few miles north of I-81 at Marion. One of Virginia’s six original state parks from 1936, with cabins and campgrounds.
3. **Grayson Highlands State Park** (Mouth of Wilson, VA): High grassy balds and rock outcrops near Mount Rogers where wild ponies graze along the Appalachian Trail. From the Massie Gap lot it is about a mile to the pony areas; the park road is steep and winding.
4. **Damascus** (VA)
5. **Abingdon** (VA)
6. **Natural Tunnel State Park** (Duffield, VA): A natural tunnel more than 850 feet long, carved through a limestone ridge by Stock Creek and still used by trains. A seasonal chairlift or a steep trail leads down to the viewing platform; parking fee.
7. **Breaks Interstate Park** (Breaks, VA): A gorge more than 1,600 feet deep on the Kentucky–Virginia line, often called the Grand Canyon of the South, with rim overlooks and trails. The park has a lodge, campground and small lake; approach roads are winding.
8. **Grundy** (VA)

## FAQs

**How long is Southwest Virginia highlands: Grayson ponies to the Breaks?**
4-day road trip of about 457 km (284 mi) with 8 stops, from Roanoke to Grundy. About 5 h 04 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Southwest Virginia highlands: Grayson ponies to the Breaks?**
We suggest 4 days: about 5 h 04 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Southwest Virginia highlands: Grayson ponies to the Breaks start and end?**
It starts in Roanoke and ends in Grundy.

**Which states does Southwest Virginia highlands: Grayson ponies to the Breaks pass through?**
Virginia.