Travel Diary: Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia

Ever since I was like 10, I had always wanted to visit Virginia’s Natural Bridge State Park. However, I had never made it out there for almost two decades. Well, until I was on my way home from a road trip to Charlotte, North Carolina and all of a sudden took an hour detour off of Route 29 immediately after seeing the exit sign for Natural Bridge. If you know me in real life pretty well, then you probably know that I am *very* much a planner through and through. I am rarely someone that takes a detour in the plans that I make let alone an hour+ detour, especially on a road trip when I feel anxious to get home. But, through it all, I am so so so happy that I simply took the detour and *finally* got to cross an incredible mega Virginia bucket list item off of my list!

One of my recent travel goals that I’ve briefly mentioned on my Instagram (let’s be friends @_thepinkchickadee) is to visit all 95 counties over the course of my lifetime in the state of Virginia alongside all 50 states and 50 countries. Travel is ONE of my biggest passions and loves of my life (in case you can’t tell!). I have fallen in love with driving throughout my trips to/from my college state of North Carolina and current residence in the Washington, DC area (by way of Northern Virginia!) and simply wanted to find a way to enjoy SO MUCH of the state that I proudly call home. Hence, my travel goal of visiting all 95 counties of Virginia was born!

Nevertheless, my travel goal of visiting all 95 counties of Virginia is one less county away from being complete, as I got to visit Natural Bridge State Park’s home in Rockbridge County, Virginia. At the same time, I also got to visit a mega bucket list item off of my list! While driving to Natural Bridge State Park’s location which is ~15 miles South of Lexington, Virginia, I got the chance to drive part of I-81 that is situated in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The drive throughout I-81 was BEAUTIFUL, and I am excited to visit and explore more of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains – a part of my home state that I have yet to really explore. Natural Bridge was just the start of many more visits to this gorgeous Virginia region, including, more recently, to the Blandy Experimental Farm and State Arboretum of Virginia!

Know Before You Go

While I was LITERALLY in my Jack Roger’s sandals and a blouse and skirt as I went on a whim, I didn’t have any issues or regrets throughout my visit when it came to how I was dressed.

Parking: When routed to Natural Bridge State Park’s location (I typed in “Natural Bridge State Park” on Apple Maps), visitors will want to park at the Visitors Center located across the street from the charming Natural Bridge Hotel – owned by Wyndham – and will see a LOVE sign themed for the gorgeous state park! Parking is free and plentiful – welllll, at least on an April Monday. To reach Natural Bridge, I recommend entering through the Visitors Center and checking out some of their exhibits, the gift shop, and bathrooms (if needed).

Accessing Natural Bridge: Upon entering into the Visitors Center, I found it easiest to head downstairs and outside via following the signs to Natural Bridge that are easy to find throughout it. Visitors will head outside and walk a concrete trail filled with lots of stairs alongside a beautiful creek and gorgeous forest scenery to enjoy. The stairwell pathway leads to another gift shop, where guests must purchase an admission pass ($9/13+ and $6/6-12 and Free/under 6). Anddd, then visitors can be fully enamored with the gorgeous serenity and natural formation of Natural Bridge!

My Experience at Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia

While I didn’t spend a ton of time at Natural Bridge State Park given my attire, I did have a lovely time while I was there simply taking in the gorgeous views and enjoying this beautiful natural formation and creation. I adored the creek, river, and adjacent stream that are all nearby Natural Bridge. I also loved that just in front of Natural Bridge, there are several wooden chairs for visitors to take a seat and simply take it all in. However, if I did have more time to spare and the right attire, I would have loved to explore some of the many trails that Natural Bridge State Park has to offer and *even* go underneath this gorgeous bridge. Above all else, I love that the walk, while LOTS of stairs, is easy to navigate and not super challenging for most so that everyone can enjoy.

Wrap-Up:

After almost 2 decades of aspiring to visit Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia, I am filled with SO MUCH JOY and happiness that I finally got to. I am SO glad that I impulsively found myself off of the highway and on my way to Natural Bridge State Park within 30 seconds of seeing the exit sign to go. Sometimes, taking the detour is truly worth it and I am SO glad that I did just that. I am still so proud and happy that I went for me and me only.

XOXO – Katie <3