Virginia Creeper Bike Trail: How to Plan Virginia’s Best Biking Experience

* Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. All recommendations are from first-hand experience that I feel will deliver value to you! Thank you for your continued support.

FOLLOW & SHARE WITH A FRIEND!

The Virginia Creeper Bike Trail runs from Abingdon, Virginia through the town of Damascus and ends at the Whitetop Station.

Once an actual train track, the trail was transformed into a recreational trail in 1989 and is 34 miles from end to end.

Where did the name Virginia Creeper come from?

It was due to the slow-moving steam engine “creeping” along the route next to the native plant, Virginia Creeper, a climbing vine that grows along the trail.

The most popular way to enjoy the bike trail is to ride from Whitetop to Damascus and then have lunch in Damascus.

This section is all DOWNHILL. Super easy.

Even grandma and the kids can do it if they can ride a bike.

I thought a little peddling might be involved, which was not the case. Make sure you have a bike with good brakes because you will be trying to slow down the whole time.

Kinda like tubing down a lazy river. No effort is involved.

Don’t worry. You won’t need to walk home after your bike ride. If you rented your bike from the Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Shop in Abingdon, they will pick you up at the red caboose in Damascus at a designated time to shuttle you back to the bike rental shop.

What if you continue your ride from Damascus to Abingdon?

It is slightly uphill from Damascus to Abingdon.

Yes, it requires some effort but is completely doable if you are moderately fit. To put this into perspective, this was the first bike ride I did in over a year, and I did fine.

If you are super fit and the Lance Armstrong type, then by all means do the trail in the opposite direction (Abingdon to Whitetop). More power to you if you can do it and double points if you can do it roundtrip.

• Total biking distance: 17 miles
• Total time: 2 hr. 15 min.

* We stopped a few times for photos. If you stop more frequently, estimate 2.5 – 3 hrs.

• Total biking distance: 17 miles
• Total time: 2 hr. 30 min.

• Total biking distance: 34 miles
• Total time: 4 hr. 45 min. + 30 min. for lunch = 5 hr. 15 min.

You have 2 options where to rent bikes from: Abingdon or Damascus.

We rented from the Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Shop in Abingdon. Book early! We reserved a few weeks in advance since we were biking the trail on a holiday weekend.

FYI, the Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Shop does not have an online booking system. They are old school and took our information over the phone. We crossed our fingers, but it all worked out. The service was very friendly.

Highly recommend them! Great reviews (4.5 on both Google and TripAdvisor).

Here is a list of all the bike rental shops if you choose to rent in Damascus.

The Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Shop had a great selection of comfort bikes, mountain bikes, and kid bikes.

We rented comfort bikes, which were in excellent condition. I was given a Cannondale, and my husband received a Marin. Both are very reputable name brands.

• Comfort bike + shuttle fee: $43 + tax
• Mountain bike + shuttle fee: $34.99 + tax
• Shuttle fee only: $24.99 pp (you can bring your own bike and use their shuttle service)

I would strongly recommend renting a comfort bike. You will be grateful for the padded seat 20 miles in.

We parked our car at the Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Shop. After paying for the rentals and getting fitted for our bikes, we hung around outside until everyone was ready.

There were quite a few people who booked our same reservation time. Not to worry. The bike shop has multiple vans and specially designed trailers to accommodate you and your bike.

We left around 9:30 am, drove an hour, and were on the trail by 10:30 am.

I hate crowds. Especially when doing outdoor activities like snorkeling or biking. So I was a little worried when they dumped off our large group at the start of the trail at Whitetop.

I was thinking oh great, we are all going to bunch up and it’s going to take forever to get down this trail.

I was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong!

Everyone left at slightly different times and spread out nicely. Especially in the beginning, the key is NOT stopping at every scenic point and cafe, which most people do. If you do, you will be on top of each other.

We skipped the first few scenic points, and then took our time on the rest of the bike trail. It was great and incredibly relaxing!

The Whitetop Station is the starting point, which is located in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Mount Rogers has the highest summit in Virginia, with an elevation of 5,729’.

You are up there!

Whitetop Station is at an elevation of 3500.’ By the time you ride down to Damascus, you will be at 1900.’ Don’t worry though, remember it’s all downhill from Whitetop to Damascus. If grandma can do it, you can do it!

This stretch of the Virginia Creeper Bike Trail is gorgeous! The path is mostly crushed cinders, gravel, and dirt. You will be riding along cold mountain streams and babbling creeks and through dense forests.

Remember, the trail is not only used for bikers. Hikers, horseback riders, and fishermen also use the trail. In fact, Whitetop Laurel Creek, which runs right next to the trail is one of Virginia’s largest wild trout streams.

One thing to note is the bike trail around Whitetop is very rough and bumpy, so don’t go flying down or you will spin out. Always be safe and use common sense.

There are a lot of really cool bridges you will bike across during that first stretch on the trail. My favorites were at mile markers 18 and 17, which are right at Damascus.  

By the way, there is NO cell reception from Whitetop to Damascus. Make sure your bike is in good working condition BEFORE your bike shuttle leaves.

The second stretch of the Virginia Creeper Bike Trail runs from Damascus to Abingdon. Instead of dense forests and gurgling streams, the scenery becomes more open.

Picture rolling farmland and cow pastures.

One of my favorite bridges was in this section (mile marker 8.1), where it crosses over South Holston Lake. By the way, you will pass over 47 trestles and bridges to be exact from Whitetop to Abingdon.

Another fun stop is Alvarado Station, which is located right next to the river. Enjoy a snack and the view of the river while swinging on the porch swings.

We actually stayed at a beautiful Vrbo rental right at Alvarado Station.

It was awesome to be able to bike right to your accommodation, have a quick bathroom break, and chow down on a quick snack (like a leftover eclair from Anthony’s Desserts that you picked up the night before … don’t judge). More on our rental later!

Another popular pit stop on this section of the trail is to grab a glass of wine at Abingdon Vineyards.

It’s a little bit off the path (0.8 miles/5 minute ride). Check to see if there are any main events beforehand.

We were going to go there later in our trip but due to a popular band, they were packed! Forget parking, so we cut our losses and decided maybe next time.

We felt quite accomplished rolling into the town of Abingdon 34 miles later.

Truly a fantastic day!

Know as “Trail Town, USA,” this is a great little town to stop and get a bite.

The town holds an annual festival in May called “Trail Days’ to celebrate the achievements of the Appalachian Trail (AT) thru-hikers.

The bike trail actually passes right through Damascus and does intersect the Virginia Creeper Trail at a few spots. We definitely saw several AT hikers as we biked along.

Cool fact – Virginia has more miles of the Appalachian Trail than any other state.

We saw several murals depicting the famous Appalachian Trail as we walked around the town.

Out of the three options, this cafe was the most highly rated on yelp (4.5/5). They offer breakfast and lunch sandwiches and wraps.

I love that they serve breakfast all day!

I happily replenished my calories with an egg cheddar sandwich on an English muffin and washed it down with a hot Chai latte. My husband got the breakfast burrito. All solid choices.

Flavorful. Hot. Great pit stop.

Wings, burgers, sandwiches. We did not eat here. Check the reviews to see what you think.

Pizza, burgers, salads. Big open air deck. We did not eat here, but there are solid reviews.

Another solid well-liked choice by yelp reviewers. Our bike shuttle driver actually recommended this diner. Good country cooking Southern classics are offered like gravy biscuits, meatloaf, collards, and Mac ’n cheese. A lot of sandwiches and salads to choose from as well.

Endless options. Abingdon was rated by USA Today as having the Best Small Town Food Scene.

There are so many fun things to do in and around this quaint town. Don’t miss my Top 10 List of Things to Do in Abingdon.

Located right next to the Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Shop, this cute friendly casual restaurant serves up some great flavorful food.

A great starter to try is the Southern classic, fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese.

My favorite restaurant in Abingdon by far! I would have eaten here every day. They do close on Sundays, so if you are visiting for the weekend plan accordingly.

Their breakfast sandwich, The Big Pimp, which is simply a biscuit + egg + pimento cheese is incredible!

I could have eaten one every single day. I love pimento cheese! Order one and be in foodie heaven.

This amazing restaurant is also serious about coffee and makes a great cappuccino.

Of course, I am going to be biased because we stayed here, but we loved this charming Vrbo rental. I would highly consider this option if you are biking the Virginia Creeper Trail for 2 reasons:

This historic hotel is located right in downtown Abingdon. It was once a private residence and then a women’s college before it opened as a hotel.

Expect an elegant and stately feel. There are lots of amenities including an indoor pool, gym, tennis courts, and bicycles.

This was the third accommodation option we considered. The original owners were tailors, so this theme is carried throughout the decor of the property.

It’s a small property (only 3 bedrooms!), so they book up in advance. This hotel has a great location in the heart of the Historic District in Abingdon.

My husband and I have done some pretty incredible bike rides including the Otago Central Rail Trail in New Zealand and the Burgundy Vineyard Trail in France. I would put the Virginia Creeper Bike Trail right up there on that list! It’s an incredibly scenic, relaxing, easy-going ride with lots of lovely little stops to check out along the way.

REACH OUT, FOLLOW, OR SHARE THIS POST WITH A FRIEND!

Questions about our Virginia Creeper Bike Trail experience?

Let me know in the comments below!