Sunset at a mountain overlook on the drive up to Snowshoe

Getting here from Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach to Snowshoe

the drive we make more than anyone

This is our own drive, and we make it more than anyone. I-64 west from the Oceanfront through the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, past Richmond and Charlottesville, over Afton Mountain to Staunton, about three and a half hours before you leave the interstate. Then US-250 west over the mountains through Monterey and into West Virginia, WV-92 and WV-28 south through Green Bank, and WV-66 through Cass and up the back of the mountain. The tunnel and Richmond set the range, not the mountain. In bad snow we do it differently: stay on I-64 to Lewisburg and take US-219 north through Marlinton to the main entrance.

Drive time

5.5 to 6.5 hours

from the Oceanfront, normal conditions, no stops

Distance

about 315 miles

to the Village at 4,848 feet

Check-in

4:00 PM

your code works whenever you arrive

Live road conditions, WV 511 ↗Summit forecast All routes and airports

The route

The way people actually go

Put Snowshoe Mountain Resort in the GPS for the long part. Once you pass Cass, switch to the exact pin we send you; street addresses on the mountain resolve to the resort entrance, not the door.

The other way

The snow route: stay on I-64 past Lexington and Covington into West Virginia to Lewisburg, exit 169, then US-219 north through Marlinton to Slatyfork, and climb Route 66 from Par Mar to the main entrance. About 45 minutes longer, interstate until the last 70 miles, and it is the plowed way in. We take it any time the forecast has real snow.

1
I-64 west from the Oceanfront through the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and Williamsburg to Richmond. Leave early or late; the tunnel and I-64 through Richmond are the slow parts.
2
I-64 west through Charlottesville and over Afton Mountain to Staunton, exit 222, US-250 west.
3
US-250 west through Churchville, over Shenandoah Mountain, through McDowell to Monterey, then over Allegheny Mountain into West Virginia at Bartow. Left onto WV-92 and WV-28 south through Arbovale and Green Bank.
4
Two miles past Green Bank, right onto WV-66 west. Through Cass, over the Greenbrier River, and up the back of the mountain to the resort entrance on the right, then our pin.

Where to stop

The last grocery, the last gas, the climb

In order. There is one small grocery on the mountain and no gas at all, so the tank and the first night's dinner get sorted on the way in.

Every stop, with hours

1 · Last full grocery
Staunton, then Trent's in Arbovale
Staunton has every big grocery right off I-64. Trent's General Store in Arbovale, two miles before Green Bank, is the last real store on the mountain side
Monterey has a small market (Highland Roots Market) and a gas station. Trent's is a proper small grocery, 7am to 7pm, closed Sunday. On the snow route through Lewisburg, Pocahontas IGA in Marlinton is the last full grocery.
2 · Last gas
Monterey, then Trent's in Arbovale
Fill in Staunton. Monterey has a station; Trent's in Arbovale, two miles before Green Bank, is the last gas before Cass
Trent's closes at 7pm and on Sundays. There is no gas after Green Bank and none on the mountain. On the snow route it is Marlinton, then Par Mar at Slatyfork.
3 · The climb
WV-66 from Cass, the climb
From Cass over the Greenbrier River to the resort entrance, about 20 minutes
Steep and narrow with hairpins, and in a storm it feels unplowed. The entrance is on the right near the top. Nothing is open after Cass. In snow we come around by Marlinton and climb Route 66 from Par Mar instead.
4 · On the mountain
Wildcat Grocery
At the Village, a five-minute walk from the Summit condos
Also listed on some map apps as Wildcat Grocery, same store. Milk, eggs, bread, some produce and meat, hot coffee, and the biggest beer cave on the mountain. Resort prices. Hours shrink in the closed seasons.

Best arrival time

Be on the mountain road in daylight

Leave the Oceanfront by 9am for the 4pm check-in with a stop in Staunton. In winter, leave by 8am; sunset at Snowshoe is about 5pm and you want Allegheny Mountain and the climb from Cass in daylight. Miss the tunnel window and the whole day slides.

Cell service is gone for miles around Green Bank (the observatory's radio quiet zone) and on most of the climb from Cass. Download offline maps and our check-in message before you leave, and send the "almost there" text from Petersburg or Monterey, the last towns with a reliable bar of signal.

Parking at our homes

Winter notes

From Virginia Beach in ski season

the last ten miles are the trip

Whichever way you come, you end the drive climbing about 2,000 feet on a plowed two-lane road. Here is what we tell every winter guest, plus the parts that are specific to your route.

WV 511 road conditions ↗Roads and tires

WV-66 from Cass up the back of the mountain is steep and narrow with hairpins, and in a storm it feels unplowed. That is why the snow route is Marlinton: I-64 to Lewisburg, US-219 north, then Route 66 from Par Mar up the main entrance.
US-250 between Churchville and Bartow is a truck route over seven ridges with real switchbacks near McDowell. Plowed, but slow and no fun in snow or fog. This is the road to skip in a storm.
The last 10 miles climb about 2,000 feet from the valley to the Village at 4,848 feet. It snows at the top when it rains at the base.
AWD or 4WD with real tread is the honest recommendation from December to March. The resort plows and treats the road; in six seasons no guest has needed chains. Keep a set in the trunk if it makes you feel better.
Check WV 511 for live plow and closure status before you leave, and again at your last stop with signal.
Aim to reach the bottom of the climb before dark. Winter sunset at Snowshoe is about 5pm. Your door code works whenever you arrive, so a late, slow climb beats a fast one.

Questions

Virginia Beach to Snowshoe FAQ

Anything else, . We answer within the hour, and we would rather you ask than guess on a mountain road.

How long is the drive from Virginia Beach to Snowshoe?

About 5.5 to 6.5 hours from the Oceanfront in normal conditions with no stops, about 315 miles. The range is the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and Richmond, not the mountain: leave early or late and it is the short end. The snow route through Lewisburg adds about 45 minutes.

What is the best route from Virginia Beach to Snowshoe?

The way we go: I-64 west to Staunton, US-250 west through Monterey into West Virginia, WV-92 and WV-28 south through Green Bank, then WV-66 through Cass and up the back of the mountain. In bad snow, stay on I-64 to Lewisburg and take US-219 north through Marlinton to the main entrance; the Cass road is steep and we do not do it in a storm.

Where is the last grocery between Virginia Beach and Snowshoe?

Staunton, right off I-64, is the last big grocery. Trent's General Store in Arbovale, two miles before Green Bank, is the last real store and the last gas before Cass, closed Sundays. On the snow route it is Pocahontas IGA in Marlinton. Wildcat Grocery at the Village covers basics once you arrive.

Coming from somewhere else?