I-81 runs for 325 miles in Virginia from near Winchester to the Tri-Cities. Although the entire route is very scenic, the Shenandoah Valley starting near Front Royal and ending near Roanoke features the Blue Ridge Mountain to the east and the Alleghenies to the west and is stunning overall. This area of Virginia features a number of notable attractions such as the Luray Caverns, Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, the Appalachian Trail, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. In addition to the numerous Civil War battlefields and monuments, there’s significant historical sites such as Monticello, Harper’s Ferry (although WV), and the David Crockett Birthplace State Park. It also offers many opportunities to soak up the small town cultures of Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton, Roanoke, Marion, Abington, Wytheville, and Floyd.

While you can always review our overall Virgina map of the best golf courses and resorts you can play in Virginia, we’ve outlined below a few of our favorites for our I-81 Golf Trail within 20 minutes of I-81 that make for a great day off from irgidriving the Interstate or a weeks long golf expedition.

Front Royal area has three well regarded layouts

1. Bowling Green
2. Blue Ridge Shadows
3. Shenandoah Valley

Harrisonburg would be a good stop for a couple of days

1. Massanutten which also has on-site lodging
2. Packsaddle Ridge
3. Lakeview
4. Heritage Oaks

Lexington where I-64 intersects, one of our favorites in Virginia and a great small town to soak up

1. Lexington Golf Club

Roanoke, there’s several listed on our website with the highest rated course:

1. Ashley Plantation

In the Blacksburg area, one of the top public courses you can play

1. Pete Dye River Course

There are a few others as you head into Tennessee, but we’d favor

1. Holston Hills near Marion