Photo courtesy of the Mimslyn Inn
The Mimslyn Inn in Luray, Va.
Two Virginia landmarks — the Mimslyn Inn in Luray and the Colony House Motor Lodge in Roanoke — were named Monday among the country’s best historic road-trip stays, according to a list announced by Historic Hotels of America.
The 2026 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Great American Road Trip Hotels List spotlights properties that turn the drive itself into part of the destination. To qualify, a hotel must be at least 50 years old, recognized for its historical significance, and located along a well-known touring route where it offers travelers both character and a convenient place to rest. Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the organization chartered by Congress in 1949 to safeguard the nation’s historic places.
For Northern Virginia travelers, the two winners bookend a classic Shenandoah-and-Blue-Ridge road trip.
Perched above the town of Luray at the gateway to the Shenandoah Valley and Shenandoah National Park, the
Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Parkway.org
Mimslyn Inn
Mimslyn Inn has welcomed guests since 1931. Built in the Georgian Revival style, the inn is known for its grand sweeping spiral staircase — a signature designed by J.R. Mims Sr. — and its hilltop views of the surrounding valley. At roughly 90 miles from Alexandria — about a two-hour drive west — it’s one of the closest stops on the list and an easy weekend anchor.
There’s plenty to fill a weekend beyond the inn’s front porch. Luray Caverns, the largest caverns in the eastern United States and home to the one-of-a-kind Great Stalacpipe Organ, sits just minutes away, along with the adjacent Luray Valley Museum and the Car and Carriage Caravan Museum. Shenandoah National Park is right next door, with the Thornton Gap entrance to Skyline Drive nearby for fall foliage, overlooks and hiking trails. Closer to town, visitors can paddle or tube the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, stroll Luray’s walkable Main Street or take in a concert at the Luray Singing Tower carillon across from the caverns.
The Colony House Motor Lodge, Roanoke
Photo courtesy of Colony House Motor Lodge
Colony House Motor Lodge in Roanoke, Va.
Farther south in Roanoke, the Colony House Motor Lodge represents a very different, and increasingly rare, slice of American travel history. Opened in 1959, the motor lodge is a striking example of Googie architecture — the space-age, mid-century roadside style defined here by dramatic folded-plate rooflines and glowing neon signage. About 235 miles from Alexandria — roughly a four-hour drive down I-81 — it’s a longer haul, but well positioned as a base for exploring Virginia’s Blue Ridge, with the Blue Ridge Parkway just minutes away.
Roanoke rewards the drive. The city’s beloved Mill Mountain Star — the giant illuminated “Roanoke Star” that gives the region its “Star City” nickname — crowns Mill Mountain Park, home to a small zoo and sweeping valley views. Downtown, the architecturally bold Taubman Museum of Art offers free admission, and the historic Roanoke City Market ranks among the oldest continuously operating open-air markets in the country. Rail and history buffs can explore the Virginia Museum of Transportation and the O. Winston Link Museum, while outdoor lovers have miles of greenways and quick access to the Parkway’s overlooks and trails.
Good company on the list
The two Virginia inns join 23 other landmark properties from across the country, among them Chicago’s Palmer House (1871), La Posada in Winslow, Arizona (1930), La Concha in Key West, Florida (1926), and the Strater Hotel in Durango, Colorado (1887) — a roster spanning grand downtown hotels and one-of-a-kind roadside stops.
Together, the honorees underscore a simple idea at the heart of the list: that where you stay along the way can be as memorable as the road itself. For Alexandria readers looking to trade the Beltway for the Blue Ridge this fall, Virginia’s two winners offer a ready-made itinerary — a storied valley inn on one end, a neon-lit time capsule on the other.
