Virginia Waysides
Virginia Highways Project
Virginia
Waysides |
A relatively unique institution in the state of Virginia is the wayside. Waysides are picnicking areas along
thoroughfares that served as early versions of rest areas along the pre-interstate days of motoring
Virginia.
Waysides come in many different sizes, and could either have full facilities or none. Often, they
were placed in lots created by the realignment of a highway.
Waysides date back to at least 1938, when they were listed and shown on the pictorial history map
shown on the reverse of Official State Maps. The list of Waysides appeared on all issues from the
1938-39 to 1982-83, except for the Bicentennial Issues of 1975 and 1976.
It turns out that some waysides have existed that were never listed on the reverse of Official Maps.
Some appear in the 1949 Route Log and the CTB Minutes list at least a couple more.
Although no longer listed, some Waysides continue to exist, maintained for public use. The list
below (arranged by route number, just like the lists were) includes a note about the current status, if I
know what it is. There have been at least 74 waysides listed on the maps at some point.
Last Update (4/24/08): Temperance (VA 6), Carter (US 11), Draper Mtn (US 11), Dixie (US 15), Carys Creek (US 15), Ground Squirrel (US 33), Cleburne (VA 100), Farley (VA 100)
Name: Occoquan
Location:US 1 - 15 miles south of Alexandria
Existed: 1938-1942/44
Notes: This was just north of the Occoquan River Bridge in Woodbridge. Today all that is
there is a monument to the bridge.
Name:Longdale
Location:US 1 - 3 miles north of Richmond
Existed:1941-1942/44
Notes: I believe this is just south of VA 161, where I believe there is still a little unnamed
pull off.
Name:Stafford
Location:US 1 - 1 mile north of Stafford CH
Existed:1938-1984+
Notes: This wayside is completely overgrown and return to wooded median. There was a
stone water fountain still visible in the late 90's, but that was eventually removed.
Name:North Anna
Location:US 1 - 10 miles north of Ashland
Existed:1938-1982/83
Notes: There are cleared ares on both sides of the North Anna River along US 1, one on
the SB side north of the bridge has a monumnent.
Photos:Mapmikey (4/26/06)
Name:Little River
Location:US 1 - 6 miles north of Ashland
Existed:1941-1975/77
Notes: I do not recall any specific thing being at this location now. D. McGrann writes:
Exists now as a turnout on the southern end of the Little River bridge, on the west
side of the highway. There is a stone Jefferson Davis Highway marker at the
turnout, erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It once sported
a bronze plate about the Jefferson Davis Highway, but it's been long removed
by vandals. I broke down there once some years back, so I've got an intimate
knowledge of the area!
Name:Falling Creek
Location:US 1,301 - 5 miles south of Richmond
Existed:1938-present
Notes: This is one of the nicer ones still around, fully identified as a wayside, in the
median of the highway. The old bridge over the creek in the middle of this wayside was destroyed by the
remnants of Tropical Storm Gaston in August 2004.
Photos:Mapmikey (4/24/07)
Name:Meherrin River
Location:US 1 - 7 miles north of South Hill
Existed:1953-84+
Notes: No longer a posted wayside, but still accessible. Nothing remains except the
driveways.
Photos:Mapmikey (9/23/06; 11/10/07)
Name: Mecklenburg
Location: US 1 - 6 miles south of South Hill
Existed:1938-84+
Notes: Drove by here on 9/23/06...could not find this. This may have been destroyed
with the recent 5-laning of US 1-58.
Name:Mary Washington
Location: US 1 ALT - 3 miles south of Falmouth
Existed:1950-1956
Notes: This is on US 1 Bypass at Hazel Run in the City of Fredericksburg. Today there
are picnic tables and litter barrels in clearings on both sides, where roses and seafood vendors set up
shop. The SB side is getting ready to be surrounded by a new subdivision. In late 2003 the land behind
the SB side was totally cleared, taking away the tables/barrels on that side. The NB side remains
unaffected as of March 2004.
Photos:Mapmikey (4/24/07)
Name:Hanover
Location:VA 2, US 301 - 9 miles north of Richmond
Existed:1938-present
Notes: This is a fully marked wayside, a nice shady spot just south of Hanover
Courthouse and even has its own route number, SR 900. A. Smith notes: It also has small brown signs
underneath the advanced notice SR 900 signs. It also has the name "Hanover Wayside Rd." Behind the
"pull-off" there is actually a rather big opening circled by Route 900, and if my memory serves me right,
covered picnic tables. His memory does serve correctly, as this is a nice place, comparable to a county
park.
Photos:Mapmikey (4/26/06; 3/17/07)
Name:Plantation
Location:VA 5 - 8 miles north Charles City CH
Existed:1955-1970
Notes: Status unknown; I haven't driven by here in years.
Name:Dixie
Location:VA 6, US 15 - 6 miles south of Palmyra
Existed:1938-1942/44
Notes: This was in the middle of the triangle at the US 15-VA 6 split in the hamlet of
Dixie. I believe there is only a picnic table left here.
Photos:Mapmikey (12/9/06; 4/23/08)
Name:Goochland
Location:VA 6 - 1/2 mile east of Georges Tavern
Existed:1944-1984+
Notes: There are still some picnic tables and a marked contaminated spring.
Photos:Mapmikey (12/9/06)
Name: Temperance
Location: VA 6 - 10 miles west of Fork Union
Existed: 1955-84+
Notes: Although I did drive by this location earlier in 2003, I do not recall anything about
Photos:Mapmikey 4/23/08
this location. D. McGrann reports: The "Temperance" wayside on Rt. 6 was on the banks
of the Hardware River. I
have very fond memories of this wayside, as I recall a great picnic and
frolic there back in the 1960's when I was a kid. Probably waht made it so
memorable was the same reason it no longer exists - there was a great big dropoff where the old
highway bridge had been. I seem to remember almost
falling off this "cliff". Not a safe place.
Mapmikey went to this location in April 2008 and found no sign a wayside had ever been there. The first pic
is from the east side of the river where there is some open space still. The second pic is looking from the current bridge at the location of the earlier bridge.
Name:Catoctin
Location:VA 7 - 1 mile west of VA 9
Existed:1941-1981
Notes: This would be on VA 7 Business today. Status is unknown. This wayside listing
was the source of a map error, because for a couple maps past 1941, VA 9 in the location description
was still being referred to as VA 238. Additionally, it is misspelled as Catoctic on the 1941-42 issue.
Name: Bluemont
Location: VA 7 - between Leesburg and Berryville
Existed: 1938-1956
Notes: With such a generic description, I have no idea what the status might be today.
Name: Berryville (per '49 Route Log...Unnamed on maps)
Location: VA 7 - between Winchester and Berryville
Existed: 1938-1951
Notes: With such a generic description, I have no idea what the status is today.
Name:Unnamed
Location: US 11 - 2 miles south of Harrisonburg
Existed: 1938-1942/44
Notes: Haven't been to this part of US 11 recently, cannot say if this has been absorbed
by Harrisonburg's suburban reach.
Name:Cedar Creek
Location:US 11 - 1 mile north of Strasburg
Existed: 1962-1984+
Notes: This is just north of the I-66 interchange in the median of US 11, and looks to
have been on both sides of Cedar Creek. No longer a posted wayside
but has a couple historical markers south of Cedar Creek.
Photos:Mapmikey (2/1/06)
Name: Sam Houston
Location: US 11 - 5 miles north of Lexington
Existed: 1938-present
Notes: This is just north of the I-64/81 interchange, wedged between US 11 and a
former Lee Hwy alignment. A big monument to Sam Houston (born here) is at this wayside.
Photos:Mapmikey (1/22/06)
Name: Roanoke River
Location: US 11, 460 - 6 miles south of Salem
Existed: 1951-present
Notes: This wayside is still open near Dixie Caverns. Right on the banks of the river, but
not much here.
Photos:Mapmikey (1/22/06)
Name:Montgomery
Location: US 11, 460 - 5 miles north of Christiansburg
Existed: 1951-present
Notes: This wayside is wedged between US 11-460 and SR 641, an older alignment of US
11 right at the top of the mountain climb.
Photos:Mapmikey (1/26/07)
Name:Unnamed
Location: US 11, 220 - near Cloverdale
Existed: 1938-1942/44
Notes: This would be just US 11 now. Unsure of where this was, as it is inside the
general Roanoke suburbia.
Name: Draper Mtn (later changed to Pulaski 1942/44)
Location: US 11 - 2 miles south of Pulaski
Existed: 1938-present
Notes: Still around, but I believe it is really not much more than a scenic overlook on
Draper Mountain, on both sides of US 11. Pictures of this wayside appeared on the reverse of several 1940's issues.
Photo:Chris E (May 2006); Mapmikey (3/14/08)
Name: Carter Memorial
Location: US 11 - 11 miles east of Wytheville
Existed: 1941-present
Notes: 11 miles east of Wytheville would place it on FR 44 near Grahams Forge. I have no
idea what the status is. Thanks to Karin, I now know the status:
It is actually on Rt 11, about 3/4 mile off of I-81. It is a large wayside that would be a park in most cities.
It has two big parking areas and a bold stream around three sides of the wayside. There is a picnic
pavillion and rest rooms, as well as many table scattered throughout the area. It is also lit for nighttime
use and does have some electricity available (outlets mounted on the light poles) The day we were there
it was fairly crowded.
I finally got to drive by here in July 2006. Carter Wayside is huge and is framed by an old
alignment of the Lee Hwy. When I passed by in March 2008, there was a closed sign in the median (temporary?)
Photo:Mapmikey (7/16/06; 3/14/08)
Name: Elizabeth River
Location: US 13 east of Norfolk (east branch)
Existed: 1950-1962
Notes: This would be near I-264. I believe there is a park or picnic area around this
location today, but haven't been there in several years to know for sure.
Name:Accomack
Location:US 13 - 4 miles north of Accomac CH (at VA 176 jct)
Existed: 1941-1984+
Notes: This looks like it was a real rest area by the time it closed. I couldn't find a good place to park to get a little closer...
Photos:Mapmikey (4/26/07)
Name:"Wayside"
Location:US 13 - 0.25 miles south of Tasley
Existed: 1949 for sure
Notes: This would be on US 13 Business today; listed in '49 Route Log only. In April 2007 I could not determine in the field where this was.
Name:Wellford-Taliaferro
Location:VA 14 - 2 miles east of Gloucester CH
Existed: 1951-present
Notes: Been a long time since I was on this part of VA 3-14, so status was uncertain. I
received an e-mail in March 2005 from Chris Petrone affirming this wayside is still up and running.
This may have been "Gloucester" Wayside initially. The '49 Route Log lists Gloucester Wayside on
VA 14 1.5 miles east of Gloucester CH.
Name:"Wayside"
Location:VA 14 - 4 miles east of US 17
Existed: 1949 for sure
Notes: Listed in '49 Route Log only.
Name:Cary's Creek
Location:US 15 - 1.5 miles north of Dixie
Existed: 1955-1984+
Notes: I drove by here several times. There is no discenible evidence of a wayside unless it was in the old US 15
alignment on the south side of the creek.
Photos:Mapmikey (4/23/08)
Name: Willis Mtn
Location: US 15 - 4.5 miles south of Sprouses Corner
Existed:1951-1955
Notes: Drove by this location in June 2003 but do not recall anything.
Name:John Douglas
Location: US 19, 58A - 10 miles north of Abingdon
Existed:1938-1984+
Notes: Nick Britton reports in December 2004 that this is still maintained as a wayside. Mapmikey made it by here in 2007. The wayside is only
accessible from the SB direction.
Photos:Mapmikey (8/18/07)
Name:Holiday Lake
Location: VA 24 - Appomattox-Buckingham County Line
Existed:1947-1949
Notes: This wayside is unique for being one of just three waysides turned into a state
park.
Name: Appomattox
Location: VA 24 - Appomattox Surrender Grounds
Existed:1938-present
Notes: This straddles both sides of VA 24, and was shown in pictures on the reverse of several
1940's issues.
Photos:Mapmikey (1/21/07)
Name:John Marshall
Location:VA 28 - 1 mile east of Midland
Existed:1970-1982/83
Notes: There may be a picnic table here still
Name:CW Kestner
Location:US 29 - 1 mile west of Culpeper
Existed:1968/69-1970; unknown date to present
Notes: This is on US 29 Business in front of the hospital in Culpeper in a wedge formed
by an older US 29 alignment. This is the only wayside I know of to not be listed on the 1983-84 map to
actually exist as a posted wayside (the sign until recently replaced was extremely old looking, so
possible omission error on the maps 1970 forward).
Photo:Mapmikey (11/10/05)
Name:Nelson
Location: US 29 - 7 miles north of Lovingston
Existed: 1962-1971/72; 1979-present
Notes: This is a very nice wayside located across from the US 29-VA 6-VA 6Y
intersection.
There is also a historical monument to Hurricane Camille, which is famous for destroying the
Mississippi coastline, but as the marker notes, did tremendous damage to this part of Virginia.
Ironically, the marker was erected the same year Hurricane Agnes came through and repeated the feat.
Photos:Mapmikey (11/10/05)
Name: Pittsylvania
Location: US 29 - 2 miles south of Alta Vista
Existed: 1938-1984+
Notes: This is now US 29 Business. Still up and running. The rusty farm equipment and
rusty trestle are across the highway from the wayside.
Photo:Mapmikey (7/22/06)
Name: Campbell (changed to JH Phillips 1973)(chaged to "wayside" 1974)
Location: US 29 - 5 miles south of Lynchburg
Existed:1968/69-1984+
Notes: This is still a labeled wayside ("Phillips") a little south of Lynchburg's suburban
reach.
Photo:Mapmikey (7/22/06)
Name: Madison
Location: US 29 - 1 mile south Culpeper County Line
Existed: 1970-1982/83
Notes: Driven by here a lot and didn't know there was once a wayside. Will have to pay
more attention next time.
Name: "Wayside"
Location: US 29 - near Faulconerville in Amherst County
Existed: at least 1949
Notes:Appears only in the '49 Route Log. This would be on US 29 Business today.
Name: Spotswood
Location: US 33 - 7 miles east of Elkton
Existed: 1941-1961
Notes: This would be very close to Skyline Drive, and I believe there is a pulloff with a
picnic table in that vicinity.
Photos:Mapmikey (1/17/07)
Name: Ground Squirrel
Location: US 33 - 5 miles south of Montpelier
Existed: 1941-1968/69
Notes: This is on the south side of the S. Anna River at the boat launch.
Photos:Mapmikey (4/23/08)
Name: Goshen Pass
Location: VA 39 - 16 miles west of Lexington
Existed: 1941-1984+
Notes: This may be the picture on the back cover of the 1947-49 Official Maps. I hadn't
been through here in 10 years, so I don't know its status. Fortunately, A. Smith does: It still exists, and is
actually a rather nice place. Although parking is very limited to just the side of the road in this area,
there is plenty to offer. The location has restrooms, picnic tables, and charcoal grills. The river right
there also offers an excellent swimming hole. Whenever you go by there in the summer, it is usually has
a bunch of cars parked there. i finally got through here in May 2006 and took a few photos.
Photos:Mapmikey (5/27/06)
Name: Bland
Location: VA 42 - 2.5 miles east of Mechanicsburg
Existed: 1951-1962
Notes: Never driven this part of VA 42.
Name:Thoroughfare
Location: VA 55 - 4 miles east of The Plains
Existed: 1952-1954/55
Notes: There might still be a pulloff here, however, I-66 could be built over where this
was.
Name: Lovers Leap
Location: US 58 - west of Stuart
Existed: 1938-present
Notes: Lovers Leap is a series of scenic overlooks. Unfortunately the sun angle was bad
when I drove by and could not get a panorama pic.
Photo:Mapmikey (7/16/06)
Name: Toe Ink
Location: US 60 - 13 miles east of Richmond
Existed: 1951-present
Notes: This wayside is wedged between the expanded median of US 60.
Photos:Mapmikey (3/17/07)
Name: Mariners Museum
Location: US 60 - Mariners Museum
Existed: 1938-1953
Notes: This is well within Newport News suburbia. The museum probably still has this
area as picnic area, but I don't know for absolute sure.
Name: Robert E Lee
Location: US 60 - 2 miles east of Buckingham
Existed: 1942/44-present
Notes: This wayside is still running, near US 15 jct. It is wedged between US 60 and SR
690 (which used to be US 60)
The main sign was missing in Jan 2006, but the wayside was still announced 3 miles away on US 60 EB. The '49 Route
Log calls this Buckingham Wayside.
Photos:Mapmikey (1/21/06; 1/21/07)
Name: Amherst
Location: US 60 - 6 miles east of Amherst
Existed: 1938-present
Notes: This small wayside is still open on a not-well traveled part of US 60. It is
elongated and stretches out on both sides of US 60.
The gravel road that zig-zags back and forth could be a former VA 13 or VA 322 alignment but I do not
know.
Photos:Mapmikey (1/26/06)
Name: Ben Salem
Location: US 60 - 1 mile west Buena Vista
Existed: 1961-1984+
Notes:Dan F reported in April 2004 this is a fully posted wayside still in use.
I got by here in January 2006. This is fairly big and has restrooms and several picnic tables.
Photos:Mapmikey (1/26/06)
Name: Long Mtn
Location: US 60 - 18 miles west of Amherst
Existed: 1938-1984+
Notes: This wayside is fairly small and located in Oronoco. Not much left but a picnic
table.
Photos:Mapmikey (1/26/06)
Name: Blue Ridge
Location: US 60 - 21 west of Amherst
Existed: 1938-1961
Notes: This is less than a half mile east of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
This is no longer a posted wqayside. The only thing here is two historical markers and some nice trees.
Photos:Mapmikey (1/26/06)
Name: Humpback Bridge
Location: US 60 - 3 miles west of Covington
Existed: 1955-present
Notes: This wayside is centered around the Humpback Covered
Bridge, pictured on the cover of the 1955 Official Map. I-64 runs very close behind this wayside near VA
159. Accessed via SR 600.
Photos:Mapmikey (1/26/07)
Name: Bear Creek Lake
Location: US 60 - west of Cumberland Courthouse
Existed: 1945/47-1950
Notes: D. McGrann wrote that this is now Bear Creek State Park, which was created in
1962.
Name: Fries
Location: VA 94 - near Fries
Existed: 1951-1961
Notes: I located this in July 2006 on my first drive up VA 94. No longer a posted
wayside, but still maintained as a roadside stop overlooking the New River just south of the town of
Fries.
Photo:Mapmikey (7/16/06)
Name: Dublin
Location: VA 100 - 5 miles north of Dublin
Existed: 1951-1975/77
Notes: Never been on this part of VA 100.
Name: Cleburne
Location: VA 100 - 3 miles north of Dublin
Existed: 1975/77-1984+
Notes: Chris E reports:
Still exists. Not much to it. parking for perhaps six cars; two lone,
unsheltered picnic tables; no trees. Close to roadway; surrounded by
fields, mostly corn fields. State Historical marker "Battle of Cloyd's
Mountain" - where General Jenkins was "repulsed".
This is right across from access to the Dublin Airport.
Photos:Mapmikey (3/14/08)
Name: Farley Memorial
Location: VA 100 - 4 miles south of Pearisburg
Existed: 1951-1984+
Notes: Still a working wayside on the banks of Sugar Run
Photos:Mapmikey (3/14/08)
Name: Emanuel's Hollow
Location: US 219 - near Rich Creek
Existed: 1938-1951
Notes: This was probably on today's US 460, but I haven't been by here in a while to give
status.
Name: Blackwater River
Location: US 220 - 3.5 miles north of Rocky Mount
Existed: 1971/72-1984+
Notes: This may have been an early alignment of US 220 or the secondary road that preceded it.
Photos:Mapmikey (4/13/07)
Name: Ridgeway
Location: US 220 - 3 miles south of Ridgeway
Existed: 1970-1984+
Notes: This has to be right at the North Carolina State Line. I haven't been there since
1996, so the status is unknown.
Name: Afton
Location: US 250 - Afton
Existed: 1951-present
Notes: This is still around, as basically a scenic overlook southward just east of the Blue
Ridge Parkway. Across the street (and 40 feet up) is one of the I-64 EB Scenic Overlooks.
Photo:Mapmikey (11/10/05, 5/27/06, 10/14/06)
Name: Dahlgren
Location: US 301 at Potomac River
Existed: 1951-present
Notes: This wayside is still here, and it now house a Virginia Welcome Center. This
wayside has a small beach directly on the Potomac River.
Photos:Mapmikey (2/16/07)
Name: Potts Mtn
Location: VA 311 - 12 miles north of New Castle
Existed: 1938-present
Notes: This is a scenic overlook looking westward, with a hairpin double driveway off VA 311. I wouldn't recommend heading in here right after an ice storm like I did...looked like a big drop over the edge.
Photo: Mapmikey, 1/26/07
Name: Peters Mtn
Location: VA 311 - WV State Line
Existed: 1938-1942/44; 1951-1975/77
Notes: I swear I saw a sign for this when I drove 311 north to 18 in 2001, which if true,
makes this the only three-time open wayside. HB Elkins sent the second photo confirming the posting. It is not specifically labeled as a wayside at its location, which is essentially a pull-off at the state line.
Photos: Mapmikey, 1/26/07; HB Elkins, June 27, 2007
Name: Potoma
Location: US 340 - at Potomac River
Existed: 1951-1984+
Notes: There is no designated wayside anymore, but much of US 340 along here has
pullovers for canoeists.
Name: Goodwyn Lake
Location: US 360 - south of Burkeville
Existed: 1945/47-1950
Notes: I believe this combined with Prince Edward Lake wayside to become Twin Lakes
State Park. From the west side, the state park is easier to get to. The road leading to the lake channels
through some serious kudzu.
Photo: Mapmikey, 7/22/06
Name: Prince Edward Lake
Location: US 360 - south of Burkeville
Existed: 1945/47-1950
Notes: This is the only wayside that was listed as "for negroes." This implies the
waysides were once a whites-only affair. I believe this with Goodwyn Lake wayside combined to become
Twin Lakes State Park. The historical marker is directly on US 360 while the wayside/state park is a
couple miles north.
Photo: Mapmikey, 7/15/06
Name: Chesterfield
Location: US 360 - west of today's Woodlake
Existed: 1976
Notes: D. McGrann wrote about this one, which I have not found on any VDOT map, but
he remembers as being in the median of US 360. I found this one in July 2006 west of Skinquarter, quite
abndoned.
Photo: Mapmikey, 7/15/06
Name: Sandy River
Location: US 460 - 2.75 miles east of Farmville
Existed: 1974-1984+
Notes: I believe I located this one. It is on US 460 Business east of Farmville near the bypass. No longer a wayside, it appears a mobile home lot was on the property more recently.
Photo: Mapmikey, 11/10/07
Name: Lynchburg
Location: US 460 West corporate limit of Lynchburg
Existed: 1938-1962
Notes: This is now US 221, and the Lynchburg city limits back then was around
Lynchburg College. Status unknown.
Name: Oxford Furnace
Location: US 460 - 5 miles east of Lynchburg
Existed: 1941-1984+
Notes: I do not recall anything specific in this location.
Name: Montvale
Location: US 460 - 1 mile west of Montvale
Existed: 1970-1982/83
Notes: This would be very near the Blue Ridge Pkwy. There may be a picnic table here
now, but my memory is fuzzy.
Name: Evergreen
Location: US 460 - 4 miles east of Appomattox
Existed: 1970-1984+
Notes: I believe this is now the truck inspection area at very near the jct with SR 630 (old VA 132).
Photos: Mapmikey, 11/10/07
Name: Grassy Creek
Location: US 460 - 1.5 miles west of Tazewell County Line
Existed: 1971/72-1984+
Notes: I have never been on this part of US 460.
Name: Rich Creek
Location: US 460 at Rich Creek
Existed: 1975/77-1984+
Notes: This could be a resurrection of the US 219 Wayside from the 50's, but I have no
idea.
Name: "Wayside"
Location: US 460 souh of Blacksburg
Existed: At least 1949
Notes: Appears only in the '49 Route Log. This would be on US 460 Business today.
Name: Toots Creek
Location: US 501 at Toots Creek, Halifax
Existed: unknown
Notes: Appears only in May 1956 CTB Minutes
Photos: Mapmikey, 9/23/06
Name: Cyrus McCormick
Location: SR 606 near Steeles Tavern
Existed: not on VDOT maps
Notes: This is a signed wayside, owned by Virginia Tech University. This is wedged
between SR 606 and an old alignment of SR 606 (SR 9xx). It was very picturesque. The second picture
shows its posting on US 11 near VA 56.
Page last modified 24 April, 2008
