Quick Planning Guide

Location: Natural Bridge State Park, just off US-11 in Rockbridge County, VA

Hours: Open daily from 8:00 AM to dusk (last entry to the trail is 30 minutes before park closes)

Admission: $9 for adults, $6 for children (ages 6–12), free for kids under 5 (as of 2024)

Parking: Large lot next to the visitor center—parking is free with admission

Main Trail: Cedar Creek Trail (flat and scenic, about 1 mile one-way to the bridge)

Restrooms & Picnic Area: Available near the visitor center and along the trail

Accessibility: Shuttle available to the bridge overlook if needed (ask at Visitor Center)

Dog-Friendly? Yes—pets are welcome on leash throughout the park

Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon for the best light and fewer crowds—fall is especially stunning

Nearby Attractions: Lace Falls, Skyline Trail overlook, Natural Bridge Caverns, and the Natural Bridge Zoo

What is Natural Bridge?

Natural Bridge is more than a breathtaking geological wonder; it's also a Virginia State Park. Located in Rockbridge County, Virginia, the park and surrounding community has long welcomed visitors heading through the Shenandoah Valley and along what’s now the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor.

Cedar Creek carved natural Bridge over 500,000+ years stands 215 feet high and spans 90 feet, creating a massive stone arch that is beyond majestic. You just can't appreciate how big this historic natural structure really is without seeing it in person.  

Just beyond the state park, the community of Natural Bridge keeps its historic feel, with stone buildings, old inns, and a quiet, rural pace that reflects its 19th-century roots. While very small, the area is rich in history and surrounded by rolling hills and beautiful farmland.

The nearby hotel, once called the Natural Bridge Hotel, dates back to the early 1900s and still welcomes visitors today with mountain views and classic Southern charm.

Where is Natural Bridge?

Natural Bridge is located in Rockbridge County, in the western part of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. It sits just off US Route 11, about 15 miles south of Lexington, VA, and only a short drive from I-81 and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

We usually take I-81 and exit onto Route 130 (Natural Bridge exit), which weaves it's way through the Virginia mountains and delivers beautiful mountain scenery right before you arrive. The entrance to Natural Bridge State Park is clearly marked, with a large visitor center and plenty of parking available.

If you're travelling the Virginia section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Natural Bridge makes a great stop—it's only about 15 minutes from the Parkway exit at US-130 (MP 61.4), near the James River crossing.

What to Do at Natural Bridge

There’s more to Natural Bridge than just the bridge itself—though that alone is worth the trip.

The area offers a mix of scenic hikes, underground caverns, unique roadside attractions, and a solid gift shop that’s great for picking up a few keepsakes. 

Here are just some of the things to do when visiting Natural Bridge.

Walk to the Natural Bridge

After parking and checking in at the visitor's center, you’ll head down a short trail that begins at the entry way above.  The trail is short,but has 137 steps. You'll need to descend (there’s a shuttle available if needed) to reach Cedar Creek and the bridge area itself.

At the bottom of the stairs, you'll find a really beautiful water feature that is a small moss covered waterfall.

At the bottom of the stairs, you'll find the ticket area and main entrance. To visit Natural Bridge State Park, there's a per-person admission fee, which as of 2025 is:

• Adults (ages 13 and up): $9
• Children (ages 3–12): $6
• Children under 3: Free

After purchasing your admission ticket, you'll pass through a small plaza area with a gift shop, some picnic tables, and public restrooms. From here, you’ll catch your first glimpse of the Natural Bridge off in the distance—and the trail that takes you right to it.

Rounding the bend and seeing that massive stone arch rise through the trees early in the morning is one of those moments that sticks with you. 

We paused there for a good while, just soaking it all in—the soft rush of Cedar Creek, the crisp fall air, and the sunlight filtering through that towering rock span.

We also took a ton of photos, both from this vantage point, and after walking through Natural Bridge and looking back.

Hike the Trail to Lace Falls

After spending time at the bridge and enjoying the beauty of it, surrounded by morning light, we continued past the bridge and on up the trail that follows Cedar Creek. The visitors center told us that there was a nice waterfall at the end, called Lace Falls.

The trail to the falls is mostly flat and shaded, making for a relaxing stroll. The first area of interest is a creek crossing. We explored around the creek and taking some photos. A concrete bridge crosses the creek.

On up the trail, you'll come to a small side trail to the left that takes you to an old cave that was a Civil War saltpeter mine. Saltpeter is used to create gunpowder. You can't really go far into the cave, but it is interesting.

The trail really gives you a chance to enjoy the peaceful side of the park beyond the main attraction.

After about a mile, you'll reach the end of the trail, and the viewing area for the 30-foot Lace Falls. The waterfall is a good distance from the viewing area, and if you want to take photos, we suggest a zoom lens.

Lace Falls is located at the back of a small gorge like area. While the waterfall isn't super gorgeous, it makes for a nice walk.

You return the way you came.

Explore More of the Park’s Hiking Trails

While the walk along Cedar Creek to the Natural Bridge and Lace Falls is the most popular route, there’s far more hiking to enjoy in the surrounding park. Natural Bridge State Park offers about 10 miles of trails total, and if you’re up for a bit more adventure, it’s worth checking out the higher-elevation trails just a short drive from the Visitor Center.

Blue Ridge Trail

If you're in the mood for a moderate challenge, the Blue Ridge Trail is a solid pick. This 4-mile loop climbs through the woods and rewards you with sweeping views from Red Knob Overlook—a quiet, scenic spot that feels far removed from the crowds below. It’s a great way to stretch your legs and take in some mountain scenery.

The Skyline Trail

Another standout is the Skyline Trail, a 1.3-mile out-and-back route with a steady incline and a big payoff at Jefferson Point. The view here is wide open and panoramic, especially striking in the fall when the Blue Ridge Mountains are glowing with reds, oranges, and golds. 

Fall Colors and Visiting in October

We visited in mid-October, and the fall color was incredible. The hillsides around Natural Bridge were glowing with shades of gold, orange, and deep red. Temperatures were crisp, the skies were clear, and the park wasn’t overly crowded.

October is hands-down one of the best times to visit—not only for the colors, but for the peaceful vibe that comes with the season. Not to mention the cooler temperatures.

Where to Stay?

Our visit to Natural Bridge was part of a larger trip along the Virginia sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway. For more options on places to stay and eat, we stayed in Roanoke, Virginia, which is about 40 minutes from Natural Bridge.

Roanoke has several great options, including hotels, vacation rentals, inns, and airbnbs. We stayed at the Country Inn & Suites right off I-81. It was an affordable and nice hotel in a safe area.

As mentioned earlier, there is also a historic hotel at Natural Bridge that is a great option as well. The only downside is you will be further away from more dining options, shopping, and other city conveniences.

Our Tips for Visiting

To help you make the most of your visit to Natural Bridge, here are a few helpful tips we picked up during our visit:  

• Wear good shoes if you plan to walk to Lace Falls—the trail is easy but a bit rocky in places.
• Bring a water bottle and your camera—the views are photo-worthy throughout.
• If you visit in the fall, dress in layers. Mornings were chilly, but it warmed up quickly.
• Visit in the morning or late afternoon for fewer crowds. Midday is the busiest, especially on weekends. We went in the morning and had much of the trail to ourselves.
• Check seasonal hours and closures. The park is open year-round, but hours for the Visitor Center, caverns, and shuttle vary by season. It's a good idea to check the official website before you go.

What really sealed the deal for us was when we pulled in behind a 1960s Ford Galaxy squad car sitting at a stoplight. We literally expected Barney to jump out of the car, all in a frenzy about something, and tell us to "nip it!"

While Mount Airy certainly embraces its roots and fame as the real life Mayberry, we were on a quest to go a little deeper. We wanted to discover if Mount Airy was more than just Mayberry. We wanted to explore all the other wonderful things this town and Surry County offered beyond Mayberry.

We weren't disappointed. Mount Airy nails Mayberry, but also offers Sonker, Ground Steak (a distant cousin to the hamburger), art, music, vineyards, parks, moonshine ice cream, and an incredibly interesting history about the original Siamese Twins.

Join us as we explore Mount Airy NC - Mayberry and more.

Our Video

Here is the YouTube video for our visit to Mount Airy in June 2024 - We had SO much fun in this amazing small town and learned that Mount Airy, NC, is far more than just Mayberry.

Where is Mount Airy NC?

Mount Airy, North Carolina is located in Surry County in the northern part of North Carolina just inside the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and next to Interstate 77 (I-77). Mount Airy is about 40 miles northwest of Winston-Salem, and about 2 hours from Charlotte.

Mount Airy, NC, is located in Surry County in the northern part of North Carolina, near the Virginia border. It is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, approximately 40 miles northwest of Winston-Salem. Known as the hometown of actor Andy Griffith, Mount Airy is often associated with the fictional town of Mayberry from "The Andy Griffith Show."

Its charming downtown area, scenic surroundings, and rich history make it a popular destination for visitors exploring the Blue Ridge region. It's also home to Pilot Mountain, which many are familiar with.

Is Mount Airy Mayberry?

While Mount Airy definitely embraces its Mayberry heritage from the popular Andy Griffith TV Show, Mount Airy is not Mayberry. Mayberry was a fictitious town created especially for the TV show and was based on Mount Airy where Andy Griffith was born and raised.

Mayberry was a Hollywood set at Desilu Studios. The set was unfortunately demolished many years ago. Although many of the artifacts from the set were saved and can be seen at the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy.

Sherriff Andy Taylor, and other characters from the Andy Griffith show often mention Mount Airy as the nearest "big city" to Mayberry. Because of this and it being Andy's hometown, Mount Airy calls itself the "real life Mayberry", and downtown Mount Airy is themed around the Andy Griffith Show. 

You'll find shops like Opie's Candy Store, Wally's Service Stations, Barney's Cafe, and Floyd's Barbershop. You can even take a tour of Mount Airy in a replica 1960s Mayberry squad car.

Our Mount Airy NC Guides

During our visit to Mount Airy NC in the summer of 2024, we experienced many of the great things to see and do, including restaurants, vineyards, and more! You can learn more about Mount Airy and our visit by diving into our Mount Airy guides!

Where to stay

There are several options for where to stay when visiting Mount Airy, including hotels, inns, bed & breakfasts, Airbnbs and cabin rentals.

During our visit to Mount Airy in 2024, we stayed in an old historic home near downtown that was an Airbnb. The home was split, so the upstairs is one Airbnb and the downstairs, where we stayed in, was another.

Learn more about Mount Airy Hotels and get discounted rates at Booking.com

Things to do

There are plenty of things to in Mount Airy, North Carolina, including lots of downtown shops and attractions that are themed to the Andy Griffith Show. But Mount Airy offers so much more than just Mayberry to see and do when visiting, including: Vineyards, shops, public parks, museums, art, music, and even a ghost tour!

Learn more about things to see and do in Mount Airy NC in our Things to do in Mount Airy NC guide and our downtown Mount Airy Guide

Where to eat

Like many Blue Ridge Mountain small towns, Mount Airy is full of locally owned restaurants where you can find delicious and unique foods to enjoy. For example, Ground Steak is a Surry County original and enjoyed by many. So much so that there is a Ground Steak Trail with lots of different restaurants.

Sonker is also another Surry County original. Sonker is a lot like a cobbler, but a little different and absolutely delicious. There is also a Sonker Trail you can follow to try out the different Surry County sonker recipes.

You can learn more about our favorite restaurants from our visit in our Mount Airy NC Restaurants guide.