Damascus (Virginia)

Understand

Damascus is a popular pit stop for hikers on the Appalachian Trail. The downtown is quite picturesque, with homes and churches that date from its heyday as a stop on the Norfolk & Western Railway's spur line that ran from Abingdon VA to West Jefferson NC until the mid-1970s. The former rail bed through the town has been converted into a walking and biking path called the Virginia Creeper Trail.

Get in

Damascus is on US 58, roughly a 20-minute drive from Interstate 81 and Abingdon.

On the eastern side of town, drivers have the option of staying on US 58 into Grayson County VA or turning south into Johnson County TN. US 58 becomes extremely curvy outside of Damascus heading east, with signs advising truck drivers to take an alternate route.

The road into Tennessee (TN 91) has some relatively gentle curves along the Big Laurel Creek and then straightens out as it goes through Laurel Bloomery TN into Mountain City.

The closest commercial airport is Tri-Cities Regional Airport near Blountville TN, between Johnson City TN and Bristol VA.

Do

  • Virginia Creeper Trail. The Virginia Creeper Trail was originally a railroad track, but has been converted to a hiking and biking trail. Damascus is in-between the two end-points - Abingdon and White Mountain. The White Mountain to Damascus 17 mile segment is almost uniformly descending from White Mountain. In Damascus, you can rent bikes and get a ride (with the bikes towed) to White Mountain, and from there its an easy downhill bike ride which can last 2 - 3 hours or more, depending on how leisurely you proceed. The Abingdon to Damascus 17 mile segment descends from Abingdon to Alvarado, and from there there is a small gain in elevation to Damascus. The Abingdon to Alvarado segment is purported to be the most scenic segment in the entire trail.

Sleep

The nearest major chain hotels are located about a 20-minute drive west on US 58, at the Abingdon/Damascus exit on Interstate 81.

Bed & Breakfasts

Campgrounds

Inns

Go next

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