Is Gloucester, Virginia Worth Visiting?

Last Updated on August 27, 2026 by Fadra Nally

This trip was hosted by Visit Gloucester Virginia, a county covering Main Street in Gloucester Village, Gloucester Point, Hayes, and other destinations.

Virginia is such a large state that chances are pretty good that you, like me, might never have heard of Gloucester, Virginia. And that’s exactly why I decided to take a trip there.

I was attending a travel conference in Richmond, Virginia, and had the opportunity to explore some of the nearby regions for a two or three night “excursion,” if you will. Visit Gloucester was hosting an “Oysters and Old Virginia” two night tour and since small towns are my jam, I thought it would be a great fit.

Turns out it was.

Here’s my guide to the best things to do in Gloucester, Virginia, including historic sites, local shopping, oyster experiences, restaurants, and two very different places to stay.

Now I’m not much of an oyster eater or a historian, but after a weekend in Gloucester, I discovered that I’m interested in both. Whether you’re planning a one day road trip or a weekend getaway, I’ve got you covered

Where is Gloucester, Virginia?

Situated on a peninsula of sorts between the York River and Mobjack Bay, Gloucester County is a coastal area in one of the most eastern parts of state, before you reach the Chesapeake Bay.

It’s a roughly one hour and 10 minutes east of Richmond. From Washington, DC, you can get there in under three hours, making it an easy weekend escape.

Gloucester is also just across the York River from Yorktown, about 45 minutes from Williamsburg, and a little over an hour from the Virginia Beach area. It’s close to many of the places people visit in southeastern Virginia, but with a small town atmosphere away from the crowds.

What to Do in Gloucester

What you can do in Gloucester really depends on the time of year you travel. If flowers and springtime are your thing, you’ll definitely want to visit one of the county’s largest events, the Gloucester Daffodil Festival, held every year in early April.

But throughout the year, you’ll find other events in Gloucester like Gloucester Day, the Gloucester Farmers Market, and the Gloucester Wine Festival.

Even without a special event on the calendar, Gloucester offers plenty to explore through history, food, shopping, and life on the water.

Start with Gloucester’s History on Main Street

I recommend beginning your visit on Main Street, the hub of Gloucester’s historic downtown. A stop at the Gloucester Museum of History will give you a foundation for much of what you’ll see in the surrounding area.

The museum building was constructed in 1770 and once served as both a tavern and an inn. That history makes even more sense when you head outside and explore the nearby Gloucester Historic Court Circle, a walkable collection of buildings that includes the courthouse and former jail and is now also home to Gloucester County Tourism.

It’s a great place to stop for information – and to pick up a Gloucester souvenir!

As you learn more about local history, you’ll also discover some of Gloucester’s best-known residents, most notably T.C. Walker. Born enslaved, he eventually became Gloucester’s first Black lawyer and a champion of civil rights.

Whether you’re interested in T.C. Walker, Pocahontas, or some of Gloucester’s most prominent women, you’ll discover much of the county’s history through the murals scattered along Main Street.

Browse Main Street and Bring Home Something Local

While you’re on Main Street, it would be a shame not to take advantage of the ample shopping opportunities!

Some of my favorite places for browsing included York & Main, a little-bit-of-everything shop featuring vintage clothing, art, and home goods, and Ware Neck Produce, a true market for local goods right in the middle of town.

While it’s not an actual shop, it’s worth walking down Main Street to see the Center for Archaeology, Preservation and Education (CAPE). It occupies a beautifully restored Texaco station with plenty of art displayed around the grounds.

Get Out on the Water – or Simply Watch the Sunset

Gloucester is a water town with a long history of strategic waterways used for defense. More recently, it has become a destination for fishermen and oyster farmers.

The county is surrounded primarily by Mobjack Bay and the York River, although you’ll want to travel farther south in Virginia if you’re looking for wide, sandy beaches.

In Gloucester, you can kayak at places such as Beaverdam Park or launch your own boat from landings throughout the county. There’s even a small beach along the York River at Gloucester Point Beach Park.

But my favorite water activity was simply watching the sunset over the wetlands.

Go Behind the Scenes of Gloucester’s Oyster Industry

During my stay in Gloucester, I got a behind-the-scenes look at the area’s oyster farming industry.

Gloucester Point is home to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, or VIMS, part of William & Mary. Researchers there are doing incredible work to help ensure that oysters can be farmed sustainably year-round.

After our visit to VIMS, we took a firsthand tour with Matheson Oyster Co. in nearby Hayes. This woman-owned company took us out on the water to see its entire oyster farming operation and even let us sample some of the freshest oysters imaginable.

While these were special experiences arranged for our group, visitors can stop by the VIMS Visitors Center, which is currently under renovation, and participate in educational or public programs.

You can also take a drive out to Browns Bay Road, which dead-ends at Matheson Oyster Farm – hopefully open to the public in the future – and enjoy the scenery filled with oyster farms and fiddler crabs.

Where to Eat in Gloucester, Virginia

If you love oysters, Gloucester is the place to be. There’s a booming oyster farming industry but even if oysters aren’t your thing, you’ll still find plenty of variety at the places I visited in Gloucester.

Sweet Tooth Café and Bakery was our first stop in town, and it’s easy to see why it’s a favorite among locals.

The moment you enter the historic building, you’re greeted with plenty of reasons to save room for dessert, including the Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding.

I regret to inform you that I did not save room.

I was too busy eating the Mac-Daddy, a signature sandwich featuring beef brisket seasoned and slow-cooked for 12 hours, house barbecue sauce, truffle mac and cheese, crispy onion straws, smoked Gouda pimento cheese, all piled onto a house-made warm pretzel bun.

How could I say no?

I’m glad I didn’t.

But I did save room for dinner at Bangkok Noi Thai restaurant. This might not be the type of cuisine you expect to find in small-town Virginia, but the restaurant had all my favorites, including Pad See Ew, fried tofu, and a lovely bottle of sake – for sharing, of course.

Between lunch and dinner, after exhausting my shopping budget, I popped into Gloucester Brewing Company for a tasting flight of locally brewed beers. Believe me when I tell you there is a beer (or custom flavored hard seltzer) for everyone.

And that was just on Main Street.

We also ventured out for my favorite breakfast – donuts! At Dough Haus, I carried on the tradition of getting my two standbys: lemon-filled and glazed. Neither disappointed – in fact the lemon-filled was one of my favorites!

But if you really want some down home cooking, go where the locals go. At Scoot’s BBQ, they could not have been more generous giving us samples of the brisket, smoked turkey, fried chicken, and my non-meat favorites – cornbread and macaroni & cheese.

Where to Stay: Rustic Cabins or Historic Luxury

After all the eating and drinking in town, you’ll be ready to get cozy and watch the sunset.

Where you stay depends entirely on the type of traveler you are. And for this trip, I got to experience two completely different ends of the lodging spectrum.

Camp Cardinal RV Resort: Family-Friendly Glamping

If you’re a casual traveler, a camper, or someone who likes to stay at a family friendly property immersed in nature, you’ll want to check out Camp Cardinal RV Resort, a former Jellystone park.

Now under new ownership, the property has RV hookups, waterside tent sites, or cabins for those who prefer glamping (like me!).

Although the cabin accommodations are rustic, I had all the creature comforts I needed: a bed, air conditioning, and indoor plumbing!

But the real reason to stay – besides the pool, playground, game room, Bark Park, fishing pier, ice cream shop, boat rentals, and more – is the beautiful view of the wetlands, especially after a storm.

Inn at Warner Hall: Historic Elegance.

If camping – or even glamping – isn’t your thing, head to the historic Inn at Warner Hall.

The property dates back to 1642, while the current inn, rebuilt after several fires, offers an elegant colonial atmosphere. With connections to George Washington, Robert E. Lee, and even Queen Elizabeth II, you’ll feel history oozing from every finely decorated room and suite.

When you’re not relaxing in your well-appointed room, you can walk the grounds, head out to the pier and perhaps take a paddle, visit the historic cemetery, or relax in the newly opened Tavern 1642.

For something more formal, make reservations for a fine-dining experience at Austin’s.

So, Is Gloucester, Virginia Worth Visiting?

Yes! Especially if you enjoy small towns, waterfront scenery, local history, independent businesses, and destinations that haven’t been overrun by tourists.

Gloucester isn’t the kind of place where you race from one major attraction to another. It’s better experienced slowly: walking Main Street, talking with local business owners, learning how oysters are grown, and ending the day with a sunset over the wetlands.

On a day trip, you could explore Main Street, visit Gloucester Point, and enjoy a memorable meal. A full weekend gives you time to get out on the water, venture farther into the county, and experience one of Gloucester’s distinctive places to stay.

Gloucester may not have the name recognition of Williamsburg or Virginia Beach, but that’s exactly what makes it worth discovering.