We didn't plan to fall for Danville. We drove up to this small town on the Dan River just over the border not really knowing what to expect. What we found was a layered little city with a tobacco-and-textile past, a civil rights story most people in Raleigh have never heard, a river trail that locals quietly love, and a downtown that has been quietly reinventing itself for the last decade. (Hint: it’s only going to get better.)

And the people. They made us feel like we were part of the community. We left with the names and phone numbers of a few locals I think we could possibly call friends.

If you're in Raleigh, Danville is closer than you think. Ninety minutes up Highway 86 and you're in a completely different state, in every sense of the word. We've been writing a lot of 36-hour itineraries, but this one is different. People go to Danville for all kinds of reasons. The casino. A race weekend at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). A wedding. A history kick. So instead of a tight schedule, this is a highlight reel. Pick the parts that match your trip.

We visited the Danville region for three nights in partnership with Visit Sosi, the tourism organization for Danville Pittsylvania County. This Danville guide is written based on our personal experiences! Fun fact to know: Danville was named the fastest-growing tourism destination in the commonwealth by the Virginia Tourism Corporation in 2024!

Good to know

  • Drive time from Raleigh: About 90 minutes (roughly 95 miles). Take 540 to Highway 86 North and stay on it through Hillsborough and across the Virginia line into Danville.  There are no major traffic snarls unless something's happening at VIR, in which case Route 58 backs up coming into town on event mornings.
  • Best time to visit: Spring and fall for the river trail and outdoor patios. Summer for race weekends at VIR. Any time for the casino and the museums.
  • Who it suits: Couples on a quick getaway, casino crowds, race fans, history buffs, families with curious kids.
  • Vibe in one line: Small Southern city in the middle of an interesting rebuild, with a casino bolted onto the side.

Where to stay in Danville

We stayed at one place and would recommend two others depending on what kind of trip you're after.

The Laurel Hotel

  • Address: 1100 W Main St area (on the old textile mill site adjacent to Caesars), Danville, VA 24541
  • Website: The Laurel Inn

The Laurel Hotel was our Danville accommodation and we loved it. The Laurel is only a couple of months old, tucked into one of the old textile mill buildings that used to sit on the same property where Caesars Virginia Resort now stands. From the inn, you're a 5-minute walk to the casino. At night, your view is the lit-up palace plus the three preserved smokestacks from the original mill, which have become their own little Danville landmark and a photo opportunity worth a couple of minutes after dark.

We were in a loft suite, which felt more like a small apartment than a hotel room. The bedroom, a workspace, TV and a closet sit upstairs in the loft. Downstairs, a comfortable sitting area, TV, and a Nespresso machine. Classy and sophisticated in the design, not generic-hotel beige. One thing to know: the air conditioning takes a minute to figure out, and the loft level runs warm if you don't get the controls right. We sorted it by night two.

Good to know: Walking distance to Caesars, beautiful at night with the smokestacks lit, suites that feel like a home, a modern and fresh local boutique feel.

Other Danville Hotel options

  • Caesars Virginia If you want to stay where the action is and never leave the property, the 500-room hotel inside Caesars makes the most sense. You're a few elevator rides from the casino floor, Ramsay's Kitchen, the spa, and the rest of the dining lineup. Best for casino-focused trips or a celebration weekend.
  • The Bee Hotel Downtown Danville (River District) A small boutique hotel inside the old Danville Register & Bee newspaper building, right in the River District. Walking distance to the shops, restaurants, the river trail, and the museums. The best pick if your trip is more about downtown and less about the casino. It has a rooftop terrace overlooking the River District, which is worth a sunset drink, or morning coffee, if it's open during your stay.

The big draw: Caesars Virginia Resort

Caesars Virginia Resort is the reason a lot of Raleigh people are putting Danville on the map for the first time. It opened recently as a full hotel-and-casino property, and it pulls in visitors from across the region. If you're heading up for the casino, here are the experiences worth carving out time for outside of the gaming floor. If you are not visiting the Casino, we recommend adding it to your itinerary in the following ways…

The cocktail class at Ramsay's Kitchen

  • Address: Inside Caesars Virginia, 1100 W Main St, Danville, VA 24541
  • Website: Ramsay's Kitchen

We have avoided Ramsay's Kitchen on past travels because we assumed it would feel chain-like. We were wrong. There are only 8 Ramsay's Kitchen locations in the USA, and Danville's is the closest one to Raleigh. The food is excellent, the service is sharp, and the cocktail class is one of the most fun things we did the entire trip.

The class is more about learning the art of making a good cocktail rather than creating them. But you can lend a cocktail-stirring hand to help. Cocktails are paired with a signature dish from the kitchen. We started with Mum's Refresher, a seasonal cocktail one of the bartenders had created for Mother's Day the weekend before. Raspberry simple syrup, champagne, chambord, light and bright. I kinda fell in love with that one. They paired it with a tomato and herb ricotta salad with white balsamic dressing. Until this first-bite moment I would never order that on a menu.

Then we made an old fashioned, which I'm now making at home. Their version uses Grand Marnier to bring out the orange notes and the whiskey without piling in extra syrup. They’ve kinda ruined old fashioneds now for us from anywhere else…. “It’s good but not as good as Ramsey’s Kitchen”  Paired with sticky chicken wings with just the right amount of heat. We finished with an espresso martini paired with a strawberry eton mess with a strawberry cream that elevated this English dessert to the next level.

Good to know: They were quick to swap menu items for my gluten-free needs without making it a thing. If you're not gluten-free, the crab cakes are one of their signature pairings. Worth driving up from Raleigh just for the cocktail class, full stop, or as you say in America, period.

The spa

We booked a couples massage at the spa inside Caesars and it was a really relaxing way to start the trip. The very knotted shoulders I walked in began to ease at check in with the hot neck and shoulder pack while filling out our forms (nice touch!). Our massage therapists were exceptional at easing the tension but relaxing us enough that we both fell asleep! Fifty minutes later I felt like a different person. If you're planning a couple's weekend, build this in early so you arrive in the right headspace for the rest of it.

For the history people

This is where Danville surprised us. The city has stories that don't make it onto most travel content from the region, and they're worth the time.

Millionaire Row’s Secret Insiders Walking Tour

  • Book Call Joyce: 434 770-1974

If you do one history thing or tour in Danville, do this one. Joyce Wilburn has been running her walking tours since 2009, and she offers 3 different routes. We did the Secret Insiders tour, which winds up and down Millionaire's Row in the Old West End historic district exploring the collection of Victorian and Edwardian architecture of the homes built by Danville's textile families.

What makes it different from a self-guided walk: Joyce knows the inside story of every house and little secrets you could never know gazing upon them on your own. . The brothers built two identical mansions side by side so they could meet on the porch without leaving home. The Jewish temple with no bell in the bell tower (the "No Bel prize," as a previous tour guide once put it). The wrought-iron fence found on eBay that happened to be the exact period match for the house it now belongs to. She'll tell you about the Tobacco Wives, the Wednesday Afternoon Club (still going), and the teenage daughters who created the city's first public library by writing a list of books everyone should read.

Joyce will take you inside one of the homes if she can (not guaranteed). We got lucky. Carla, who lives in one of the mansions, invited us in to show us the designed interior, her 1880s carpet and her collection. We met her again at the coffee shop the next morning with Joyce - and then Joyce again the day after that. And possibly again at Carla’s iconic New Years Eve Party. That's how Danville works. Spend time talking to strangers when you travel, it opens all kinds of doors.

Joyce is the kind of local person you want to spend the morning with: infectiously joyful, friendly personality and filled with interesting stories about the area. She wants you to enjoy your time in Danville.

Good to know: Old-school booking. You call Joyce directly to set it up. About a mile of walking, mostly flat, takes around 90 minutes. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water. None of the homes are million dollar homes!! The phrase was coined by a Greensboro journalist.

Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History

The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History sits inside the Sutherlin Mansion, an 8,000-square-foot Italian villa-style home at the top of Millionaire's Row. The building alone is worth seeing.

The history is heavier than you might expect. This was the last home of the Confederacy. Jefferson Davis and his cabinet stayed here in April 1865 while escaping Richmond, and it's where they held their final cabinet meeting before the war ended. The museum tells that story.

It also tells a different one. The same building was once the public library, whites-only, and it was the site of a peaceful sit-in by two young Black students during the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King visited Danville several times in those years. Upstairs, there's an exhibit on Camilla Williams, the first Black woman signed to a major American opera company and perform the lead role of Madama Butterfly. She was from Danville. The museum also includes rotating art exhibitions. On our visit it was artwork from local students!

Good to know: Plan an hour minimum. The combination of architecture and layered history is the reason to go.

The History Hub

  • Address: 109 Bridge St, Suite 301

A small exhibition tucked into the lobby of the old textile mill buildings that walks you through Danville's tobacco and textile past. Danville was once known as the "World's best tobacco market" famous for its bright leaf tobacco, which was accidentally discovered by a slave named Stephen who raced to stoke the embers of the fire that should not go out. That set off rapid heat that cured the hanging tobacco above in the most perfect bright golden way!

Danville also was the birthplace of the Danville system of "honest" tobacco sales practice. And the tobacco profits helped spur their textiles industry, with the Riverside Cotton Mills (later known as Dan Mills) becoming the largest single-unit textile mill in the world. That complex along the river Dan is where much of Danville's current revitalization is happening. We learned a lot of this on the tour with Joyce, but the Hub was a good place to fill in the gaps and learn even more, like the first peoples who inhabited this region.

The history hub is a quick stop, free, and a good orientation if you want context before doing the rest of the historic sites. (Confirm current location and hours before going. The mill complex has been undergoing renovation.)

For the eaters

Danville's food scene is rising up with its revitalization story.. A few places earned a return visit.

Crema & Vine

  • Address:  1009 Main St, Danville, VA 24541
  • Website; Crema & Vine

Our daily coffee stop. We walked in every morning and said g'day to Steve, who runs the place with his wife Angela. They've lived in Asia, traveled to Australia, and somehow make one of the best flat whites we've had in a small town in the USA. The gluten-free donuts (made by a local baker) are sugar-free but moist and great with coffee. They also do a real breakfast and lunch. Gluten-free toast with avocado and egg, bagels, sandwiches. In the evening they pour wine. As Steve told us, you can drink wine for breakfast if you want. No judgment.

Good to know: This is where the locals go. If you sit long enough, you'll meet people who turn into your trip highlights. Strong gluten-free options.

King Cropp Kitchen

We dined at King Cropp after the cocktail class. The story behind the restaurant is the reason almost the entire menu is gluten-free: the owner's son developed food allergies, so they built the kitchen around accommodating people who usually get a thin menu. Everything except croutons and mac and cheese is gluten-free. They have a dedicated gluten free fryer. There are vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and alpha-gal friendly options as well

I ordered the shrimp calabash and tater tots, which is not something I get to eat often. Both were great. The dessert menu is small (a non-gluten-free banana pudding and a gluten-free chocolate mousse), but the mousse was lovely.

Good to know: Dinner only. Reservations accepted, not required. Max party size 6. The dedicated fryer is rare and a big deal if you have serious food allergies.

Nana Karen’s

We came for the fish sandwich because everyone told us we had to. Craig had it and confirmed: ginormous, hand-breaded, very good. Gluten-free options are limited, so I ordered the chicken salad on a salad mix instead. It might be the best chicken salad I've ever had. Not traditional. The flavor and the spice mix are something different. I know Raleigh takes its chicken salad seriously, so I don't say this lightly.

Good to know: If you can't decide, order both and share. They'll put any of their sandwich fillings on a salad if you need a bun-free option.

Cotton at Riverside Mill

The fanciest dinner we had in Danville. I ordered the crab-stuffed flounder. Craig had a steak that he said was cooked and seasoned beautifully. We ordered Brussels sprouts to share as an appetizer and got back the largest serving of Brussels sprouts we've ever seen in our lives.

What we also loved about this restaurant was that it’s in the old textile cotton mill and designed with as much sophistication. Pay attention to the large prints decorating the walls, they are advertisements from when it was Dan River Mills.There is also a small patio with river views but the interior design won the battle for our attention.

Good to know: This is the date-night spot. Reserve ahead on weekends. Happy Hour happens Mondays - Fridays, 4:30 pm - 6 pm.

Me's Burgers & Brews

A book-themed burger spot with a great patio. Every burger is named after an author and the walls are covered in book covers. Gluten-free buns available!. I enjoyed the Clare Lydon burger with honey & fig sauce, bacon and brie cheese. Craig subbed in a bison burger on his  Emyl Jenkins classic burger. They also serve one of the few Lady Astor Martinis in town, which is a story unto itself (more on her below).

Good to know: Sit outside if the weather is good. The patio is the point. If you like books, you'll lose 10 minutes taking photos of the book decor before your food arrives.

Riverside Cafe

  • Address: 3117 Riverside Dr, Danville, VA 24541
  • Website: Riverside Cafe

If you love a classic diner breakfast, Riverside Cafe is waiting for you.. Bacon, eggs, hash browns, hot coffee. Simple, tasty, affordable. Good for a morning when you don't want to fuss.

Jeni's Joint

  • Address: Near South Boston Hwy and Route 985, about 10 minutes from downtown Danville

On the way out to VIR there's a 1950s-themed diner that looks like it's been there forever but only opened a year ago. Fun decor, fun diner-style food, and a good lunch break if you're heading to or from a race day at the raceway.

For the outdoor people

Danville Riverwalk Trail

 Carrington Pavilion, 629 Craghead St, Danville, VA 24541

The Riverwalk Trail runs more than 13 miles along the Dan River and it's where the locals walk, bike, and run. We grabbed bikes near the Carrington Pavilion through the city's bike-share program (about $3 an hour through Movatic), crossed the old trestle bridge, turned right and rode through Dan Daniels Memorial Park, then doubled back the other way along the river district.

A few things to look for on the ride:

  • The view of the YMCA building. Reader's Digest named it one of the 10 best YMCAs in the country for its architecture. The reason becomes obvious when you see the windows facing the river.
  • The Dan River Dam, where the water rushes over and looks like a mini waterfall.
  • The Two Otters mural, which several locals told us to find. They were right.

Good to know: The bike share is contactless through the Movatic app. Easy to figure out, even if you've never used a bike share before. The trail is flat and beginner-friendly.

For the racing and event seekers

Virginia International Raceway

We'd never heard of Virginia International Raceway before this trip, and it turns out it's one of the most respected road courses in the country. Paul Newman once said if there was a heaven on earth, it would be the VIR. Patrick Dempsey has raced here. Motorcycles, sports cars, drift events. There's something happening most weekends.

We were in town for Hyper Fest, an annual car racing event that runs all weekend. We are not race people. We're festival people, and we figured we'd go check it out. We had a great time. Loud, high-energy, a little burnout-smelly at times, and weirdly impressive watching cars drift and motorcycles do stunts. There were simulator games, food trucks, and vendors. A good weekend even if you're not a gearhead. It’s worth going just to see the beautiful course filled with oak trees, forests, and plenty of green spaces to sit and watch.

Good to know: Check the VIR event calendar before booking your Danville trip. A race weekend changes the entire energy of the town and books up hotels. It's about a 30-minute drive from downtown Danville to the raceway.

Oak Tree Tavern

The on property restaurant at VIR, The Oak Tree Tavern, is set inside a restored 1800s plantation house. Grab a table by the window so you can look out at the oak trees. The food leans toward tavern fare, which is fitting. We both had steak with loaded potato skins as an appetizer. Solid meal in a beautiful setting.

Good to know: Open Wednesday through Saturday, 6pm to 10pm. Worth booking ahead on a race weekend.

For the art and shopping people

The River District has been quietly turning into a small but real art and shopping scene. We stopped in at:

  • River District Artisans 411 Main St, A gallery and shop operated by the Arc of Southside, featuring over 25 local artisans. Paintings, pottery, jewelry, glass, wooden goods, soap, candles. I picked up earrings for myself and for Savannah. Good place to find a real gift from the trip rather than an airport magnet.
  • The Dog-Eared Page 525 W Main St  A small indie bookshop with a steady calendar of events and book launches. Check their event schedule before you go. If something's happening while you're in town, it's worth swinging by.
  • Chestnut Lane Antiques & Interiors 531 Main St. A really lovely antique and home goods store in the turquoise building on Main. Vintage clothing, handbags, an impressive shoe collection, plus furniture, glassware, lighting, and Annie Sloan Chalk paint. It's easy to lose an hour here.
  • Vintage Boutique 214 N Union St. Hunt through the color coded sections for a vintage surprise ranging from shoes, bags, earrings, purses and more. A huge and fun store to get lost in!

The Danville Art Trail, Sosi Safari & LOVE Signs

Danville has a public art trail with painted murals and outdoor sculptures scattered around the city. Stop in at the Home Sign Park for a photo with the iconic restored 1947 HOME sign tied to Danville's textile past.  The big Orange Stack sits on the grounds of the Danville Museum. See if you can find the pink elephant down in the River District. That was my favorite.

Another fun scavenger hunt, especially with kids, is the Sosi Safari, which the pink elephant is also part of (look up while there to find another animal!). Find the statues and pictures of wildlife frozen in time throughout Danville. Take photos and show them at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History or Crema & Vine to earn a prize.

And, look for the LOVE Signs - we found one at Ceasar’s and the Virginia International Raceway. These are oversized LOVE installations found across the state that are designed to suit the story of the local region.

Good to Know: Pick up brochures from the visitor center for Sosi Safari and the Art Walk. You can also find them in many of the small businesses.

For families with kids

Danville Science Center

We don't have small kids anymore, and we still loved this place. It's a satellite of the Science Museum of Virginia, and they've put serious funding into making it modern, hands-on, and properly fun. As a former teacher, and homeschool traveling mom, we’ve visited scores of science museums around the country and can verify this is one of the best smaller sized ones we've visited (even better than most larger ones!)

Highlights:

  • A whole section on water, with a rain shower you can walk through without actually getting wet, steam experiments, and an ice-touch challenge.
  • A body lab where you can race Usain Bolt and an alligator.
  • A domed Hippodrome theater for movies projected on the ceiling.
  • A second building inside the old Amtrak station (which still operates a small section as a working station) with rotating exhibits and a section for younger kids.
  • A butterfly garden with monarchs, domestic butterflies, and some international species.

Good to know: Open Tuesday through Saturday 9:30am to 5pm, Sunday 11:30am to 5pm. Closed Monday. Field trips and homeschool co-op groups come here a lot, so weekday mornings can be busy.

For a night out

River District Social

We popped in for a drink and a game of mini bowling (duck pin style with LED lighting and loud music). There are also simulator games, including a golf-bowling hybrid that doesn't quite make sense but is somehow fun. Good for an unplanned hour or two after dinner.

The Bee Hotel rooftop

If you're in town on a Thursday, the Bee Hotel's rooftop reportedly has a happy hour with live music and $5 wines, plus a great view over the River District and the refurbished mill buildings. Confirm with the hotel before you go, as their programming changes with the seasons.

The Lady Astor Martini

Order one if you see it on a menu in the historic district (Me's Burgers is one of the few places that serves it). It's made with white cranberry juice and it has a Danville story. Nancy Langhorne Astor, born in Danville, became the first woman elected to the British House of Commons in 1919, before American women could even vote. She married Lord Astor, campaigned for children's rights and public health in Parliament, and served until 1945. The martini is named for her. Joyce reintroduced it to the historic district restaurants because the story was too good to leave on a shelf.

Plan your trip

Danville is the kind of town that rewards a return visit. We left with a list of things we still want to do, and a few friends we plan to see again. If you go, tell Steve at Crema & Vine we said hello. Or Joyce. Or Carla. Tell all 3 of them, actually.

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Frequently asked questions

How far is Danville from Raleigh? About 90 minutes by car, roughly 95 miles. Take 540 to Highway 86 North.

Is Danville worth a weekend trip from Raleigh? Yes, especially if you're going for the casino, a race weekend at VIR, or to spend time in the River District. A full weekend is plenty. You can also do it as a day trip if the casino or a specific event is the only thing on your list.

What is there to do in Danville besides Caesars? A lot more than people expect. The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History inside the Sutherlin Mansion, Joyce Wilburn's walking tour of Millionaire's Row, the Riverwalk Trail with bike share, the Danville Science Center, the River District for shopping and food, and Virginia International Raceway about 20 minutes out of town.

Is Danville good for families? Yes. The Danville Science Center is one of the best small-city science museums we've been to, and the Riverwalk Trail is family-friendly and stroller-accessible in most sections. The butterfly garden at the Science Center is a hit with younger kids.

Where should I stay in Danville? The Laurel Inn for a boutique experience walking distance to Caesars. Caesars Virginia itself if you want to never leave the property. The Bee Hotel if you want to be in the heart of the River District.

What's the best restaurant in Danville? Ramsay's Kitchen at Caesars for a celebration meal. Cotton at Riverside Mill for date-night dining with a view. Nana Karen's on Main for the famous fish sandwich and chicken salad. King Cropp Kitchen for the largest gluten-free menu in town.

Can you do Danville as a day trip from Raleigh? Yes. Leave Raleigh by 8am, eat lunch at Nana Karen's on Main, do Joyce's walking tour in the early afternoon, swing through the Danville Museum, and have an early dinner at Cotton at Riverside Mill before driving home. You'll miss the casino energy after dark, but it's doable.

When is the best time to visit Danville? Spring and fall for the river trail and outdoor patios. Summer for race weekends at VIR. The casino, museums, and restaurants are good year-round.

Original post here: This is Raleigh