Richmond
Richmond is Virginia's capital, known for Civil War history, the State Capitol, James River rapids and cast-iron neighborhoods. It suits a long weekend.
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Richmond is the capital of Virginia, on the James River at the fall line in the Piedmont region of the eastern United States. Patrick Henry gave his "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech at St. John's Church in 1775, and the Virginia State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson and Charles-Louis Clérisseau, was completed in 1788. During the Civil War, Richmond served as the Confederate capital, and sites from that period sit near the riverfront, including the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar.
Beyond the history, Richmond has cast-iron porches and fences in Jackson Ward and Church Hill, a 100-acre Victorian estate at Maymont, and Class IV rapids that run through the city on the James River. Scott's Addition is the main brewery district, and Carytown, along Cary Street, suits shopping and dining. Autumn often brings long stretches of mild weather, while summers are hot and humid. Plan two to three days for the main museums, a riverside walk and two or three neighborhoods.
Richmond in five
- Start with the free Virginia Museum of Fine ArtsGeneral admission is always free and the museum is open 365 days a year, until 9 pm Wednesday to Friday. Some galleries are off view during the expansion project, so check the list if one collection is your reason to go.Museum hours and galleries
- Pick the right Amtrak stationRichmond has two stations: Staples Mill Road (RVR) and Main Street (RVM) in Shockoe Bottom. Some trains that serve Staples Mill skip Main Street, and Amtrak Connection buses link the two.Trains in the USA
- Check the river level before a James River hourThe city park system runs along both banks and has Class IV rapids downtown. Carry a flotation device when the river reads 5 feet or more, and leave the water to experts at 9 feet or more.James River Park System
- Add Alexandria or Baltimore up the lineRichmond sits on the same rail and I-95 corridor as Washington. Alexandria is the nearer stop north, and Baltimore pairs with it if you are building a multi-city East Coast loop.Alexandria, Virginia
- Allow a day for Williamsburg and JamestownThe colonial sites east of Richmond make a full day by car and are the main reason to rent one here. Without a car, stay in the Fan or downtown and keep museum, river and food stops within a short ride.
Things to do in Richmond
See all attractions in Richmond
Need to know
- Airport
- Richmond International (RIC), east of the city; rideshare or rental car
- Getting there
- Amtrak to Staples Mill Road (RVR) or Main Street (RVM); not every train stops downtown
- Getting around
- Walkable by neighborhood; use a car or rideshare between them
- Best base
- Downtown or Shockoe Bottom for the station; the Fan for the museum
- Time needed
- 2 days; 3 with Williamsburg
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh8°Low0°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh12°Low2°Cold, grayFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, gray
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low5°Cool, springMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, spring
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh21°Low10°Spring bloomAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 96 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring bloom
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Warm, greenMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 134 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JunePartly cloudy10 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low19°Hot, humidJunePartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 125 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, humid
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh33°Low22°Hot, humidJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 161 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh31°Low21°Hot, stormsAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 146 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, storms
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Warm, easingSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 122 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, easing
- OctoberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Fall colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 145 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall color
- NovemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Cool, crispNovemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, crisp
- DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low2°Cold, lightsDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, lights
Average daily high and low in Richmond, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Richmond
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 15°
- Humidity
- 48%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Virginia
05:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today19°6°8%Monday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Tue22°9°3%Tuesday: Fog. High 22°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed25°14°1%Wednesday: Fog. High 25°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Thu24°17°44%Thursday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 44%.
- Fri19°14°46%Friday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 46%.
- Sat16°7°34%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 34%.
- Sun19°6°8%Sunday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 03:32 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestownabout 1 hour by carLiving-history streets and the first English settlement site, best as one long day.
- Charlottesville and Monticelloabout 1 hour 15 min by carJefferson's hilltop home and a walkable downtown west of Richmond.
- Alexandriaabout 2 hours by train or carOld Town waterfront streets, with Washington a short ride further north.Read the guide
Before you go to Richmond
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Rules for Richmond, checked
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: general admission is always free; open 10 am to 9 pm Wednesday to Friday and 10 am to 5 pm on other days.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- James River Park System: open sunrise to sunset; wear or carry a flotation device at river levels of 5 feet and above, experts only at 9 feet and above.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Amtrak serves Staples Mill Road (RVR) and Main Street (RVM); some trains that stop at Staples Mill do not stop at Main Street.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Richmond
Old Town streets on the way to Washington
Read the guideBaltimore travel guideInner Harbor and Fells Point, a rail ride north
Read the guideTrains in the USAAmtrak and road options between cities
Read the guideESTA before an East Coast tripApply before booking flights to Virginia
Read the guideTravel insurance for the USAMedical cover that fits a US trip
Read the guideAll of the USAParks, cities and trip planning for visitors
Read the guideRichmond FAQ
Is the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts free?
Yes. The museum says general admission is always free and that it is open 365 days a year. An expansion and renovation project keeps some galleries off view, so check which collections are closed before you plan around one.
How many days do you need in Richmond?
Two days cover the museum, a stretch of the river park, and the Shockoe Bottom and Church Hill streets. A third day fits Williamsburg or Charlottesville, both of which need a car for easy timing.
Which Amtrak station should I use in Richmond?
Staples Mill Road (RVR) and Main Street (RVM) both serve the city; Main Street is downtown in Shockoe Bottom. Amtrak says some trains calling at Staples Mill skip Main Street, so check the stop on your booking before choosing a hotel.
Can you paddle or raft the James River in Richmond?
The city calls the downtown stretch Class IV whitewater. It advises a flotation device at river levels of 5 feet and above and says only expert paddlers should be out at 9 feet and above. Check the level on the day.
When is the best time to visit Richmond?
April, May, September and October bring mild days for the river park and the museum district. July and August are hot and humid with thunderstorms, and January and February are cold but quiet.