RV Rentals Newport News, VA

Explore Newport News, VA, in an RVshare RV Rental

The area now known as Newport News was originally settled in the early 1600s as English settlers expanded beyond the original Jamestown settlement. This area was mainly rural plantations until after the Civil War, when it was founded as the City of Newport News. In 1958, Warwick and Newport News voted to consolidate the two cities, growing the city to 65 square miles. The city is now home to roughly 180,000 people, and it is the fifth-most populous city in Virginia.

While you’re in the area, be sure to get outside and enjoy some of the natural attractions that Newport News has to offer. Start with Newport News Park, which is an 8,000-acre park, and one of the largest city-run parks in the United States. While at the park, you’ll enjoy two different freshwater reservoirs, a golf course, a five-star archery range, disc golf, and even a ropes course. The park has over 30 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails where you may run across a beaver, deer, raccoon, or fox. If you prefer a smaller park experience, head to Huntington Park, which is a smaller 60-acre park and includes Lake Biggins. You’ll enjoy fishing for trout from the lake, 20 lighted outdoor tennis courts, picnic areas, sports fields, and an award-winning rose garden.

While in Newport News, consider checking out the famous botanical garden at the Virginia Living Museum. Get a glimpse into maritime history at the Mariner’s Museum, or check out the old ironclad USS Monitor at the USS Monitor Center. Learn more about military history at the Virginia War Museum or the U.S. Army Transportation Museum.

There’s no place like Newport News to get into some of the history that has shaped both the region and the country. Consider a stop by the Newsome House Museum & Cultural Center. This was the residence and original law offices of attorney J. Thomas Newsom. You may also enjoy the mid-Victorian-era brick plantation mansion known as Lee Hall. This served as the Confederate headquarters for Generals Magruder and Johnston. You may also enjoy the Endview Plantation, which was originally built in 1769. It was the home of Dr. Humphrey Harwood Curtis, where it served as his medical practice before being converted into a hospital during the Civil War.

Events Near Newport News, VA

• Norfolk Tides Baseball - If you’re a baseball lover, check out one of the local Norfolk Tides Triple-A baseball games. 

• 4th of July Reenactments - A trip to the area over the 4th of July provides a unique historical perspective at the Yorktown Battlefields and Colonial Williamsburg, where you’ll not only enjoy traditional fireworks, but also reenactments of what has given this country its freedom.

• Celebration in Lights - Enjoy hundreds of light displays as you drive through Newport News Park during the holiday season.