Bristol, Virginia
Bristol is a city of 16,849 people in Bristol city, Virginia, founded in 1856.
Why visit Bristol
Townapedia lists 22 museums and landmarks, 13 parks and trails, 79 places to eat, 12 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include King University, Legacy Theatres Bristol 14, Birthplace of Country Music Museum and Virginia Middle School.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 24°F.
Weather in Bristol
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Bristol
Bristol is an independent city in Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,219. It is the twin city of Bristol, Tennessee, just across the state line, which runs down the middle of its main street, State Street. As an independent city, Bristol is not part of any county, but it is adjacent to Washington County, Virginia.
From the Wikipedia article Bristol, Virginia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Museums and landmarks22
Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Museum · 2.0 mi
Museum in Bristol, Tennessee, United States
101 Country Music Way, Bristol
Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 13:00-17:00; PH off
Virginia Middle School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Building in Bristol, Virginia, United States
501 Piedmont Avenue, Bristol
Bristol Municipal Stadium
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Stadium in Tennessee, United States of America
Bristol
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic train station in Bristol, Virginia
Bristol Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Historic district in Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol Virginia-Tennessee Slogan Sign
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Landmark in Bristol, VA and Bristol, TN
Bristol Warehouse Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Human settlement in Virginia, United States of America
Douglass School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
School in Bristol, Virginia
East Hill Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
US civil-war-era cemetery
Euclid Avenue Historic District (Bristol, Virginia)
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic district in Virginia, United States
King-Lancaster-McCoy-Mitchell House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Historic house in Virginia, United States
Solar Hill Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
20th-century residential neighbourhood
10 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds13
_(35246814804).jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_Railway_Station_in_2009.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_-_Confederate_Unknown.jpg){kind=link}
1 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes79
IHOP
Restaurant · Breakfast, Pancake · 2.2 mi
3179 Linden Drive, Bristol
Mo-We 05:00-22:00; Th 05:00-24:00; Fr,Sa 00:00-24:00; Su 12:00-22:00
Applebee's
Diner · American · 2.5 mi
425 Volunteer Parkway
Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr, Sa 11:00-12:00; Su 11:00-22:00
Aroma Coffee House
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.4 mi
4863 Lee Highway, Bristol
Mo-Fr 08:00-19:00; Sa 08:00-18:00; Su 09:00-18:00
Delta Blues BBQ
Restaurant · Barbecue · 2.2 mi
724 State Street, Bristol
Tu-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:00
Puerto Nuevo Freshmex & Seafood
Restaurant · Mexican, Seafood · 1.9 mi
3168 Linden Drive, Bristol
11:00-22:00
Shang Hai
Restaurant · Chinese · 2.2 mi
711 State Street, Bristol
Tu-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00
Trailblazer Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 3.1 mi
2016 W State Street, Bristol
Mo-Fr 06:00-17:00; Sa 07:00-17:00; Su 08:00-16:00
Eatz on Moore Street
Restaurant · 2.1 mi
17 Moore Street, Bristol
Tu, We 11:00-15:30; Th-Sa 11:00-19:00
Southern Craft
Restaurant · Barbecue · 2.3 mi
15 Commonwealth Avenue, Bristol
Mo-Th 07:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 07:00-22:00; Su 09:00-21:00
67 more on the map.
History
Evan Shelby first appeared in what is now the Bristol area around 1765. In 1766, Shelby moved his family and settled at a place called Big Camp Meet (now Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia). It is said that Cherokee Indians once inhabited the area and the Indian village was named, according to legend, because numerous deer and buffalo met here to feast in the canebrakes. Shelby renamed the site Sapling Grove (which would later be changed to Bristol). In 1774, Shelby erected a fort on a hill overlooking what is now downtown Bristol. It was an important stopping-off place for notables such as Daniel Boone and George Rogers Clark, as well as hundreds of pioneers en route to the interior of the developing nation. This fort, known as Shelby's Station was actually a combination trading post, way station, and stockade.
By the mid-nineteenth century, when surveyors projected a junction of two railroad lines at the Virginia-Tennessee state line, Reverend James King conveyed much of his acreage to his son-in-law, Joseph R. Anderson. Anderson laid out the original town of Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia and building began in 1853.
From the History section of Bristol, Virginia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay12
Econo Lodge Near Motor Speedway
Motel and hotel · 2.1 mi
940 Commonwealth Avenue, Bristol
The Sessions Hotel, Bristol, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Motel and hotel · 2.2 mi
833 State Street, Bristol
Churches and places of worship62
First Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
125 Sedgefield Street, Bristol
Shopping24
Gas and EV charging25
Schools, colleges and libraries39
Bristol Virginia Intermediate School
School · 1.2 mi
350 Spring Hill Terrace, Bristol
Healthcare2
Map of Bristol
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 24°F | 3.8 in |
| Feb | 48°F | 27°F | 3.9 in |
| Mar | 57°F | 33°F | 4.5 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 41°F | 4.4 in |
| May | 75°F | 50°F | 4.4 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 59°F | 4.3 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 62°F | 4.7 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 61°F | 3.8 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 55°F | 3.3 in |
| Oct | 69°F | 43°F | 2.8 in |
| Nov | 57°F | 33°F | 3.2 in |
| Dec | 48°F | 27°F | 4.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Abingdon 3S (11 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Bristol city has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-04: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-10-01: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-29: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2020-04-02: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Virginia Highlands Airport (VJI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 8 miles away.
- Bristol 5 mi southwest, about 8 min by car
- Walnut Hill 7 mi southwest, about 11 min by car
- Blountville 11 mi southwest, about 18 min by car
- Abingdon 12 mi northeast, about 19 min by car
- Bluff City 13 mi southwest, about 21 min by car
- Elizabethton 20 mi south, about 32 min by car
- Kingsport 22 mi west, about 36 min by car
- Johnson City 23 mi southwest, about 37 min by car
- Boone 39 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Greeneville 48 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Bristol, Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shoney's (Bristol, Virginia) (35246814804), JJBers from Willimantic, Connecticut, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Douglass School, Bristol, Nyttend, Public domain
- Lee and Edmond, Bristol, Nyttend, Public domain
- 2011-10-05; meth cleanup at Rice Terrace in Bristol, Virginia (6215003997), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
- 2011-10-05; meth cleanup at Rice Terrace in Bristol, Virginia (6215532934), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
- 2011-10-05; meth cleanup at Rice Terrace in Bristol, Virginia (6215010131), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
- 2011-10-05; meth cleanup at Rice Terrace in Bristol, Virginia (6214996015), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
- 2011-10-05; meth cleanup at Rice Terrace in Bristol, Virginia (6215523102), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
- 2011-10-05; meth cleanup at Rice Terrace in Bristol, Virginia (6215014585), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
- 2011-10-05; meth cleanup at Rice Terrace in Bristol, Virginia (6215021359), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
- 2011-10-05; meth cleanup at Rice Terrace in Bristol, Virginia (6214994059), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
- 2011-10-05; meth cleanup at Rice Terrace in Bristol, Virginia (6215528336), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
- 2011-10-05; meth cleanup at Rice Terrace in Bristol, Virginia (6215514536), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
- 2011-10-05; meth cleanup at Rice Terrace in Bristol, Virginia (6215019157), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
- 2011-10-05; meth cleanup at Rice Terrace in Bristol, Virginia (6215517020), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
- Bristol city hall, Virginia, Nyttend, Public domain
- Bristol First Baptist Church, Nyttend, Public domain
- Bristol VA Train Station, Coasterlover1994, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bristol Studio, Gregory W. Luce, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Virginia, Swampyank, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2017-05-16 19 20 51 View north at the south end of Interstate 381 at Church Street in Bristol, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lawrence at Pearl, Bristol, Nyttend, Public domain
- Site of Bristol Sessions Recordings in Bristol, Tennessee where the Carter Family and Jimmie Rogers were recorded in 1927, Swampyank, CC BY-SA 4.0
- State Street - Bristol, TN-VA, AppalachianCentrist, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Spruce east of Carolina in Bristol, Nyttend, Public domain
- State line on State Street in Bristol TN VA. (2882596558), Jason Riedy from East Point, GA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 2017-06-12 18 37 51 View east along Virginia State Route 113 (Cumberland Street) at West Street in Bristol, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bristol VA TN Double Yellow Line State Street, Springfulutopia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BristolMunicipalStadium 1061, Cecouchman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- King University Campus Arial Fall 2014, Editors2021, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2012-02-08; Susong Building, Bristol, Virginia (6849254603), Robert Spiegel, CC BY 2.0
- Walnut Grove northeast of Bristol, Nyttend, Public domain
- East Hill Cemetery (Bristol, VA) - Confederate Unknown, peggydavis66, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bristol (VA) Railway Station in 2009, mr_t_77 from WV, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- THE GROVE, WASHINGTON COUNTY, VA, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- KING-LANCASTER-MCCOY-MITCHELL HOUSE, BRISTOL, VA, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 4.0
- I 81 STA60402 (3844493937), Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Virginia Intermont College main building, Nyttend, Public domain
- Virginia Middle School, Nyttend, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_at_West_Street_in_Bristol,_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.