Why visit Covington
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 21 places to eat, 6 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include R/C Covington Movies 3, Lukes Mountain, Covington High School and Covington Historic District (Covington, Virginia).
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 22°F.
Weather in Covington
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Covington
Covington is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,737, making it the second-least populous city in Virginia. It is surrounded by Alleghany County, of which it is also the county seat. Located at the confluence of Jackson River and Dunlap Creek, Covington is one of three cities (with Roanoke and Salem) in the Roanoke Regional Partnership.
From the Wikipedia article Covington, Virginia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
R/C Covington Movies 3
Cinema and theater · 0.8 mi
139 North Maple Avenue, Covington
Museums and landmarks6
Covington High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
High school in Virginia, United States
Covington Historic District (Covington, Virginia)
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Listed on the NRHP in Virginia
Fudge House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic house in Virginia, United States
_at_Interstate_64_in_Covington,_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
Humpback Covered Bridge
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Covered bridge in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States
Luke Mountain Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic district in Virginia, United States
Alleghany Historical Society
Museum · 0.8 mi
149 North Maple Avenue, Covington
Tu 12:30-16:30; We,Th 10:00-16:00
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes21
China House Restaurant
Restaurant · Chinese · 0.8 mi
335 Thacker Avenue, Covington
Tu-Sa 12:00-21:00; Su 12:00-20:00
Casa De Leones Mexican Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.0 mi
348 West Main Street, Covington
Mo-Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa-Su 12:00-21:00
Cucci's Pizzeria
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.4 mi
566 East Madison Street, Covington
Tu-Sa 11:00-21:00
Luca's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza
819 South Monroe Avenue, Covington
Mo-Fr 10:00-20:00; Sa 15:00-20:00
Michael's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza
1128 South Highland Avenue, Covington
Mo-Tu, Th-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-21:00
Trani's Grill
Restaurant · Italian · 0.8 mi
333 Thacker Avenue, Covington
Mo,We-Su 11:00-22:00
Ray's Sweet Shoppe and Poutinerie
Restaurant · 1.0 mi
352 West Main Street, Covington
Mo,Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00; We-Th 11:00-15:00
9 more on the map.
History
The first white settlers came to what is now Covington in 1745 when the area was part of Augusta County, Virginia. Botetourt County took over much of the area in 1769; although Bath County and Monroe County also lay claim to parts of what is now the Alleghany County-Covington region.
Starting in August 1818, lots were sold in what is now Covington on 25 acres of land owned by Dr. James Merry. The unnamed community was referred to as the Mouth of the Dunlap. It was designed the town of Covington in 1819. Covington is named in honor of General Leonard Covington, hero of the War of 1812 and friend of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson.
On January 5, 1822, the town became part of Alleghany County, formed by the Virginia General Assembly by combining sections of Bath, Botetourt, and Monroe Counties. The General Assembly incorporated Covington in 1833. By 1855, Covington had two streets and 43 houses. It was an agricultural center, with businesses and stores that supported farming and raising livestock. Hemp was the main crop in the area, needed by ships in eastern Virginia
The Virginia Central Railroad (later the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway) came to Covington in 1867.
From the History section of Covington, Virginia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay6
Churches and places of worship23
First Baptist Church of Covington, Virginia
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Covington Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.1 mi
280 West Riverside Street, Covington
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Church · Episcopal · 0.9 mi
138 North Maple Avenue, Covington
First Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 0.9 mi
185 North Maple Avenue, Covington
Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 0.9 mi
425 West Main Street, Covington
Shopping5
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries10
Healthcare5
Map of Covington
89 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 22°F | 2.6 in | 2.5 in |
| Feb | 46°F | 24°F | 2.4 in | 3.3 in |
| Mar | 54°F | 30°F | 3.4 in | 1.6 in |
| Apr | 66°F | 39°F | 3.6 in | 0.2 in |
| May | 74°F | 48°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 57°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 61°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 60°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 53°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 67°F | 42°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 55°F | 31°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 45°F | 26°F | 2.9 in | 2.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Covington Fltr Plt (2 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
Covington city has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter 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)
- 2018-09-11: Hurricane Florence (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ingalls Field (HSP) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.
- Clifton Forge 9 mi east, about 15 min by car
- Buchanan 24 mi southeast, about 39 min by car
- Blue Ridge 29 mi south, about 47 min by car
- Hollins 30 mi south, about 49 min by car
- Cloverdale 30 mi south, about 49 min by car
- Salem 34 mi south, about 55 min by car
- Buena Vista 34 mi east, about 55 min by car
- Roanoke 35 mi south, about 56 min by car
- Cave Spring 38 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Blacksburg 45 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
- Covington, Va - Main Street, Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Covington HS, 530 S. Lexington, Nyttend, Public domain
- WJVR-WKEY offices, Covington, Nyttend, Public domain
- Covington First Baptist Church, Nyttend, Public domain
- 2017-06-11 12 20 03 View north along Virginia State Route 154 (Durant Road) at Interstate 64 in Covington, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Covington, Va - Civil War Memorial, Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Covington, Va - Allegheny General District Court, Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Covington, Va - War Memorials, Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rosedale Plantation House (Covington, Virginia), James Shelton32, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Edgemont Presbyterian Church, Covington, Nyttend, Public domain
- Smurfit Westrock Covington Mill (Virginia paper mill), Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- 2017-06-11 12 29 07 View south along Virginia State Route 18 (Potts Creek Road) at Potts Creek, just southwest of Covington in Alleghany County, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Humpback 1-1-, Unknown author, Public domain
- US 220 US Route 220 - Virginia (14090378121), Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Misplaced U.S. Route 18, Nyttend, Public domain
- US 220 US Route 220 - Virginia (14090478122), Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Fudge House from south, Nyttend, Public domain
- Int64wRoad-Exit14-VA154 (33873442035), formulanone from Huntsville, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Interstate 64 Exit 16 Virginia, Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
- On the road - panoramio (13), AudreyIski, CC BY-SA 3.0
- On the road - panoramio (7), AudreyIski, CC BY-SA 3.0
- On the road - panoramio (12), AudreyIski, CC BY-SA 3.0
- On the road - panoramio (11), AudreyIski, CC BY-SA 3.0
- On the road - panoramio (9), AudreyIski, CC BY-SA 3.0
- On the road - panoramio (15), AudreyIski, CC BY-SA 3.0
- On the road - panoramio (10), AudreyIski, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Int64wRoad-Exit16A-US60wUS220n (33832254646), formulanone from Huntsville, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Frank and Mattie Hammond House, James Shelton32, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dick and Lula mae Stokes, James Shelton32, CC BY-SA 3.0
- William and Annie and McAllister House, James Shelton32, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ISS023-E-16985 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS023-E-16986 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS011-E-6377 - View of West Virginia, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Luke Mountain from the north, Nyttend, Public domain
- US 220 US Route 220 - Virginia (14090375201), Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- DO Falling Springs 10-10-20 - 50506617172, vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_at_Potts_Creek,_just_southwest_of_Covington_in_Alleghany_County,_Virginia.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}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.