Why visit Marion
Townapedia lists 10 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail, 21 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Park Place Drive-In, The Lincoln Theater, Henderson Building and Hotel Lincoln.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 23°F.
Weather in Marion
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Marion
Marion is a town in and the county seat of Smyth County, Virginia, United States. It is positioned upon Interstate 81, in the Blue Ridge portion of the southern Appalachian Mountains in Southwest Virginia. The town is named for American Revolutionary War officer Francis Marion. Within the town limits it had a population of approximately 6,000, per 2020 Census counts.
From the Wikipedia article Marion, Virginia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Museums and landmarks10
Henderson Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Administrative building in USA
Hotel Lincoln
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic hotel in Marion, Virginia, United States
Hungry Mother State Park
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
State park in Virginia, United States
Lincoln Theatre
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places
Theater and former movie theater in Marion, Virginia, United States
Marion Historic District (Marion, Virginia)
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic district in Virginia, United States
Marion Male Academy
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic school building in Virginia, US
Norfolk & Western Railway Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Railway station in Marion, the United States of America
.jpg){kind=link}
_at_Bagley_Circle,_at_the_Southwestern_Virginia_Mental_Health_Institute_in_Marion,_Smyth_County,_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
R. T. Greer and Company
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic commercial building in Virginia, USA
Smyth County Community Hospital
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Hospital in Virginia, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Restaurants and cafes21
The Wooden Pickle
Diner · American
120 East Main Street
Tu-Th 11:00-14:00, 16:30-21:00; Fr 11:00-14:00, 16:30-22:00; Sa 12:00-22:00
Sur 81
Restaurant · 1.0 mi
1050 State Highway 16, Marion
08:00-14:00
Hungry Mother Grill and Grocery
Diner · American · 1.8 mi
2382 Old Lake Road, Marion
9 more on the map.
History
Marion College, a two-year Lutheran women's college, operated from 1873 to 1967. Marion Hall, constructed in 1968 and named in honor of Francis Marion, is a residence hall at Roanoke College.
Marion is also home to Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute, continuously operational since May 1887.
In December 1864, during the Civil War, it was the site of the Battle of Marion.
Marion is the birthplace of the soft drink Mountain Dew. Although Mountain Dew was first marketed under that name in Knoxville, TN, the original soft drink's formula changed drastically from Knoxville's formula to the syrup mixture that constitutes today's drink, which is Marion's version. In 1961, the rights to Mountain Dew were purchased by the Marion-based Tip Corporation. The Mountain Dew flavor was reworked by Marion resident William H. "Bill" Jones. Due to the success of the revised formulation, the Pepsi Corporation purchased the Tip Corporation in 1964. Marion hosted the Mountain Dew Festival for more than 50 years. As of 2026 plans for the implementation of a Mountain Dew Museum to be located in Marion’s downtown area are in the early stages of development.
The Emory and Henry College School of Health Sciences was established in 2014.
Back of the Dragon, a segment of SR16 popular among motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts for its sharp turns and scenic overlooks, begins in Marion, Virginia.
From the History section of Marion, Virginia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
General Francis Marion Hotel
Motel and hotel · 0.4 mi
107 East Main Street, Marion
Collins House Bed and Breakfast
Motel and hotel · 0.5 mi
204 West Main Street, Marion
Churches and places of worship19
First United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 0.4 mi
115 South Church Street
Shopping5
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries13
Southwestern Va Mental Health Institute
School · 0.4 mi
340 Bagley Circle, Marion
Healthcare1
Map of Marion
86 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 23°F | 3.8 in | 1.9 in |
| Feb | 48°F | 25°F | 3.8 in | 4.2 in |
| Mar | 57°F | 31°F | 4.3 in | 1.6 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 39°F | 4.3 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 75°F | 49°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 58°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 61°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 54°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 69°F | 41°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 58°F | 31°F | 3.0 in | 0.1 in |
| Dec | 48°F | 26°F | 4.1 in | 2.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Saltville 1N (15 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
Smyth County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 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, 30 miles away.
- Chilhowie 10 mi west, about 15 min by car
- Glade Spring 15 mi west, about 23 min by car
- Emory 18 mi west, about 29 min by car
- Claypool Hill 20 mi northwest, about 33 min by car
- Cedar Bluff 22 mi northwest, about 35 min by car
- Independence 25 mi southeast, about 40 min by car
- Honaker 28 mi northwest, about 45 min by car
- Jefferson 29 mi south, about 47 min by car
- Mountain City 30 mi southwest, about 48 min by car
- Bluefield 31 mi northeast, about 49 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
- Marion, VA is the home of Hungry Mother State Park (20192538030), vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
- 2017-06-12 20 05 07 View east along Virginia State Route 217 (Morrison Drive) at Bagley Circle, at the Southwestern Virginia Mental Health Institute in Marion, Smyth County, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- HOTEL LINCOLN (HOTEL FRANCIS MARION), JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Marion Male Academy, Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 3.0
- LincolnTheatreMarionVA, DwayneP ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- RTGreer Smyth 3361, Cecouchman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- SmythCoCourthouse, RebelAt at en.wikipedia, Public domain
- "One Fine Day" at Hungry Mother State Park (7177719353), Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
- MarionDepot Smyth 3378, Cecouchman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Henderson Building, Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Smyth, R.T. Greer and Company, Nyttend, Public domain
- Photo contest entry (23812687399), vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
- Armillaria gallica 24561259, pinonbistro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Armillaria gallica 24561261, pinonbistro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- HM Drive In ESP, vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
- Fall Day at Hungry Mother (15703087956), vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
- I 81 STA60454 (3844499491), Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- I 81 STA60453 (3844499375), Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- I 81 STA60455 (3844499609), Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- I 81 STA60452 (3844499251), Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- I 81 STA60451 (3845290212), Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Smyth County Community Hospital, James Shelton32, CC BY-SA 3.0
- I 81 STA60457 (3845290848), Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- I 81 STA60458 (3845290926), Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Burson43 and 45, vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
- Hungry Mother has many different programs that will educate children on the environment. (27410824900), vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
- Hungry Mother has many different programs that will educate children on the environment. (27410825080), vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
- Fall Camping at Hungry Mother (22401476002), vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
- Burson44 and 46, vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
- Hungry Mother has many different programs that will educate children on the environment. (27689321205), vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
- Burson 31, vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
- Burson 30, vastateparksstaff, CC BY 2.0
.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.