Williamsburg is the natural base for the whole Historic Triangle, since Jamestown and Yorktown are each 20 to 25 minutes away by car and there are far more hotels here than in either. The real question is which part of Williamsburg suits you, and it comes down to three areas: the edge of the Historic Area, the Visitor Center, and the Busch Gardens and Kingsmill side of town.
Beside the Historic Area: walk to everything
If this is your first visit and Colonial Williamsburg is the main event, stay within walking distance. You can step out in the morning for the first building tours, come back to rest in the afternoon and stroll out again for dinner at Merchants Square and an evening ghost walk without touching the car. For a splurge, the Williamsburg Inn is the classic choice, a five-star, 62-room hotel on the southern edge of the Historic Area with a spa, golf and polished service, and the finest place to stay during the Grand Illumination weekends in December. Across the street, the Williamsburg Lodge, Autograph Collection is the all-round pick, with 323 rooms in six guest houses, folk-art style, indoor and outdoor pools, a Forbes Four-Star spa and Marriott Bonvoy points. Both are official Colonial Williamsburg hotels, and booking directly has recently included Historic Area admission for a limited time, so compare offers.
At the Visitor Center: best value for families
The Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel and Suites sits right beside the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, a minute’s walk from the ticket desk and the free shuttle into the Historic Area. Breakfast and parking are included, suites sleep families comfortably, and mini golf and a playground keep children busy. The outdoor pools close from mid-September to early April, so in winter this is a hotel for sleeping rather than swimming, but for value and convenience it is hard to beat. The Colonial Parkway to Jamestown and Yorktown starts nearby.
Busch Gardens and Kingsmill: resort space and theme park access
If Busch Gardens and Christmas Town are a big part of your trip, or you want a resort with room to spread out, stay on the eastern side of town. Kingsmill Resort is a large golf and water resort on the James River, about seven minutes from Busch Gardens, with guest rooms, condos and cottages, a marina, an indoor pool, a seasonal lazy river and free parking. Nearby on Kingsmill Road, the DoubleTree by Hilton Williamsburg is the mid-range choice, with indoor and outdoor pools, an on-site restaurant, connecting rooms for families and low daily parking, a short drive from both the park and the Historic Area. You will need a car from either.
Which to choose
For a first visit focused on history, stay beside the Historic Area at the Lodge or, for a special occasion, the Inn. For a family trip on a budget, choose the Woodlands. For a holiday trip built around Christmas Town, or a group needing space, choose Kingsmill or the DoubleTree.
Practical tips
Parking is free at the Woodlands and Kingsmill but charged at the Lodge and the DoubleTree, so factor it into the total. Several hotels add daily resort or destination fees. Rates rise on Grand Illumination weekends, over Thanksgiving and in the week between Christmas and New Year, so book early for those dates.
