Petrified Wood near Charlottesville, VA
10 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Charlottesville report petrified wood. The closest is Skinquarter, about 58 miles out (1 hr 12 min drive).
Petrified wood is ancient wood replaced cell by cell with silica. It concentrates where volcanic ash buried forests, and weathered pieces collect as float on desert slopes and in washes.
Map of 10 petrified wood collecting spots within 150 miles of Charlottesville, Virginia
Closest petrified wood spots to Charlottesville
- SkinquarterChesterfield County, Virginia58 mi · 1 hr 12 min drivePetrified Wood, Opalized Wood
- MoselyChesterfield County, Virginia59 mi · 1 hr 13 min drivePetrified Wood, Opalized Wood
- QuanticoStafford County, Virginia71 mi · 1 hr 28 min drivePetrified Wood, Opalized Wood
- Prince George’s CountyPrince George's County, Maryland102 mi · 2 hr 7 min drivePetrified Wood
- BeltsvillePrince George's County, Maryland110 mi · 2 hr 18 min driveHyalite Opal, Quartz, Silicified Wood
- Halifax CountyHalifax County, North Carolina134 mi · 2 hr 48 min drivePetrified Wood
Types of petrified wood reported near Charlottesville
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
- Petrified Wood6
- Opalized Wood3
- Silicified Wood2
- Agatized Wood1
- Silicified Cycad Wood1
Every petrified wood spot within 150 miles of Charlottesville
Sorted by distance from Charlottesville. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkinquarterLedo Road | Chesterfield County | 37.4096, -77.7743 | Public | |
| MoselyOtterdale Road | Chesterfield County | 37.4236, -77.7276 | Public | |
| QuanticoSouth Elrod Avenue | Stafford County | 38.4852, -77.3139 | Public | |
| Prince George’s CountyMartin Road | Prince George's County | 38.6913, -76.7972 | Public | |
| BeltsvilleBay Hill Drive | Prince George's County |
| 39.0646, -76.9285 | Public |
| Halifax CountyNC 481 | Halifax County | 36.2199, -77.5764 | Public | |
| Eno RiverFalls Lake Trail | Durham County | 36.0719, -78.8576 | Public | |
| BethesdaJones Circle | Durham County | 35.9587, -78.8474 | Public | |
| BaltimoreLost Pond Trail | Baltimore County |
| 39.4258, -76.4415 | Permission |
| Chapel HillBolin Creek Trail | Orange County | 35.9248, -79.0453 | Public |
Petrified Wood near Charlottesville FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood near Charlottesville?+
10 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Charlottesville report petrified wood. The closest is Skinquarter in Chesterfield County County, roughly 58 miles away (1 hr 12 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect petrified wood on public land near Charlottesville?+
9 of the 10 spots here sit on land mapped as publicly accessible. Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed on most BLM and Forest Service land with limits set by the local field office; national parks and most state parks are closed to collecting. Confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
How can I tell petrified wood from plain rock?+
Look for wood structure: parallel grain lines, growth rings on cut ends, and bark texture on the outside. Petrified palm shows a distinctive rod-and-dot pattern instead of rings. Plain jasper and chert show none of these, even when the color looks woody.
How far from Charlottesville do I need to drive?+
The nearest petrified wood spot is about 58 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 149 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Charlottesville
Petrified Wood near other cities
Hunt petrified wood around Charlottesville with the map in your pocket
RockHoundR shows these spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, weather, and a log for your finds.
