One used bookstore on this list claims more than 45,000 secondhand books, and I still can’t decide if that sounds like heaven or a dare. Another one fills an entire house, three floors high, with books climbing from basement to attic.
Then there’s the shop spread across three stories, often described as a labyrinth. I love that word for a bookstore.
It means you might get a little lost, and that’s the whole point.
Virginia is packed with these book-crammed places, from mountain towns to beach roads. Some of them also sell records, DVDs, and board games, so your arms fill up fast.
So clear out the back seat before you go. Grab a tote bag or three.
The real question is simple: how many boxes will you carry back to the car before closing time?
1. McKay Used Books
Bring a cart mindset, because this place is huge. You’re not browsing a shelf here, you’re touring a small book city.
McKay Used Books stocks used titles across tons of genres. Fiction, history, cookbooks, kids’ picks, you name it, and the shelves keep going.
Books are only part of the haul, though. You’ll also find secondhand CDs, records, DVDs, and board games waiting to tempt you.
Got a stack of old reads at home? McKay buys used goods, so your trunk can arrive full and leave full.
The doors stay open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. That’s a generous window for a serious hunt.
Weekend afternoons tend to be the busiest stretch. Weekday mornings run quieter if you like room to roam the aisles.
Shoppers have been known to drive nearly two hours just to come here. They tend to leave with piles of books, so plan your route home accordingly.
On-site parking makes loading up much easier. A gender-neutral restroom and changing tables are handy perks for longer stays, too.
Address: 8345 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA 20109
2. Daedalus Used Bookshop
Named after the mythical builder of the labyrinth, this shop lives up to the name. Three stories of books wind around in a maze you’ll happily get lost in.
Daedalus is famous for its vast, twisting collection. Older books dominate, and they cover nearly any genre or topic you can think of.
Neatness isn’t really the goal here. Books pile up and spill across the floors, which makes each find feel earned.
Prices stay very reasonable, which is dangerous news for your budget. One floor in, your arms will already be full.
Hours are worth noting before you go. It opens at noon most days, with a 10 a.m. start on Saturday.
Friday and Saturday stretch until 8 p.m. Those later evenings are perfect after dinner downtown.
Free street parking is available nearby, along with a paid garage. That helps when your load gets heavy.
The shop also buys used books. Bring a bag to trade in, then climb those stairs and see where the maze leads you.
Address: 123 Heather Heyer Way, Charlottesville, VA 22902
3. Shelf Life Books
Forty-five thousand books and possibly a cat or two. Honestly, what more could a Richmond afternoon need?
Shelf Life Books sits right in Carytown, a lively stretch made for wandering. The locally owned shop packs in more than 45,000 used titles.
Subjects range from art to philosophy and well beyond. The selection leans unique, with plenty of offbeat plots and unusual picks.
Now, about those cats. Feline shop company has been part of the charm, so animal lovers may find a furry browsing buddy.
Timing your visit is easy. Tuesday and Thursday run until 8 p.m., while most other days close at 6 p.m.
Sunday mornings and afternoons tend to draw the biggest crowds. Monday and Tuesday mornings are calmer if you want quiet shelves.
Delivery and in-store pickup are both offered here. That’s handy if your trunk is already overflowing from an earlier stop.
Pair the visit with a stroll down Cary Street. Just remember that 45,000 books means you’ll want more than a quick lap.
Address: 2913 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221
4. Riverby Books
Floor-to-ceiling shelves inside a historic downtown building? Fredericksburg knows how to set a mood.
Riverby Books sits on Caroline Street, the heart of the old downtown. Its selection is vast, and it gets updated often.
That frequent restocking matters. A shelf you scanned last month may hold something brand-new to you today.
Inside, genre-specific nooks keep things easy to explore. Seating is scattered around, so you can test a first chapter before committing.
Prices stay reasonable, and the staff has a friendly reputation. Expect titles you probably won’t spot at a chain store.
Late hours make this an easy evening stop. Wednesday through Saturday, the doors stay open until 9 p.m.
Saturday afternoon is the busiest window by far. Weekday mornings are much calmer if you prefer elbow room.
Free Wi-Fi is available while you shop. That’s useful for checking which book in a series you’re missing.
Make it part of a downtown walk past the old storefronts. You’ll likely circle back for one more armful anyway.
Address: 805 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
5. Bargain Books
The name makes a promise, and the shelves keep it. Bring a big box, because that’s how many shoppers leave.
Bargain Books is a vast store in Staunton with a gigantic selection. Even with all that stock, it stays well organized.
Affordable used books fill most of the space. You’ll also spot media and a small collection of new books at fair prices.
Collectors, take note. Some excellent antique books turn up here alongside the everyday paperbacks.
Condition is a real strength. Many finds arrive in near-perfect shape, which makes a boxful feel like a smart buy.
The staff earns praise for being helpful. That counts for a lot when you’re hunting a specific title in a store this size.
Hours run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Sunday opens at noon and also closes at 8 p.m.
Friday through Sunday afternoons get busy. Weekday mornings stay quieter for slow, careful browsing.
Have books to clear out at home? The shop buys used goods, so you can lighten one box before filling another.
Address: 707 Richmond Rd, Staunton, VA 24401
6. Bookshop on the Avenue
A whole house stuffed with books sounds like a childhood daydream. In Lynchburg, it’s a real address on Memorial Avenue.
Bookshop on the Avenue spreads across three levels of a house. Books sprawl through the entire place, room after room.
The shop bills itself as having Lynchburg’s largest selection of used books. Fiction and nonfiction both get plenty of space.
Topics cover pretty much anything you might want. Cooking, history, mysteries, and more sit just around the next doorway.
Books aren’t the only draw. Used DVDs and vinyl are here too, so music and movie fans get their own treasure hunt.
Buying, selling, and trading are all part of the deal. Bring your finished reads and swap them for new adventures.
Hours run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The shop closes on Sundays, so plan around that.
Friday and Saturday afternoons draw the most visitors. Tuesday through Thursday mornings tend to stay calm.
A house this full deserves a slow pace. Start at the bottom, work your way up, and save energy for those stairs.
Address: 3407 Memorial Ave, Lynchburg, VA 24501
7. Blue Plate Books
Room after room, and somehow you can still find the exact shelf you need. That kind of order is rare in a big used bookstore.
Blue Plate Books brings a vast selection to Winchester. The real surprise is how incredibly well organized it all stays.
That neatness pays off for picky readers. Hard-to-find books and authors show up here more than you’d expect.
Condition tends to be great, too. Prices stay reasonable, so a stack of hard-to-find titles won’t sting much.
Hours are wonderfully simple. The store opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m., every day of the week.
Saturdays stay busy from morning to evening. Early weekday mornings are the quiet sweet spot for long browsing sessions.
The shop buys used books as well. Planning ahead helps, since selling may require an appointment.
A gender-neutral restroom is on site. In-store pickup is also offered if you’ve arranged a title in advance.
It makes a smart stop on a Shenandoah Valley drive. Just know that one room always leads to another, and another after that.
Address: 2257 Valley Ave, Winchester, VA 22601
8. Too Many Books
The name sounds like a confession. For book lovers, it’s more like a welcome sign.
Too Many Books sits on Grandin Road in Roanoke. Its vast selection leans toward rare titles and classic literature.
Shelves rise high and stay packed. Treasure hunters will find plenty of interesting finds tucked among the stacks.
Then there’s that classic used-book smell. Paper, bindings, and years of stories fill the air the moment the door closes behind you.
Helpful staff can point you toward a title or a section. That’s a big help when the shelves run this deep.
Hours are shorter than most stops on this list. It’s open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday.
Sunday hours run from 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays are closed, so don’t plan a Monday road trip around it.
The shop buys used books, too. Bring a few of your own and see what they’re worth in trade.
The Grandin neighborhood is lovely for a stroll afterward. Fittingly, you may leave with exactly too many books.
Address: 1504 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24015
9. Book Exchange
So many books, not enough time. That might as well be printed over the door.
Book Exchange is a well-organized used bookstore on Granby Street in Norfolk. Its wide selection covers books, vinyl records, and other media.
Variety runs deep in each section. Browsing feels efficient, even when your list keeps growing.
Pricing is a big reason people come back. Books tend to be in good condition and cheap, with some finds in mint shape.
The staff has a reputation for being super friendly. Ask for help, and you’ll likely leave with a recommendation too.
Trading in is a core part of the name. Bring your old books and give them a new home while scoring fresh ones.
Hours run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Sunday hours are noon to 6 p.m.
Saturdays stay busy from morning to evening. Friday evenings tend to be among the quietest times to stop in.
Records add another layer to the hunt. You came for a novel, and now you’re flipping through vinyl for an extra twenty minutes.
Address: 7601 Granby St, Norfolk, VA 23505
10. The Company of Books
From the sidewalk, you’d never guess how much is packed inside. Then you start finding books in every nook and cranny.
The Company of Books sits on Mount Vernon Avenue in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood. It’s a community-focused used bookstore with a huge selection.
Shelves squeeze into corners you didn’t know existed. Every turn reveals another section worth checking.
Pricing stays very reasonable here. Grabbing a few extra titles feels perfectly justified.
Evening hours are a real bonus. Wednesday through Saturday, the doors stay open until 9 p.m.
Weekend mornings start at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Other days open at 11 a.m.
Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons draw the biggest crowds. Weekday mornings are calmer for unhurried browsing.
Parking is refreshingly simple for Northern Virginia. A free lot and free street parking are both available.
The store buys used books, too. Bring a bag to sell, then fill it right back up before strolling the neighborhood.
Del Ray makes a pleasant backdrop for a slow afternoon. This shop gives you a great reason to linger.
Address: 2200 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301
11. AFK Books & Records
AFK means away from keyboard, and that’s a perfect nudge for a bookstore. Put the phone down and pick up a forgotten classic.
AFK Books & Records sits on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach. It mixes new and used books with a selection of vinyl records.
The book selection feels nearly endless. Many titles show up in pristine condition, neatly presented on the shelves.
Previously read favorites share space with overlooked classics. Prices are fair, so a trip to the beach can easily come with a stack.
Record lovers get their own reward. Flipping through vinyl is a fine way to stretch your visit a little longer.
Families are welcome here, and the shop is good for kids. Young readers can hunt for their own treasures.
A free parking lot makes loading the car simple. A gender-neutral restroom is on site as well.
Hours run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wrap up your Virginia book trail here with sand nearby. Your trunk will be full, and your afternoon well spent.
Address: 4801 Shore Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23455
