town in Virginia
Honey bee forage in Luray, Virginia
Estimated forage here is better than about 95% of sites in Virginia. Against other Virginia sites it stands out most in spring (97th percentile) and lowest in summer (86th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 0.9 mi E, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 1.0 mi E, grown 1 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 1.6 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Luray?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jul 16 to Aug 15 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Luray, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Apr 16.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Corn: about 152 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi SW, blooms late Jun – late Jul (grown 4 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi E, blooms early Jun – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Luray
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.3 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.31 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 67% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Luray ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 80th | 94th | 67th | 51st |
| Virginia | 95th | 97th | 86th | 93rd |
| Ridge and Valley | 94th | 92nd | 84th | 76th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 36% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Luray: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Stanley 6 mi · Bowmans Crossing 12 mi · New Market 12 mi · Mount Jackson 12 mi · Sperryville 12 mi · Edinburg 12 mi
All towns in Virginia · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Luray (38.6642, -78.4545); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.