We absolutely loved this drive. You could honestly stay in the car the whole time and see some great views. We didn't though - stopped and did some hiking but our guidebooks were good about noting the mile markers so you could try to plan it out. They had somewhat clear mile markers on the side of the road and it was fairly easy sailing the whole day. As the park got busier, it was nice to have the wayside lots to break things up a bit. Very easy to navigate. read more

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The main drive through Shenandoah. Beautiful views and plenty of attractions lie along this route. The roads wind through the mountains and you get tons of overlooks. Would recommend to anyone who's in the area. Great to pair with a hike read more

We drove the northern section of Skyline Drive from Front Royal to Big Meadows/Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center at Mile 51, stopping at various overlooks and trailheads along the way. There are plenty of pull offs for a leisurely drive, and when it's clear you can see a nice distance out. Along the drive itself, we enjoyed driving through and learning about Marys Rock Tunnel. We ended up doing the drive a second time during our visit because we enjoyed it so much. It also gave us a chance to catch all of the overlooks we had missed the first time. Second time around we packed lunches so that we could take as long as we wanted - we used Pinnacles Picnic Ground to stop, which was nice, and there are also picnic tables available near the Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center. We are definitely planning a return visit to travel the southern portion! read more

Against my better judgement we took the "long road" and did all 105 miles south to north on a very rainy and foggy day. Haha. But glad we did, and worth the $30 fee. Only a portion of the overlooks provided a view because of the weather, but they were worth it. Hope to make it back and spend more time someday. read more

The road which traverses this national park offers ample viewing pleasures and plenty of places to stop for refreshment, hiking, or gazing. They have implemented gated entry and are checking IDs along with national parks passes. This trend puzzles me; if people are sharing parks passes in the way they share Netflix accounts, I have not heard of it, and I am skeptical that the increased enforcement is worth the trouble for anyone involved. But once you're through the gate, it's smooth sailing. The mountains are many, and among closer sights I caught some young turkeys (do you call them chicks? I don't know what a juvenile wild turkey is supposed to be called). It is a great area to watch the sunset, and one can continue for hours. It is also a great way to avoid I-81 and its accompanying risks. I've done Skyline Drive a few times and hopefully there will be many more. read more

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I rode my motorcycle out from Arizona to South Carolina, and then up the Blue Ridge Parkway from North Carolina through Virginia. Once I finished that, it only made sense to keep going as Skyline Drive picks up where the Blue Ridge Parkway ended for me. So I added another day to my trip and continued on north up the Skyline. For what it's worth, it gets extremely cold up on Skyline on a motorcycle. I managed to avoid getting wet, but if you're thinking of doing it I wouldn't go much later in the year than the middle of September. The weather just becomes too unpredictable at that point. The first thing to note upon entering the park was that like most National parks there is an entry fee. On my motorcycle it was $25. The second thing worth noting is that while I spent three days going up the Blue Ridge Parkway and saw one deer; in the first mile up Skyline I saw three deer. So pay attention to the road as much as to the scenery, especially if you are on a motorcycle. There are also quite a few bicycles along the road as well, so just keep your eyes peeled. There are plenty of overlooks to pull into so you can admire the views without risking damaging yourself, your car or the wildlife. There are also multiple visitor centers along the way, and even a restaurant or two. So you are not totally cut off from civilization here. It will take you a minimum of three hours to go the entire distance, so plan on making the most of it. The views are amazing and the trees are really something to see up close. Being from Arizona, it was just overwhelming to see so much green! It was well worth adding a day to my itinerary to do this drive and I hope to be lucky enough to do it again someday. read more

Skyline Drive - Visitors Center - Parks Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

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This incredibly long road in the Shenandoah National Park is a great outing for a day trip! There are plenty of outlooks to stop at in order to enjoy the view and take a break. Also, there are plenty of wildlife to see. If you want to hike, there are trails along the way. Usually the attendant at the entrance to Skyline Drive will offer you a map. Take it. It will be very helpful and you can keep it in your car for future trips. There is a gas station up the mountain along with some restrooms along the way, but they are seasonal and close when it gets cold. If you plan to come back throughout the year, consider getting the annual pass. It's worth it. read more

Skyline Drive - A couple of deer - Parks Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

Absolutely stunning drive! Well worth the trip! Lots of places to pull over and get safety out of the car for pictures and just sit to take it all in! read more

Leave your house early and pre pay! If your active duty, your free. The entrance fee is $30. It's for re entry and for 7 days. However, my advice, get all your errands and food before entering the park! Re-entering the park on a weekend while cause major delays! The is one visitor center that has a small Liberty Gas Station, however fill up before coming. Skyline Drive is 105 miles long. Lots of beautiful overlooks on either side. I wish there were more rubble strips or more Park Police visible, to deter speeders. The speed limit is 35, yet you'll see drivers driving over the double yellow lines almost causing a crash. Also park on leveled surface. A Park Ranger had to rescue a small car because they decided to park right on a ditch. Also lots of bugs, pack bug spray, and check your clothes before entering your car. Best time to go is mid to late October. read more

Skyline Drive - Parks Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

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I revisited the Skyline Drive to show two English friends how beautiful the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge mountains can look on a sunny day in May. They were, of course, blown away! Don't miss this amazing National Park if you live anywhere near it! read more

If you want nature this is well preserved with panoramic views. The National Park has an entrance fee and the wait to pay can be quite long. There are many outlooks. Unfortunately, there is not a pathway for bikes which can cause traffic challenges. You also can camp, but facilities are limited. read more

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Really cool opportunity for great views and hikes! It cost $30 to get in, or $80 if you buy the National Park Pass that lasts 1 year. As other people have mentioned, the pictures just don't do it justice. It would take you 4 hours to drive the entire park. We spoke with a park ranger and he mentioned 3 hikes that were good and told us to stop at marker 65. I recommend stopping and talking to the park ranger to customize the trip for yourselves. You could stop at every overlook, in fact, we saw some cars doing that because each view is different and unique. Towards the end we just drove through the overlooks, but you can get some amazing views. October/early November is perfect to see the leaves changing. read more

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What a great drive. Now to come back and ride with the two wheels. Just couldn't fit five people on the ride. It is a nice pace and most people are considerate and allow pictures and enjoyment. The natural beauty is just beyond stunning in most parts. Great scenic overlooks. No words can really capture it all. read more

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Lucky us! We picked the one day a year when there was no fee to enter and drive on Skyline Drive - Public Access Day. The park ranger at the entrance at Thornton Gap seemed as happy to be telling us the good news, as we were hearing it. Any other time the cost is $30 fora one week pass for as often as you care to traverse this exceptional American beautiway. The Drive is 105 miles and traverses along the ridge line of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northwestern Virginia from Front Royal in the north to Waynesboro in the south. Two lane blacktop all the way with speed limit of 35 mph. Twists and turns to kept your hands on the wheel and eyes sharp for unexpected traffic coming the other way. The best part of this cruise are the many observation pullouts left and right that allow you to stop, get out of the car and overlook the magnificence that is this Appalachian range. Most points have been decently cleared to allow a long view of this natural beauty. This chain is so aptly named, "Blue Ridge," because much of the time there is a gentle haze hanging low to the forests that appear grey-blue to the naked eye. Simply stunning wherever you look. There are also many well marked trailheads leading to dozens of crystal clear riotous streams and watercourses that ultimately find their way down into waterfalls. Parking area at these points are small and crowded in good weather, and best to have the right hiking equipment for safety. We loved the wonder of it all so much that we returned a few days later to continue on the Drive south to the terminus at Route 250 on our way to Staunton. This time we paid for a one year National Parks Pass ($20) from the same ranger who informed us of Public Access Day! Turned out that was less expensive than the Skyline fee and perfectly acceptable. read more

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I have reviewed Shenandoah NP and its lodgings in separate postings. I will limit this to Skyline Drive itself. Skyline Drive runs for about 135 miles along the ridge of Shenandoah NP in a mostly north-south orientation. It is basically an extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which terminates at the southern end of the park. There are numerous pull-outs and overlooks along this road offering spectacular views to both the east and west. These can get really congested at sunrise and sunset, btw. You can enter the park at the north or south end, and at a couple of highway crossings each roughly 30 - 35 miles from either end. However, those are the only entry points. When we visited they were re-paving Skyline Drive in a couple of spots in the southern half of the park. Each of these added around 20 minutes to the drive north. I do not know how often they do paving like this, but I can see why maintenance is required (weather + traffic load). Some people seemed to plan a whole day around just driving through the park. That might be nice. You wouldn't have time to do any hiking, but you could pull off at overlooks and stop at a restaurant somewhere. The scenery on the drive itself, especially in late October / early November, can be spectacular. This is definitely one of the more scenic drives in the U.S. read more

Skyline Drive - Skyline Drive in late October - Parks Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

Words can't describe the amazing views. Pictures don't do it justice. But it can be quite the long haul if you are doing the whole thing. Make sure to buy your pass online ahead of time. The facilities at the major stops are clean and nice. Watch out for deer. Take time to take it all in. But there is like zero cell service and WiFi. To be expected but don't count on it for maps or directions. read more

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Running through one of America's National Parks (Shenandoah National Forest), this 109 mile stretch of road has tons of scenic views and trails to hike. We spent 2 days hiking, just 5 trails. We laughed when we saw our first trail (Lands end) as a 2.1 mile (round trip) moderate trail taking 2 hours. 2 hours! We can do this in 40 minutes - we thought. NOT! 1 hour 45 minutes. Down was easy.... Back up was not. LOL. We did 4 more hikes, of various distances. The longest one - about 4.5 miles and taking nearly 4 hours. There are so many hiking trails. If you just did one a week, it would take you years. Maybe when I retire. This place is awesome. Happy hiking! read more

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UPDATE: June 2020 My husband decided that he wanted to attempt Skyline Drive again for our Father's Day outing. We're SO glad we did. It was amazingly beautiful! Be prepared to spend at least 4-hours to make the entire drive and stop at a few of the overlooks. The speed limit is 35mph in most places but drops to 25mph in some areas. Adhere to the posted limit for your safety since animals or bicyclists could be around any turn. Take advantage of the lookout areas to get some great pictures! It was a $30 fee (we started in Front Royal) but we both agreed it was worth the price. We're looking forward to going back to explore some of the trails. Being trapped in the house for our anniversary was not an option for us. We HAD to get out and take a drive so we headed down to Front Royal VA to get on scenic Skyline Drive. Unfortunately, they've SHUT THE ROAD DOWN! We were SUPER disappointed. Hopefully we can enjoy the drive and scenery once the coronavirus lockdown has been read more

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Beautiful drive! It is $30 to get in for a single car and it is good for 7 days. Definitely take the paper map when they offer it and/or download the NPS app. Bring plenty of water! read more

This was a pleasant drive through Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. I recommend taking this scenic drive if you're looking to visit the national park with limited time. While I was in the DC area, I visited Shenandoah National Park in Virginia for half a day. For the Skyline Drive, you must still pay for a parks fee, since this road is in the park. Soon after you pay admission, there's a visitor's center where you can get more information, restrooms and a gift shop. Since I was only here for a couple hours and alone, I took the scenic drive. Along the path, there were several lookout points that you can easily stop at. The entire drive was 100+ miles, so it took a while to get through. The view of the Blue Ride Mountains is beautiful. It's breathtaking to see so much greenery and preserved land in this area, especially since the northern Virginia is vastly growing. I had a nice time here, and for me on a time crunch, it was a good to be outside and see this national park. read more

Skyline Drive - Blue Ridge Mountains - Parks Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

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This is something you will not want to miss if you are in the area. The views are breathtaking. Skyline Drive rolls on for a whole lot of miles, so going by bike or motorcycle is a treat if you have the time, especially when fall is upon us and all the leaves start to change colors and the weather is just right. Although with that said, it's hard not to appreciate the beauty of the scenery even when it's raining. 024/2020 read more

While visiting the area a nice place to visit is Skyline Drive. You can drive in from Front Royal and head to Thornton Gap (Sperryville or Luray is at this exit) in about an hour, including quick stops for pics. Do it on a nice day and it's so beautiful up there! On this day, we started at Thornton Gap and drove to Front Royal, then hit Spelunker's (a local fav) for lunch. read more

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Who doesn't love a good hike? Or better yet, the mountains! We loved the Skyline Drive. Contrary to belief, there's a lot you can do on the Skyline. IE; hiking, overlooks, camping, the store, pull off exits, etc.! The Skyline is unique because it can accommodate all parties and ALL ages. read more

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July 2020 - COVID Review: I've lived in the DMV area for most of my life and everyone is always so surprised when I say that I've never been to Skyline Drive / Shenandoah National Park before. So what better time to actually visit than during COVID? We bought the annual pass for just the park since we wanted to be able to visit during (almost) all of the seasons to take in the views. The drive is very scenic and can be windy at some parts. Some of the overlooks do offer similar views but I'm glad we were given a map at the entrance to mark off favorites to visit next time. We only drove through about 1/3 of the way but it was so nice to make a day trip out of it. We also brought our own picnic food so that we could snack during some of the nicer overlooks. We plan to visit again to see the fall foliage soon! read more

Absolutely breathtaking in the middle to end of October. The leaves are changing, and are unimaginably beautiful. I drove skyline Drive through the Shenandoah national park from one into the other. Was well worth my day. It's a very curvy, curvy road with lots of pull offs, nothing scary. Go during the time the leaves are changing middle to end of October, and you will never forget the scenery. there's also several lodges that serve breakfast and lunch. But breakfast ends at 9:30 and they are pretty firm with that time. And lunchtime does not begin until 11. So anytime between those times you better have a snack with you. Dogs are welcome on most of the trails. Only one or two that are not. So bring your fur baby. read more

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If you are remotely close to the Skyline Drive and have the chance to drive along it, please, please do! It is SO worth it. Take in the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley right from your car, and stop your car along the way to capture some beautiful pictures, as memories. If you have time and are prepared, pull off and try out one of the many easily accessible hikes as well-- the Appalachian trail is just within reach! Pros: Price: I think that the price is well-worth the experience. It costs $30 to drive a regular car along the skyline drive. You can get a yearly pass for $55 which is worth it, if you plan on even going twice! I think they also have special deals for veterans. Accessible: Super accessible from the DC/DMV or greater Richmond area-- about 1.5 hours from each, and such a nice break from city/suburban life. Breathtakingly Beautiful: Amazing views of the mountains, as well as some rivers and pastoral Virginia lands, spotted with cows and farms. It is just so overwhelmingly beautiful. Vast: Miles and miles of Skyline (over 100 miles!), taking you from mountain to mountain, offering a variety of views. You can take in the views for several hours, depending on how quickly you drive and how many stops you take. You might want to pack some food and have a picnic! Many trails: Many trails and campgrounds branch off of of and intersect with the Skyline drive. There are some places that you can park your car so that you can go on hikes along these trails. I have brought gear, tents, and equipment, and gone on both campsite and back-woods camping adventures originating from the Skyline drive, varying in difficulty and duration. If you are a hiker, definitely consider doing this I personally love Old Rag! Great for folks of all ages: A great experience for families, I see lots of young kids,as well as older folks (just keep your kiddos away from the edges-- most overlooks seem pretty secure, however you can never be too safe!) If you are into photography, definitely bring your gear to take some pictures, especially at sunset or sunrise! Also a must-visit for hikers or outdoor adventurers. Lots of college kids, and motorcyclists, as well. Cons: Fast drivers: Some folks tend to race along the Skyline drive so quickly. There are many parking stops and cars parked alongside the road, and many families with children who stop to take in the views, so the speeding cars can sometimes seem a bit dangerous. While there are Park Rangers who watch the roads, the Skyline Drive is so vast that they cannot be everywhere at once, and some people definitely go a bit too fast, so just be careful! Curvy roads: Not a criticism, just an observation for less-confident drivers! Take your time on some of the curves! Deer tend to pop out on the road randomly- so be aware of that as well-- I saw several that were roadside or on the road. They were adorable, fyi (pic of one is in review) Tip: Go in the fall, if you can. While this is a beautiful drive any time of year, the foliage in early-mid October is really stunning. Note: There are some phone carriers that tend to work better than others on different parts of the Skyline Drive. I went with a friend who had T-Mobile, and I had Verizon, and we both went though periods where we fully lost service, or where just one of us had service. You may lose service for some part of the drive, and will very likely lose service if you go hiking on a train branching off of the trail. read more

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"105 mile drive offering great view of Shenandoah park throughout the journey.. Woww..!!" We went there 4th July weekend. We started from Richmond, it was straight 85 miles drive on I64 West to Rockfish Gap entrance station. For our car, they charge $25 and it was valid for 7 days. We got a map of skyline drive and we followed it throughout the journey. Skyline drive is part of Shenandoah national park and it offers over 70 points where you can catch a great view of the National park including the highest point in park and highest drivable road. There are 4 entrances Front Royal ( I guess coming from MD) Thornton Gap via Route 211 Swift Run Gap via Route 33 Rockfish Gap via I-64 and Route 250 (we took this). There were many points (over 70) where you can stop your car and see amazing view but personally, I liked calf mountain, Turk gap, riprap overlook, Moorman's river overlook, Loft mountain, Simmons gap, Swift run overlook, Lewis mountain, Tunnel and Hawksbill spot which is the highest point in park. There is sign board which will let you know which spot is coming and you can plan your drive. There are 2 visitor centres, one at Big Meadows and one Dickey Ridge visitor centre. Okay, apart from this normal drive, I guess major people come for hiking-trailing and you can find various places where you can park your car and start trailing-hiking. I did one for Hawksbill highest point which was 2 Mile trail and it took 80 mins up- down. And yes, this park/drive offers many places to park your RV and do camping, picnic. I did near south river parking. Benches, Water taps are there. They allot you parking for your RV, they have showers, garbage disposals and everything. I did not complete whole 105-mile drive as I have covered only 80 miles till 7 so I took 211 routes from Thornton gap. It was still very good experience for me So yes, this park/drive offers 105 miles great drive (35 is maxed limit), camping, hiking-trailing and what not. Definitely recommended...!! read more

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This amazing 109 mile scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Mountains should not be missed. $25 per car gives you in/out access for a full 7 days. We entered at the northern most entrance and only made it about a 1/4 of the way exiting to see the Luray Caverns and never re-entering as we initially planned. There are lookout points all along the drive. Plenty of trails to hike along too. We stopped just before the Thornton Gap exit and picked up snacks and souvenirs at the gift shop. If you plan on hiking just be prepared for black bears. Can't wait to go back when the trees are fully bloomed and when we can make the entire drive. The views are stunning. read more

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Gorgeous drive with plenty of scenic stops you can make. There are also plenty of historic markers and information about the local history, several visitor centers, places to eat and shop on the drive! Be sure to bring your camera, hiking shoes, water bottle and bug spray- and in our case, sunblock too. In late April the higher elevation areas were still barren, but the lower elevations were simply full of fresh foliage and flowers! The views of the surrounding mountains and valleys were stunning at every stop! I hope I get to return in the fall someday! read more

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Nice drive, beautiful scenic overlooks, hiking, Picnic areas, camping areas & more Opportunity for day trip, weekend or vacation trps read more

Beautiful way to see a small portion of Shenandoah if you're in a hurry and can't do a ton of hiking. This has access points to trails and the station with the gift shops and stamps for your national park collection. During the skyline drive we saw 3 Blackbears and two deer. Great time to drive is sunrise or sunset. read more

Skyline Drive - Parks Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

This is such a beautiful place to drive! You can enjoy the views, nature, and possibly wildlife. There are trails, picnic areas, and pull off areas for photo ops. I've done the drive in summer and fall, both seasons were beautiful! read more

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Review for the road only not the whole park. The views are amazing with lots of scenic overlooks so it's a must see and even better if you stop and explore some of the trails, etc. Having said that, it's insane that NPS allows bikes on the road, they aren't REALLY vehicles and nothing more dangerous than a line of cars going 35 mph trying to pass or crawling behind a slow moving biker around a blind curve. Also, $20 is a little steep since it's a national park not a theme park but at least you get multiple day visits and even a one day trip is easily worth the cost. Check this out for sure but go early or it might be really crowded. read more

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Great scenic views! It's expensive though! Unless you can go on a free day and I think they only have those like twice a year. Also, be mindful of the speed limits. They really don't have anything else better to do up there than to try to catch you where the speed drops from 35 to 25. Excellent views of the Shenandoah Valley! read more

Skyline Drive - Sunset time!! - Parks Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

The drive is very pleasant, the view is absolutely stunning during the sunset. I really enjoy driving along skyline drive. read more

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Really scenic drive. We came early November and unfortunately peak Fall color season had already finished. Most of the trees were bare. There were still some really nice views though. We did the whole 109mile drive. I think that the north most half had many more lookouts. There are many lookouts along the drive but note that a large portion of these seem very similar. You don't need to stop at each one imo. My recommendation is to do half of the drive (north most half) and add in a hike or two on one of the many trails. read more

It feels like an achievement to finally drive the entire Skyline Drive after many years of only going a portion of it with the aim for hiking or camping in Shenandoah. It's $30 for a car. Well worth it. The sunset we saw there was outstanding. Be on the lookout for deer. We encountered many (maybe upwards of a dozen) including on the road itself. read more

Due to the COVID-19 virus spreading and trying to practice social distancing, my husband and I decided to do the Skyline Drive. We wanted to be outside in nature but not necessarily be close to a lot of people. The Skyline Drive was perfect because it's basically a long scenic drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains. The actual drive is located inside the Shenandoah National Park. There's different entrances to this park but the Front Royal entrance was the closest to us. There is a fee to enter the state park but I think due to everything going on right now and basically all the facilities(bathrooms, visitor centers, gift shops, etc.) being closed, the fee was waived today. The drive is about 100 miles long through the park. What I loved most about the Skyline Drive was all of the breathtaking scenic overlooks that you can stop at. Also, you might get the chance to see a bear or deer on your drive, although I didn't see any this time. I had such a great time today and would definitely recommend this drive to anyone who is looking for something to do during these difficult times. read more

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I've reviewed Shenandoah National Park (SNP) - which the Skyline Drive runs through - separately. http://www.yelp.com/biz/shenandoah-national-park-luray Skyline Drive is 105 miles long - and can be accessed from a number of routes: - Northern entrance at Front Royal (U.S. 340) - U.S. 211 - U.S. 33 - I-64/U.S. 250 The speed limit is 35 mph. There are numerous overlooks to pull over and get gorgeous photos and to just stop for a while and enjoy the views. I always enjoy stopping in at two of the Visitor Centers on Skyline Drive and reacquainting myself with the history and ecology of SNB. Every Autumn I make the drive through the park - usually on a weekday so as to avoid the crowds. A wonderful place to visit! read more

Skyline Drive - Parks Near Me - Front Royal, Virginia

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We had a blast! For $30, we got access to Skyline Drive for a week. Our vacation was several days long, so we broke the 100+ miles up into 3 trips, based on the different access points. Our trip was in the fall, a bit before the foliage had completely changed, and it was surprisingly less crowded than we anticipated. The pull-offs were nice and convenient, and we enjoyed the placards telling us more about the park. Some of the pull-offs were located on curves, and the traffic flow was really unclear, so sometimes it felt a bit unsafe pulling in and out (partly because some people were speeding on the drive). Other than that, I'm not sure we would have changed a single thing! There were several rest stops for bathrooms and souvenirs and food, which we appreciated. Overall, worth doing at least once! Enjoy the views :-D read more

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