Welcome to the most beautiful road in America - Skyline Drive!
See that fat blue squiggly line running straight down the middle of the Virginia map? That’s one of Americas’ protected treasures, Shenandoah National Park (SNP), 65 miles west of Washington D.C. in the Blue Ridge mountains. Skyline Drive is the only road through the Park. It runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge mountains. It takes about three hours to travel the entire length of SNP on a clear day.
There are 4 entrances
Front Royal (mile 0) | Thornton Gap (mile 31.5)
Swift Run Gap (mile 65.5) | Rockfish Gap (mile 104.6)
This page is your digital Visitor Center
Use the links to virtually visit the villages and towns in the foothills of SNP to plan where you want to enter, exit, dine, wine, recline, play and stay for the day.
They don’t call Front Royal Virginia the canoe capital of the world for nothing! Front Royal/Warren County is conveniently located within the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia along the Shenandoah River. Front Royal offers numerous places to eat and drink, recreational activities, places to stay.
Rappahannock County is a popular entrance to SNP because …. Location, Location, Location! The Thornton Gap entrance is the closest entrance to park lodges, gift shops, museums and restaurants, and most importantly, the mile high blackberry ice cream pie! Rappahannock is known as DC’s Kitchen. This viticulture area is nicknamed Sonoma of the South by Virginia Living Magazine and Sonoma East by the Washington Post. Skyline Tasting Trail and other Virginia Agritourism businesses are here. Several highly rated and casual restaurants are located here. Sperryville, the grooviest village in Virginia, is here. Fun things to do and a high concentration of Village and Farm B&Bs are here to support the restaurants and welcome guests to unwind in the countryside, just 60 miles west of Washington, DC.
The town of Luray is nestled between the Blue Ridge and Massanutten Mountains, offering fun things to do, great places to eat, and places to stay, and a wealth of experiences. Enjoy the natural wonders, such as Luray Caverns and the Shenandoah River, the scenic beauty of Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive, Virginia agritourism activities and the small-town charm of the towns of Stanley, and Shenandoah.
Located in the heart of the Valley, Harrisonburg is the outdoor adventure capital of the Shenandoah Valley. With access to the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Shenandoah National Park, and numerous parks, trails, and waterways, the city is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Massanutten Resort is tucked into the Valley here. Harrisonburg has the variety of a larger city and the charm of a small town with fun things to do, great places to eat and places to stay. Harrisonburg is the perfect college town - home of James Madison University. The largest Beer Trail in Virginia starts here - Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail
Staunton is located in the agriculturally rich Shenandoah Valley, and is surrounded by fields, farms, orchards, and vineyards. This is the small town with big ideas - the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse is here. The Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail and the Fields of Gold Virginia Agritourism Trail are here. The Fields of Gold Trail started in 2010 when local planners and tourism officials teamed up with farmers to show off the farms of Shenandoah Valley. Staunton (pronouced Stan ton) has fun things to do, great places to eat and great places to stay.
Charlottesville, colloquially known as C'ville, is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. C’ville has been named the best place to live in the United States. This is the largest city in the foothills of SNP with lots of fun things to do, great places to eat and places to stay. It is definitely a happenin’ college town - Home of the University of Virginia. Home of two Presidents - Jefferson and Monroe. Be sure to visit Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello here. Home of the Monticello Wine Trail, one of the largest viticultural areas of the State. The Charlottesville Ale Trail consists of craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries in and around Charlottesville. Wine and Beer trails start right as you descend the Blue Ridge mountains. A visit to C’ville isn't complete without lunch or dinner on the Downtown Mall.
Thanks for Visiting
the Foothills of
SHENANDOAH
NATIONAL
PARK
Contact information is available on each town website
SKYLINE BASECAMP
