Skyline Drive in the Fall
One of my favorite fall activities is to visit Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park! Skyline Drive is a scenic route atop the Blue Ridge Mountains, stretching 105 miles long. This is the only public road through the park. Not only does Skyline Drive boast stunning views from Front Royal to Waynesboro, it also offers access to hiking trails, camp sites, picnic areas, and cabins.
There are four entrances to Skyline Drive:
- Front Royal Entrance (off of 66 in Front Royal, VA)
- Thornton Gap Entrance (off of 211 near Sperryville, VA)
- Swift Run Gap Entrance (off of 33 near Harrisonburg, VA)
- Rockfish Gap Entrance (off of 64/250 near Waynesboro, VA)
It costs $30 per vehicle to enter, or $25 for a motorcycle. It takes approximately three hours to drive the full length of Skyline Drive. All along the drive there are overlooks scattered on either side of the road for cars to pull off and enjoy the view. When you enter, you can ask for a map that marks the overlooks, bathrooms, trails, and other places.
Shenandoah National Park has hiking trails all throughout Skyline Drive. In fact, 105 miles of the Appalachian Trail is in the Shenandoah National Park! If you visit the hiking page of the park website, you can browse the different trails available and see which have waterfalls! One of my favorite trails is Dark Hollows Falls. However, I haven’t tried out a trail that I did not enjoy!
Driving on Skyline Drive is always beautiful, but I find it extra stunning in the fall with all of the leaves changing! I visited this past weekend, just as the leaves had finally changed! We entered from Swift Run Gap and drove up to Thornton Gap, just past the Rock Tunnel. When we entered, there happened to be clouds hanging RIGHT OVER the top of the mountain! It made for a spooky ride, which was very appropriate for Halloween week! Luckily, it cleared up partway through so we could still enjoy the wonderful views and colorful trees.
Enjoy this photo tour of Skyline Drive in the Fall. 🙂
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23 Comments
Bjha
This is beautiful, the landscapes are amazing. Fall is mesmerizing in Eastern Canada and US. We have been looking at fall colours too this weekend but Virginia looks totally amazing. Your photography is awesome!
nextmileplan
The view is just amzing. And the way you captures them all. Amazing post!
petitegirlventures
These views are stunning! I love the different landscapes and fall foliage, my favorite thing about this time of year! 🍁🍂💛
Gwen
This is on my trip list! My sister and brother in law went last fall and said it was gorgeous!
Sanjota Purohit
Beautiful! Fall is my favorite season of the year!
Rudy
Shelby, you are a total travel Badass!
One and half backpacks
Really beautiful photos, nice scenery
Simon Starchevsky
You really catch the beautiful scenery so well in your photos.
Karen Maxwell
Photos looks so amazing. Fall is very beautiful.
aubrimjackson
We are looking for a place to go hiking next year around this time. This will be beautiful and to get to wake up to this view every morning.