Drive Through Virginia’s Most Glorious National Park And Forests On This Road Trip Adventure

When embarking on a scenic drive, I think it’s best to start at the very beginning, so here we are at Front Royal Entrance Station in Shenandoah National Park just off of U.S. Route 340. Here you will either pay the entrance fee or show your National Parks Pass for entry.

Four miles from the entrance and the start of Skyline Drive is the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center where you’ll find restrooms, exhibits, a park orientation film, maps, and more. You can even take in views of the valley from the overlook here.

View peaks like Hogback Mountain, Keyser Mountain, and Jenkins Mountain from Range View Overlook. At 2,810 feet in elevation, the panoramic views are outstanding.

Big Meadows Lodge is another memorable stop along Skyline Drive. While you can certainly choose to spend the night here, the lodge is also a place to stretch your legs, grab a bite to eat like Roosevelt's Roasted or Fried Chicken and a slice of Shenandoah's Signature Blackberry Ice Cream Pie. 

Located at mile marker 79.5, Loft Mountain Wayside is where you can pick up gifts, snacks (I suggest you get a blackberry shake), and a bite to eat. Dine on one of the picnic tables and keep your eyes peeled for birds and other wildlife. 

From here you can take the 1.3-mile Frazier Discovery Loop Trail through the forest and along rocky terrain before continuing on with the drive.

At the southern terminus of Skyline Drive is where you’ll find the Rockfish Gap Entrance Station. A ranger will be on duty here during certain times of the day if you have any questions. This is the last stop on this extraordinary scenic route but you can always spend the night in Waynesboro, and the next day, turn around and take the route again, this time from south to north.

Located within the Shenandoah Valley is this charming Waynesboro B&B. The perfect way to end the day, your accommodations at Cider House Bed and Breakfast are in a historic house on a farm (how quaint). In the morning, you’ll be treated to a full gourmet breakfast of locally produced produce, fruit, and meat. You may also purchase a picnic lunch before heading back into Shenandoah National Park.