We‘ve often been in conditions where you couldn’t see more than 20-30 feet in front of your car! If you feel uncomfortable driving, pull over at an overlook and wait for the fog to clear up or thin out. Turn on your headlights or even your flashers and slow down. Weather – While traveling the parkway, you will often experience very thick fog and often rain.

Take your time, go slow, and enjoy the views and journey.

If you speed, you could easily run into them or some of the wildlife around the Parkway. Don’t speed! Many people are there to enjoy the views and will suddenly pull off or be driving very slow. Visitor Centers offer exhibits, videos, park bookstores, and general information about Shenandoah National Park.We’ve been traveling Skyline drive for many years and we’ve learned a few things and offer these Skyline Drive Travel Tips to help you enjoy your visit: Lodging and restaurant facilities are operated by the park’s official concessionaire. Visitors can still enter the park on foot to hike even when the Drive is closed.įacilities and services begin operating in March and close down completely in late November. However, portions of Skyline Drive, the only public road through the park, are periodically closed during inclement weather and at night during deer hunting season. Also, be sure you will clear Marys Rock Tunnel (just south of Thornton Gap entrance from Route 211) at 12’8”. RVs, camping trailers, and horse trailers are welcome, but be prepared to shift into low gear. Remember it is unlawful to feed the wildlife. At 35 mph, you’ll stand the best chance of a fun and exciting wildlife encounter rather than an unpleasant wildlife experience! If you want a closer look, be sure to pull completely off the Drive and stay in your vehicle. Watch carefully for these animals who may dart across your path without warning. June’s display of azaleas is spectacular, and cardinal flower, black-eyed susans, and goldenrod keep the color coming right into fall.ĭeer, black bear, wild turkey, and a host of other woodland animals call Shenandoah home and regularly cross Skyline Drive in their daily travels. In early spring you can see trillium peeking through the grass. The park purposely leaves the roadsides unmowed so wildflowers put on a show all year long. There are 75 overlooks that offer stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley to the west or the rolling Piedmont to the east. The maximum speed limit is 35 mph, so you can roll down your windows, feel the breeze and experience every curve and turn of this beautiful drive. All park maps and information use these mileposts as a reference. The largest developed area, Big Meadows, is near the center of the park, at milepost 51.

The mileposts begin with 0.0 at Front Royal and continue to 105 at the southern end of the park. These posts help you find your way through the park and help you locate areas of interest. It takes about three hours to travel the entire length of the park on a clear day.As you travel along Skyline Drive you will notice mileposts on the right side if you are traveling south on the road.

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