Driving Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive Status

Inclement weather may necessitate closure of Skyline Drive at any time. The park's phone line will no longer be updated. Subscribe to Shenandoah's alert system by texting SHENALERTS to 888777 to receive updates as they occur. Additionally, please check the park's Alerts & Conditions for information that may affect your visit.

 

NPS/Shenandoah National Park

 

FIND OUT MORE...

• Directions to Shenandoah
• Operating Hours & Seasons
• Skyline Drive in the Winter
• History of Skyline Drive

The Skyline Drive runs 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park and is the only public road through the Park. It takes about three hours to travel the entire length of the Park on a clear day.

Skyline Drive is generally open 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. If it's closed due to inclement weather, you may still enter the Park on foot at one of the entrance stations or from one of the boundary access points.

 

Entering the Park on Skyline Drive

You can enter Shenandoah with your vehicle at only four places along Skyline Drive:

Front Royal Entrance Station (mile 0) by Rt. 66 and 340 in Front Royal, Virginia.

Thornton Gap Entrance Station (mile 31.5) by Rt. 211 near Luray, Virginia.

Swift Run Gap Entrance Station (mile 65.5) by Rt. 33 near Elkton, Virginia.

Rockfish Gap Entrance Station (mile 104.6) by Rt. 64 and Rt. 250 (also the northern entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway).

Don't rely on GPS to navigate to Shenandoah National Park, as it can be incorrect. Instead, follow these directions to each entrance station. If there are no staff at the entrance stations when you first arrive at the Park, you may proceed into the Park and pay your fee when you exit. Remember, your fee dollars go towards projects that have direct benefits for the visitors!

Mileposts

As you travel along Skyline Drive you will notice mileposts on the west side of the road (right side if you are traveling south, left if you are heading north). These cement posts help you find your way through the Park and help you locate areas of interest. The miles begin at 0 in Front Royal and continue to 105 at the southern end of the Park. The largest developed area, Big Meadows, is near the center of the Park, at mile 51. All Park maps and information use these mileposts as a reference.

Speed Limit

The speed limit is 35 mph in most places, so feel free to roll down your windows, feel the breeze, and experience every curve and turn of this beautiful drive. Deer, black bear, wild turkey, and a host of other woodland animals call Shenandoah home and regularly cross Skyline Drive in their daily travels. Watch carefully for these animals who may dart across your path without warning. If you want a closer look, be sure to pull completely off the road and stay in your vehicle.

Gas and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Options are limited for filling up your car, so be sure to plan accordingly. Find out more information about gas and charging stations.

RVs, Campers, and Horse Trailers

Be sure you will clear Marys Rock Tunnel (mile 32.2), with a maximum clearance of 12'8". This is the measured clearance for both lanes of the road. RVs, camping trailers, and horse trailers are welcome, but be prepared to shift into low gear.when going downhill.

 

Available Phones Along Skyline Drive

Emergency phones connect directly to the Park emergency services number: [phone]
* Directions to the emergency phone at Loft Mountain Campground from Loft Mountain Wayside: Take the Loft Mountain Access Road across Skyline Drive and follow it past the campstore and amphitheater parking to the Loft Mountain Campground Registration Station. Distance is approximately 1.4 miles.

MILE	LOCATION	PHONE TYPE
0.6	Front Royal Entrance Station	Emergency phone (auto dial)
4.6	Dickey Ridge Visitor Center Restrooms	Local/calling card/collect only phone
24.1	Elkwallow Wayside Restrooms/Breezeway	Emergency phone (auto dial)
31.5	Thornton Gap Entrance Station	Emergency phone (auto dial)
51.2	Big Meadows Campground	Emergency phone outside campground office
65.5	Swift Run Gap Entrance Station	Emergency phone (auto dial)
79.5	Loft Mountain Wayside*	Out of order. Use the phone at Loft Mountain Campground registration station.
79.5	Loft Mountain Campground Registration Station	Emergency phone (auto dial)
104.9	Rockfish Gap Entrance Station	Emergency phone (auto dial)
	Old Rag Parking Area (Rt. 600, near Nethers, VA)	Emergency phone (auto dial)
	Whiteoak Canyon Boundary Trailhead (Rt. 600, near Syria, VA)	Emergency phone (auto dial)