Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip

Front Royal/Warren County Visitors Center – stop in this restored 1885 train station to plan your trip. Ask about a self-guided walking tour of historic Front Royal. Learn about Front Royal’s history in the American Revolution and the Civil War, including the Battle of Front Royal.

Skyline Caverns – while the one-hour cave tour with dramatic rock formations created by water is the highlight, the Miniature Train Enchanted Dragon Maze and nature trail will enhance your visit. Located in Front Royal.

Luray Caverns – located 35 miles from Front Royal, this U.S. National Landmark is one of America’s largest and most popular caverns. The colorful and massive rock formations will delight visitors of all ages. You may also want to check out the Car & Carriage Museum, Shenandoah Heritage Village, Toy Town Junction, Garden Maze, and the Rope Adventure Park. Timed reservations to see the caverns are required.

Battle of Front Royal Driving Tour – this 16-mile route will take you to various sites along the river where the Union was defeated by Confederate Troops. Several other Civil War driving tours are nearby.

Main Street Historic District – this lively section of Front Royal is filled with charming eateries, shops, and bars, including several craft breweries. There are also interesting small museums like the Warren Rifles Confederate Memorial Museum and beautiful historic architecture. Don’t miss the Virginia Beer Museum. Some of the breweries are part of the Shenandoah Spirits Trail which runs from Winchester to Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Outdoor Activities – hiking, rafting, canoeing/rafting/kayaking (on the nearby Shenandoah River), and horseback riding opportunities are plentiful.

Dickey Ridge Visitor Center – this informative visitor center, with rangers available to answer questions, is located four miles past the Front Royal entrance. It is a great first stop to get oriented and plan your visit.

Rapidan Camp – this historic site's cabin, Brown House, was the wilderness and fishing retreat of President Herbert Hoover, and has been furnished and restored to mirror its original condition. See also the Prime Minister’s Cabin, which displays artifacts from Hoover’s era.

Popular Hikes – Old Rag Mountain, Hawkbill Mountain, Mary's Rock Summit and the Appalachian Trail are some of the most popular hikes along Skyline Drive. While the Appalachian Trail is 2,100 miles long and traverses 14 states (from Maine to Georgia), 101 miles of it are in Shenandoah National Park. Find a place to hike this iconic trail.

Waterfalls – see one of the many mountain falls. Some of the most popular are Dark Hollow Falls, Rose River Falls, Hazel River Falls, and Doyles River Falls. You can reach most of these falls via different hikes of varying difficulty. Check with the Visitor Centers to ensure they are a good fit for you.

Monticello – this historic 5,000-acre estate is much more than simply Thomas Jefferson’s former home. Jefferson was an expert architect, inventor, writer, diplomat, and farmer. You can tour the house, grounds, slave quarters, and visitor center. The guided Hemings Family Tour tells the story of enslaved Sally Hemings, who bore at least six of Jefferson’s children. The tour tries to provide a balanced perspective on slavery and race in America.

University of Virginia – this prestigious and historic campus (the first non-religious college in the U.S.) was designed and founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, and shares the beauty and historic significance of Monticello. It is also the only U.S. college campus to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The University offers free tours, including specialty ones.

Highlands – this less famous (and less crowded) presidential home, offers a charming glimpse into the country’s fifth President, James Monroe. The original home and other buildings were destroyed long ago, but the wonderful reproductions provide a glimpse into life in the 1800s. Monroe owned hundreds of slaves but, ironically, was a proponent of abolition. Tours by knowledgeable guides provide perspective on Monroe and the lives of enslaved people.

Downtown Mall – this vibrant downtown area near the UVA campus, has over 150 shops, bars, and restaurants. It’s a wonderful place to relax after a long day touring.

Humpback Rocks Visitor Center and Farm Museum (mile 5) – this visitor center near the northern entrance is a great place to stop to gather information and plan your visit. Don’t miss the adjacent outdoor farm museum with preserved log cabin and outbuildings and costumed actors demonstrating farm life in the late 1800s.

Natural Bridge (mile 61) – this massive natural rock formation creates a 200-foot-high natural bridge. There is an entrance fee for the bridge (with a shuttle bus to take you back up), plus a visitor center, butterfly exhibit, Monacan Village, wax museum, Drama of Creation, and the Jefferson Playground. The Monacan Indians considered this a sacred site, and George Washington carved his initials in it while surveying the area.

Mabry Mill and Rocky Knob (miles 161-176) – Mabry Mill is considered the most photographed site on the Parkway. Take a leisurely stroll around the mill, blacksmith shop, and sawmill. They often host local folk music. The Marbry Mill Restaurant offers down-home country meals. Camping, picnicking, and stunning vistas are at nearby Rock Knob Campground.

Blue Ridge Music Center and Roots of American Music Museum (mile 213) – this performing arts center offers free daily concerts in peak season. The adjacent museum has interactive exhibits tracing the roots of American music to the banjos and fiddles of the Appalachian frontier.

Blowing Rock (mile 291) – this cliff, 3,000 feet above the Johns River Gorge in North Carolina, creates strong upward winds that blow lightweight objects (and snow) upward! There is an entrance fee. The nearby town of Blowing Rock, NC, is a charming town with high quality restaurants, shops, and historic homes.

Linville Falls (mile 316) and Crabtree Falls (mile 340) – check out these two popular waterfalls.

Blue Ridge Folk Art Center (mile 382) – this Folk Art Center houses the Southern Highland Craft Guild and Allanstand Craft Shop, and showcases the finest of new and old Appalachian arts and crafts. You can also see artist demonstrations and the Robert W. Gray Library with over 20,000 volumes on crafts in the U.S. and around the world.

Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville Visitor Center – this visitor center offers exhibits on the Parkway, a kids nature trail, and a high-definition movie, "The Blue Ridge Parkway – America’s Favorite Journey."

Biltmore House and Estate – with more than 150,000 square feet of living space, this Chateauesque-style grand mansion is the largest privately owned house in the U.S. Built by George Washington Vanderbilt II in 1895 as his “little mountain escape,” his descendants still occupy and use parts of the massive home. Vanderbilt furnished it with priceless period furniture and art. The self-guided tours take you back in time and help visitors understand the astounding way the estate was painstakingly built over six years. The Estate has fabulous gardens, hiking trails, shops, restaurants, a winery, and much more. Plan to spend 4-6 hours to take it all in.

Downtown Asheville – vibrant, downtown Asheville has thriving art, music, craft beer, dining, and cultural scenes. Check out the Asheville Art Museum, Thomas Wolfe Memorial, Lexington Glassworks, South Slope Brewing District, Asheville Urban Trail, minor league baseball (Asheville Tourists), Drum Circle (Fridays at 6pm), and the Mast General Store. There are more than 100 restaurants, 200 shops, and 30 galleries downtown.

River Arts District – next to the Broad River, this arts district features nearly 200 working artist studios and galleries. There are also places to eat and drink.

North Carolina Arboretum – just south of Asheville, this arboretum offers acres of cultivated gardens and groomed trails with some of the most beautiful botanically diverse plants in the area. It has indoor and outdoor exhibits and many special events.

Western North Carolina Nature Center – this 42-acre zoo is operated by the City of Asheville’s Parks and Recreation Department. It has more than 60 species common to the region – all have either been injured or are unable to survive in the wild.

Adventure Center of Asheville – this privately-owned park allows the young or young at heart to zip, swing, rappel, jump, climb and walk above the treetops, all safely suspended by 30 towering trees.

Pisgah National Forest – this USDA-operated forest, located a stone’s throw from Asheville, has 500,000 stunning acres of waterfalls, forests, and mountains. Parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway actually go through Pisgah. Consider hiking, driving, or mountain biking here.

Outdoor Pursuits – Asheville is rich in opportunities to enjoy the outdoors – hiking, climbing, kayaking, biking, fishing, golfing, and on and on! Here is a helpful guide.