Southern Mountain Magic – Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkway

Front Royal, the starting point of Skyline Drive (in Shenandoah National Park), is an historic and charming town to explore before heading to Skyline Drive. Front Royal is only 75 miles from Washington, DC, making it convenient for those visiting the Capitol. The park is nearly 200,000 acres and sees over 1.5 million visitors annually. It was opened in 1935 after decades of planning to provide a national park to the millions living in the Northeast and around Washington, DC. The park was a work relief project built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.

Skyline Drive, the main attraction in Shenandoah National Park, is only 105 miles long and winds along the tops of the Blue Ridge Mountains inside Shenandoah National Park, offering breathtaking mountain woodland vistas, hiking, wildlife, and waterfalls! The park is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, between the Piedmont region in the east and Shenandoah Valley to the west, and can be accessed through the nearby Front Royal entrance. While the speed limit is 35 mph on most of the drive, visitors will want to take their time as they drive this stunning scenic Parkway. The park is divided into three sections: the uncrowded north district, the popular central district, and the quiet southern district. Plan to hike and stop at many of the 75 scenic overlooks.

NOTE OF WARNING: the Mary’s Rock Tunnel (mile 32) has a clearance of 12’8”, which is less than the height of many RVs. The closest of the four entrances after Mary's Rock Tunnel is the Swift Run Gap entrance at mile 65 of Skyline Drive.

Charlottesville is an idyllic college town (with the prestigious University of Virginia – UVA) that is also steeped in history, architecture, outdoor recreation, and good restaurants and bars. This is where Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe called home and made their mark on the area. It's also a good hopping off point while seeing the nearby Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.

After leaving Charlottesville, you will make your way to the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is actually a continuation of Skyline Drive. The Blue Ridge Parkway spans 469 miles of the Appalachian Mountains – from the southern end of Skyline Drive in Virginia, to a few miles south of Asheville, North Carolina, and adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, North Carolina. The Parkway offers more than just natural beauty – it has many cultural exhibits and museums as well. As you travel south, the terrain becomes more rugged and steep, with jaw-dropping vistas. The speed limit is typically 45 mph along the Parkway which allows you to take in the natural beauty at a leisurely pace. There are many wonderful public campgrounds along the Parkway as well as charming towns and small cities nearby (with private campgrounds). Roanoke, Virginia, is a good half-way point as is the rustic Rocky Knob Campground at mile marker 167. Charming small towns are dotted along the Parkway. Let Adventure Genie help you find the perfect campground for your visit to the Blueridge Parkway!

After you finish the Blue Ridge Parkway, head a little east to explore the fun and funky town of Asheville. Asheville seems to be having its moment of late, with a thriving art scene, fabulous eclectic restaurants, abundant live music, historic architecture, endless outdoor pursuits, and stunning scenery. Spend time in the downtown area for great food, shops, and galleries. Don’t miss the Biltmore Estate, one of the grandest Gilded Age estates and gardens in America, which will take you back in time to when the Vanderbilts built this property. Hiking, biking, golfing, fishing, climbing, rafting, and kayaking are all readily accessible. In case you have extra time, head to nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just 50 miles west of Asheville.