Skyline Drive Meanders Through Shenandoah National Park’s Autumn Mosaic of Color

Established in late 1935, Shenandoah National Park stretches along the crest of Virginia’s gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, preserving over 200,000 acres of pristine forests, waterways, and the region's iconic hollows within the great Appalachian Mountain range. Wherever you decide to go in this vast natural area, the fall season in particular is a draw for millions of visitors every year to see its deciduous woodlands change from lush greens to a canvas of red, orange, and yellow as far as the eye can see.

Long before its federal designation, this landscape was home to various Indigenous peoples, followed by European, then American, settlers who eventually farmed, logged, and lived in the area's numerous valleys. By the 1930s, conservationists and park planners sought to create a new eastern parkland, accessible to urban populations from nearby Washington D.C., Richmond, and other established/growing metros. This led to the displacement of hundreds of families and the rewilding of once-inhabited land, a legacy that can now be explored at several local historic sites.

The park’s eventual creation was shaped by New Deal programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps, which then built trails, overlooks, and the Skyline Drive, which is widely considered the scenic backbone of Shenandoah.

Today, the national park is still known for its dense forests that transform spectacularly in autumn, abundant wildlife, and sweeping views, thanks to ongoing efforts from the National Park System. Here, you can walk or drive through what is both a corridor of wilderness and a historic landscape, shaped by centuries of change, both natural and man-made.

Let's circle back to Skyline Drive, though, a feature that attracts well over a million visitors every year. Read on to see what makes this auto route one of the most travelled in the United States.

What is the Skyline Drive?

Skyline Drive is the main road running the length of Shenandoah National Park, going for 105 miles from the Front Royal Entrance Station in the north to Rockfish Gap in the south. Completed in 1939 after about 8 years of construction, it was designed to ride the park’s lofty ridgelines and offer motorists panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in an America that was becoming increasingly addicted to car travel.

The road mostly follows the crest of the mountains, with 75 unique overlooks providing access to countless vistas, trailheads, roadside attractions, and amenities to help you on your journey. Skyline Drive is also the only public road through the park and is especially popular during the fall foliage season, when the region's dense, otherwise green, forests pop with color as winter can begin to be felt in the air.

Must-Visit Stops Along the Way

We won't be able to go over all 75 stops on the route, as we do like to leave a little bit of discovery up to you, but there are a handful that you should know about before embarking on your trip in this national park. From idyllic waterfalls to renowned hiking trails, viewpoints, campgrounds, and more, here is our list of must-visit spots you can enjoy on or near Skyline Drive.

Dickey Ridge Visitor Center

Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, located at milepost 4.6 along the route, is a great first stop near the northern gateway to Shenandoah National Park. Open from mid-April through November, the center is useful in many ways, with restrooms, an information desk, exhibits, a bookstore, a gift shop, maps, backcountry permits, and recycling facilities available.

You should also explore the landscape around the building. Check out nearby trails, such as the Fox Hollow Trail, a 1.2-mile loop that passes through former farmland and even a family cemetery, and the Snead Farm Loop Trail, a 3.7-mile circuit leading to more historic landmarks, namely the old Snead family barn.

Big Meadows

Big Meadows is one of the most visited and ecologically significant areas in the entire park, and is conveniently located near milepost 51. This open, grassy expanse contrasts with the surrounding mountainous forest and supports a highly diverse range of plant and animal life.

On the other hand, early settlers once used it for grazing, but today it has thankfully reverted to a healthy habitat for species like deer, black bears, and essential pollinators.

The area includes the Harry F. Byrd, Sr. Visitor Center, a campground, picnic grounds, Tanners Ridge Overlook, access to popular hiking trails, and notable natural landmarks, including Dark Hollow Falls and Lewis Falls. Big Meadows is also a prime spot for stargazing due to its wide-open skies and the limited amount of light pollution within the park.

It is one of the best places to explore local woodlands on foot during the autumn season as well, as many of the trails here pass by dense stands of trees in and around the meadows.

Elkwallow Wayside

Hungry for a road snack? Or perhaps some firewood for your campsite? Elkwallow Wayside is a charming little general store that offers a good selection of groceries, camping supplies, and souvenirs. It serves fresh-to-order food too, which can be enjoyed in the scenic Elkwallow Picnic Area just outside. There is also tons of parking at this spot, making space for both shoppers and those arriving to hike the adjacent Knob Mountain-Jeremys Run Trailhead.

Backcountry hikers have a special appreciation for Elkwallow Wayside, given that the Range View Cabin, an overnight shelter, sits about a mile away off the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Located just across Skyline Drive from the store, it is a welcome sight for those who need to resupply and maybe even freshen up a little.

Range View Lookout

Possibly the most iconic viewpoint in the park, Range View Overlook is located at milepost 17.1 and will give you a jaw-dropping perspective of the Blue Ridge Mountains. At an elevation of 2,810 feet, this overlook comes with south-facing views that extend from Keyser Mountain to the distant peaks of Old Rag and Stony Man Mountain.

It is renowned for its unobstructed sightlines, showcasing the natural beauty of northern Virginia with little to no visible signs of human development in the way. It's an ideal place for photography, particularly during sunrise and sunset. Furthermore, this location really brings the crowds in autumn, with it providing a truly spectacular display of the sea of changing foliage below.

Easily accessible from both the Front Royal and Thornton Gap entrances, there are few excuses to miss a quick stop at Range View Overlook at any time of the year.

Skyland

Elevate your stay in Shenandoah in luxury at Skyland, a resort that sits 3,680 feet along Skyline Drive between mileposts 41.7 and 42.5. In fact, this locale rests on the highest point in Shenandoah National Park.

Originally established in 1888 by George Freeman Pollock Jr., it began as a summer retreat called Stony Man Camp, attracting visitors in search of fresh mountain air matched with unforgettable views high above the Shenandoah Valley.

Today, Skyland endures with an upgraded range of accommodations, from rustic cabins to modern rooms, along with a restaurant, taproom, and gift shop. From the resort's grounds, you can also enjoy guided horseback rides on local trails, live entertainment, and easy access to nearby foot trails like Stony Man and Little Stony Man.

Open seasonally from March through November, Skyland should definitely be on your radar if you aim to spend a night or two within the park this spring, summer, or fall.

See One of the East Coast's Finest Parks This Year

If you're driving in from one of many nearby cities or arriving from abroad, Shenandoah provides one of the best national park experiences in the United States. Whether staying for an afternoon or multiple days, its vast, lush forests show off Virginia's immense ecological diversity in the warmer months, and transform into a postcard-worthy wonderland as the fall season picks up. In other words, you simply can't go wrong with the scenery here, regardless of when you come by. And if sightseeing is what you are after, then a trip down Skyline Drive is just a no-brainer, an adventure that can easily be experienced over one day or split up into multiple.