Skyline Drive facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Skyline Drive
Road map of Skyline Drive showing nearby major roads and cities in west-central and northwestern Virginia
Route information
Maintained by National Park Service
Length	105.5 mi (169.8 km)
Existed	1939–present
Tourist routes	Skyline Drive
Major junctions
North end	US 340 near Front Royal
	US 211 in Thornton Gap US 33 in Swift Run Gap
South end	US 250 in Rockfish Gap
Location
Counties:	Warren, Rappahannock, Page, Madison, Greene, Rockingham, Albemarle, Augusta
Highway system
Skyline Drive Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
View from Skyline Drive
Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Nearest city	Front Royal, Virginia
Built	1931
MPS	Historic Park Landscapes in National and State Parks MPS
NRHP reference No.	97000375
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	April 28, 1997
Designated NHLD	October 6, 2008

Skyline Drive is a famous road that stretches for about 105 miles (169 kilometers) through Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. It follows the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering amazing views. The road starts near Front Royal in the north and ends at Rockfish Gap in the south. There, it connects to the Blue Ridge Parkway, another scenic road.

This special road has 75 overlooks where you can stop and enjoy the scenery. You'll see the Shenandoah Valley on one side and the Piedmont on the other. Skyline Drive is a great place for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and even horseback riding. It also leads to campgrounds, visitor centers, and resorts. Many people love to visit in the fall to see the beautiful changing leaves.

The idea for Skyline Drive began in 1924 when a national park was planned for the Blue Ridge Mountains. President Herbert Hoover supported building the road. Construction started in 1931, and the road was completed in sections over several years. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped a lot in building it. Skyline Drive is now recognized as a National Scenic Byway and a National Historic Landmark.

Exploring Skyline Drive: A Scenic Journey

Skyline Drive winds its way along the mountain ridges, making it the only public road through Shenandoah National Park. It runs from north to south, connecting Front Royal to Rockfish Gap.

There are four main places where you can enter Skyline Drive:

• Near Front Royal (close to US 340).
• At Thornton Gap (where it meets US 211).
• At Swift Run Gap (where it meets US 33).
• At Rockfish Gap (near US 250 and I-64).

At the southern end in Rockfish Gap, Skyline Drive connects to the Blue Ridge Parkway. This parkway continues south along the Blue Ridge Mountains. Along Skyline Drive, you'll see mileposts from 0 to 105. These markers help you know where you are.

What to See and Do on the Drive

The speed limit on Skyline Drive is 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour), and park rangers make sure everyone follows it. You'll share the road with cars, bicycles, and even pedestrians. Watch out for wildlife like deer, black bears, and turkeys that might cross the road!

Many hiking trails start from Skyline Drive, including parts of the famous Appalachian Trail. Besides driving, you can also enjoy biking and horseback riding in certain areas. The drive is especially popular in the fall when the leaves change into bright colors.

Sometimes, parts of Skyline Drive close. It's closed from dusk to dawn from November to early January to prevent illegal hunting. The road also closes temporarily after snow or ice storms for safety.

From Front Royal to Thornton Gap

Skyline Drive northbound at the Indian Run Overlook

The northern part of Skyline Drive starts near Front Royal. As you enter, you'll pass the Front Royal Entrance Station. The road then climbs up into the Blue Ridge Mountains. You'll find the Shenandoah Valley Overlook, offering great views.

Further south, you'll reach the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center. This is a good place to stop, with a ranger station, picnic areas, and restrooms. The drive continues to wind, passing overlooks like Gooney Knob and Compton Gap. The Appalachian Trail often runs very close to Skyline Drive in this section.

You'll pass the Hogback Overlook on Hogback Mountain, which gives you a view to the northwest. You might also find Mathews Arm, which has a campground and ranger station. Another stop is Elkwallow, with restrooms, picnic areas, and food service. This section ends at an interchange with US 211 at the Thornton Gap Entrance Station.

From Thornton Gap to Swift Run Gap

Marys Rock Tunnel

After the US 211 interchange, Skyline Drive continues south. You'll pass through the Marys Rock Tunnel, which goes right under Mary's Rock. The road then winds past several overlooks like Pinnacles Overlook and Jewell Hollow Overlook.

You'll reach Skyland, where the Skyland Resort offers food, places to stay, and restrooms. This area is also the highest point along Skyline Drive! Farther south, you'll come to Hawksbill Gap Parking. From here, a trail leads to Hawksbill Mountain, which is the highest peak in Shenandoah National Park.

The drive continues past Dark Hollow Falls Parking, where you can hike to the 70-foot (21-meter) high Dark Hollow Falls. Then you'll arrive at Big Meadows. This is a major stop with a ranger station, campground, picnic areas, food, and lodging. It also has the Byrd Visitor Center and a wayside with a restaurant and gift shop.

This section also passes Milam Gap, where a trail leads to Rapidan Camp. This was President Herbert Hoover's summer home from 1929 to 1932. The drive continues to Lewis Mountain, which has another campground and picnic areas. This part of the road ends at an interchange with US 33 at the Swift Run Gap Entrance Station.

From Swift Run Gap to Rockfish Gap

Skyline Drive in the fall

After the US 33 interchange, Skyline Drive heads southwest. You'll pass overlooks like Bacon Hollow and Eaton Hollow. The road continues to Loft Mountain, which has a ranger station, campground, and camp store.

Fall colors near Milepost 103

You'll drive past Dundo, which has an overlook and picnic grounds. The road then winds past Blackrock and through Blackrock Gap. Further south, you'll see overlooks like Crimora Lake and Turk Mountain.

The drive goes through Jarman Gap and then past the Calf Mountain Overlook. Finally, Skyline Drive reaches the Rockfish Gap Entrance Station. After crossing over I-64, the road ends at an interchange with US 250 in Rockfish Gap. From here, the road continues south as the Blue Ridge Parkway.

How to Enter the Park: Fees and Passes

You need to pay a fee to enter Shenandoah National Park and drive on Skyline Drive. This isn't a toll for the road itself, but an entrance fee for the park.

Here are some common passes:

• A 7-day pass for a private car costs $30.00.
• A 7-day pass for motorcycles costs $25.00.
• If you enter by walking or biking, a 7-day pass costs $15.00 per person (for ages 16 and older).
• An annual park pass for a private car costs $55.00.

You can also use the America the Beautiful Pass series, which includes:

• The Annual Pass for $80.00.
• The Annual Senior Pass for $20.00 (for seniors).
• The lifetime Senior Pass for $80.00.
• The lifetime Access Pass, which gives free admission to people with disabilities.
• The Volunteer Pass, which offers free admission to volunteers who work 250 hours.
• Members of the U.S. Armed Forces can get a free Annual Pass.
• Fourth graders can get a free pass for their whole family through the Every Kid in a Park Pass.

The History of Skyline Drive

The idea for Skyline Drive came about in 1924. A committee was looking for a place to create a national park in the Blue Ridge Mountains that would be easy to reach from big cities on the East Coast of the United States. They decided that a "sky-line drive" with amazing views would be the main feature of the new park.

Skyline Drive near milepost 12 in the fall

President Herbert Hoover, who had a summer home nearby, pushed for the road to be built. Construction officially began on July 18, 1931. The first part of the road was built using money from a drought relief program, which helped local farmers and apple pickers who were struggling.

In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was formed, and its members played a huge role in building Skyline Drive. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was very impressed by the mountains and set up the first CCC camps in a national park along Skyline Drive. The CCC workers helped shape the slopes, build guardrails and stone walls, create overlooks, and plant thousands of trees and shrubs.

The section of Skyline Drive between Thornton Gap and Swift Run Gap opened in 1934. This part included the Marys Rock Tunnel, which was bored through Marys Rock. The tunnel was built to save money and was also a challenge for the engineers.

By 1936, the drive was finished from Front Royal to Thornton Gap. The section from Swift Run Gap to Jarman Gap opened in 1939. The final part, between Jarman Gap and Rockfish Gap, was originally built as part of the Blue Ridge Parkway in 1939. It became part of Skyline Drive in 1961. Building the park and the road meant that some people had to leave their homes, either by choice or because they were asked to.

Highest point along the drive, at Skyland in Madison County

Over the years, improvements have been made to the road. The original wooden guardrails were removed in the 1950s. In 1958, the Marys Rock Tunnel was partly lined with concrete to prevent ice and water problems. Some of the old stone walls were replaced with concrete walls that looked like the originals.

Skyline Drive has received special recognition for its importance. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. In 2005, it was named a National Scenic Byway, and in 2008, it became a National Historic Landmark. This shows how important Skyline Drive is in the history of national parks in the eastern United States.

Images for kids

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  Mountain view along Skyline Drive

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  Sign at south entrance to Skyline Drive