Skyline Drive, National Scenic Byway in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, United States.
Skyline Drive is a 105-mile two-lane road along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. It runs from Front Royal at US 340 to Rockfish Gap at US 250 and I-64, with intermediate junctions at Thornton Gap and Swift Run Gap. A low wall of rough light-gray stone blocks lines parts of the route, and 75 overlooks face the Shenandoah Valley to the west and the Piedmont to the east.
Construction began in 1931 as part of a federal program to create jobs during the Great Depression and expand access to recreation areas. The road was completed in 1939, linking existing paths along the mountain range with new sections.
The name Skyline Drive refers to the views from the ridge-top route, where drivers look across the Shenandoah Valley to the west and the Piedmont to the east. The road is also used for cycling and horseback riding, and the Appalachian Trail runs alongside it for much of its length. In autumn, visitors drive it for leaf peeping as the foliage changes color.
The speed limit is set at 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour), and the route may close during winter conditions or severe weather. A park entrance pass is required year-round to access the road.
The route connects with 500 miles (805 kilometers) of hiking trails within the park, including sections of the Appalachian Trail that runs from Georgia to Maine. Mileposts along the road number the entire length from north to south, helping travelers identify their location.
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