Community Forums

WDW · 01-19-2015, 04:26 PM

Thinking about taking a side trip down Skyline Drive starting at RT 33 and traveling south to I64 on our way to Charlottesville KOA Harrisonburg / Shenandoah KOA. Is this a good route to sample this historic drive? Any low bridges or other concers?

Taking in the sights with our Trolley ...but life is always better under a Palm Tree
2015 JAYCO 31FK

Western New York

Superslif · 01-19-2015, 04:53 PM

Been that way a few times on the way to Myrtle Beach. We would enter Skyline Dr. from either Royal Front or Route 211 (Thornton Gap) stay at Big Meadows NP. campground then head south on Skyline till I-64. The section you are talking about 33 to 64 is much flatter, straighter, fewer pull-offs, not as much to see. Just in my opinion.

The heart of the viewing is between route 211 (Thornton Gap) and 33 (Swift Run Gap) In between there you have Skyland Resort, Black Rock Lodge, Big Meadows. In that section there are pull offs about every mile.

Shenandoah pictures 2010

Shenandoah pictures 2003

There is one tunnel just south of the 211 (Thornton Gap) entrance called Mary's Rock tunnel. 12'8" clearance on the edges. I have seen Class C's and some MH's go thru...Not sure what the middle clearance height is.

Cooperhawk · 01-19-2015, 04:59 PM

I lived in Northern Virginia for twenty years and camped in Big Meadows many times. We always entered at Front Royal and traveled south. The views are spectacular and the mountains are pristine.

There are many many bears! Keep food indoors.'

I never traveled it with a large motorhome however. We had camper trailers in those days. Big rig with a toad might be challenging. Anybody done this?

twinboat · 01-19-2015, 05:14 PM

I took my 30 ft Class C with a toad on a dolly from Front Royal, south. We stayed at the first campground south and then took the car further south. Once hooked back together, we traveled 20 or so miles and took the first road west, back to the Interstate. It is real slow going, but very scenic.

Superslif · 01-19-2015, 06:11 PM

We will stay for 4 nights at Big Meadows campground. There is a Visitor Center there where you can sign up for the National Park tours and talks. Big Meadows is fairly large campground. There is NO hook-ups. There is paid showers, dump station, water...

If you want to view the sites and views of Skyline and Shenandoah NP. why would you stay in the valley an hour away. There are some great sunsets next door at the Black Rock lodge. Yes, you will see bears, deer. They usually don't come in the campground, but you can find them near the edges of the big meadow.

Cooperhawk · 01-20-2015, 08:02 AM

Big Meadow is primitive but very scenic. It sits on a flat mountain top with hiking trails in all directions. The Park Rangers usually give a really nice program in the evening and the Visitor Center has a really nice film on the history of the area.

We did have bears in our camp on more than one occasion, but each bear had a ranger with it to keep watch. Just stay out of their way because they are wild bears. If they get too friendly the Rangers trap them and move them far away, so the ones that are there are not friendly.