When Skyline Drive Is Closed At Shenandoah

Have you ever had an entire trip planned around one central location? What happens when there is a freak snowstorm in November and everything completely closes down? I’ll tell you – you improvise! Yes, I speak from personal experience, I visited Virginia in a snowstorm in 2018 to find that the Skyline Drive was closed.

Closure generally only happen during inclement weather and in the winter months.

If you are visiting during the fall or any time of the year and the Skyline Drive is open check out my Ultimate Guide for Shenandoah National Park.

For More On Shenandoah National Park:

Is Shenandoah National Park Dog Friendly?

One Day In Shenandoah National Park

Luray Caverns VS Skyline Caverns

What To Do When The Skyline Drive is Closed

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Skyline Drive

The Skyline Drive is the main roadway that runs through Shenandoah National Park, an extraordinary 200,000 acres of protected lands that are a haven to deer, birds, and a gorgeous night sky only 75 miles from Washington, D.C. There are over 500 miles of trails for hikers, 70 mountain streams for fishing, and 196,000 acres of backcountry to explore. However, the most popular (besides hiking) thing to do at Shenandoah National Park is drive the Skyline Drive.

According to NPS, the Skyline Drive runs about 105 miles north and south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains inside of Shenandoah National Park. Interestingly, it is the only public road in all of the parks 200,000 acres. It takes about 3 hours to drive the entire length and that’s mostly because the speed limit is 35 mph. Well, that and the nearly 70 overlooks that are all gorgeous, trust us, you will want to stop at every single one. RVs, campers, and horse trailers are all permitted on the Skyline Drive but prepare to shift into a lower gear.

Unfortunately, during the winter months, inclement weather often forces the Skyline Drive to close. This happened to me in November of 2018. If travel has taught me one thing, it’s that you need to be flexible and willing to improvise. This snowstorm left me scrambling to find other things to do because almost everything inside of Shenandoah National Park is connected by the Skyline Drive. This is a great list to have just in case!

Know before you go:

Entrance fees: $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, and $15 per person (walk up).

The Skyline Drive is the main artery that runs through the park so when it’s closed it affects the way you maneuver in the park.

6 Things To Do When the Skyline Drive is Closed

1. Enter the park on foot –

I didn’t know it at the time, but you can enter the park on foot at one of the entrances or boundary access points even if the Skyline Drive is closed. Be aware that if you choose this option it will be a ton of extra walking, hiking, and snowshoeing.

2. Take Advantage of the Winter Weather –

If you want to take advantage of the winter weather check out Massanutten Resort. Where you can get outside and ski, snowboard, snow tube, and ice skate!

3. Check out the Caverns –

Visit some of the many caverns in the area. You have several to choose from including Skyline Caverns, Shenandoah Caverns, and my personal favorite (almost everyone else’s too) Luray Caverns. These are all open year-round and as long as the roads aren’t too bad, they will be open. If the roads are iffy, I suggest calling first just to make sure.

4. Visit another part of the Blue Ridge Parkway –

The Blue Ridge Parkway is probably much bigger then you realize. It links Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and travels from Virginia to North Carolina. An impressive 469 miles to be exact and you can visit different parts of it. Even if the Skyline Dive closes chances are some of the other portions will be open. Check out these travel itineraries for some ideas of different places to go.

Other Scenic Drive Options –

Route 11 –

If you are looking for another scenic drive check out Route 11. It runs from Winchester south to Roanoke and winds through the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. It’s almost parallel to Interstate 81 linking both charming towns and natural wonders. For the ultimate road trip try cruising Route 11 the 50-miles from Natural Bridge to Staunton.

Route 39 –

You could also try Route 39 otherwise known as the Appalachian Water Scenic Byway. Extending from Lexington westward to Summersville, West Virginia this scenic byway is home to the Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve. Make a pitstop for an eyeful of the magnificent gorge or enjoy some of the 937 acre woven with hiking trails.

5. Scrap the Scenic Drive for some History –

Head South to Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, VA, or North to Washington’s Mount Vernon in Fairfax County, VA. I really wanted to get to Mount Vernon during this trip but it was a bit of a drive from my Airbnb and the only day I could go was a Saturday. If you know anything about the traffic on 95 in this area on a Saturday, you will understand why I didn’t even attempt it!

6. Check out a show at the American Shakespeare Theater –

The American Shakespeare Theater is located in Staunton, VA. The Blackfriars Playhouse is the world’s only re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre. Check here to see what’s going on during your visit.

Mapping Out When The Skyline Is Closed At Shenandoah:

There are tons of options if the Skyline Drive is closed but it sucks that you have to miss the drive itself. It’s gorgeous and a drive that I absolutely recommend. It’s pretty spectacular in the fall!