If you ride a motorcycle you need to add Skyline Drive to your Bucket List!
Skyline Drive, part of the Shenandoah National Park, is one of the jewels of the National Park system. It is 105 miles of vistas, twists, turns and occasional wildlife. It is possible you will see deer, turkeys, squirrels, or even bears!
This year we toured the entire length of Skyline Drive, south to north, a few weeks before peak fall color. Traffic was quite light, and the overlooks had few if any other travelers.
We stopped for lunch at the Loft Mountain Wayside. My wife and I shared a delish smash burger with a side of giant onion rings. We have traveled this road many times and have never had a bad meal at any of the restaurants.
Fall Colors on Skyline Drive
I have said it before, Skyline Drive proves that riding in a car is like watching a movie, riding a motorcycle is being in the movie. Riding this road in the fall will prove that to anyone.
One thing everyone should know is that during fall, when the leaves are at their most colorful, the road become packed with “leaf peepers”.
The 35 MPH speed limit becomes difficult to reach due to all the vehicles. I would avoid the area unless you are ok with spending the entire day on the parkway (emphasis on park).
Riding Skyline in the spring or fall can be cool experience. By cool I mean that the temperature can be 10-15 degrees cooler than the valleys below. Throw an extra shirt on just to be safe. Also, the road is not cleared of leaves, ride carefully especially in the mornings when the leaves are damp from dew.
Front Royal, Virginia
When you are at the northern terminus of the park you are in Front Royal, Virginia. There is a lot of great riding in that area as well, spend a couple days exploring the area and the town, Main Street is a must see.
When we arrived home, we had ridden about half the day and 251 miles. Another great day on a motorcycle.
Riding Front Royal
Fort Valley Road Ride Thrill and Chill Ride
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 
Yes, leafers can really get on a rider’s nerves. 😀
yea… especially here, Only a few ways to get onto Skyline and the backup can be crazy long.
Our NC section of the Blue Ridge Parkway is very much like that — we kinda avoid it in leafer season.
I feel your pain… how did you and your part of the parkway fare in the hurricane? I hope you were all safe and sound.
I have read and heard about Skyline Drive and it sounds like a great road as long as a rider avoids the “peak” times of the year. The fall brings out so many people. Recently rode the Kancamagus Scenic Highway in New Hampshire. It was a beautiful area and fun road, but once the leaves hit peak colors it becomes a parking lot, according to locals.
I think there are a lot of similarities between the two roads!