PDA

View Full Version : Skyline Drive trip



safecracker
05-30-2018, 07:43 PM
Wife and myself are leaving Maine Saturday to head for Skyline Drive. Plan on arriving sometime on Monday. Looking for info for that area. We may do some of the BRP. We have nine days. Thanks in advance for any info. Bruce

safecracker
05-30-2018, 08:47 PM
Motels. I am hoping to wing it on finding motels. Most schools won't be out yet. I will call around tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up....

JayBros
05-30-2018, 08:56 PM
Is that nine days total or once you get to Front Royal? Skyline Drive and the BRP are 575 contiguous miles. How many days are you planning to take to get to Front Royal? Depending on how much you want to ride, you can see most of both. Don't forget National Park Service senior citizen passes if you have them. Are you camping or using motels? If the latter you might consider reservations as it's now summer season. Just what do you want to see?

UtahPete
05-30-2018, 09:25 PM
Wife and myself are leaving Maine Saturday to head for Skyline Drive. Plan on arriving sometime on Monday. Looking for info for that area. We may do some of the BRP. We have nine days. Thanks in advance for any info. Bruce
Which State ? There's more than one Skyline Drive .

JayBros
05-30-2018, 09:36 PM
Which State ? There's more than one Skyline Drive .

THE Skyline Drive is in VA. The others are imposters.

JayBros
05-30-2018, 09:52 PM
Yes, grade/high schools are still in session but most colleges are out. Skyland, Big Meadows Lodge and Lewis Mountain Cabins are in the nat'l park. If you arrive Monday afternoon, flop in a motel in Front Royal. Tuesday head down Skyline Dr., it's only 105 miles long, a morning ride. You could go some distance down the BRP spend first night at your choosing. Do a second day going as far down BRP as you want planning third day to ride both roads north to Front Royal for the night then three days to get home. Riding the roads both ways is a beautiful scenic experience.

blacklightning
05-30-2018, 10:08 PM
I actually did the entire BRP and Skyline drive last fall. To me Skyline drive was nice, but kind of boring. It is approx. 110 miles, and it is 35 mph the entire distance. In that 110 miles, we met 9 law enforcement officers, so watch your speed. The BRP is much better, but the best parts are actually south of the Boone, NC area. There are many overlooks to enjoy, and sights to see. The Viaducts (near Grandfather's mountain) are really nice, and were supposed to open Memorial day weekend. But due to rain, this has been delayed. 221 is part of the detour road, but parts of it has been closed also. There are lots of nice views, but be careful and check ahead because there are closures due to all the rain and rockslides.

Pallidus Aranea
05-30-2018, 10:19 PM
In the past we have made the trek from Front Royal, VA to the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Rt 441 in North Carolina. We have broken it up into three days. Short first day - Front Royal, VA to Waynesboro, VA - that is truly just Skyline Drive. Day 2 - Waynesboro, VA to Galax, VA. Day 3 Galax, VA to Cherokee, NC. All of the days were pretty easy on the bike and the scenery was awesome. For us just a very beautiful and somewhat drawn out way to get from house to house - definitely more fun to turn a boring 11 hour, all highway drive into a 3 day mountain tour.

Ride safe and enjoy Virginia and North Carolina.

safecracker
05-31-2018, 05:19 AM
Thanks everyone. We have nine days tota!. Was figuring two days to Front Royal and three days home. Three to four days to ride the mountains. Bruce

dsteve931
05-31-2018, 12:57 PM
THE BLUE RIDGE IS BEAUTIFUL. MORE DESOLATE WE DID IT IN A WEEK FROM THE END OF THE SKYLINE TO CHEEROKEE NC AND BACK WE R FROM MD, U CAN FIND MOTELS ETC. JUST BEWARE WERE U R AND TIME SO U WONT HAVE ANY PROBS, SKYLINE IS OK AS WELL. U WILL LOVE IT HAVE FUN.

Fatcycledaddy
05-31-2018, 02:51 PM
Wife and myself are leaving Maine Saturday to head for Skyline Drive. Plan on arriving sometime on Monday. Looking for info for that area. We may do some of the BRP. We have nine days. Thanks in advance for any info. Bruce
Awesome! Wife and I are leaving MI on saturday morning to head to Front Royal for Skyline drive, then Blue ridge parkway, then on down to possibly the keys. We have 2 weeks to ride and camp and will be taking our time. Maybe we will see you there. If you see a yellow RTL give us a shout.

safecracker
05-31-2018, 05:46 PM
If you see a silver RTS. That will probably be Sue and i. Thanks everyone for all of the info. Bruce

jcthorne
05-31-2018, 05:49 PM
THE Skyline Drive is in VA. The others are imposters.

Colorado would beg to differ. VA does not have any real mountains to have a skyline on top of.....:doorag:

UtahPete
05-31-2018, 06:23 PM
Colorado would beg to differ. VA does not have any real mountains to have a skyline on top of.....:doorag:
Skyline Drive in Utah is pretty spectacular at an average of about 9,000ft. But, I wouldn't do it on a Spyder (it's dirt)

I've done the Skyline Drive in Virginia. It's nice, but not heart-stopping awesome like the ones in the West.

ARtraveler
05-31-2018, 06:26 PM
If you visit Eagle River I can point you to Skyline Drive and Mile High road.

Linda went on Mile High--once--she wont go back. Oh yes, you better like heights, 180's, and sheer drop offs.

Skyline Drive is almost as bad--you better also like heights.

Hatcher Pass (13 miles of twisties) with super high mountain views is also pretty good. You will get above the treeline and experience snow until July. Near the top of Hatchers is in my signature picture on the right.

All of these within 25 miles of home.

UtahPete
05-31-2018, 06:30 PM
If you visit Eagle River I can point you to Skyline Drive and Mile High road.

Linda went on Mile High--once--she wont go back. Oh yes, you better like heights, 180's, and sheer drop offs.

Skyline Drive is almost as bad--you better also like heights.

Hatcher Pass (13 miles of twisties) with super high mountain views is also pretty good. You will get above the treeline and experience snow until July. Near the top of Hatchers is in my signature picture on the right.

All of these within 25 miles of home.
Then what are you doing sitting at your computer? :lecturef_smilie:

ARtraveler
05-31-2018, 06:32 PM
Then what are you doing sitting at your computer? :lecturef_smilie:

Not a problem since they have become a part of my weekly rides. :yes:

safecracker
06-02-2018, 03:32 PM
After hearing about all the rain they had in that area we are heading to Canada. We also should be 90 % rain free. We will keep you posted. Bruce

Deanna777
06-02-2018, 03:36 PM
Bruce & Sue:

Have a safe drive, keep the 3 wheels down.

Post pictures of your trip when you can.

Deanna

campermac
06-03-2018, 06:49 PM
Wife and myself are leaving Maine Saturday to head for Skyline Drive. Plan on arriving sometime on Monday. Looking for info for that area. We may do some of the BRP. We have nine days. Thanks in advance for any info. Bruce

My suggestion to you is to skip Skyline Drive and head straight to Blue Ridge Parkway. A HELL of a lot better ride than the drive and it is FREE!!!

blacklightning
06-03-2018, 08:40 PM
My suggestion to you is to skip Skyline Drive and head straight to Blue Ridge Parkway. A HELL of a lot better ride than the drive and it is FREE!!!
:agree:, but we did Skyline just to say that we did it. Sometimes you just have to see for yourself.