How long to do Skyline and Blue Ridge from Front Royal to Roanoke?

[Wmoater]

Anyone know how long it takes to travel from Front royal-skyline drive to Roanoke via the blue ridge parkway. Websites are all over the place. Lets do driving time and I will add in stopping and seeing the outlooks. 5-6 hours?

[RayBJ]

Front Royal to Roanoke via Skyline and BRP is about 4.5 hours (~190 miles.)

[oldgoat]

Took me about 6hrs doing the speed limits & stopping for a picnic lunch.

[Wmoater]

I used goggle and outlined it. It was saying 205 so just wanted to confirm. Thanks Ray. I figured at 35 for the first 100 miles on the skyline and 45-50 for the second 100 which is the speed limits would be between 5 and 6. So I’ll figure 6+ so should be no problem in one day. Thanks guys. Another question. I believe the only fees are at skyline correct ( first 104 miles) If I pay at front royal I’m good to the north entrance correct. I don’t pay again to get on the blue ridge at the north entrance correct? The blue ridge is free correct, its just the skyline that has a toll.

[OldAge]

Yep, Skyline is Federal. BRP is free. If are old enough the Golden Passport,( not sure what they call it now) is one time fee and good for all national parks. I have saved a fortune.

[JayBros]

Remember this, the weather and visibility the day you ride will govern what you see at the various outlooks. If you hit a "wrong" day you won't see squat from the outlooks and your ride will be just that, a ride with nothing unusual.

The fee you pay on Skyline Drive is actually an admission charge to the Shenandoah National Park. There are numerous places of interest to see in the park if that's your bent.

[RayBJ]

Skyline fee was $30. round trip within 7 days last I did it. The BRP may have closures in some segments due to weather, slides, etc.. Mostly in the middle and southern thirds so you should be okay up north. If you ride at 35 mph, you may be run off the road! More likely you'll be doing 45ish on average. Here's a helpful site before you go. https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm#14/36.4172/-81.1782

[Wmoater]

I have the yearly “America the beautiful” national parks pass. Not old enough for the senior yet but getting close :yikes:It works great out west with all the national parks. We get it for the black hill, badlands, upper bighorns for snowmobile, crossing through Yellowstone and the US highway. It lists Shenandoah national park so I’m hoping it works. Never tried before. Guess we’ll find out.

[Wmoater]

Thanks for the link Ray! That will be very helpful since I will be hitting the entire highway at one point or another. From Roanoke we are heading east to the coast and run the outer banks/ 2 ferry’s south to Wellington NC. Then west to Nashville. Return North through the Smokey’s, the dragon, then Cherokee to Roanoke on the bottom highway. Then over to the claw, up West Virginia into southern Ohio and home.

[DriftersWay]

Front Royal to Roanoke via Skyline and BRP is about 4.5 hours (~190 miles.)

469 miles

195966

[JayBros]

For those who don't mind spending half a sawbuck, there is an excellent book, Bicycling the Blue Ridge, by Elizabeth and Charlie Skinner, that has a wealth of information on the places one can see on the Skyline Drive and BRP. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bicycling+the+blue+ridge+parkway+6th+edition&crid=DFI572D7YSMA&sprefix=Bicycling+the+Blue+Ridge%2Caps%2C73&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_24.

My oldest grandson and I cycled from Front Royal to Asheville 15 years ago, and I'm here to tell you that spotting him 48 years had me looking like a quart of formaldehyde would have done me good by the time we arrived in Asheville, but it was a fantastic trip before sending him off to college.

[CloverHillCrawler]

If you are a veteran you can get a veterans pass for free entry to the parks. I make sure to use mine as much as possible and I was able to pick it up at the local rangers station here at Cunningham Falls.

[safecracker]

cloverHillCrawler, what do you need to get the veterans pass? DD-214 Thanks Bruce

[CopperSpyder]

cloverHillCrawler, what do you need to get the veterans pass? DD-214 Thanks Bruce

This may help, "click: https://usparkpass.com/senior-military-access-or-other-passes/

[Eckhard]

Acquaintances were up there 10 days ago and had 12" of snow.

[pieman9155]

we left albany ny to the dragon and back in 8 days last year

[tntnj]

While in Cherokee visit The Rattler . It is 10 times better then the Dragon, and no LEO's.

[Wmoater]

While in Cherokee visit The Rattler . It is 10 times better then the Dragon, and no LEO's.

Been to the Smokey’s many times. We are there for 5 days. Will hit most of them plus do some tubing and a nice hike to rainbow!

[GreyGhost]

Still a plan in progress, but leaving 05-31 to head in that direction and plan to ride a good portion, if not all, of BRP..may or may not do the dragon, as we have done Needles and Pig Trail..as it gets closer, I will following this thread with interest..
And, yes, the senior pass works as advertised..

[blacklightning]

Thanks for the link Ray! That will be very helpful since I will be hitting the entire highway at one point or another. From Roanoke we are heading east to the coast and run the outer banks/ 2 ferry’s south to Wellington NC. Then west to Nashville. Return North through the Smokey’s, the dragon, then Cherokee to Roanoke on the bottom highway. Then over to the claw, up West Virginia into southern Ohio and home.
We are also doing the Outerbanks on 5/14-15. We will be heading from the Raleigh area and traveling south towards the NC/SC border on the 14. We will be spending the night in Morehead and then taking ferries over to get to Hatteras. Then taking 12 north to the Va border. We will double back and take 64 back west on Sunday to get back to Raleigh.
As for the BRP, we were there 2 weeks ago and there is a section near Boone (actually at the 421 exit) that is closed. It is only a short section and the detour is still a nice ride. I found that the BRP is ok when it comes to speeding, but the one time I did Skyline Drive, there were 9 rangers with radar over the 110 miles. So 35 was a definite speed limit and not just a suggestion.

[Bfromla]

How long:dontknow::lecturef_smilie::popcorn: “Loose the watches”:2thumbs::doorag:nojoke
https://youtu.be/pq2SirtDqnE

[sledge]

469 miles

195966

I live about 90 miles from Gatlinburg, then head across the Smokies to get to the bottom end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I have ridden from there to Ashville several times, one of my favorite rides. I have left home and gone through Boone NC to get on the Blue Ridge Parkway and go back to Ashville that way too...... but never rode from Boone north yet. But... might do that this summer.

[Wmoater]

How long:dontknow::lecturef_smilie::popcorn: “Loose the watches”:2thumbs::doorag:nojoke
https://youtu.be/pq2SirtDqnE

One of my favorite movies of all time.

[VtFla]

My wife & I are riding up from FL to Front Royal, VA next weekend. Another end-to-end Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkway to Cherokee, NC. I don't intend to be 'connected' along the trip. I'm no journalist, but will try to report if anything of interest when we return. Planning on a couple weeks, maybe. Randy

[CloverHillCrawler]

cloverHillCrawler, what do you need to get the veterans pass? DD-214 Thanks Bruce

All I needed was my drivers license as it is marked with my veterans status but I also presented my VA card.

The ranger had a box of them ready to go. I was in and out in no time.

The DMV Spyder Ryders goes up that way a couple of times a year usually on our group rides. Plus we go to other parks so it comes in very handy and I make good use of it.

[blacklightning]

I live about 90 miles from Gatlinburg, then head across the Smokies to get to the bottom end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I have ridden from there to Ashville several times, one of my favorite rides. I have left home and gone through Boone NC to get on the Blue Ridge Parkway and go back to Ashville that way too...... but never rode from Boone north yet. But... might do that this summer.
I will say that the entire BRP is nice. But the best parts are definitely from the Boone area and south to Cherokee. There are a couple of note worthy places to the north, but nothing like riding south.

[OldAge]

True. And some of the roads on and off the BRP are worth a shout. Such as 256, 215, 43, 80. In fact most of them are interesting.

[RayBJ]

Still a plan in progress, but leaving 05-31 to head in that direction and plan to ride a good portion, if not all, of BRP..may or may not do the dragon, as we have done Needles and Pig Trail..as it gets closer, I will following this thread with interest..
And, yes, the senior pass works as advertised..

The Dragon is not like Pigs Trail or Needles. Assuming you hit the Dragon on a weekday, you can usually run faster due to less tourist traffic. The Dragon is more 'technical' and you need to watch for the Kamikaze crotch rockets. Try to fit in the Cherahola Skyway (SW from the Dragon). Much more enjoyable than the Dragon IMHO.