Road cycling at Shenandoah National Park & Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive at Shenandoah National Park is hands down my favorite place to ride.

Breathtaking views, challenging terrain, limited traffic, cooler weather – the park should be on every cyclists’ list of places to visit on the East Coast.

I’ve been fortunate to have ridden there several times, so here are a few quick tips before you go.

Entering the park

To enter Shenandoah National Park, you will need to purchase a pass from the National Park Service. If you plan to drive into the park and park your vehicle, you’ll need to pay a bit more for your pass – which is good for 7 days.

Alternatively, you could save some money and park near one of the entrance stations and just ride your bike in. It’s much cheaper to buy an individual pass than a vehicle pass, though on busier days you’ll want to make sure you get there early enough for a parking space.

Weather

The weather can be a bit more unpredictable on the mountain, particularly at higher elevations. When you are at elevation, the temperature will be a few degrees cooler than the valley. My recommendation is to use Weather.gov to view conditions or the forecast for targeted points on the mountain, not in the valley.

It’s also windier on the mountain. I’d recommend dressing in layers because you can always remove a layer if you get too warm. My rides have been on summer mornings (June & September), and sometimes I was comfortable in short sleeves and shorts, while other days I needed long sleeves and long pants.

Finally, be on the lookout for fog, especially early in the morning. I’ve gone on rides that started out sunny in the valley, but progressed to nearly no visibility on the mountain. Blinking lights are must (for other reasons mentioned below).

Terrain

Be prepared for climb, and lots of it.

That said, the climbing is generally manageable compared to other some other climbs I’ve had to do.

The sections of Skyline Drive that I’ve ridden had climbs averaging 5%-6% gradient. While the climbs may stretch for several miles, it’s less painful than some of the shorter but double-digit gradient climbs on the Pennsylvania mountains I’m accustomed to. On Skyline Drive, I’ve rarely had to get into the highest gear or out of the saddle.

There are some sections of Skyline Drive that plateau out, while others are more challenging – like the 20 miles of climb from Front Royal to Hogback Overlook (photo above).

Be sure to plan your route ahead of time with an app like Strava to make sure you’re comfortable with the amount of climb you’ll be doing.

And make sure to stretch those quads and hamstrings before and after your ride.

Be Prepared

Make sure you pack enough water and food for your journey. There are a couple waysides along Skyline Drive where you can buy some snacks and drinks, but mostly it will just be you and mother nature.

I’d strongly advise using blinkers on your bike, especially if you are riding early in the morning or late in the evening.

There are no shoulders on Skyline Drive, and while I’ve found most drivers to be respectful of speed limits, some areas have dense tree cover or blind corners, so any extra visibility will help you stay safe.

Finally, be prepared for spotty cell phone coverage.

Enjoy the views

If you’re like me and always pushing yourself for the next KOM or PR, my advice is this: Just enjoy the ride.

There are a lot of scenic overlooks with breathtaking views.

Stop. Take a picture. Take a couple. Just sit for a little bit and enjoy the fresh mountain air.

Skyline Drive is an easy day trip from many places in the D.C-Baltimore area (the north gate at Front Royal is only 90 minutes from Washington D.C., and Frederick, Md.), so you can easily take in a long ride and be home the same day. If you have more time, stay in the park for a couple days and disconnect. It will be well worth it.