Skyline Drive

highway, United States

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Skyline Drive is a scenic highway in the United States, specifically within Shenandoah National Park in northern Virginia. This 105-mile (169 km) road runs north to south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering panoramic views of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains. The drive is known for its natural beauty, with heavily forested areas, wildflowers, and wildlife. It also parallels the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The park itself was established in 1935 on land that had been previously overused by farmers, showcasing a successful return to a natural state.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Blue Ridge
…of Front Royal, Virginia, the Skyline Drive runs through Shenandoah National Park and connects at Rockfish Gap, Virginia, with the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic motor route that runs southwestward to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Read More
…of Front Royal, Virginia, the Skyline Drive runs through Shenandoah National Park and connects at Rockfish Gap, Virginia, with the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic motor route that runs southwestward to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Read More

Shenandoah National Park
Skyline Drive, 105 miles (169 km) long, runs the length of the park from north to south, winding among the peaks and through valleys and gaps. This accessibility to the crest of the Blue Ridge is because of the great age of the granitic and…
Read More
Skyline Drive, 105 miles (169 km) long, runs the length of the park from north to south, winding among the peaks and through valleys and gaps. This accessibility to the crest of the Blue Ridge is because of the great age of the granitic and…
Read More