Front Royal
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Front Royal

Front Royal

Shenandoah Valley town at the north gate of Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge.

North America > United States > Virginia > Front Royal

Front Royal sits where the Shenandoah Valley tightens against the Blue Ridge, close enough to Washington DC for a long day out but far enough west to feel like the mountains have properly begun. Its claim is simple and strong: this is the north gate of Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park.

The town is more than a highway exit. The South Fork of the Shenandoah River bends around it, giving Front Royal its canoe-and-kayak reputation, and Skyline Caverns adds an underground sight that works in any weather. Main Street has the small Shenandoah Valley mix of brick storefronts, murals, antique shops, and Civil War markers, but the best reason to come is still the landscape just beyond town.

With one spare day, start early on Skyline Drive, stop at Dickey Ridge, and either tour Skyline Caverns or spend the afternoon on the river. Front Royal is a gateway, but it passes the test because the gate opens immediately onto some of Virginia's best mountain and river country.

Guide

Things to Do

Front Royal's strongest sights sit at the edge of town rather than in the middle of it. The Blue Ridge rises almost immediately to the east, the Shenandoah River wraps around the valley floor, and Skyline Caverns gives the town one proper weatherproof attraction. The historic centre is worth a walk once you have done the mountain or river part first.