The best part about the Shenandoah Valley’s best fall road trips is that they’re completely customizable to whatever you want to do. Love the great outdoors? Any of these are perfect for you. Traveling with children? There are kid-friendly hot spots dotting the route and you’re going to love them. Traveling for the food and drinks? BINGO! Us, too! Here are a few starter ideas to help you get the idea and add in some customized fun.
A Road Trip for Natural Wonders
Natural Bridge to Natural Chimneys
One of Virginia’s most acclaimed natural wonders is the 215-foot natural limestone arch aptly named Natural Bridge. It’s the centerpiece of Natural Bridge State Park and is found in Natural Bridge, Virginia. Start your road trip there and also visit the deepest caverns on the East Coast right next door at the Caverns at Natural Bridge. Both have entrance fees; plan to spend about an hour at each.
Once among our nation’s most visited natural wonders and known as One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the Modern World, the Natural Bridge inspired the Monacan Indians to worship it, young George Washington to survey it, Thomas Jefferson to purchase it, and famous artists to paint and illustrate it. It stands tall as a National Historic Landmark and the gateway to the historic Cedar Creek Trail, and the Monacan Indian Living History Village.
Photo by Creative Dog Media ( @creativedogmedia) and courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation
Drive north on Route 11 through downtown Lexington; a great place to stop for a meal before leaving town. Continue on Route 11 to Steeles Tavern to Route 606. Along the way you’ll pass Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery and Wade’s Mill. Turn right on Route 252 and continue until you reach downtown Staunton. Should you need another stop, there are many options: Sunspots Studios Glassblowing, Redbeard Brewing Company, Zynodoa, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, and more.
Exit downtown Staunton by way of Route 250 north to Spring Hill Road (Route 613) to Mt. Solon Road (Route 607). Route 607 ends at Route 42, but continue through the intersection onto Natural Chimney Road (Route 731).
Natural Chimneys Park is located in Mt. Solon, Virginia. Seven solid limestone chimney formations rise up to 120 feet in the air. The chimneys are a study in geology with many topics relevant to their creation: a Paleozoic Era inland sea, plate tectonic upheaval, lava flow, the forces of water, and minerals that contribute to their hardness.
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Natural Chimneys is open daily through October and is free to visit. The park offers more than two miles trails and 3/4-mile river frontage.
Total Mileage: 75.3
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A Short Road Trip for Harvest Delights
Apple is the Word of the Day
Did you know Winchester is the Apple Capital of Virginia and home of the World’s Largest Apple? It’s a great place to start your apple flavored road trip! Conquer this one any way you’d like, but here are your go-to locations, and also, Follow the Apple Trail!
Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market offers at least six varieties of apples as well as many other fruits and vegetables, homemade pies, cakes, apple cider donuts, and much more. The fun part of Marker-Miller is picking your own. Choose your bag size and then head out to the orchard to pick Honeycrisp, Empire, and Ginger Gold apples to your heart’s content. The orchard is also home to peaches, pears, and plums.
- Save the Dates:
- Apple Harvest Festival – October 12
- Pumpkin Festival – October 26
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West Oaks Farm & Market is the culmination of 11 generations’ worth of family members dedicated to preserving the land and bringing to harvest a wide variety of nourishment. Shop the market for their bounty of the season, including meats. Their deli has become a favorite lunch destination, but they serve threes meals a day plus boxed meals to take home.
- Save the Dates:
- Apple Harvest Festival – October 5
- Fall Harvest Festival – October 19
Richard’s Fruit Market in Middletown is a fifth generation family owned open air farmers market dating to 1953. Shop the market and then pick your own flowers for a fresh addition to your home decor. Kids in tow? Give them some time to meet the animals at the petting zoo. Richard’s Fruit Market is open daily.
- Save the Date:
- Apple Festival – October 20
Mackintosh Fruit Farm in Berryville welcomes you to pick-your-own apples, vegetables, and flowers, visit the market, and enjoy live music with them. Their Cider Room is where you’ll find a variety of hard ciders, wines, and more, plus delicious appetizers. That’s also where the music rings out. Visit Mackintosh Fruit Farm Thursday through Sunday.
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Exciting Additions: The Pumpkin Patch at Hill High Farm in Winchester, the State Arboretum of Virginia in Boyce for incredible foliage and photography, and L’Auberge Provencale Inn & Restaurant for upscale dining and lodging.
Total Miles: 42.1
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A Road Trip for Seasonal Beer
Oh my gourd, that’s a great beer!
You can theme your craft beer road trip around just about anything, so why not pumpkin and spice? ‘Tis the season, after all. Cheers!
From Devils Backbone Outpost Taproom & Kitchen in Lexington you can try the 5.2% Pumpkin Spice Lager, “a celebration of classic fall flavors,” including pumpkin pie spice extract. Nom! Sip it on their deck and enjoy the foliage, but not for too long. The rolling vineyards of Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewery in Raphine are calling and you must try their Gold Rush Cider (7%). Keeping it close to home, this hard cider is crafted from Rockbridge and Nelson County apples.
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Y’all. Apple Crumb Amber Ale (5.5%) at Three Notch’d Valley Collab House in Harrisonburg is *chef’s kiss* THE flavor of fall in the Shenandoah Valley. Seriously.
Brothers Craft Brewing in Harrisonburg invites you to relish the last bits of summer while entertaining the beginning of autumn when you sip Fest Bier, their 5.6% Oktoberfest Marzen. It’s only available August and September, so get it before it’s gone!
Red River Harvest Ale is a 5.7% harvest ale crafted by Cave Hill Farms Brewery in McGaheysville. The working farm dates back to 1759 when the Hopkins family received a land grant to farm 1,000 acres. It’s one of Virginia’s most authentic farm brewery experiences.
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Side Trip: Hit up Elkton Brewing in Elkton, VA for a glass of Betwixt, a dry hard apple cider.
Total Mileage: 79.8
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A Road Trip for Fall Foliage
A classic scenic drive just to look at the leaves …
Is there a better scenic drive for fall foliage than the Blue Ridge Parkway paired with Skyline Drive? We think not. One is “America’s Favorite Drive” and the other is exclusive to Virginia’s most visited park: Shenandoah National Park.
Located at mile marker 35.1 on Skyline Dive, Pinnacles Overlook is one of 72 overlooks that are along Skyline Drive. The southern facing overlook provides one of the best views of Old Rag. Berend Van Roijen, IG account: @bearitated. Virginia Tourism Corporation.
From the northern most entrance at Front Royal, Skyline Drive is 105 miles and meets the Blue Ridge Parkway atop Afton Mountain. Along the Drive are several points of interest, places to eat, refuel, stretch your legs, and even stay the night. If it’s helpful, here are the Top 10 Things to Do on Skyline Drive.
At 106 miles, the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia is just a smidge longer than Skyline Drive. In total, the Parkway stretches 469 miles to Cherokee, North Carolina. If you want to add another name drop to your fall adventure, park the car and walk a section of the Appalachian Trail, which meanders across and beside both scenic drives. Encounter it easily at Humpback Rocks Picnic Area at Milepost 6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway or from Jones Run Parking Area at Milepost 83.3 on Skyline Drive with Blackrock Trail.
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway to Milepost 85.9, Peaks of Otter Lodge and Restaurant, a fine place to overnight and enjoy a meal.
Total Mileage: 147
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Header Image: Aerial view of Harrisonburg, VA by Sam Dean and courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation.