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Shenandoah Valley Travel Guide

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The Shenandoah Valley is located in the western part of Virginia and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. The region is best known for its natural beauty and Civil War history.

Contents

Cities and Towns

North

Central

South

Other Destinations

Understand

The Shenandoah Valley is formed by two mountain ranges, the Blue Ridge on the east and the Appalachian on the west. Another mountain ridge, the Massanutten, runs down the middle, as does the Shenandoah River. The Shenandoah Valley is believed to have been named by a lost Native American tribe. The meaning of the name is disputed, but the most popular interpretation is “daughter of the stars”.

Intrepid Englishmen began to explore and settle the valley in the early 18th century. Germans and Scots-Irish first entered the valley from the north in the 1730s. A young George Washington worked in the area as a surveyor for Lord Fairfax. Locals such as Daniel Morgan, Peter Muhlenberg, and George Rogers Clark distinguished themselves during the war of Independence.

During the Civil War, the Shenandoah Valley was the site of many battles, primarily because the region’s moniker, “the breadbasket of the Confederacy”. If Union troops could control the valley, they would cut off a large portion of the Confederate troops’ rations. The city of Winchester, at the northern end of the valley, traded hands over eighty times during the war. The most important battle fought in the region was the Battle of New Market.

Talk

Most residents of the Shenandoah Valley speak only English. While many locals have no discernable accent, those who do range from an Appalachian (apple-ATCH-in) twang to a slight southern drawl.

Get in

  • Interstate 66 from D.C.
  • Interstate 64 West from Richmond, East from West Virginia

Get around

A car is essential for touring the region.

  • Interstate 81 runs the length of the valley
  • Skyline Drive, one of the most scenic routes in the country, is located in Shenandoah National Park.

See

  • Shenandoah National Park runs along the Blue Ridge Mountains from the town of Front Royal to the Waynesboro area. Skyline Drive, the main route through the park, is busiest in autumn due to the colorful foliage.
  • Luray Caverns, Luray, Virginia. The wealth of limestone in the Shenandoah Valley has created many caverns, Luray being the most famous. Along with various stalactites, stalagmites, and other formations named after gods and goddesses, the cavern boasts an organ that taps stalactites to produce different notes.
  • New Market Battlefield, New Market, Virginia. The site of a famous Civil War battle, in which the young cadets of VMI marched for four days to challenge and defeat Union troops moving down the valley. A state park, two museums, and a yearly reenactment bring their story to life.
  • Natural Bridge, Natural Bridge, Virginia. Worshipped by the Monacan Indians, owned by Thomas Jefferson, and defaced by a young George Washington, this limestone arch is a natural wonder and historic site rolled into one.

Do

  • Shenandoah National Park provides many opportunities for hiking (including a portion of the Appalachian Trail), fishing, and horseback riding.
  • Shenandoah River, Front Royal, Virginia. The quirky town at the northern end of Shenandoah National Park has been dubbed the “canoe capital of Virginia”.

Eat

Drink

  • Oasis Winery, Hume, Virginia. One of the top rated wineries in Virginia, though service and ambience have declined in recent years due to increase in popularity.

Stay Safe

Get Out


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