Shenandoah National Park is the closest National Park to some of the east coast’s largest cities! It’s easily driveable from our home in Philadelphia (3.5 hours) as well as NYC (5 hours), Pittsburgh (3.5 hours), Baltimore (2.5 hours), and Washington, DC (1.5 hours). So, if you’re from the Northeast, it’s likely that Shenandoah NP is the nearest national park to your home. This really cool map developed by Emily Meriam shows which national park is closest to you!

The park encompasses 200,000 acres of forest in Virginia’s northern Blue Ridge Mountains and is an excellent destination for any outdoor enthusiast. In the park there are over 500 miles of hiking trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail, more than a dozen waterfalls, and countless scenic overlooks. Plus, the valley to the west of the park, known as Shenandoah Valley, is filled with quaint towns, historic sites, working farms, orchards, vineyards, and craft breweries. There’s so much to explore in the Shenandoah Valley region year-round!

Read on to learn more about our three-night mountain getaway!

Park Line Retreat

Park Line Retreat is a newly renovated cabin located in the quiet Skyline Lakes community near the town of Stanley, Virginia. Situated on the mountainside at an elevation of 2700 feet, Shenandoah National Park is quite literally the backyard. The cabin itself is super cozy, dog-friendly (limit 2 dogs), and there are no visible neighbors, making it the ideal place for a quiet and peaceful getaway.

Sam and I were hoping to visit Shenandoah National Park at some point this winter, so we were thrilled to be invited to spend Thanksgiving weekend at Park Line Retreat! Plus, the cabin is dog-friendly, so we were able to bring Toby along with us, which made our getaway even more special!

After conquering the winding, steep gravel roads that bring you to the cabin, we were excited to arrive at such a warm and welcoming home! The 2-bed, 1-bath cabin is super cozy, complete with a wood stove and a comfy sofa in the living space and a table for four in the dining area. Lauren and Johnny did an excellent job decorating and furnishing the cabin, we felt at home right away.

One of our favorite parts about staying at an AirBNB is access to a kitchen. After a long day of hiking or exploring, we enjoy cooking dinner at home, instead of going out. Plus, cooking is a huge money saver while traveling! So, we were really pleased with how well stocked the kitchen at Park Line Retreat is. It has everything you could need: dishes, silverware, glasses, pots & pans, cooking utensils, a toaster oven, coffee pot, tea kettle, olive oil and spices, plus a dishwasher.

Both bedrooms are furnished with a comfortable mattress (a queen in the master and a full in the second bedroom), fresh sheets, extra pillows, and sound machines. The bathroom also has so many thoughtful touches, including high quality toiletries and a hairdryer in addition to a fresh set of towels.

After exploring all day, we enjoyed cozying up in front of the fire in the evenings and watching a movie together. We really appreciated that firewood (for both the indoor wood stove and outdoor fire pit) is provided for guests! We had such a lovely time at Park Line Retreat, we did not want to leave when our check-out time rolled around on Monday morning.

Nearby Activities

Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park is the crown jewel of the region. The park has over 500-miles of hiking trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail, more than a dozen waterfalls, countless rocky peaks, and 70 scenic overlooks. There’s so much to explore!

The park is long and narrow, stretching for 105 miles along the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can enter the park through four different entrance stations; Front Royal (mile 0), Thornton Gap (mile 31.5), Swift Run (mile 65.7), and Rockfish Gap (mile 105). The closest stations to Park Line Retreat are Thornton Gap (40 min drive) and Swift Run Gap (50 min drive). There’s also the option to hike into the park via a nearby fire road! The Tanners Ridge Fire Road is only a 7 minute drive from Park Line Retreat, which is a great alternative.

Here’s what I recommend exploring in the park:

↠ Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive is the only public road through Shenandoah National Park, which runs north and south along the entire 105-mile length of the park. There are 70 overlooks along the drive that offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains, hills, and valleys. To drive the entire length of Skyline Drive, it takes about three hours in clear weather.

↠ Visitor Centers

There are two visitor centers in Shenandoah National Park. The Dickey Ridge Visitor Center is located at mile 4.6 in the north and the Big Meadows Visitor Center is located at mile 51 in the center of the park. Both visitor centers are a great place to learn more about the park, use the restroom, or stop at the bookstore for souvenirs.

↠ Hiking Trails

With over 500-miles of hiking trails in the park, there’s plenty of trails that vary in length and difficulty. There’s a hike for every ability! Plus, Shenandoah is one of the few national parks that allow dogs on the trails (if kept on a 6-foot leash). However, there are a handful of trails where dogs are prohibited. You can read more about pets in Shenandoah National Park here.

Some of my favorite trails in Shenandoah National Park are:

Compton Peak, West and East Hike (mile 10.4) : Hike through the forest along the Appalachian Trail to a beautiful overlook to the west and a unique example of columnar jointing to the east The out-and-back hike is 2.4-miles + 855 feet of elevation gain. The trail is rated as moderate. Dogs are allowed.

Mary’s Rock Summit (mile 33.5) : The summit at Mary’s Rock has beautiful west-facing views of the surrounding Shenandoah Valley. From the parking area at mile 33.5, follow the Meadow Spring Trail to the Appalachian Trail, which leads to the summit. The out-and-back hike is 2.9-miles + 830 feet of elevation gain. The trail is rated as moderate. Dogs are allowed.

Upper Hawksbill to Hawksbill Summit (mile 46.5) : Hawksbill Mountain is Shenandoah’s highest peak at 4051 feet! At the summit, there are amazing views of the neighboring mountains and valley. The easiest route to the summit is via Upper Hawksbill Trail. This out-and-back hike is 2.1-miles roundtrip + 520 feet of elevation gain. The trail is rated as easy. Dogs are allowed.

Rose River Falls (mile 49.4) : Rose River Falls is a beautiful 67-foot waterfall located in one of the park’s federal designated wilderness areas. The falls can be seen on a 4-mile loop hike + 910 feet of elevation gain. The trail is rated as moderate. Dogs are allowed.

Lewis Falls Trail (mile 51.5) : The Lewis Falls Trail can be accessed from Tanners Ridge Fire Road (approximately 7 minute drive from Park Line Retreat). There is a small parking lot at the fire road. Follow Tanners Ridge Fire Road for 1.1-miles until it intersects the Appalachian Trail. Turn left onto the AT, and then after 0.6-miles, turn left onto Lewis Springs Falls Trail until it intersects with the falls. This out-and-back trail is 2.5-miles one way + 500 feet of elevation gain. Rated as moderate. Dogs are allowed.

Old Rag Circuit Hike : The most popular destination in Shenandoah National Park. This strenuous trail features adventurous rock scrambles leading to a 360-degree view. The Old Rag parking lot is located on the eastern boundary of the park, just outside of Sperryville, VA. The circuit hike is a 9.4-mile loop + 2350 feet of elevation gain. Rated as very strenuous. Dogs are NOT allowed.

Luray Caverns

Luray Caverns is the largest and most popular underground cavern in the eastern United States! Located just outside of downtown Luray, the caverns are a quick 25-minute drive from Park Line Retreat. The cavern is so spectacular that it was designated a US Natural Landmark in 1974 by the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior. Luray Caverns is open everyday of the year, so it’s a great year-round activity for the entire family.

We didn’t get the chance to visit during our recent trip, but we did visit Skyline Caverns near Front Royal, VA in 2019. It’s an incredibly unique experience going underground! Another popular cavern in the area is Shenandoah Caverns in Quicksburg, VA.

Trail Rides

Located just 15-minutes from Park Line Retreat in Stanley, Virginia is Jordan Hollow Stables. This horseback riding stable offers scenic trail rides in Shenandoah Valley. The guided trail rides last 90 minutes and both first time riders and experienced riders are welcome. I had been on a horse several times before, but this was Sam’s first time! Sam easily rode the slow “Cherokee Joe” and I rode the peppy “Josey”. We both had a great experience and really appreciated how well-trained the horses are. Jordan Hollow Stables offer trail rides year-round, so be sure to check them out during any season.

Food & Drinks

Being located in the heart of Shenandoah Valley, Park Line Retreat is near many restaurants, breweries, and wineries in the area. Some of the places we enjoyed during our weekend getaway were:

Moonshadows on Main (Luray) : Cozy American restaurant that serves high-quality comfort food. We ate dinner here on a Saturday night and we both really enjoyed our meals. Reservations are highly recommended!
Hawksbill Brewing (Luray) : The original craft brewery in Luray. We ended a day of hiking in Shenandoah National Park here. They use local ingredients in their brews and feature several beers on regular rotation as well as seasonal beers, too.
Wisteria Winery (Stanley) : Small working farm and vineyard. We stopped in for a wine tasting after our trail ride at Jordan Hollow Stables… it’s just one mile down the road.
Broad Porch Coffee (Luray) : Hip coffee roasters offering excellent coffee and a small breakfast menu. I had a vanilla latte with oat milk as well as their savory toast - both were delicious!

Other highly rated restaurants and breweries nearby include:

Hawksbill Diner (Stanley) : Classic diner serving breakfast and lunch
The Valley Cork (Luray) : Unique wine bar serving light fare
Elkton Brewing Company (Elkton) : Family owned and operated nano brewery serving a wide variety of artisan beers

Other Things To Do Nearby

Bear Mountain Ziplines (Luray) : Located on 50 acres of forest right outside of Luray, VA, Bear Mountain Ziplines offers zip lining and climbing for the whole family. Open all year.
Page Theater (Luray) : Retro movie theater on Main Street in Luray. They show blockbuster movies with various showtimes. Great for a rainy day or cold evening.
Shenandoah River Outfitters (Luray) : Offers trips down the Shenandoah River via kayak, canoe, and tubes, as well as fishing and cookouts.
Shenandoah River Adventures (Shenandoah) : Experience the thrill of floating down the Shenandoah River. They offer kayak, canoe, and tubing trips.
Massanutten Resort (Massanutten) : Four-season mountain resort with skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and golfing. There’s also a waterpark, spa, and restaurants onsite.

Our Three-Night Itinerary

Day 1

Drive to Shenandoah National Park (approx. 4 hour drive from Philadelphia) & enter the park through Front Royal Station (mile 0)
Hike Compton Peak (mile 10.4)
Exit the park through Thornton Gap Station (mile 31.5) & check in to Park Line Retreat.

DAy 2

Morning hike to Lewis Falls via nearby Tanners Ridge Fire Road (only 7 minutes away from the cabin)
Afternoon trail ride at Jordan Hollow Stables followed by wine tasting at Wisteria Vineyard
Dinner at Moonshadows on Main in Luray (reservations recommended)

Day 3

Full day in Shenandoah National Park
Enter the park through Swift Run Gap (mile 65.7) & stop at Big Meadows Visitor Center (mile 51) for souvenirs
Hike Rose River Falls Loop (mile 49.4) & Upper Hawksbill to Hawksbill Summit (mile 46.5)
Exit the park through Thornton Gap Station (mile 31.5) & enjoy a post-hike beer at Hawksbill Brewing

Day 4

Check out Park Line Retreat by 10am
Stop in Luray at Broad Porch Coffee for a latte and breakfast
Drive home

We had a wonderful time staying at Park Line Retreat. During the day we enjoyed exploring nearby Shenandoah National Park and the towns of Luray and Stanley and then cozying up next to the wood stove in the evenings. I highly recommend a stay at Park Line Retreat for a relaxing getaway. I hope this guide on our weekend in Shenandoah Valley helps inspire you to visit!

If you’re interested in staying at Park Line Retreat in Shenandoah Valley (which I highly recommend!), you can book directly through their website or through AirBNB.

Happy adventuring! xxx -Emily

Dec 9 A Weekend Retreat in Shenandoah Valley

Park Line Retreat

Nearby Activities