The main Harrisonburg interchange is Exits 247B-A, Junction U.S. 33, one mile. Use U.S. 33 east toward Elkton (Junction U.S. 340) and west into downtown Harrisonburg. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Use Exit 247B to reach downtown city of Harrisonburg via westbound U.S. 33. Signed as east-west in Virginia, U.S. 33 gradually heads northwest from Virginia through West Virginia and Ohio to culminate its journey in northern Indiana. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The interchange between Interstate 81 and U.S. 33 is a cloverleaf, resulting in a tight pair of exits and entrances that result in weaving. Through traffic is advised to use the left lane to avoid merging traffic. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Use U.S. 33 east to Elkton and Shenandoah National Park. U.S. 33 is one of four highways that intersect the Skyline Drive within the park. From north to south, Skyline Drive intersects Virginia Secondary 614, U.S. 33, U.S. 211, and U.S. 340. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The first exit in the cloverleaf interchange is Exit 247B for westbound U.S. 33 into downtown Harrisonburg and onward to Franklin, West Virginia. Afterward, the second ramp leads to eastbound U.S. 33 to Shenandoah National Park, Stanardsville, Gordonsville, Louisa, and Montpelier. U.S. 33 reaches its southeastern terminus at the intersection of Broad Street and Hancock Street in Richmond (at that intersection, U.S. 33 converts into Virginia 33 and splits off U.S. 250). Virginia 33 continues east to Stingray Point on the Chesapeake Bay. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Southbound Interstate 81 reaches Exit 247, Junction U.S. 33 West. Further west, after passing through downtown, U.S. 33 passes through Rawley Springs before reaching 3,450 foot summit in the Shenandoah Mountains at the Virginia-West Virginia State Line. Once in West Virginia, U.S. 33 heads east to meet Corridor H in Elkins.Photo taken 06/06/04.
Interstate 81 south passes under James Madison University (JMU) Boulevard as it approaches its next exit, Exit 245, Junction Virginia Secondary 659/Port Republic Road, one-half mile. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Founded in 1908 and named for the fourth president of the United States, James Madison University (JMU) is a four-year university with an enrollment of 15,000 students. The university may be seen on both sides of Interstate 81 as it passes through downtown Harrisonburg between Exits 247 and 245; a pedestrian tunnel passes under the freeway to connect the two sides of the campus. Bridgeforth Stadium is located to the east of the freeway. Use Exit 245, Virginia Secondary 659/Port Republic Road to reach the campus. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Southbound Interstate 81 reaches Exit 245, Junction Virginia Secondary 659/Port Republic Road in Harrisonburg. Use Virginia Secondary 659/Port Republic Road to reach James Madison University (follow the guide signs). Photo taken 06/06/04.
This view of Interstate 81 shows the Exit 245 interchange in downtown Harrisonburg, including the gore point signage which shows "EXIT 245" rather than the more commonly found "245 EXIT" in Virginia. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The southern Harrisonburg interchange is Exit 243, Junction U.S. 11, one mile. Use U.S. 11 north to reach Harrisonburg and U.S. 11 south to Mount Crawford. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The green Shenandoah Valley is yielding to development as the city of Harrisonburg gradually expands. A regional center, the city of Harrisonburg boasts a population of 40,468 people. Founded in July 1780, Harrisonburg is the seat of Rockingham County and consists of 17.394 square miles in area. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Southbound Interstate 81 reaches Exit 243, a connector route between Interstate 81 and U.S. 11. Use Exit 243 to head north back to Harrisonburg and south to Mount Crawford. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Interstate 81 south departs the city of Harrisonburg and reenters Rockingham County. Technically, the city of Harrisonburg is an entity separate from Rockingham County, so county line signs like this are used in Virginia. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The next exit along southbound is Exit 240, Junction Virginia 257 and Virginia Secondary 682 to Mount Crawford and Bridgewater, one mile. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Southbound Interstate 81 reaches Exit 240, Junction Virginia 257 west to Mount Crawford (Junction U.S. 11) and Bridgewater (Junction Virginia 42) and Virginia Secondary 682 east to Virginia 276 north of Weyers Cave. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Interstate 81 leaves Rockingham County and enters Augusta County. The next exit is Exit 235, Junction Virginia 256 to Weyers Cave and Grottoes, one mile. Virginia 256 extends east from Interstate 81 Weyers Cave (at Junction Virginia 276) and Grottoes (at Junction U.S. 340). Photo taken 06/06/04.
Southbound Interstate 81 reaches Exit 235, Junction Virginia 256 at the top of this hill (the ramp is just beyond the crest of the hill after the sign). The next exit is Exit 227, Junction Virginia Secondary 612 to Verona, eight miles. Photo taken 06/06/04.
A large power transmission line passes over Interstate 81 as it approaches an exit for a rest area in the Shenandoah Valley. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Southbound Interstate 81 reaches a rest area near Milepost 231. The next rest area is located near Milepost 199 just south of Exit 200, approximately 32 miles south of here. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The next exit along southbound is Exit 227, Junction Virginia Secondary 612 (east/west) to Verona. Use Virginia Secondary 612 east to reach Waynesboro via Virginia Secondary 865. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Southbound Interstate 81 reaches Exit 227, Junction Virginia Secondary 612 west to Verona. After passing through Verona and by U.S. 11, Virginia Secondary 612 continues west to meet U.S. 250 northwest of Staunton. Virginia Secondary 612 is a shorter, rural alternative to Churchville and West Augusta. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The next exit along southbound is Exit 225, Junction Virginia 275/Woodrow Wilson Parkway, Staunton, 0.75 mile. This is the first exit for the city of Staunton. Virginia 275 forms a bypass around the western side of Staunton along with Virginia 262. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Southbound Interstate 81 reaches Exit 225, Junction Virginia 275/Woodrow Wilson Parkway. Use Virginia 275 west to reach U.S. 11/Staunton and east to reach Virginia 254 southeast to Waynesboro. There is no direct connection from Interstate 81 to Virginia 254. A limited access highway, Virginia 275 has some motorist services available. The primary exit into downtown Staunton is Exit 222, Junction U.S. 250. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The next exit along southbound is Exit 222, Junction U.S. 250 east to Waynesboro and west into the city of Staunton, two miles. All major services (gas, food, lodging) are available at this interchange; a series of blue logo service signs will announce the facilities. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Following the U.S. 250 interchange (Exit 222) is the interchange with Interstate 64 (Exit 221). Interstate 64 extends east to Richmond and Hampton Roads; westbound, it merges with Interstate 81 south. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Use Exit 222/U.S. 250 west to reach the city of Staunton/Augusta County Tourist Information Center. Information is also available on the radio at 1620 AM. The city of Staunton is the home to former President Woodrow Wilson, and it is the "Queen City" on the Great Wagon Road between the Blue Ridge and the Alleghenies, located in the Shenandoah Valley. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Use Interstate 64 east to reach the Skyline Drive, which follows the ridge of Shenandoah National Park from near Waynesboro (via Interstate 64 east to Exit 99/U.S. 250) north to Front Royal. Built in the 1930s, on a clear day Skyline Drive affords one of the best views in all of Virginia. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Use Interstate 64 east to Waynesboro and Charlottesville, home to the University of Virginia. A hospital is also available via Interstate 64 east. Photo taken 06/06/04.
In addition to connecting to the Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park, Interstate 64 also meets the northern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Exit 99/U.S. 250 east of Waynesboro. The Blue Ridge Parkway follows the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Appalachian Mountains from Great Smoky Mountains National Park south entrance near Cherokee, North Carolina, northeast into Virginia. The Blue Ridge Parkway changes into Skyline Drive upon entering Shenandoah National Park north of Interstate 64 Exit 99. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Southbound Interstate 81 reaches Exit 222, Junction U.S. 250. U.S. 250 is a diagonal route that originates in Sandusky, Ohio, and follows a southeasterly route through Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia. It meets its parent route, U.S. 50, in Pruntytown, West Virginia (just west of Grafton). U.S. 250 serves the communities of Norwalk, Ashland, Wooster, Dover, New Philadelphia, and Uhrichsville in Ohio; Wheeling, Fairmount, Philippi, and Elkins in West Virginia; and Staunton, Waynesboro, Charlottesville, and Richmond in Virginia. U.S. 250 reaches its southeastern terminus at an intersection with U.S. 60 just east of downtown Richmond after an interchange with Interstate 95. The next exit is Exit 221, Junction Interstate 64, four-fifths of a mile. This is the only occasion we've seen "4/5 mile" used on a guide sign. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Now at the base of the offramp from southbound Interstate 81 to U.S. 250, these signs point the direction to Fishersville and Waynesboro (use eastbound U.S. 250, which is a left at the traffic signal) and a right turn to transition onto westbound U.S. 250 into Staunton. West of Staunton, U.S. 250 heads toward West Virginia, passing by Churchville, Shenandoah Mountain (elevation 3,760 feet), and Monterey in Highland County. U.S. 250 reaches a summit of 4,271 feet upon reaching the Virginia-West Virginia State Line. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Interstate 64 is a major east-west freeway corridor, originating west of St. Louis, Missouri, and extending east across the southern tier of Illinois and Indiana before entering the Bluegrass State of Kentucky. Entering West Virginia, Interstate 64 enters the commonwealth of Virginia near Callaghan, and it bisects the state. Interstate 64 serves the communities of Covington, Lexington, Staunton, Waynesboro, Charlottesville, Richmond, Williamsburg/Jamestown, and the Hampton Roads region. Exit 221 provides access to Interstate 64 east to Richmond and the Hampton Roads, and westbound Interstate 64 merges with Interstate 81 southwest toward Lexington. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Southbound Interstate 81 reaches Exit 221, Junction Interstate 64 east. Interstate 64 east passes Skyline Drive before descending toward Richmond and ultimately Hampton Roads (Newport News, Norfolk) before terminating at its interchange with Interstate 264, Interstate 664, and U.S. 58. The right lane exits only from southbound Interstate 81 onto eastbound Interstate 64; the two left lanes continue southwest along Interstate 81 and Interstate 64. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The final Staunton interchange is Exit 220, Junction Virginia 262 west to U.S. 11 and Virginia 252 south. Virginia 262 is a freeway that forms a partial bypass of the city of Staunton to the south and west. It is currently being extended to connect with Virginia 275/Woodrow Wilson Parkway. Together, the two routes will form a complete freeway/expressway around the west side of town. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Southbound Interstate 81 and westbound Interstate 64 reach Exit 220, Junction Virginia 262 west to U.S. 11 and the city of Staunton. Currently Virginia 262 exists between Interstate 81 and Virginia 252 as a freeway; currently under construction, an extension of Virginia 262 will connect with Virginia 275/Woodrow Wilson Parkway at the junction with U.S. 250/Churchville Avenue northwest of downtown. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 81 and westbound Interstate 64 is Exit 217, Junction Virginia Secondary 654 to Mint Spring and Stuarts Draft, one mile. Note that the exit numbering continues with Interstate 81's mileposts, even though Interstate 64 is the lower number. This is largely due to the fact that Interstate 81 was constructed prior to Interstate 64. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Southbound Interstate 81 and westbound Interstate 64 reach Exit 217, Junction Virginia Secondary 654 west to Mint Spring and east to Stuarts Draft via U.S. 340 north. Use Virginia Secondary 654 (east/west) to reach U.S. 11. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Both Interstate 64 west and Interstate 81 south are signed after the two routes merge together. They will remain merged for a total of approximately 30 miles until reaching Lexington to the southwest; at Exit 191, Interstate 64 will turn west toward Beckley, West Virginia, and Interstate 81 will continue southwest toward Roanoke. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The next exit along southbound Interstate 81 and westbound Interstate 64 is Exits 213B-A, Junction U.S. 11 and north U.S. 340 to Greenville, one mile. This interchange is located only a half-mile northwest of the southern terminus of U.S. 340. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 11, which has been paralleling Interstate 81 throughout the commonwealth, crosses Interstate 64-81 at Exit 213. The first exit is Exit 213B, Junction U.S. 11 north. Take U.S. 11 north to reach a junction with Virginia Secondary 701 west to Middlebrook; from that intersection, U.S. 11 continues north back toward Staunton. The following exit is Exit 213A, Junction U.S. 11 south to U.S. 340 north and Greenville. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Although not signed in the southbound direction, use Exit 213A, U.S. 11 south, to reach the southern terminus of U.S. 340. From the northbound direction, U.S. 340 is jointly signed on the overhead along with U.S. 11. U.S. 340 angles northeast from the freeway toward Waynesboro and Luray in Virginia; Charles Town, West Virginia; and ultimately Frederick, Maryland. Use U.S. 11 south to reach the community of Greenville. Photo taken 06/06/04.
