After leaving New Market, U.S. 211 east has its first mileage sign for Luray, Skyline Drive, and Washington, D.C. Even when U.S. 211 extended all the way to Washington, the route was well under the minimum threshold for U.S. routes at 132 miles. With the truncation of the route at Warrenton, U.S. 211 has become one of the shortest U.S. routes, and it is one of a limited number of odd-numbered east-west U.S. routes. Photo taken 06/06/04.
After passing over Massanutten Mountain, U.S. 211 enters the valley formed by the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. Still a multi-lane highway, U.S. 211 approaches an intersection with U.S. 340, which heads south to Shenandoah and ultimately culminates its journey at U.S. 11 near Stuarts Draft, south of Waynesboro. From here, U.S. 211 east and U.S. 340 north merge en route to Luray. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 211 East and U.S. 340 North
After merging, U.S. 211 east and U.S. 340 north will follow the expressway together until Luray, where the two routes divide. A business route (Business U.S. 211) serves downtown Luray, while the bypass carries U.S. 211 and U.S. 340 past Luray Caverns toward their split at an interchange. This mileage sign also provides distances to the Skyline Drive (in Shenandoah National Park) and Warrenton via U.S. 211. U.S. 340 will also intersect Skyline Drive, but not until reaching Front Royal to the north. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The first instance of Business U.S. 211 serves downtown Luray. This picture shows eastbound U.S. 211 and northbound U.S. 340 as they approach the cutoff for Business U.S. 211. Notably, Business U.S. 340 does not begin at this intersection; instead, Business U.S. 340 follows the old alignment of U.S. 340 from downtown Luray south to Stanley and Alma and then west back to U.S. 340. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Eastbound U.S. 211 and northbound U.S. 340 reach Business U.S. 211 east into Luray. Other instances of Business U.S. 211 exist in Washington, Virginia, and Warrenton. The town of Luray is the seat of Page County at elevations that range from 800 to 1,000 feet above sea level. Luray is home to approximately 4,587 people. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Eastbound U.S. 211 and northbound U.S. 340 reach Luray Caverns. One of several cavern attractions along the Blue Ridge Mountains, Luray Caverns is one of the most spectacular caverns in the region. It is perhaps best known for a pipe organ that is built into the stalactites and stalagmites in one of the larger underground chambers. If you have a couple hours to spare, the cavern tour is well worth the time. Other caverns in the area include Shenandoah Caverns and Endless Caverns. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 211 and U.S. 340 routes divide at a diamond interchange just east of Luray Caverns and north of downtown Luray. At this interchange, Business U.S. 340 rejoins its parent route, and U.S. 340 resumes its northerly trajectory toward Front Royal and Winchester. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Use U.S. 340 north to reach Front Royal, Business U.S. 340 south to reach downtown Luray, and U.S. 211 east to reach Skyline Drive/Shenandoah National Park. Note that substandard signage is used for this expressway interchange. Only shields (not green guide signs) are used to indicate that the upcoming right turn is a ramp offering the continuation of northbound U.S. 340 to Business U.S. 340 south. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Eastbound U.S. 211/Lee Highway and northbound U.S. 340 split. U.S. 340 and Business U.S. 340 pass underneath the U.S. 211 expressway. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 211 East
Now leaving Shenandoah National Park, U.S. 211 next approaches the town of Sperryville, which is situated at the intersection of U.S. 211 and U.S. 522 south near a river. This mileage sign also provides the distance to Warrenton (eastern terminus) and Washington, D.C. (original eastern terminus and control city). Photo taken 06/06/04.
In Sperryville, U.S. 211/Lee Highway approaches Virginia Secondary 1001. The original alignment through the business district of Sperryville is reached via Virginia Secondary 1001. This short route begins here at its intersection with U.S. 211 and passes through downtown Sperryville, connecting with U.S. 522. Due to a narrow bridge and a fairly narrow passage through downtown, there are restrictions on through traffic. Through traffic should instead use U.S. 522 south. Photo taken 06/06/04.
After the intersection with Virginia Secondary 1001, U.S. 211 bypasses the downtown area of Sperryville to the north, then meets U.S. 522 south. U.S. 522 is a major route connecting central Pennsylvania with central Virginia, and it offers a route from U.S. 211 southeast to Culpeper and to Virginia 231 south to Madison. From here, U.S. 211 east and U.S. 522 north merge en route to Washington, Virginia; Warrenton (via U.S. 211); Winchester (via U.S. 522); and Washington D.C. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 211 East and U.S. 522 North
U.S. 211 and U.S. 522 next reach Washington, Virginia (not to be confused with Washington, D.C.). A second instance of Business U.S. 211 provides local access into Washington, while U.S. 211 and U.S. 522 bypass the town via the expressway. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Use Business U.S. 211 east to enter town of Washington, founded in 1749, incorporated in 1894 and known as the "first" Washington. U.S. 211 and U.S. 522 continue northeast toward Warrenton (via U.S. 211) and Front Royal (via U.S. 522). U.S. 522 meets U.S. 340 and Virginia 55 in Front Royal. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Eastbound U.S. 211 and northbound U.S. 522 reach Business U.S. 211 east into Washington. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Just east of Washington, U.S. 211 east and U.S. 522 north prepare to split. U.S. 211 continues as an expressway, while U.S. 522 becomes a two-lane rural highway. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 522/Zachary Taylor Highway heads northwest toward Front Royal and Winchester via Flint Hill and Chester Gap, while U.S. 211/Robert E. Lee Highway continues east toward Warrenton. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Eastbound U.S. 211/General Robert E. Lee Highway separates from U.S. 522/Zachary Taylor Highway at this intersection. U.S. 211 continues east to Ben Venue and Amissville, while U.S. 522 angles northeast toward Flint Hill and Chester Gap. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 211 East
After the intersection with north U.S. 522, U.S. 211 continues east along the Robert E. Lee Highway toward Amissville and Warrenton, its eastern terminus. The control city remains Washington, D.C., which used to be the ultimate end of U.S. 211 until it was retracted in 1981. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The town of Warrenton serves as the eastern terminus of U.S. 211 and is the seat of Fauquier County. Incorporated in 1810, Warrenton is home to 6,670 people and was close to the site of several Civil War battles. Positioned at the northeastern gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Warrenton sits at the crossroads of U.S. 15, 17, 29, and 211. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Now reaching Warrenton, U.S. 211/Robert E. Lee Highway approaches an intersection with U.S. 17 and Business U.S. 29. At this intersection, U.S. 211 turns left (north) along U.S. 17 and Business U.S. 29, while a third business route (Business U.S. 211) continues straight ahead along Waterloo Street into downtown. Notably, Business U.S. 29 avoids the city center of Warrenton. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Most of the city street U.S. routes within Warrenton are maintained by the city, and these smaller shields with smaller fonts are used extensively throughout the area. In this scene, east U.S. 211 approaches U.S. 17 and Business U.S. 29 south. Business U.S. 211 follows Waterloo Street, then turns north along Blackwell Street/Business U.S. 15 to rejoin U.S. 211/Business U.S. 29 to the north of dowtown. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Here, U.S. 211 east turns onto U.S. 17 and Business U.S. 29 north. Use U.S. 17 north to reach Interstate 66 west to Winchester and use U.S. 29 north to reach U.S. 29 east to Washington D.C. Photo taken 06/06/04.
These reassurance shields for U.S. 17, U.S. 211, and Business U.S. 29 are located along north/eastbound after the initial intersection with U.S. 17/Business U.S. 29. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Eastbound U.S. 211 and northbound Business U.S. 29 continue along Lee Highway, while U.S. 17 turns northwest toward Winchester. Photo taken 06/06/04.
After U.S. 17 splits north toward Marshall and a junction with Interstate 66, U.S. 211 continues east alongside Business U.S. 29 for an eventual connection to U.S. 29 north to Washington. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 211 reaches its eastern terminus upon intersecting Business U.S. 15/Business U.S. 211/Blackwell Street. This is the first advance shield assembly that announces the end of U.S. 211. Confusingly, this assembly indicates that southbound Business U.S. 15 and Business U.S. 29 are straight ahead, while in fact it is northbound Business U.S. 15 and Business U.S. 29 that are straight ahead. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 211 eastbound ends at this traffic signal, where U.S. 211 east/Business U.S. 29 north meet Business U.S. 15/Blackwell Street. Business U.S. 15 and Business U.S. 29 north continue straight ahead; an interchange with the U.S. 15-29 freeway is just ahead. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Indeed the rain came in full force as Business U.S. 15 and Business U.S. 29 reach the interchange with U.S. 15-29 north to Leesburg and Washington, D.C., and south to Culpeper and Fredericksburg (via U.S. 17 south). This section of highway is not U.S. 211 (as evidenced by the previous end shields), but through traffic will need to use this stretch of business route to reach the freeway and connect to U.S. 29 en route to Washington, D.C. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Virginia 211 East
Eastbound Virginia 211 connects Virginia 42 in Timberville with U.S. 211 and Interstate 81 in New Market via the West Lee Highway. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Virginia 42 south
Virginia 42, which parallels Interstate 81 and U.S. 11 between Harrisonburg and Woodstock, intersects Virginia 211/West Lee Highway in Timberville. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Virginia 211 begins at Virginia 42, and it heads east through Timberville to meet Interstate 81 in New Market. At this interchange (Exit 264), Virginia 211 is upgraded to U.S. 211, which in turn serves Luray, Shenandoah National Park, Sperryville, and Washington (Virginia) before terminating at U.S. 15 Business in Warrenton. Note Virginia Secondary 1517 extends west from this intersection. Photo taken 06/06/04.
