After the U.S. 522 south intersection, U.S. 211 east approaches Virginia Secondary 671 north and Virginia Secondary 1001 southeast. Virginia Secondary 671 heads north along Thornton Gap Church Road, while Virginia Secondary 1001 passes through downtown Sperryville, then reconnects with U.S. 522 southbound. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 211, along with U.S. 33 and Virginia Secondary 614 west of White Hall, is one of the few highways that enter Shenandoah National Park and meet Skyline Drive. One of the most popular national parks in the country, Shenandoah is notable for its proximity to Washington, D.C., a major metropolitan area. The peace and tranquility of the park, coupled with its incredible views from Skyline Drive, make Shenandoah seem much further away from the busy streets of the nation's capital. Although U.S. 211 narrows upon entering the national park, it will gain a climbing lane as U.S. 211 ascends to Skyline Drive. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Shenandoah National Park was founded in 1926 and is most famous for the 105-mile long Skyline Drive, which follows the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. According to the National Park Service webpage, "Shenandoah National Park lies astride a beautiful section of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which form the eastern rampart of the Appalachian Mountains between Pennsylvania and Georgia. The Shenandoah River flows through the valley to the west, with Massanutten Mountain, 40 miles long, standing between the river's north and south forks." U.S. 211 uses several sweeping turns as it gradually ascends to Skyline Drive. There is no fee for crossing Shenandoah National Park via U.S. 211. Photo taken 06/06/04.
At the top of the hill, U.S. 211 reaches Skyline Drive. Skyline Drive is the centerpiece attraction for Shenandoah National Park; from this access point, Skyline Drive heads north toward Front Royal and south toward Waynesboro and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Skyline Drive is a fee area, so there is a cost for using the drive. An overpass provides a grade separation between Skyline Drive and U.S. 211, with Skyline Drive passing over U.S. 211/Lee Highway. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Even though U.S. 211 has reached Skyline Drive, other attractions lie along westbound, including Luray Caverns, Endless Caverns, and Shenandoah Caverns, as well as the towns of Luray and New Market. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Westbound U.S. 211 passes under the Skyline Drive overpass. On this dreary and somewhat rainy day, a trip on Skyline Drive would not be nearly as spectacular as it would be on a bright, sunny day. U.S. 211 leaves Rappahannock County and enters Page County upon crossing Skyline Drive. In many national parks, routes are seldom marked. In the case of Shenandoah National Park, it appears that most signed routes remain marked, including U.S. 211. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Although U.S. 211 has a climbing lane through the park, the highway does not become an expressway until reaching the western park boundary. This picture shows the beginnings of the expressway immediately after passing by the national park headquarters. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Upon departing Shenandoah National Park and descending from the Blue Ridge Mountains, U.S. 211 approaches the business loop split for Luray. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 211 widens into an expressway that features a freeway interchange with U.S. 340 just north of Luray. The exit for U.S. 340 from U.S. 211 has a visitor's center for Luray and Page County. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Westbound U.S. 211 approaches its interchange with U.S. 340 north to Front Royal and Business U.S. 340 south into downtown Luray. U.S. 340 south merges onto the Lee Highway with U.S. 211 west. Photo taken 06/06/04.
At this diamond interchange, U.S. 211 meets U.S. 340. Business U.S. 340 south follows the original alignment of U.S. 340 through Luray and then south to Stanley and Alma, then west back to U.S. 340. Business U.S. 340 and Business U.S. 211 intersect in downtown Luray. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 211 West and U.S. 340 South
Westbound U.S. 211 and southbound U.S. 340 are now merged as they continue around the town of Luray and approach Luray Caverns. New Market, the western terminus of U.S. 211, is 14 miles from here. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The Luray bypass next approaches Luray Caverns, which is situated northwest of the highway. U.S. 211 west and U.S. 340 south continue straight ahead, while a right turn leads to the Luray Caverns parking area. Photo taken 06/06/04.
The next intersection along westbound after the Luray Caverns entrance is the return of Business U.S. 211 from downtown Luray. Photo taken 06/06/04.
After Business U.S. 211 rejoins U.S. 211-340, this set of reassurance shields is posted just west of Luray. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Westbound U.S. 211 and southbound U.S. 340 divide, with U.S. 340 making a left to head south toward Waynesboro and Stuarts Draft. U.S. 211 continues west along the divided highway toward Massanutten Mountain and New Market. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Use U.S. 211 west to reach New Market and Timberville; turn left (south) on U.S. 340 to reach Stanley and Shenandoah. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Westbound U.S. 211 and southbound U.S. 340 split at this intersection. To reach Interstate 81, continue west along U.S. 211. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 211 West
After it splits from U.S. 340 southbound, U.S. 211 continues west en route to Massanutten Mountain and its western terminus in New Market, which is seven miles from here. Timberville is six miles west of New Market along Virginia 211. Photo taken 06/06/04.
As U.S. 211/Lee Highway enters the corporate limits of New Market, the highway reduces from an expressway into a two-lane highway. A junction with U.S. 11 is just ahead. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Westbound U.S. 211 approaches Junction U.S. 11 in New Market. U.S. 211/Lee Highway makes a left turn onto southbound U.S. 11 to pass through downtown New Market; U.S. 211 will again turn west just south of downtown. Note that truck traffic destined for either direction of Interstate 81 as well as all traffic for northbound Interstate 81 is advised to bypass downtown New Market and instead use the next access point from northbound U.S. 11. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 211 and U.S. 11 merge at this intersection in New Market, with west U.S. 211 turning south onto U.S. 11. Use U.S. 11 south to Endless Caverns and north to Shenandoah Caverns. As recently as the 1950s, U.S. 11 had five child routes: U.S. 111 (Baltimore to Harrisburg), U.S. 211 (New Market to Washington), U.S. 311 (Randleman to Eden in North Carolina), U.S. 411 (Leeds, Alabama, to Newport, Tennessee), and U.S. 611 (Philadelphia to Scranton). Of these routes, only U.S. 211, 311, and 411 remain. U.S. 611 is today's Pennsylvania 611 and Interstate 380, while U.S. 111 was replaced by today's Interstate 83. In the earliest era of the U.S. Highway System, there were also U.S. 511 and U.S. 711, but those routes were eliminated early. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 211 West
Westbound U.S. 211 approaches its junction with Interstate 81. Interstate 81 heads north to Mount Jackson, Strasburg, and Winchester and heads south to Staunton, Lexington, and Roanoke (as well as a pair of interchanges with Interstate 64). There are no end shields in place for the western terminus of U.S. 211, unlike the eastern end. U.S. 211 reaches its western terminus at its interchange with Interstate 81, amidst the fast food and gas stations associated with the Interstate highway interchange. From this interchange, U.S. 211 west becomes Virginia 211 west, even though some shields for the state route are inconsistently and confusingly signed as U.S. 211. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Virginia 211 West
Westbound Virginia 211 reaches Virginia 305 immediately after passing Interstate 81. Virginia 305 heads north to New Market Battlefield Park. Photo taken 06/06/04.
West of Interstate 81, U.S. 211/Lee Highway becomes Virginia 211/West Lee Highway. However, an erroneous U.S. 211 shield is found west of Interstate 81 about six miles east of Timberville. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Other U.S. 211 Pictures
This shield assembly, located at the exit from Luray Caverns, provides the destinations for U.S. 211 and U.S. 340. Use U.S. 211-340 northeast to Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, and Washington, D.C. Use U.S. 211-340 southwest to New Market. Continue straight ahead to connect to Business U.S. 211 and the town of Luray. Photo taken 06/06/04.
