U.S. 522 begins at U.S. 60 north of Powhatan, then passes through Goochland, Gum Spring, Cuckoo, Culpeper, Sperryville, Washington, Front Royal, and Winchester before passing into West Virginia en route to Maryland and Pennsylvania.
U.S. 522 North
Our tour along northbound U.S. 522 begins where U.S. 522 approaches the town of Sperryville in Rappahannock County after the intersection with Virginia 231. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Once in Sperryville, the older route splits off to the left (Virginia Secondary 1001) to enter downtown. U.S. 522 will turn right to connect with U.S. 211. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Through trucks are prohibited on Virginia Secondary 1001 due to the narrow street and bridge at the western end. Virginia Secondary 1001 connects with U.S. 211 on the west end. Through traffic should use U.S. 522 instead. Photo taken 06/06/04.
North U.S. 522 turns north, while Virginia Secondary 1001 continues straight ahead into downtown. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 522 crosses this pony truss bridge over the Thornton River, which closely parallels U.S. 211 from the Blue Ridge Mountains east toward Sperryville. Photo taken 06/06/04.
After the bridge, U.S. 522 merges with U.S. 211 east toward Washington and Front Royal. Use U.S. 211 west to reach Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive. 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. 522 North
Northbound U.S. 522 resumes on its own as a scenic route between U.S. 211 and Front Royal, passing through Flint Hill and Chester Gap on its way north. Photo taken 06/06/04.
In Virginia, U.S. 522 is designated as the Zachary Taylor Highway. Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States, from 1849-1850. Born in Orange County Virginia in 1784, he died while in office after eating cherries and milk at a ceremony on July 4, 1850. U.S. 522 passes through Orange County, even though it avoids the county seat in Orange. Photo taken 06/06/04.
A rare set of directional banners is used in conjunction with approach signage for Virginia Secondary 662 along northbound U.S. 522 between Flint Hill and Chester Gap. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Lush foliage and trees dominate the view as U.S. 522 ascends to Chester Gap. Photo taken 06/06/04.
At the height of the Blue Ridge Mountains, U.S. 522 crosses a relatively low point at Chester Gap. U.S. 522 now leaves Rappahannock County and enters Warren County as it proceeds northwest toward Front Royal. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Northbound U.S. 522/Taylor Highway approaches a junction with Virginia 55. Use Virginia 55 east to Linden and Markham, with a connection to Interstate 66 via Virginia 79. Use Virginia 55 west to reach the northern terminus of Skyline Drive and to reach U.S. 340 southbound. Photo taken 06/06/04.
As noted by these trailblazers, use Virginia 55 east to reach Interstate 66 east and U.S. 522 north to reach Interstate 66 west. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Northbound U.S. 522/Taylor Highway reaches Virginia 55 at this traffic signal in Front Royal. Incorporated in 1788, Front Royal has approximately 13,800 residents and is the seat of Warren County. The Canoe Capital of Virginia, Front Royal is also known as "Where the Skyline Drive Begins." Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 522 again meets Virginia 55 at its intersection with U.S. 340 north of downtown Front Royal. The three routes merge together to head north across the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 340-522 North and Virginia 55 West
This mileage sign along northbound U.S. 340-522 and westbound Virginia 55 is located after westbound Virginia 55 merges with the two U.S. routes. The sign provides the distance to Cedarville (two miles), Winchester (19 miles via U.S. 522), and Berryville (via U.S. 340). Photo taken 06/06/04.
Northbound U.S. 340-522 and Westbound Virginia 55 cross the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 340-522 continue north, while Virginia 55 splits west toward Strasburg. Photo taken 06/06/04.
U.S. 340-522 North
After that bridge, Virginia 55 splits west toward Strasburg, while the two U.S. routes cross the North Fork of the Shenandoah River and continue north toward Cedarville and Ninevah. Photo taken 06/06/04.
After the bridges, U.S. 340-522 north approach their junction with Interstate 66, an east-west freeway that connects Interstate 81 near Strasburg with the nation's capital (Washington, D.C.). This shield reflects an older standard that includes the state name. Shields such as this one are somewhat commonly found on approach routes to Interstate 66; several of them exist east of here, in Arlington County. Photo taken 06/06/04.
Northbound U.S. 340-522 reach the onramp to Interstate 66 east to the metropolitan area of Washington, D.C. Photo taken 06/06/04.
A cloverleaf loop ramp provides access from northbound U.S. 340-522 onto westbound Interstate 66. The western terminus of Interstate 66 is only six miles west of this interchange, so the shield assembly also includes a "To Interstate 81" trailblazer. Photo taken 06/06/04.
